3 Ayurvedic Super Milk Recipes for Bedtime

3 Ayurvedic Super Milk Recipes for Bedtime

A bedtime routine is almost essential in Ayurveda. Getting a good night’s sleep is so important, yet it is one of the first things we sacrifice in order to get more work done, or to watch that one last episode on Netflix. Sometimes, it’s just too hard to fall asleep or stay asleep.

Resting our bodies and brains ensures we have enough energy the next day; it gives our systems a break to wind down and prep for what’s ahead. Even though we’ve shut down, our brains work hard to rejuvenate, relax, and process everything that happened during the day. When we don’t get enough sleep or even good quality sleep, it taxes not only our nervous system, but our adrenal glands as well.

Having a good bedtime routine can help with better sleep. One of my favorite things to do as well is to give my clients a nice warm milk recipe with different herbs to incorporate into their wind-down process.

Try any of the following depending on what you want to work on. All you do is pour one glass of milk into a pot and warm it on the stove. Mix in the herbs and bring to a slow boil. If you would like to add a sweetener, try some maple syrup or turbinado sugar—just enough to give you a taste. You don’t want the aroma of the herbs to be masked by the sugar.

It’s best to drink the milk about 2–3 hours after dinner and 1–2 hours before bedtime. You don’t want your digestion working hard while you’re trying to sleep. You can add cardamom, cinnamon, and/or ginger to any of these to make them a little more digestible. Sometimes mixing ½ cow’s milk and ½ almond milk also makes for easier digestion.

To Calm & Cool

If you have a hard time falling asleep or staying asleep because of excess heat or an agitated/irritated mind, you might have excess pitta in your majja vaha srotas, or your nervous system. I know this one hits home for me. I often wake up in the middle of the night because I get too hot. Try this milk to help cool and calm both your mind and body.

Ingredients:

• ½ tsp Anantamul
• Handful of organic rose petals (fresh or dry)
  *Maple syrup is a great sweetener for this one—add it in after heating! You can also add a sprig of saffron for more flavor, and to help that pitta!

To Ground & Settle

Many times our bodies are not ready to go to sleep. We’re constantly running around throughout the day, and it’s tough to calm the body and mind. They’re running on full speed, even at 10pm. This can increase the light and clear qualities of our systems, also making it hard to get a good night’s rest. This version is great for those who have some high vata. The herbs are super for grounding and giving a little heaviness to the body so it’s ready to fall asleep.

Ingredients:

To Rejuvenate & Replenish

Taking herbs at night or before bedtime has a direct affinity to working on the mind, as the night hours are those that target the nervous system and brain directly. Make this milk if you want to give your body a nice rest, with the added bonus of manasika herbs, or herbs that work directly on the mind.

Ingredients:

About the Author

Nishita is passionate about holistic living, and integrating all that the universe gives into her life. She loves everything and anything regarding food—literally. You can generally find her in the kitchen testing out some new and wacky dessert recipe or figuring out ways to incorporate various herbs into the foods she makes. Outside the kitchen, she loves spending her time in nature or on her mat doing her daily sun salutations. Nishita is an Ayurvedic Studies Program levels 1 and 2 graduate from the Ayurvedic Institute, where she studied Ayurveda and Yoga under the world-renowned Vasant Lad, BAM&S, MASc. Check out her website, www.nourishthefire.com for more fun recipes!

You May Also Like...

The concept of agni, the Sanskrit word for "fire," is rather essential to the Ayurvedic tradition. Ayurveda views agni as the very source of life. It is said that a man is as old as his agni and that when agni is extinguished, we die.1 Perhaps even more significantly, Ayurveda teaches us that impaired agni is at the root of every imbalance and disease. So the importance of agni in Ayurveda simply cannot be understated. Continue Reading >

Original article and pictures take www.banyanbotanicals.com site

15.5 Acupuncture Benefits

15.5 Acupuncture Benefits

But, does acupuncture work?

You might have heard that apparently Sandra Bullock gets acupuncture 3 times a week! It’s in her contract and studios have to pay for it!

Elle McPherson has it done regularly, too. She claims: “I do choose to look after my body from a Chinese medicine perspective, which promotes and maintains wellness rather than treats illness”. Jennifer Lopez dropped 15lbs with help of acupuncture and Chinese herbs. Jennifer Anniston does it, Angelina Jolie does it, Sean Connery, Madonna, Oprah, Lucy Liu, Kim Kardashian..the list goes on and on!

So is it just another fad you might ask?

Absolutely, not! Acupuncture has been invented 5,000 years ago, and practiced since over 3,000 years, which makes it one of the oldest practicing forms of medicine known. World’s largest population – over 1.3 billion Chinese people can’t be wrong!

OK, so what are acupuncture benefits?

I can think of following 15 acupuncture benefits:

1. Acupuncture is holistic and treats the roots of the problems, not just the symptoms
2. It’s safe and effective
3. No side effects
4. Much quicker recovery than with the use of Western Medicine
5. No chemical drugs used and can be used on patients who do not respond to pain medications
6. No down-time for the recovery (unlike with the surgery)
7. Affordable
8. Each acupuncture treatment is individually tailored
9. Can be safely used combined with conventional medicine
10. It will give you more energy, so that you can finally hit the gym
11. It strengthens immune system. Wave goodbye to nasty colds and flu!
12. Acupuncture decreases stress levels, helping you calm your mind and emotions, leaving you serene and relaxed
13. It improves sleep
14. Boosts digestion
15. It’s very effective in decreasing chronic pain

Actually, there is a number 16! You could boast of having a near-death experience of laying on “bed of nails”. Ah, no! It’s actually nowhere near as bad as people imagine:)

Like it? Share it!

[social_share style=”circle” align=”horizontal” heading_align=”inline” facebook=”1″ twitter=”1″ google_plus=”1″ linkedin=”1″ pinterest=”1″ /]

Want to know if acupuncture could help you get better?
Check out our list of conditions that can be effectively treated with acupuncture!

Original article and pictures take malouacupuncture.com site

15 Benefits of the Holy Basil (Tulsi) Herb

15 Benefits of the Holy Basil (Tulsi) Herb

Visage/Stockbyte/Getty Images

In the Hindu religious tradition, the tulsi, or holy basil, plant serves both as an important symbol and also as a popular medicinal remedy. As a symbol, the plant is worshiped in the morning and evening by Hindus everywhere; and the plant itself serves as an herbal remedy for a lot of common ailments in the ancient Indian Ayurvedic system of healthcare.

Fifteen Medicinal Uses of Tulsi

1. Healing Power: The tulsi plant has many medicinal properties. The leaves are a nerve tonic and also sharpen memory. They promote the removal of the catarrhal matter and phlegm from the bronchial tubes. The leaves strengthen the stomach and induce copious perspiration. The seeds of the plant are mucilaginous, producing a coating that protects mucus membranes.

1. Fever & Common Cold: The leaves of basil are a specific cure for many fevers. During the rainy season, when malaria and dengue fever are widely prevalent, tender leaves boiled with tea act as preventive against these diseases. In case of acute fevers, an extraction of the leaves boiled with powdered cardamom in half a liter of water and mixed with sugar and milk brings down the temperature. The juice of tulsi leaves can be used to bring down fever. Extract of tulsi leaves in fresh water should be given every 2 to 3 hours. In between one can keep giving sips of cold water. In children, it is every effective in bringing down the temperature.
2. Coughs: Tulsi is an important constituent of many Ayurvedic cough syrups and expectorants. It helps to mobilize mucus in bronchitis and asthma. Chewing tulsi leaves relieves cold and flu.
3. Sore Throat: Water boiled with basil leaves can be taken as drink in case of sore throat. This water can also be used as a gargle.

1. Respiratory Disorder: The herb is useful in the treatment of respiratory system disorder. An extraction of the leaves mixed with honey and ginger is an effective remedy for bronchitis, asthma, influenza, cough and cold. An extraction of the leaves mixed with cloves and common salt also gives immediate relief in case of influenza. They should be boiled in half a liter of water till only half the water is left and add then taken.

1. Kidney Stone: Basil has strengthening effect on the kidneys. In case of kidney stones, the juice of basil leaves and honey, if taken regularly for 6 months, it will expel them via the urinary tract.
2. Heart Disorder: Basil has a beneficial effect in cardiac disease and the weakness resulting from them. It reduces the level of blood cholesterol.
3. Children's Ailments: Common pediatric problems such as cough, cold, fever, diarrhea and vomiting respond favorably to the juice of basil leaves. If pustules of chicken pox delay their appearance, basil leaves taken with saffron will hasten them.
4. Stress: Basil leaves are regarded as an 'adaptogen' or anti-stress agent. Recent studies have shown that the leaves afford significant protection against stress. Even healthy persons can chew 12 leaves of basil, twice a day, to prevent stress. It purifies blood and helps prevent several common elements.
5. Mouth Infections: The leaves are quit effective for ulcers and infections in the mouth. A few leaves chewed will cure these conditions.
6. Insect Bites: The herb is a prophylactic or preventive, as well as a curative for insect stings or bites. A teaspoonful of the juice of the leaves is taken and is repeated after a few hours. Fresh juice must also be applied to the affected parts. A paste of fresh roots is also effective in case of bites of insects and leeches.

1. Skin Disorders: Applied locally, basil juice is beneficial in the treatment of ringworm and other skin diseases. It has also been tried successfully by some naturopaths in the treatment of leucoderma.
2. Teeth Disorder: The herb is useful in teeth disorders. Its leaves, dried in the sun and powdered, can be used for brushing teeth. It can also be mixed with mustered oil to make a paste and used as toothpaste. This is very good for maintaining dental health, counteracting bad breath and for massaging the gums. It is also useful for pyorrhea and other teeth disorders.
3. Headaches: Basil makes a good medicine for headache. An extraction from the leaves can be given for this disorder. Pounded leaves mixed with sandalwood paste can also be applied on the forehead for getting relief from heat, headache, and for providing coolness in general.

1. Eye Disorders: Basil juice is an effective remedy for eye disorders such as sore eyes and night-blindness, which is generally caused by deficiency of vitamin A. Two drops of black basil juice are put into the eyes daily at bedtime.

DISCLAIMER: These are only general guidelines as a first aid. It is always better to see a doctor depending upon the intensity of the case. The views expressed above are entirely those of the author.

Original article and pictures take www.thoughtco.com site