A bright, tangy, and comforting South Indian soup made with fresh lemon juice instead of tamarind. Light on the stomach and quick to make, it's the perfect way to put your homemade rasam powder to use.
Ayurveda, India's ancient system of medicine, approaches oral health quite differently from conventional Western dentistry. Rather than industrial toothpaste, this tradition relies on herbal tooth powders (danta choorna), oil gargles (gandusha and kavala), and daily rituals designed to balance the doshas, the energies that, according to this philosophy, govern the body. Below is a practical guide to these techniques.
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.
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)
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.