How to make ashta choornam

 

Ashta Choornam is a traditional Ayurvedic blend of eight herbs used to relieve bloating and gas by balancing the 'vata' dosha and supporting digestion. To use, mix 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of the powder with warm water and take it 30 minutes after meals, once or twice daily. You can add honey if the taste is too strong. Use consistently for up to two weeks, monitor your body's response, and always use in moderation.

The Power of Fasting: A Spiritual and Scientific Exploration

 

Fasting has been practiced for millennia across cultures and spiritual traditions. Today, it is also supported by scientific research for its profound effects on physical and mental wellbeing. This article explores both the spiritual and scientific dimensions of fasting, offering practical protocols and evidence-based benefits.

Guidelines to do after panchakarma

 Guidelines for Post-Panchakarma Care & Life Integration

Completing your 21-day Panchakarma program is a significant step toward lasting health and balance. To protect your progress and gently reintegrate into daily life, please follow these guidelines:

Flour- and Fat-Free Seed Crackers

 V- K- P+

Geneviève brought those delicious and nutritious crackers at our last puja. They are good for Vata and Kapha (use less sesame seeds), but can aggravate Pitta if eaten in excess.

 Mix together:
1/2 cup ground flax seeds
1/2 cup whole flax seeds
1/4 cup chia seeds
1/2 cup hemp seeds
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
2 tbsp dried herbs (rosemary, thyme... to taste)

Spicy Nuts

 This delicious recipe by Ottolenghi make a lovely snacks or appetizer for Vatas. You may want to double or triple the quantities, since you'll get easily hooked.

Ingredients for 6-8 servings:

• 100g cashew nuts
• 100g macadamia nuts
• 120g pecan nuts
• 60g whole almonds (skin on)
• 80g pumpkin seeds

Applesauce Delight

This recipe from Gabrielle makes a delicious breakfast, dessert or snack.

Apples have neurological, cardiovascular, lung, colon, systemic, and prostate benefits. They are amazing for the whole body wellness. They also prevent cancer, help with heart disease, help and control weight loss. They are high in antioxidant compounds. Apples are rich in calcium, potassium, vitamins A and C, folate, phosphorus and iron.

Baked Pears with Cardamom

 

This is a simple dessert but elegant, cooling, soothing, and hydrating. The trick for this dish is to select pears not too green, not too ripe. Ayurveda considers pears to have 7 properties that can balance all 3 doshas.

Apricot and Fig Bliss Bites

 

This delicious recipe adapted from Medical Medium is a nutritious treat for all doshas. 

Figs are a sattvic, rejuvenative fruit in Ayurveda—hydrating, gently cleansing, and nourishing to all tissues. Especially beneficial for Vata and Pitta, figs support elimination, immunity, reproductive health, and overall well-being when consumed soaked, stewed, or fresh.

In Ayurveda, figs (Anjeer) are regarded as a nourishing and medicinal fruit with a wide array of health benefits. Here’s a summary of the key Ayurvedic benefits of figs:

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1. Highly Nourishing and Rejuvenating
Figs are considered a rasayana (rejuvenative) food in Ayurveda. They help to build and revitalize all seven body tissues (dhatus), including plasma, blood, muscle, fat, bone, marrow, and reproductive tissue.

2. Benefit for All Doshas

• Vata: Figs’ sweet taste and moist quality help soothe and lubricate dryness, making them ideal for balancing Vata.
• Pitta: Figs are cooling and mildly sweet, which helps pacify excess heat and acidity associated with Pitta.
• Kapha: While figs are moist and sweet, their mild astringency and high fiber content can help balance Kapha in moderation, supporting elimination and preventing sluggishness.

3. Gentle Laxative and Digestive Support
Figs, especially when soaked or stewed, act as a gentle natural laxative. Their high fiber content helps relieve constipation, cleanse the digestive tract, and support regular elimination—important for balancing Vata and Kapha.

4. Moisturizing and Hydrating
Figs are rich in natural sugars and water, helping to hydrate bodily tissues, alleviate dryness, and replenish lost fluids.

5. Support for Respiratory Health
Due to their expectorant properties, figs are sometimes used in Ayurveda to soothe coughs and clear mucus from the respiratory tract, especially when combined with honey and ginger.

6. Promotes Reproductive and Sexual Health
Figs are traditionally consumed to strengthen shukra dhatu (reproductive tissue), supporting fertility, stamina, and vitality.

7. Builds Ojas
Their sweet, sattvic nature helps build ojas, the subtle essence responsible for immunity, vigor, and emotional stability.

8. Rich in Minerals and Antioxidants
Figs are a good source of calcium, iron, potassium, and antioxidants, supporting bone health, blood formation, and cellular protection.

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Ayurvedic Ways to Use Figs:

• Eat fresh figs when in season, or soak dried figs overnight to enhance digestibility and juiciness.
• Stew figs with spices such as cardamom or cinnamon for a soothing, nourishing breakfast or snack.
• Combine with warm milk or add to porridges for added nourishment.

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Summary Table:

Benefit	Dosha Effect
Rejuvenative, ojas-building	All doshas (esp. Vata)
Gentle laxative, fiber-rich	↓ Vata, ↓ Kapha
Cooling, moistening	↓ Pitta, ↓ Vata
Expectorant, respiratory	All doshas
Mineral & antioxidant-rich	All doshas

Ingredients for about 30 balls

1 cup organic dried apricots (or dried figs, or dates, or a combination), soaked in water 

1/2 cup almonds, soaked and peeled 

1/2 cup organic coconut flakes, roasted

1/2 tsp finely grated ginger 

3 tsp grated orange zest

1/2 tsp cinnamon powder

1 tbsp orange juice                                                              

4 tbsp crushed almonds and/or roasted coconut flakes for rolling

Roasted Rice with Dates, Cinnamon and Cardamom

In Ayurveda, cooking rice and dates together creates a dish that is considered deeply nourishing, grounding, and restorative. This combination is favored for its taste, digestibility, and rejuvenative properties, offering a host of benefits across all three doshas, especially Vata and Pitta.

Okra Bhindi

 

In Ayurveda, okra (also known as bhindi or lady’s finger) is appreciated for its gentle, nourishing, and balancing qualities. Here are the main Ayurvedic benefits of okra: