Ayurvedic Herbs- Aswagandha

Ashwagandha is an erect branching under shrub reaching about 150 cm in height. Its fleshy roots when dry are cylindrical, gradually tapering down with a brownish white surface and pure white inside when broken.

Names of the herb :
SANSKRIT – ASWAGANDHA
ENGLISH – WINTER CHERRY
HINDI – ASGANDH
MALAYALAM – AMUKKURAM

In Ayurveda Aswagandha is considered as Rasayan herb (Health Promoter). Many of the elements of Aswagandha are antioxidants. The main constituents of Aswagandha are alkaloids & steroidal lactones. Among the various alkaloid withanine is the main constituent. The leaves contain steroidal lactones which are commonly called withanolides.

Used part of Aswagandha are – Root & leaves. Tuberous roots are astringent, bitter, stimulant, diuretic, leaves are bitter.
It is chiefly meant to cure vitiated condition of Vata but it is also effective in Tridoshas i.e. Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

Its healing benefits are-
1. It boosts immune system.
2. Improves memory and to promote overall wellness.
3. Lowers Cholesterol.
4. Reduces brain cell degeneration.
5. Contains antipyretic & Anti inflammatory properties.
6. Very good rejuvenator & revitalizer.

Main Preparation of Aswagandha are-
1. Aswagandha Choornam
2. Aswagandha Capsule
3. Aswagandharishtam
4. Aswagandhadi leham

Except for these it is an ingredient in most of the medicines of Ayurveda.

Tulsi

This is a genus of aromatic herbs or under shrub distributed throughout India as well as cultivated. The Plant has been classified as a pious and sacred plant. A number of religions all over the world included the use of this plant i.e. various rituals and worships as evident by its common name.
Tulsi-in English as holy basil, sacred basil

Latin name-Ocimum sanctum
In India its Language wise other common names are-
Sanskrit-Surasah, Mal-Tulasi, Krsiatulasi
Tam-Tulaci, Karuttalaci

Since older days the plant has been regarded as multidimensional effect. On one side it prevents/cures disease while on other hard it also purifies mental status, helps in meditation, yoga, worship etc.
Commonly it is classified into two types-
i) White (Light green Tulsi)
ii) Black (Purplish Black)
Property wise both are similar but due to its rich contents the black Tulsi carries more medicinal value.
Part used-Whole plant
It leaves contain a volatile oil which is yellowish green in color and has high antibacterial properties with specific fregrance.This fragrance helps in cleansing the polluted air and makes to refreshing.
Preparation of Tea-Effective in winter to avoid cough and cold.
Medicinal Properties-To keep away material attack or infection during the months of September and October Tulsi leaves should be chewed daily in the morning hours after mouth wash.
3/4 part of water left then mix milk+sugar or jaggery+cardeman-have it.
Bad breath-Tulsi leaves if chewed after meals, keeps away from bad breath.
Fever due to cold-1 teaspon of leave juice+1/2 teaspon honey gives three times a day. Tulsi juice also can apply on chest and forehead. Inhole the vapours emanated from the juice.Immuinty.
Cold and cough-
A) 1 part of Tulsi leaves+1 part of pepper grind together and rolled into small pills. Take 3-4 times daily cure cough.
B) Roast 4-5 cloves+Tulsi leaves-Chew slowly it relieves from cold and cough.
Asthma-Decoction of Tulsi leaf+ rock salt 2-3 gms. is effective
Vomiting-Tulsi swaras (extract) in pudina and sauf stops vomiting.
Teething of boby-Massage the gums with Tulsi leaf juice mixed with honey.
Falling and Graying of hair-Powder of Tulsi leaves+Amla-give massage to your hair and wash them with water.
Arthritis-decoction of whole plant 10-15 ml twice daily gives good relief.
Digestive- Tulsi leaves juice+ginger juice has digestive property.
Tulsi is main ingredients of
Vilwadi leham
Tulsyadi thailam
Tulsi cough syrup.
Tulsyadi thailam apply on chest in case of cough cold and Asthama.

Neem (Azadirachta Indica)

Neem is also known as Divine tree, heal all miracle tree. The Sanskrit name of Neem is Arishtha means reliever of the sickness. Normally it thrives in areas with sub-arid to sub humid condition. It can grow in many different types of soil but it thrives best on well drained deep and sandy soils.
Distribution throughout India
Language wise name
Sanskrit- Nimbah Arishtha
English-Neem tree, Margosa tree
Mal- Veppu,
Tam-Vempu.
Tel-Kondavepa
Part used-Bark, Leaves, Flowers, Seed, oil each part of Neem has medicinal properties being antibacterial, antifungal, ant diabetic antiviral, ant fertility, ant allergic, analgesic. Many countries have been consistently growing the Neem tree against the global warming. It is a source of environment friendly biopesticide.
Traditionally, teeth cleansing is conducted by chewing of neem twigs. Due to its astringent property it is effective in bleeding gums, decay tooth and foul smell of the mouth.
Neem oil is very effective as mosquito repellent. It is used in cosmetic preparations also (Soap, Balms, Creams, Shampoo, Toothpaste).
Neem Bark contains tannins which are used in tanning and dyeing.
Decoction of Neem leaves removes toxins from the body purifies blood and effective in skin diseases for example-Dermatitis, Eczema, Ache, Allergic, Rashes, Proriam and maintains the Skin elasticity.
Neem leaves paste is applied on the skin to treat Wounds, Ulcers, Aches. Proriasn, Urticuie, Eczema. Neem Bark has bitter, cool, astringent effects. It is helpful in healing wounds.
Neem Bark acts as an analgesic. Its decoctions are effective in high fever as of malaria. It is a good nourisher of hair.
Neem is a major component of Ayurvedic medicines. There are lots of preparations with Neem.

1. Nimnbadi kashaym
2. Tikkam kashym
3. Guggulutiktam kashyam
4. Nimbamrathsavam
5. Nimbachi Choornam
6. Nimelia

The Before.

For the next 2 months I will be participating in an incredibly vulnerable self imposed experiment. I have always been an active person. Dancing, hiking, yoga and walking are how I have gotten my exercise for most of my adult life. Although I am in relatively good shape for a 30 year old female, I have always had a deep desire to see what it would be like to really focus on my body for a few months and commit to an intense training regimen that focuses on increasing strength and stamina in a safe and healthy manner. Let me be very clear about one thing. I am not dissatisfied with my body the way it looks now. I have been following a pretty strict Ayurvedic diet and lifestyle program for the past 4 years, and have watched my body transform from the inside out. I used to have a chronic digestive disease called ulcerative colitis and poor diet and lifestyle choices that weakened my immune system.  I can remember I would fall sick 4-6 times per year with tonsillitis, fevers, colds and other illnesses.  Since I began studying Ayurveda I have cured myself from all of these diseases, hardly ever get sick, and have more energy and vitality now more than ever before. The most important thing to me is that I feel good. I would also love to be able to do a full push-up and a pull-up, I must admit I haven’t been able to do this since I can’t remember when. (holy vulnerability)

That being said, now that I have achieved this optimum state of internal health and well being, I am ready to take a step deeper and dive into building my physical strength and stamina. I looked into quite a few options including: Cross Fit, hiring a personal trainer, I even thought about doing the P90 X videos! Finally I found the perfect solution. There is an awesome new gym called Relictree Fitness that recently opened up in my neighborhood. They focus on Natural Training which uses your body’s own weight as resistance instead of lifting external weights. I also chose this gym because they have a lot of Yoga classes, Nia classes and Cardio Dance classes too. I decided that I would commit to 3 classes at Relictree every week. 2 of these classes would be intense high cardio, muscle building Natural Strength Training or Boot Camp classes, and the third would be something more mellow like dance or yoga. I am also still committing to my regular dance classes that I attend twice per week, so in total I will be working out a minimum of 5 days per week.

I chose to start this intense training in the late fall on purpose. In the Ayurvedic tradition, it is best to build muscle during the colder winter months as opposed to the hot summer months because our bodies are deeply connected to nature, and the hot summer sun can be very depleting to our bodily tissues. In the winter time, our bodies become very strong, our digestive capacity increases and we can endure more strenuous workouts. I will also be following a strict Ayurvedic diet, making sure I am eating plenty of ghee and other healthy fats, rice and quinoa protein rich dahls, cooked vegetables, soups and stews, fresh fruits and some organic freerange chicken and fish when I feel the desire to eat meat. I will also be oiling my body and head a few times a week to make sure I keep Vata dosha under control and joints well lubricated.

I just finished my first official week, and boy am I sore! There are some muscles that I am beginning to feel that I didn’t even know I had. They did a bunch of tests on me when I first started to keep track of my progress.

Here are my “before” stats:

Height- 5’9”
Weight-142 lbs
BMI- 21
Body Fat %- 22.8
Lean Mass- 109.7 lbs
Fat Mass- 32.3 lbs
Resting Metabolic Rate- 1,448 calories/day

Thanks so much for reading. It helps me stay on track and accountable to make this experiment open to the public eye. I feel pretty naked sharing all of this information, but my hope is that it will inspire other people to build strength in a healthy way, coming from a place of wholeness and love rather than restriction and punishment.

I plan on blogging about this journey every 2 weeks to track my progress. Please subscribe to my blog if you want to be notified of updates.

Somewhere In The Middle.

The alarm goes off at 6 am.   No matter how peaceful the ringtone may be, it  sounds like a jack hammer to me. My mind instantly turns on full speed to make its case that the best thing I can do for myself is to turn off that alarm clock and go back to bed. “It’s dark outside. It’s freezing cold. You work so hard, you deserve to have just one morning off.” Luckily, I don’t take my mind too seriously these days. Sure it’s going to try to convince me to stay in bed. It doesn’t want me to suffer. It wants to protect my poor little sleepy feet from the shock of the cold hardwood floor, and my delicate face from the chill of the morning air as I walk to my car to head to the fitness studio in the dark. The fact of the matter is, the cold air and the hardwood floor are temporary discomforts. But the feeling of the Self over riding the mind because it knows better…that’s where the juice resides.

One month ago I made a commitment to myself to place more focus on my physical body and build strength and stamina. Check out my blog post, “The Before” to read about my Ayurvedic approach to achieving this goal. I am proud to report that I have stuck to my plan pretty firm, and am definitely seeing results. Sure my muscles have started to tone up and I may have shed a few pounds of fat, but more importantly… I feel so much stronger. My grocery bags feel lighter. I have more energy throughout the day. My appetite has increased, in Ayurveda-ville this means that my Agni (digestive fire) has improved.

This is all pretty sweet, but the coolest part of it all…an unexpected result… I am finally starting to really  understand the nature of the monkey mind.  These work outs are not easy. Sometimes  I feel like walking out in the middle of the class because “I just can’t do it anymore”. But then my deeper wisdom self whispers to my mind. “You can do it Britt. Just 3 more. You signed up for this. This is good for you.” Through discovering this wild animal of a mind,  I slowly but surely discovering that soft wise voice that has always been there. It’s a deeper knowing. And as that wise woman voice is growing louder, the Monkey Mind is beginning to know who is boss. And this growing sense of my deeper wisdom has infiltrated into all other aspects of my life as well. I have noticed it speak up more often with  my career, how I navigate my relationships, my diet, and more. I never knew that focusing on the body would give me such a keen insight into my deeper self, and for this… I am deeply grateful.

Two Months Down, One Lifetime to Go

 

For the past two months I have been placing more focus on my body by working on building muscle and increasing strength and endurance.  I am proud to announce that I have been very diligent in my efforts, attending Natural Fitness classes at least 3-4 mornings per week at 6:30AM at Relictree Fitness. My original goal was to focus for 2 months on my body and take before and after stats to track my progress. I choose to share my experience with the public so I can inspire others to invest in their physical well being in a healthy and sustainable way. Following an Ayurvedic diet and lifestyle has been one of the key components to this transformative process. Over the past two months I am happy to report my overall energy has increased dramatically, my digestion has improved, and my sleep has become more sound.  I have officially completed my 2 month commitment, but have realized that I am not done yet. In fact, I have embraced the fact that I will never be done. I will post an “after” shot with my stats next month, solely for the purpose of  completing my initial objective, but I now realize that there will never really  be an after.Some Things I Have Learned Along the Way. 


1. Commitment is KEY. 
Figure out what works for you, your body, and your schedule and stick to it! If you overcommit, you might not be able to uphold your agreements and are more prone to feeling guilty and falling off the bandwagon completely. You can always turn up the volume later. 

2. Preparation is a MUST.
Every night before bed I fill my water bottle and lay out my workout clothes on my dresser, and put them on first thing. It makes it much easier to convince yourself to workout once you already have your clothes on! 

3. Accountability is FOUNDATIONAL.  
When we tell our friends and family about our health goals, we are more likely to keep them up! If you really want to hold yourself accountable, do what I did. Build a website, start a blog, make it your status update. The more people you have cheering you on the better! 

Love,
Britt

The Before. The After. The Whole Truth.

What started out as a short term fitness experiment turned into a deeply trans formative experience that hasreshaped my relationship to inhabiting a body.

Before I begin, I need to come clean about something. In my first post on this topic, The Before,  I didn’t tell the whole truth. I said, “Let me be very clear about one thing. I am not dissatisfied with my body the way it looks now.”  That’s not true. I still have mornings when look in the mirror and wish that things looked different. It would have been more accurate for me to have said, “I have done a lot of work around accepting and appreciating my body as it is and have come a long way in that process. However, my conditioning around wanting my body to look a certain way runs very deep, and although I am much closer than ever before, I have not gotten to the place where I have full acceptance of my body yet.”  This process of publicly posting pictures of myself in my underwear to show my results really illuminated how deep those insecurities run.

On Monday, I went in for my final assessment appointment at Relic Tree fitness center to get my photos taken and to be weighed and measured in order to track the changes in my fat and muscle percentages from when I started on this journey five months ago. I was confident that there was going to be a massive shift in numbers and that my after photo would look drastically different than the before shot. When I received an email with the results, my jaw dropped. Almost everything was the same. The only difference was that I gained 2 lbs of muscle and lost 1 lb of fat. When I received this email and looked at the pictures I was flooded with emotion. Anger, sadness, frustration, disbelief. I had been working my ass for the past 5 months. Did I not try hard enough in class? Did they mess up on the measurements? How could this have happened? How disempowering to post a before and after picture that look almost exactly the same.

Then another voice fought back. The voice was loud and strong and it came from the center of my being. It reminded me of all the times I didn’t want to get out of bed in the morning for my 6:30 class, but I did it anyways. It reminded me of the day I did my first push up without assistance (I can now do 10). It reminded me to really check in with my body and pay attention to how different it feels now instead of being consumed with the way it looks.

The truth is, I inhabit my body differently now. I hold my head up higher. I feel more agile, more capable, more free to move with a new sense of strength and deep seeded power. My digestion is stronger now than it has ever been, I have way more energy throughout the day. My back pain has dissipated tremendously.  This is not the end of my fitness experiment. In fact, I see it as a more solid starting point. Rooted deeper into the way my body feels as opposed to the way it looks. I am ready to begin again.

An Apple a Day…

Whether you have one apple or a whole box that you just picked, you can try this delicious and comforting Stewed Apple recipe for breakfast.

Cooking apples increases the digestibility and absorption of the many vitamins and minerals.

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This recipe also calms vata & pitta, enhances strength, builds immunity, fires up the metabolism, stimulates regular bowel movements and adds to overall health & vitality. You will feel light and energetic all morning after eating this for breakfast.

Stewed Apple
Ingredients:
1 organic apple
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon organic raisins or chopped dates
1 clove or pinch of ground clove
1/8 teaspoon  true cinnamon (Ceylon)
1 pinch ground cardamom
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1 teaspoon ghee

1. Dice apple into small pieces.
2. Add ghee to pot
3. Add ginger and spices
4. Add rest of ingredients
5. Bring to a boil
6. Cook apples until soft ~ 15 minutes

 

Make Your Own Cooling Face Mask

Many of us are on a budget these days, but that doesn’t mean we have to sacrifice taking care of our skin. Using simple ingredients found in your kitchen and/or local grocery store, this inexpensive mask only takes minutes to whip up.  Since I started using this mask once per week over the past year, I have noticed that the redness in my skin has reduced, and I have a more noticeable glow. I created this recipe using my knowledge of Ayurvedic principles based off of a recipe handed down to me from my teachers ancient lineage.

Ingredients- (Will make enough for 2 people)
2 Tablespoons Chick Pea Flour
1/4 Tablespoon Turmeric Powder
1/4 Tablespoon Sandalwood Powder
1    Tablespoon Rose Water
Purified water as needed.

Directions- Mix all dry ingredients in a small bowl. Add rose water. Mix well. Then add purified water slowly mixing it in until you have the consistency of a thick smooth mustard.

Apply to freshly cleansed skin and leave on for 10-15 minutes.
Rinse off with warm water and pat dry with a fresh towel.

Notice the difference in your skin tone and texture after applying this mask! Please share this with your friends who might be interested in making their own skincare products!

Shared with love from Britt, just your local Ayurveda nerd.

The Lovely Rose

Roses are mostly known these days as a symbol of beauty and romance but they have been used for thousands of years around the world in many different ways. In Ayurveda, roses are said to not only uplift the spirit but to reduce inflammation, act as an aphrodisiac, benefit skin, menstruation, liver, spleen, kidneys and eyesight as well as slow the aging process. With its cooling nature, we can use roses both internally and externally to calm our mind, body and soul. This is especially recommended in the early fall season as pitta is at it’s highest in the atmosphere.

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3 Ways to Keep Cool w/ Roses 

Rose Lassi

Ingredients:

½ cup whole milk yogurt

2 cups of water (previously boiled and brought back to room temperature)

1 tablespoon rose water

3 tablespoons sucanat, turbinado or other raw sugar

pinch of cardamom (optional)

1. Hand whisk/churn yogurt with a molinillo (Or use a blender / immersion blender)
2. Add water to yogurt
3. Add rest of ingredients
4. Churn until frothy

Calming Rose Facial Mask

Ingredients:

3 dried rose buds

½ teaspoon fenugreek seeds

¼  teaspoon turmeric

2 tablespoons besan / chickpea flour

Milk

Rose water (optional)

1.  Grind the rose buds & fenugreek seeds to a fine powder
2.  Mix in turmeric & chickpea flour
3.  Add milk and/or rose water to make a smooth paste
4.  Apply on face for 10-15 min
5. Rinse off with tepid water

Rose Pudding

Ingredients:

2 cups whole milk or coconut milk

1 cup water

6 tablespoons kudzu root starch powder

⅓ cup sucanat, turbinado, rapadura or coconut sugar

¼ teaspoon cardamom powder

½ teaspoon rose powder

¼ teaspoon vanilla powder

2 teaspoons rose water

1 tablespoon lightly toasted shredded coconut (optional)

1. Mix dry ingredients in saucepan
2. Add milk, sugar and mix again
3. Heat over medium heat for 5-10 min while stirring constantly
4. Turn off heat when reached desired thickness
5. Mix in Rose water and toasted coconut
6. Serve and eat warm