Is It Icecream Season Yet?
All of our bodies are different and we live in different climates. As we move through life, our needs change, and change again.
Marketing Spot
Is it icecream season yet? Well, the answer to that is…. it depends. This is a common answer from folks who practice āyurveda and other holistic health sciences. The answers to your health and wellness queries depend on several factors that have to do with you and your unique body-mind-spirit. It might be icecream season for some us, but for others, not quite yet. And for some of us, icecream season might be more of a rare occurrence, than an actual season. This includes dairy-based icecream as well as plant-based icecream and even other icy treats such as popsicles.
All of our bodies are different and we live in different climates. As we move through life, our needs change, and change again. Icecream is cold, heavy and full of sugar. I think of it as a cold, heavy, sugar-bomb for the gut. It's like putting a heavy, wet blanket over your digestive fire and then pouring a bunch of sugar directly into the bloodstream. And yet, icecream is a yummy, iconic, fun summer treat. So what do we do with these conflicting factors? Everything in moderation. All substance can be a medicine and all substance can be a poison based on how, when, and why we use it.
Notice that I said summer treat in that previous paragraph. I did not say all season, no matter how I am feeling, just after a large meal. For those who experience spring allergies, your icecream season has not arrived. If you are congested, stuffed up, foggy in the mind, bloated, or fatigued, icecream is not your medicine today. If you are experiencing slow digestion or stagnation in the GI tract or anywhere else in the body, I do not think your icecream season has begun. Icecream is not going to be your friend if you are unwell because the body's internal fire must be strong in order to return to wellness.
For most of us, it is very much still spring weather in the US, even in the more southern areas. It might be warming up, and there might even be some very warm, sunny days. But then it is cold again and wet, and damp, and gray, and heavy. Our digestive systems are still waking up from the long, cold winter and may not be strong enough to handle a cold, heavy, sugar-bomb just yet.
I imagine that my desert friends have already started to eat icecream. I can think of one in particular, who would counter this entire essay to say that every season is icecream season. Icecream season could begin for some folks as early as May first, but more likely later May or early June, even for the southerners. For folks in more northern areas, we're really talking more like mid to later June. June 21st is the summer solstice and first "official" day of summer. Why not celebrate the longest day of sunlight with your first, yummy icecream treat of the season!
I'm sure I've lost some of you by now. At least one person reading this has shut their computer and gone out for icecream in protest. Nothing I offer is a standard rule, but I am 97.3% sure that the information in here is relevant to most people reading this.
The qualities in the food we eat and in the environment around us, increase those same qualities in our body-mind-spirit. Opposite qualities bring balance. It is likely that your body-mind-spirit needs warm, dry, and light qualities as we move through this spring season. Not cold, wet, and heavy qualities.
The irony here, is that when I was young, my parents owned an ice cream shop. It lasted a handful of years until they had to close it, but those were delicious, icecream filled years for me and my siblings. Every day was icecream season! We were living in South Carolina at the time, which is a warmer area of the country, but it still gets cold in winter, and spring is unpredictable. I remember eating icecream all year, in all temperatures, and I loved it. I had a special order, and the staff knew what it was. Chocolate and vanilla swirl soft serve, with sprinkles on the bottom, in the middle, and on the top. Yes, three layers of rainbow sprinkles. What joy!
I was a kid during that seemingly never ending icecream season, and my digestive system had not been debilitated by our industrialized, capitalist food system..... yet. Or, more accurately non-food system. Most of the people I know, especially those born and raised in the US, have digestive issues. Some of them may not see digestion as the source of their symptoms, but when they talk to me about how they feel, in my mind I am able to trace it back to the gut.
If what I am putting into my body is not actually nourishing the body, can I really call it food? If said food is nourishing in itself, but my body is not able to process it, toxins build from the improperly digested food (āma), causing further issues, possibly long into the future. I am not a kid anymore. I, like most of us am recovering from the effects of acute and chronic digestive issues. I too did not see improper digestion as the source of my symptoms for many years. I did not know back then that most dis-ease and disease of body-mind-spirit begins in the gut.
I don't think my parents did anything wrong by allowing me to enjoy the deliciousness of their labor. I think it is important for us to enjoy life and have fun together. This form of nourishment is as vital to our existence as eating nourishing food and drinking clean water. When we eat icecream in amounts that are appropriate for our body-mind-spirit, at a time that the body is able to digest and process it well, this delicious, fun, cold, heavy, sugar-bomb could be just the medicine we need.
We are free to choose what, how, and when we eat. We are free to listen to, or ignore our own intellect. Whatever choices we make, we get to experience the effects of those choices, no matter how hard we try to ignore or rationalize them. I invite you to begin to listen to your body. Notice what is happening in nature as far as temperature and seasonal shifts. Use the idea of icecream season as a means of reconnecting to the microcosm (you) and the macrocosm (the world around you). Think of this as a way to fully enjoy that cold, creamy, sweetness, whenever you choose to eat it. Think of this as a way to come home to yourself.
Most of us reading this have been raised within a culture that lost its' way many centuries ago. We as a culture are so disconnected from our own bodies and the greater body of mother earth, who truly wants to sustain us, that we don't even know how to buy, prepare, or eat food that will support our well beings. Many of us don't know what true hunger feels like, or how to identify that the body is satisfied before feeling overly full. Our digestive issues are the product of a pervasive culture of greed and overconsumption. A culture we've been raised into knowingly or not.
So, it is icecream season yet? I leave that up to you to decide for yourself. As for me, I had a small amount of carolina pecan at a local creamery with a visiting friend about two weeks ago. It was in the later afternoon, after a warm, sunny day walking on some trails in North Carolina. She wanted to stop, and once inside the building, with all the colors and sweet smells and excited humans, I could not resist. I did not even hesitate.
Sitting on the porch in a line-up of rocking-chairs, many people were enjoying icecream cones and bowls of all sizes with colorful toppings. My expectations were high, and I was sure this was going to be well worth the splurge. I was unimpressed with the icy, not creamy texture of my treat. If I am going to go all in, and betray my own intellect, I want it to be worth it. I decided not to finish my cold, heavy, sugar-bomb. But the amount that I ate was enough to suppress my hunger for dinner. I did not eat dinner around my usual time because hunger was no where to be found. I know better than to eat when I am not hungry, and so I waited. I ended up eating a little something later in the evening than usual.
I woke up the next morning with some mucus and a little puffiness in my face. I was kind of achy and sluggish. My tongue slightly coated, different than usual. It was fine, nothing terrible. One day at a time, I get to make different choices. My choice today is to wait for summer, when it is actually hot. To wait for a day that I can enjoy a cold, sweet treat with my young child friends, who make the experience that much more enjoyable.
Where I live and Work
North Carolina & Virginia
Land Acknowledgement
Find
Regan
Courses
Gatherings
Amalaki (emblica officionalis)
A wonderful rejuvenating herb that can strengthen the immune system and nourishes all of the bodily tissues . Amalaki is calming to all of the doshas, and especially pacifying for pitta. It is a rich source of vitamin C and iron, and remains stable even after heating. It can help to calm excess heat and inflammation throughout the entire GI tract while also nourishing bones, teeth, and hair. Amalaki has affinity with the liver, spleen, pancreas, lungs, eyes, and heart.
Precautions: Acute diarrhea that cannot be controlled or managed.
Andrographis (kalmgh,
andrographis paniculata)
This bitter herb is a powerful immunostimulant with antivaral properties. Its cooling energy makes it a good herb for calming or reducing pitta, while the pungent post digestive effect is supportive for kapha. If used in excess or not in balanced formulation, these same attributes could increase the light, dry, and rough qualities of vāta dosha. Andrographis can serve to enhance liver function, stimulate bile flow, and break up congestion in the lymphatic system. It can be used to help move constipated bowels, regulate irregular bowel movements, and clear toxins from the system (āma). Andrographis can also act as a cleansing and rejuvenating herb for the blood and skin (which is linked to liver function), and help with eczema, psoriasis and other forms of dermatitis or itch rashes.
Precautions: People who are pregnant or lactating should avoid this herb or use it minimally with guidance from a qualified practitioner.
Ashwagandha (winter cherry,
withania somnifera)
A strong nutritive tonic for vāta dosha and symptoms of debility, fatigue, nervous system burn out, and people in their elder years. It can be supportive after giving birth or other types of intense physical exertion, as well as being supportive after a traumatic event that is not only physical but also mental or emotional. It can help to balance hormone levels, offer support with insomnia and anxiety, and promote clarity of mind and memory in people of all ages. Ashwagandha can be aggravating to pitta dosha, or people with excess heat in the body due to its warming energy. And because of its supreme tissue building properties, may be challenging for people with a lot of toxic build up (āma) in the system.
Precautions: High doses during pregnancy may cause uterine contractions. Lower/moderate amounts in proper combination are sometimes used during pregnancy when indicated. If you aare pregnant, please consult a healthcare professional.
Bala (country mallow, sida cordifolia)
Bala is a sanskrit word that translates to strength in english. It is super nourishing and strengthening to all of the bodily tissues and has affinity for plasma, muscle, nerve, marrow, and reproductive tissues. It is a great rejuvenative tonic for vāta and pitta, and due to its heavy qualities, can increase kapha when used in excess or improperly combined. Kapha dosha is strong in nature, so if in stable condition does not inherently need extra strength. It is a wonderful herb after giving birth and for people in their wisdom years. I use it in the momma and baby massage oil, which is an equally good massage oil for elders and anyone experiencing debility, fatigue, or recovery. Bala can be supportive for folks experiencing chronic fatigue, muscle spasms or atrophy, nerve discomfort, menstrual disorders, fertility issues, osteoporosis, and osteoarthritis.
Precautions: People experiencing hypertension should use caution if ingesting (eating/drinking) this herb.
Brahmī (gotu kola, centella asiatica)
The name brahmī refers to the feminine or lunar aspect of higher consciousness (cosmic consciousness, higher power, god, brahman, great spirit, etc.) It is pacifying to all three doshas and is said to kindle the flame of intelligence and inner knowing. There are two plants with very similar qualities that are both referred to as brahmī. The one I most often use is gotu kola/centella asiatica because it is more readily available in the western part of the earth. The other is bacopa/bacopa monniera, which is a bit stronger in action.
Brahmī/Gotu Kola promotes cellular regeneration and is wonderful for rejuvenation of the entire mind-body-spirit. It can help to support memory, awareness, sleep, anxiety, immune function, and adrenal gland function. It is a blood purifying herb, and supports proper function of the liver, spleen, and pancreas, while helping with chronic skin disorders such as psoriasis and eczema. It has the ability to calm the mind and promote a sense of calm and presence. When used in oil, it is wonderful for the skin, and especially for use on the head, face and heart/chest. It has a bitter taste and goes well in tea blends with sweeter herbs. It is wonderful tea to use to support a meditation practice or anytime one wants to bring a sense of calm and ease into their being.
Cardamom (elettaria cardamomum)
Cardamom has an affinity with the respiratory, digestive, circulatory, and nervous systems. It has the ability to decrease mucous, congestion, sticky sludge, and toxins in the lungs and stomach (decreasing excess kapha and āma). This quality makes it supportive for respiratory illness or disorders as well as digestive issues. It is a digestive stimulant, but gentle enough so as not to create excess heat or pitta in the system when used in moderation and in compatible combination with other herbs. It can be used to reduce nausea, indigestion, bloating, and upset stomach. The affinity for the respiratory system makes it a useful herb in relation to bronchitis, asthma, and cold and cough symptoms. Cardamom has a calm and clear energy (sattva), while also being somewhat aromatic and pungent. These qualities can help to regulate the body’s circulation and heart rhythm while also calming the nerves.
Precautions: People with irritated or actively bleeding stomach ulcers should avoid using cardamom in large quantities. Folks who have had ulcers in the past and feel concerned about the possibility of reoccurrence or other fire/pitta related issues, should be mindful of how much, and in what they consume this herb.
Chamomile (matricaria chamomilla)
Chamomile is well known as a gentle, relaxing herbs and is often used in bed time or relaxing tea blends. It had a mild sedative effect and can help melt tension in the body-mind-spirit. It is calming for pitta and kapha dosha, and generally the same is true for vāta. Due to its’ bitter quality, it can be aggravating to vāta, but only if used in excess without combination. It is a great herb for calming stress, anxiety, and restlessness in adults and children alike. Chamomile can help to sooth colic, gas, and flatulence. It can be ingested as a tea by nursing parents or given directly to young children for this purpose. Referring back to the bitter quality of chamomile, it can be helpful to sooth inflammation and draw out impurities. It is often used externally and internally for this purpose.
Cinnamon (cinnamomum zeylanicum)
As a common kitchen spice, the medicinal power of cinnamon is often overlooked. But I could the same for most fresh food items found in one’s kitchen….. The warming and stimulating properties of cinnamon promote digestion, absorption, and assimilation of nutrients in food and herbal compounds. Cinnamon is a wonderful herb to add to heavier foods, such as rice, potato, dairy, or meat in order to balance out those heavy qualities. Likewise it is useful to balance out an otherwise heavy or cold herbal compound. Due to the hot and pungent qualities, it is pacifying to vāta and kapha and should be used with awareness and in appropriate combination so as not to aggravate pitta. Cinnamon can act as an expectorant, making it useful in alleviating sinus or chest congestion and is often used to treat colds, coughs, and the flu acting to burn toxins within the body.
Eucalyptus (eucalyptus globulus)
The only product I am currently making with eucalyptus is the Nasya Herbal Nose Oil. Using it in this way, as a steam, or other method of inhalation, eucalyptus can help to cleanse and “disinfect” the respiratory tract, open the bronchi, and free up blocked energy so that prāna (life force energy) can flow. It is effective in alleviating symptoms of cold, flu, sinus infection, and upper respiratory infection. The antiseptic and astringent qualities of eucalyptus make it useful as a topical medicine for mild to moderate wounds and skin sores as well as the treatment of scabies, bed bugs, and fleas. It is also helpful in alleviating inflammation, muscular pain, and arthritis when used topically.
Precautions: People who are pregnant or experience kidney disease should avoid ingesting or eating eucalyptus. In general, moderation and knowledge of the source should be considered when ingesting or eating eucalyptus due to some mild, irritating effects on the GI tract if the older, less fragrant leaves are used. The young, aromatic leaves are best used for internal or external purposes.
Fennel (foeniculum vulgare)
Fennel is one of my favorite herbs. It is good medicine for me in all of its’ forms. I was so expressive about my deep affinity and affection for this plant during a class session once, that one of the students felt moved to send me a one pound bag of fennel seed powder. A gift that touched my heart and made me laugh. Fennel is considered to be a tridoshic herb, meaning that is can pacify all three of the doshas, which makes it a supportive herb for all constitutions or body types. It has calming, clarifying, refreshing, gentle, and peaceful qualities (sattva). Fennel has affinity for the nervous and digestive systems and supports plasma, blood, and muscle tissue.
Fennel is an excellent digestive aid for pitta, or people who experience heat/fire related digestive issues, such as heartburn and acid indigestion, who are otherwise unable to tolerate the pungency of things like ginger, garlic, or chili pepper. It can help to kindle the digestive fire and clear out toxins and metabolic waste (āma) without increasing heat in the body. Fennel helps to move energy downward, making it a good herb to relieve bloating, flatulence, and abdominal discomfort often associated with excess vāta. Where it is most supportive to kapha dosha (earth and water elements) is its’ ability to to clear bronchial congestion, especially when combined with ginger to add in a bit of needed heat.
The gentleness of fennel makes it a good digestive aid for adults as well as children, and is a supportive in relieving colic in infants. Likewise it is helpful to relieve nausea, and is often used to help pregnant people with morning sickness. For breastfeeding people, fennel can help to support the production of breast milk and if used by the breastfeeding person will also help to reduce colic for the baby drinking the milk.
Guduchi (tinospora cordifolia)
Guduchi can help to protect, support, and regulate the immune system in both chronic and acute conditions. It can protect the body’s strength and life force (ojas and prāna) while neutralizing toxins (āma), and is supportive to all three doshas, making it a good herb for all constitutions and body types. It is a nice herb to use for reducing inflammation, easing arthritis, soothing skin disease, balancing hormones, and calming neuromuscular pain. Guduchi can be used to prevent seasonal sickness such as cold and flu, and can help to ease related infections of the ear nose, and throat. It is also a supportive herb for those who experience seasonal allergies, autoimmune disease, liver or spleen issues, hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome, and viral or bacterial infections.
Lavender (lavandula angustifolia,
lavandula x intermedia)
Lavender is well known as an aromatic, relaxing herb. And while that is true, there is so much more. Lavender is calming to the nervous system and can be used as a sleep aid. It can also help to settle anxiety, lift dark, heavy moods, and sooth a headache. The stress relieving properties make it useful in alleviating physical stress in muscles as well as mental and emotional stress. Especially when paired with rose, lavender can help to move grief and open the heart.
Lavender has bitter, cooling, and dry qualities. This makes it nice for cleansing and toning the of the skin. The bitter quality makes it useful as a digestive aid. With anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, lavender can be used to treat some wounds or as an anti-septic wash or cleanser. Lavender is often used in combination with other herbs for yoni/vaginal steaming or as a steam for the head and respiratory system. With this powerful and versatile herb, a little goes a long way. Sometimes the scent alone is enough to calm the mind and relax the nervous system.
Licorice (yashti madhu, glycerrhiza glarba)
I use licorice, in varying quantities, in many of the products I offer. So much so, that I have to intentionally leave it out of some teas and compound formulas in order to accommodate folks who have an aversion to this sweet yet bitter herb. When used in appropriate combination, even a small amount can act as a harmonizing agent and enhance the overall effects of whatever it is mixed with. Licorice can help to soften and balance the dry or rough qualities of other herbs in a formula while adding some needed sweetness, making harsh tasting herbs more palatable.
Licorice is calming to the nervous system and is thought to awaken positive cellular memory, promoting a sense of satisfaction and contentment. It is nourishing and building for folks experiencing debility, exhaustion, adrenal fatigue, and the many stresses of our current, popular culture. It can also be a good herb for people recovering from overuse or abuse of stimulants, coffee and caffeine in any form, alcohol, and other drugs.
Its’ affinity to the respiratory system makes licorice useful in alleviating cough, congestion, bronchitis, laryngitis, upper respiratory infections, sinus infections, and soar throat. It has the ability to liquify and expel phlegm while also soothing inflamed bronchioles. Licorice also has an affinity with the digestive system, and can help to sooth inflammation of the GI tract. It can help move constipation, especially when the cause is dryness of the colon. Licorice is also helpful in soothing inflammation of the genitourinary tract, which can be caused by cystitis, vaginitis, urinary infection, and yeast infection.
Precautions: Though often safely used in small amounts as a harmonizing energy in heart formulas, people experiencing hypertension or chronic heart conditions should be aware of how much licorice they consume.
Motherwort (heartwort, leonurus cardiaca)
Motherwort offers a special kind of embrace and can impart a stable fierceness that allows us to step into our authentic selves. With a nourishing coolness this herb can help us tune into the rhythms of the moon and how those rhythms move within our own bodies. Whatever kind of relationship we may have with our own mothers or parental figures, motherwort offers a pure form of mothering we can all benefit from.
Motherwort is considered to be a cardiac tonic, and can have a regulating or calming effect on the heart. The physical heart muscle as well as the heart chakra or energetic heart space. It also has affinity for the nervous system and is useful in calming the entire body-mind-spirit. The pungent quality gives motherwort the ability to move stagnation and blockages, making it helpful for edema, blood clots, cysts, and scanty or absent menses. In consideration of the heart, it is useful to regulate tachycardia, angina, and palpitations. Motherwort can also help to calm convulsions or spasms and relieve nervous tension.
The qualities are bitter, somewhat pungent, and cooling. If used in excess over a long period of time, and without proper combination, it could aggravate vāta, but generally is well received by all constitutions or body types (all doshas). The bitter and cooling qualities make motherwort an ally for people with heat related, menopausal experiences such as hot flashes or night sweats, and is also supportive in regulating mood swings and menopause induced insomnia. Likewise it can be useful in supporting anyone with sleep issues or confusing mood imbalances.
Precautions: Motherwort can cause uterine contractions and should be avoided during pregnancy. It should also be avoided for those who are experiencing excessively heavy menstrual bleeding or too-low blood pressure.
Oatstraw (avena sativa)
Oatstraw (and oat in general) are nourishing to the nervous system, adrenals, and the heart. It is calming and soothing like a wanted hug. Oat can act as a buffer to the nerves in relation to the daily barrage of stress and stimulation we all experience, which eventually can lead to depression, anxiety, and low immune function. You can think of it like an energetic shield for protection from this modern, electronic, workaholic, overstimulating life. The mucilaginous quality of oat can literally protect and nourish the bodily tissues. Oat is soothing to both vāta and pitta. It can help calm the mind, cool the heat of anger and irritability (mental and physical), help with sleep issues, and is also soothing for the skin.
Pippali (indian long pepper, piper longum)
Pippali is an excellent lung rejuvenation tonic and helpful in alleviating cold, cough, congestion, bronchitis, and laryngitis. It can be a supportive herb for those with asthma, long standing bronchial issues, and chronic/degenerative lung diseases. In addition to its’ affinity for the respiratory system, pippali also has an affinity for the circulatory and digestive systems. It can help with issues of poor circulation, stimulate the circulation of air/breath which can move vital energy or prāna through the system, address parasites, flatulence and bloating, loss of appetite, and kindle the digestive fire (agni) without aggravating pitta.
Pippali has a heating energy but a sweet post digestive effect, which means it is less drying and also less hot than herbs like black pepper, ginger, or cayenne pepper. This makes pippali a better choice for those with excess heat or inflammation in the body (pitta).
Rose (rosa centifolia)
Rose has been used for thousands years, across many cultures to sooth the mind, heart, emotions, and spirit. I love rose, and I use it in many formulas for tea as well as body oils. Just thinking about it as I write this, offers me an exhale and a feeling of calm relief. I once had some rose petal jelly that a friend made and my knees literally buckled as I felt a sense of great love wash over me. I slowly consumed that jar of jelly over time with a practice of spreading some on an oat cake each afternoon for several weeks as I was offering doula services to a friend and her family. This practice supported all of us as I was continually infused with cool, loving sweetness each day.
Rose has cool, sweet, bitter, and astringent qualities. Rose can help reduce excess heat in the body as well as the mind. It is a wonderful herb to sooth pitta dosha or anyone experiencing excess heat in any form, including anger, frustration, and negative thinking patterns. Rose truly does calm the heart and cool the blood, while invoking a sense of calm, clarity, and love. It has an affinity to the physical heart muscle as well as the emotional and spiritual heart. Rose can help to reduce internal and external inflammation, sooth irritated skin and eye conditions, cleanse the blood, and help with headaches caused by excess heat. It can also be supportive in calming the nervous system, reducing anxiety, and supporting the being through periods of grief and overwhelm.
Shatāvari (asparagus root,
asparagus racemosus)
Shatāvari is bitter, sweet, and cooling to the system. It is known as an excellent rejuvenating herb for pitta and vāta, and can increase kapha due to the sweet taste and sweet post digestive effect. Its ability to deeply nourish and build tissue while also being cooling and anti-inflammatory is what makes shatāvari an good herbal ally for folks in a weakened or debilitated state, as well as people experiencing excess heat in the form of inflammation, irritation, burning sensations, profuse menstrual bleeding, hot flashes, or hyperacidity. It is generally a good herb to support the immune system and protect ojas, our vital energy reserves and strength.
Shatāvari has an affinity for the blood, liver, lungs, kidneys, reproductive system, urinary tract, and GI tract. It can cool and purify the blood, while also sooth and nourish inflamed mucus membranes. Shatāvari is often used to support people with a uterus to help regulate the menstrual cycle, support the transition into menopause, and help to bring physical, mental, and emotional balance after a hysterectomy when combined with other nervous system calming herbs. It can also help to improve the quantity and quality of breast milk. Shatāvari is also used for people who are experiencing various forms of chronic fatigue, colitis, gastritis, IBS, herpes, diarrhea, urinary tract inflammation and infections, and ulcers.
Precautions: Due to the building qualities of shatāvari, folks with an excess of toxic build-up (āma) in the system, excessive mucus, or high kapha related issues should avoid or moderate how they use this herb.
Slippery Elm (ulmus ruba)
This herb tells us most of what we need to know by its’ name. Slippery Elm is slippery! It has mucilaginous qualities, making it useful to sooth a sore throat, cough, inflammation of the GI tract, and general soothing/moistening of the mucus membranes of the body. Topically it can be used to treat wounds and skin disorders. Slippery Elm is considered sweet in taste and is also cooling to the body-mind-spirit. This makes it a kapha increasing herb, as kapha is both sweet and cold. It is an excellent herb for pitta, which is hot in nature, and for vāta due to the moistening qualities (vāta is dry in nature). As with all herbs, the way we mix them and the method of intake will affect the overall effect of a formula.
Slippery Elm is considered to be an at risk plant by The United Plant Savers. It an herb that I use sparingly, and am extra careful as to where and how it is sourced. Often times, there are good alternatives, such as marshmallow, licorice, comfrey, or mullein, depending on the healing need. The only formula you will find it in within the apothecary on this website is the Respiratory & Immune Support Formula.
Spearmint (mentha spicata)
Spearmint is cooling to the system, but its’ gentle pungency keeps it from being “too cold”, especially in a well balanced combination, which will be helpful for vāta. It is a nice herb for pitta, in that is can help to stimulate digestion without adding excess heat to the system. Spearmint can help clear a foggy mind and get our circulation moving, which makes it helpful to kapha dosha. It has an affinity to the respiratory, digestive, circulatory, and nervous systems. It is helpful to alleviate inflammation, heartburn, headache, gas, nausea, sinus congestion, sore throat, toothache, cramps, and nervous tension. Applied to the skin, it can help reduce swelling due to nerve or muscle pain (though peppermint may be a stronger more effective herb in this case, due to its’ much higher level of menthol).
Spearmint has a sweet quality, making it more subtle and less pungent than peppermint. You can even see and feel this difference by comparing the fresh leaves of a spearmint plant to those of peppermint. It is more delicate and soft, while still offering a beautifully aromatic minty flavor. Both of these minty beauties (spearmint and peppermint) have something valuable to offer, and tend more toward spearmint when making tea blends. It is generally a lovely harmonizing herb in combination, offering a layer of calm, clarity to the body-mind-spirit.
Tulsi (holy basil, ocimum sanctum)
Tulsi is native to India (and currently grown throughout the world) and considered to be a sacred, holy plant in the Vedic traditions, Hindu religion, and secularly within Indian culture. It is used to purify indoor and outdoor spaces and known for its’ ability to open the heart and offer a sense of serene clarity (sattva) while promoting overall health and well being. Tulsi acts on the emotional heart and on the physical heart, as well as the entire body-mind-spirit. Tulsi has an affinity for the nervous, respiratory, urinary, circulatory, and digestive systems. It has sedative, expectorant, antiseptic, and antibacterial properties. This plant is quite aromatic and beautiful to look at with its’ deep green leaves and tiny purple flowers. It is in the basil family, and looks similar to common basil plants. Bees and butterflies seem to love it as much as I do!
Tulsi’s affinity to the respiratory system, makes it effective for treating asthma, bronchitis, cough, and sinus congestion. It has a special relationship to the lungs in particular, which is where the body holds grief and deep-seated sadness. As it also acts to calm the nervous system and strengthen the heart, a practice of drinking tulsi tea or chewing on the fresh leaves can help to move grief and support a slow and steady healing process. As a heart tonic, it can act to promote oxygenation of the heart muscle through coronary vasodilation.
Tulsi has a calming effect on the senses, which is why I use it in both the Nasya Herbal Nose Oil and the Karna Purana Herbal Ear Oil. The antibacterial properties make it good for soothing ear infections, and the affect on the nervous system makes it helpful to sooth tinnitus and stimulate nerve damage that causes mild/moderate hearing loss. Tulsi can also help to relieve stress related, tension headaches, regulate blood sugar and cholesterol, promote absorption in the GI tract, sooth insect bites and skin diseases, and support good oral hygiene and gum disease.
Wild Yam (dioscorea villosa)
&
Vidari (alligator yam, ipomoea digitata)
I am discussing wild yam and vidari together in this section because their qualities are so similar, and I use them interchangeably based on what is available. As a tuberous root grown within the earth, this plant offers stable and grounding qualities. It is sweet in taste with a secondary, bitter note and also cooling to the system. As a demulcent and mucilaginous substance, it can help to soothe inflammation inside and out. It is soothing to the skin as well as the urinary tract, GI tract, and nervous system. It is a wonderful herb for soothing vāta and pitta in that it has nourishing and building qualities, which can subsequently increase kapha. It is helpful in cases of debility, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, general nerve pain, muscle weakness, and general exhaustion or burn out.
Wild yam and vidari have an affinity to the reproductive system and can help to balance hormones in bodies with all kinds of reproductive organs, making it helpful for people experiencing menopause, hormone therapy, or other kinds of hormonal shifts throughout the life cycle. It can support fertility by nourishing the ovum, toning the uterus, and promoting spermatogenesis, and also support lactation.
Turmeric (curcuma longa)
Anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, reduces toxins, improves digestion, strengthens joints and tendons, improves circulation.
Energy: heating
Effect On Doṣa: reduces vāta, pitta, kapha
Precautions:
Ginger (zingiber officinale)
Stimulates digestion, reduces gas, purifies blood, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, eases menstrual cramps, anti-nausea.
Energy: heating
Effect On Doṣa: reduces vāta and kapha, increases pitta
Precautions:
Cumin (cuminum cyminum)
Digestive aid, relieves gas, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, diuretic, flushes out toxins, contains antioxidants and iron.
Energy: mildly heating
Effect On Doṣa: reduces vāta and kapha, neutral for pitta
Precautions:
Coriander (coriandrum sativum)
Relieves gas, diuretic, soothes nausea, aids in treatment of urinary tract, anti-parasitic, calms muscle spasms.
Energy: cooling
Effect On Doṣa: reduces vāta, pitta, kapha
Precautions:
Black Pepper (Piper nigrum)
Stimulates digestion, loosens mucus, improves bioavailability of other herbs, stimulates sweat.
Energy: heating
Effect On Doṣa: reduces vāta and kapha, increases pitta
Precautions:
Nutmeg (myristica fragrans)
Aids digestion, soothes diarrhea and colitis, analgesic, anti-convulsant, sedative, stimulates menstruation, liver tonic.
Energy: heating
Effect On Doṣa: reduces vāta and kapha, increases pitta
Precautions:
Clove (syzygium aromaticum)
Aids digestion, analgesic, aphrodisiac, eases cough, asthma, and hiccups.
Energy: heating
Effect On Dosa: reduces vāta and kapha, increases pitta
Precautions:
Normal text.hello! this is an example of a pop up!
Normal text text here and all the info!!!
Created with
