Spring Time Allergy Relief

How to get relief from seasonal allergies naturally

Spring is a pretty time of the year. The flowers are blooming and the grass is starting to grow again. With all these things comes pollen floating in the air. Many people suffer from seasonal allergies.
Try some of these great tips on making your Spring a little bit less uncomfortable.
The practice of nasal cleansing – known as Neti – has been used by practitioners of Ayurveda and Yoga in India for thousands of years. Neti is used to relieve sinus and nasal congestion, infections, post nasal drip and headaches.

Using a Neti pot and Nasya is a traditional method to purify and revitalize the breathing passages. In the same way that massage nourishes and rejuvenates the skin, Neti and Nasya nourish and rejuvenate the breathing passages. This process can reduce allergies and decrease your chances of contracting upper respiratory infections. It is also useful before taking a plane flight to keep your breathing passages moist.

A Neti pot is a small container with a spout that can be gently placed into your nostrils through which warm salt water is administered. Usually made from a ceramic material, a typical Neti pot holds about 2/3 of cup of water to which 1/8 teaspoon of salt is added.

Place the spout of the Neti pot in one nostril and gently pour in the warm salt water. Your head should be positioned so the water runs out the other nostril. Any remaining liquid in your nasal passages is expelled and the process is repeated on the other side.

Quercetin

A natural plant that  helps stabilize cells and prevents them from releasing histamine. Quercetin also is a natural antioxidant that helps reduce  free radicals that cause cell damage.Food that contain quercetin  are:  Citrus fruits,buckwheat,  onions, apples, parsley, tea, tomatoes, broccoli, lettuce and wine are naturally high in quercetin, but allergy sufferers will most likely need to use supplements to build up enough of this compound to prevent attacks. The recommended dosage is about 1,000 milligrams a day, taken between meals. It’s best to start treatment six weeks before allergy season. Those with liver disease shouldn’t use quercetin, so please consult your doctor before using this or any other supplement — especially if you are pregnant or nursing.

Eat local honey

Eat local honey regularly. It will desensitize your body to the pollen in your own environment.

Citrus peel can help ease allergy symptoms, it has a mild antihistamine effect.

Chop up peels of oranges and lemons place in a pot  barely covering the fruit peels with water. Simmer, covered for 10 minutes. Sweeten the mixture to taste with honey and eat 1 teaspoon 3 times a day. This will help relieve hay fever.

Spicy Foods

Eating spicy foods such as horseradish, hot peppers and wasabi   increases the flow of blood and loosens the secretion of mucus in the sinuses.  Relieving the congestion will eliminate a headache.

Limit alcohol since it swells nasal and sinus membranes.

Acupressure

Pressing on acupuncture points on your face and back and spine can help alleviate the pressure  from the congestion.

People that are prone to sinus infections have a low level of antioxidants. So eat more fresh fruit and vegetables.

Use a ginger compress on your face to help with sinus drainage.

Grate  a large ginger root into 1 pint of boiling water and simmer for 15 minutes. Soak a washcloth in the warm tea and apply to your face.  Do not burn yourself with a cloth that is too hot.

Resources

Chopra Center

Readers Digest Best Remedies

Foods that help you heal after heart surgery

Great foods to eat after heart surgery

According to the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation, 152 thousand coronary artery bypass surgeries were performed in the United States in 2003. Coronary artery bypass surgery requires the surgeon to bypass blockages in the heart arteries to restore blood flow to the heart muscle.

Following surgery, your body will need extra protein to aid the healing process. The Cleveland Clinic recommends 0.8 to 1.0 g of protein per kilogram of body weight following bypass surgery. For example, a person who weighs 150 lbs. would require approximately 54 to 68 g of protein per day. Good dietary sources of protein include beans, soy, nuts, seeds, low-fat dairy products, fish, and lean meats.

After heart bypass surgery, you will need to include more heart-healthy fats in your diet such as omega-3 fatty acids. Oily fish such as salmon, tuna and mackerel contain high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. The Cleveland Clinic recommends you aim for two servings of oily fish a week to help keep your heart healthy following heart bypass surgery. Omega-3 fatty acids help to lower blood cholesterol levels.

What should your diet include?

• Aim for variety.
• Include as much fresh food as possible.
• Minimize your consumption of processed foods and fast food.
• Eat an abundance of fruits and vegetables.

An anti-inflammatory diet can help decrease chronic inflammation.  Inflammation  is a root cause of many serious diseases.

What foods are Anti Inflammatory?

Foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids such as

• salmon, tuna, sardines, cod
• flax seed
• walnuts

Spices and herbs

• turmeric, rosemary, ginger
• garlic and onions
• extra virgin olive oil  ( should be a bit bitter tasting)

Limit your sodium intake to 1,500 to 2,300mg a day following heart bypass surgery, advises the Cleveland Clinic.

The US. National Library of Medicine’s MedLine Plus service states that supplementation of omega-3 for one month prior to and one month after heart bypass surgery reduces the risk for postoperative blockage of blood vessels by 26 percent. Further research is needed to assess the effects of omega-3 supplementation prior to other types of surgery.

Eating a low fat and low cholesterol diet is also a good idea. Stopping harmful activities such as smoking or drinking alcohol increase your chance of a long and productive life.

For most people this requires at least nine collective servings of fruits and vegetables per day. Incorporate a variety of fresh, colorful fruits and vegetables into your diet routinely for maximum benefits. Varieties particularly rich in antioxidants include berries, citrus fruits, apples, broccoli,  cantaloupe, kiwi, papaya, mango, tomatoes, leafy greens, bell peppers, carrots and sweet potatoes.  Your plate should look like a rainbow of colors. Your goal everyday should be to eat natural sources of every color of the rainbow. It is also a good way for kids to eat healthy at an early age.

Red Fruits and Vegetables

Contain nutrients such as lycopene, ellagic acid, Quercetin, and Hesperidin, to name a few. These nutrients reduce the risk of prostate cancer, lower blood pressure, reduce tumor growth and LDL cholesterol levels, scavenge harmful free-radicals, and support join tissue in arthritis cases.

Orange and Yellow fruits and vegetables

Contain beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, flavonoids, lycopene, potassium, and vitamin C. These nutrients reduce age-related macula degeneration and the risk of prostate cancer, lower LDL cholesterol and blood pressure, promote collagen formation and healthy joints, fight harmful free radicals, encourage alkaline balance, and work with magnesium and calcium to build healthy bones.

Green vegetables and Fruit

Green vegetables contain chlorophyll, fiber, lutein, zeaxanthin, calcium, folate, vitamin C, calcium, and Beta-carotene. The nutrients found in these vegetables reduce cancer risks, lower blood pressure and LDL cholesterol levels, normalize digestion time, support retinal health and vision, fight harmful free-radicals, and boost immune system activity.

Blue and purple fruits and vegetables

Contain nutrients which include lutein, zeaxanthin, resveratrol, vitamin C, fiber, flavonoids, ellagic acid, and quercetin. Similar to the previous nutrients, these nutrients support retinal health, lower LDL cholesterol, boost immune system activity, support healthy digestion, improve calcium and other mineral absorption, fight inflammation, reduce tumor growth, act as an anticarcinogens in the digestive tract, and limit the activity of cancer cells.

Eat Whole grains.  Be sure that you buy whole grain not ground  wheat.  The ground wheat will also enter the blood stream faster than the slow release of the whole grain.  The whole grain also takes longer to digest so it will keep you feeling full longer. Nutrient-rich whole grain foods include steel cut and old-fashioned oatmeal, 100 percent whole grain bread, whole wheat pasta, pearled barley, quinoa, air-popped popcorn, brown rice and wild rice.

Lean protein sources, on the other hand, promote wellness, strength and recovery. Examples of lean protein-rich foods include lean meats, skinless chicken and turkey breasts, low-fat dairy products, legumes and fish. Select low-fat cooking techniques, such as grilling, baking, broiling and steaming, most often. Fatty fish, such as albacore tuna, salmon, herring, mackerel, halibut and lake trout, provide omega-3 fatty acids — healthy fats associated with improved heart health. The American Heart Association recommends fatty fish at least 2 to 3 times per week for optimum wellness.

Resources

http://www.drweil.com

www.livestrong.com

Worlds Healthiest Foods

disabled-world.com

picture from

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02012/anti-inflammatory-diet

www.sundijo.com

Ghee

Ghee

Ghee is essentially clarified butter, which means it has had the milk solids and water removed. It has been used in Ayurvedic medicine to heal ailments from digestive complaints to memory loss and  constipation and ulcers . Although these claims have yet to be proven by clinical research, ghee may possess certain qualities that maybe  beneficial.  It doesn’t need to be refrigerated because it contains no milk solids (does not contain lactose). If you are lactose intolerant, you may not be sensitive to ghee, making it an ideal item to keep in your cabinet.

Ghee has a higher “smoke point” than butter, which means that it can be cooked to a higher temperature before beginning to burn. This trait makes it ideal for cooking and sauteing. 

Ghee has a distinctive and fragrant flavor that is different from pure butter but it consists entirely of fat, so it’s not healthy to eat in large amounts.One tablespoon of ghee has approximately 135 calories, all of which come from fat. That small amount of ghee has 15 g of total fat and 9 g of saturated fat, or 45 percent of the recommended daily value. A tablespoon of ghee also has 45 mg cholesterol, or 15 percent of the daily value. Ghee is free of sodium, carbohydrates, fiber, sugar and protein.

How to Make Ghee

To make ghee yourself, melt butter in a pan and bring the melted butter to a boil. Turn down the heat and simmer the butter for about eight minutes.  Milk solids will sink to the bottom of the pan and when it turns light brown it is ready Take off heat Ghee can burn in this stage easily and will smell nutty. Let ghee cool till warm.  The foam on the top can be used on vegetables or rice. Strain them out with a towel or cheesecloth, and keep the strained ghee in an airtight container. Ghee is said to improve in medicinal qualities as it ages.

Resource

http://www.chopra.com/ghee

and Ayurvedic cooking for self healing

Gluten Free Flours

Sorghum Flour ( Gluten Free )

This a great flour to add to your gluten free pantry. It’s flavor is similar to wheat four so it makes a great wheat flour substitute.
High in protein and insoluble fiber. It digests slowly so it keeps you feeling full longer.
Rice flours can cause recipes to be gummy , sorghum flour produces a texture that closely that of wheat. It also has a mild taste unlike other gluten free flours like soy flour .

What are the best Gluten Free flours to use? It depends on what you are making and your personal taste. below is a list of flours and their uses.

Almond Flour: This flour is a staple in most gluten free kitchens. It has a nutty flavor and add moistness, and density to baked goods.

Amaranth: High in fiber and protein. A great source of calcium.

Brown Rice Flour: A great supplementary flour, since the flour is more dense it is best used when combined with teff, buckwheat or sorghum flours.

Buckwheat Flour: Despite it name it is not a grain; buckwheat is a seed from an herb. It has a nutty flavor and makes almost a  perfect substitute for wheat flour when used in pancakes, muffins, and cakes. Mix with a starchier flour such as cornstarch or tapioca flour to get dough that rolls out better.

Besan Flour (Chickpea):  It is high in protein. Works beautifully as a main flour–a lot like sorghum or buckwheat. It can be more expensive.  Good for soups, sauces or coating or batters.  I do not like the taste of this flour so I do not use it.  The flavor is too strong

Coconut Flour:  High in fiber and protein. Aids in digestive health.  Provides a natural sweet flavor when used in baking. The high fiber content makes the flour absorbing capacity. So more liquids are needed. A little of this flour goes a long way

Masa ( Corn Flour): Traditionally used in tamales and tortillas, this flour also works as a base for bread, muffins, biscuits. It provides a light corn flavor.

Corn Starch: It isn’t only a great thickener in soups, stews and sauces; it also works similarly to tapioca flour in recipes. Check labels to make sure there is no hidden gluten.  Also try  arrowroot instead

Millet Flour: Has a mild flavor that is slightly nutty and sweet.  Lighter colored, slightly drier flour, it should not be used on its own. Good for pizza crust and flat breads.

Oat Flour (Gluten Free): Some gluten intolerant people can not eat oat products. Oat flour works similarly to sorghum in baked goods, but produces a more “wheat-like” result.  Great flour for everyday cooking like cookies, pancakes, and breads. Be sure though that the brand you purchase is 100% gluten free.
Polenta: Staple of Northern Italy

Potato Flakes: Makes a good addition to gluten free bread, giving moisture and body. It also makes a great coating for chicken and fish instead of bread crumbs. Try adding 1/4 cup to other dry ingredients. It can also be added to meatloaf or meatballs  or any recipe that requires bread crumbs.

Potato Starch: Don’t confuse it with potato flour.  It has the same texture to tapioca flour and cornstarch when used in baking. It is usually used to thickening sauces, it tends to produce gummy results. It also can be blended into flours for muffins, quick breads for a moist tender texture.

Quinoa Flour: Has a delightful nutty flavor and is very healthy. It is high in fiber and protein. It is a light flour so it does not weigh down the recipe. Great for pasta, cookies, cakes, and muffins. It pairs well with almond flour, buckwheat flour.

Sorghum Flour: A very good substitute for wheat flour in many recipes, especially if combined with other, more denser, flours. this flour will not leave your baked goods gummy.Great to use in all baked goods.

Soy Flour: Has a strong nutty flavor.  Is high in protein. It is best used in small quantities and also with foods with strong flavors such as chocolate or coffee. I do not use this four because of its strong flavor.

Sweet White Rice Flour (Mochiko or Glutinous Flour): This flour is great for adding moisture and density to baked goods. Used alone produces a sticky result. It makes great white sauces like bechamel like for macaroni and cheese. Also used in mo chi ice cream. Also is a great thickener and binder.

Tapioca Flour:  It is also called tapioca “starch”. Can be used like cornstarch to thicken sauces, and freezes well… although it does impart a “shiny” look. It adds chewiness, crisp crust to baked goods. Great used in fruit pies. Can become lumpy if not mixed well

Teff Flour: This is an all around good flour that works in many types of baked goods. It has a stronger nutty flavor and darker color. A nutritional powerhouse it is high in protein, fiber and iron, but it is oftentimes hard to locate in supermarkets. Best used in cookies,  muffins and breads. It come in white , red but white is more nutritionally superior. It gives a spongy texture to the baked goods.

Soy Flour: Can be used like brown rice or corn flour. Has a heavy bean flavor and works best if used in combination with a moist flour, such as tapioca or sweet white rice flour.

White Rice Flour: Slightly gritty. is good in pancakes an crepes. It is not recommended for yeast breads

Gums: powders that stabilize, bind, and thicken

Guar Gum: Used in cold foods like ice cream, pudding, and salad dressing

Xanthan Gum: Primarily used as a binder in gluten free baking, it also sneaks its way in prepackaged foodstuffs for its magical abilities to keep oils from separating. Careful when working with this stuff… a little goes a long way, and it is prone to becoming extremely slimy.

What to do with the pulp from juicing

What to do with the pulp from juicing

Juicing has become very popular.  It is used to slim down, detoxify or just be healthier, more Americans are buying juicers. Some want to boost their fresh-produce consumption in a time-efficient, taste bud-friendly way. Others are going on a multi day juice cleanse, a diet composed of solely fruit and vegetable juice, to jump-start weight loss or a lifestyle change.

I just started juicing everyday and it bothers me that after I get done putting all my organic vegetables in my juicer I am left with a container full of fiber rich pulp.  I have a problem with just throwing that into my compost pile.  I thought that there had to be another way to use this healthy  pulp that would also make it more cost effective and for my family to get the nutrition from these great foods.   Here are some ideas on how to use your juicer pulp in healthy everyday recipes!

Add into any baked good recipe.  Cookies or in a cake .  Add your carrots to your oatmeal raisin cookies and it will give extra moisture and a great taste. Make a spice cake and add you extra pulp.
Add any veggie pulp into a dip, soup or sauce.  Add it to your guacamole.

If you juice berries or fruit it can be added to your pancake batter.
Use fruit pulp, especially berries, in homemade frozen fruit pops.   Add the pulp to lemon aide and pour into Popsicle trays. This will make a great summer time treat.  Or take your kids favorite yogurt and add some fruit pulp. I like to use Greek yogurt for the added protein and no sugar added. You can add agave to sweeten if desired. Put in regular ice trays and freeze or just eat

The  pulp can also be added into meatballs, meatloaf or burgers patties to give it some moisture and a change in flavor. Carrot and apple work well.

Making a chili, stew or soup ?   Add your pulp. Kale, carrots, and celery are great additions.

Add vegetable pulp to a pot of water and make your own vegetable broth.
Add it to your lasagna and spaghetti. Mix it right into the tomato sauce for  a chunky sauce or add it to your layers in your lasagna.  Kale, spinach, celery and carrots are great choices.

In cooking school we added  left over diced vegetables to the rolls or biscuits and called them garden rolls. This is an easier way and everyone always loves the different twist to a warm favorite.    Add some celery, onion, garlic or spinach pulp in with your bread,  muffin or biscuit recipe to give it added flavor!

Add to your scrambled eggs or omelet in the morning.

Make your own juicer pulp crackers. You can use a dehydrator or bake in the oven

A great addition to the crackers is

1 block of cream cheese + 1 bowl of veggie pulp = delicious spread for sandwiches or crackers

Spread it onto a tortilla and roll it up. Experiment with  some herbs or garlic or some other thing to spice it up a bit.

Make your own dog treats, and throw some pulp in.   Check out my dog biscuit recipe!
Freeze your pulp in ice cube trays and add to your smoothies instead of ice. This works great with veggies and  fruit.

The ideas are endless once you start thinking about it.  Use your imagination and who knows what you will think up.

Please share with me if you have any great ways to use your left over pulp

Dealing with ADHD naturally

Dealing with ADHD naturally

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Before taking medications a change in your diet and daily routine can help a person deal with ADD or ADHD in a natural way. Many people have found that the Feingold Diet has been a beneficial treatment with treating ADHD. The diet is very strict in the foods that can not be eaten. Many people start off slowly removing the foods from the diet so that they are not overwhelmed by all the changes. Yoga and meditation are great was to calm the mind and the body. It also reduces stress and impulsiveness  helps regulate sleep patterns, and decreases depression. Exercise (swimming is a great option)  also releases a natural increases the level of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. These are the chemicals in the brain that regulate mood, anger, alertness, focus, and attention. This is similar to how medications like Ritalin work but done naturally. Music therapy also works to calm the mind and reduce stress.

Foods that should be eaten on a daily basis are foods that are high in

Zinc

Calf’s liver,  Oysters, fresh Crimini mushroooms,  Spinach

Summer Squash,   Asparagus, Pumpkin Seeds,  Yogurt ( Coconut)

Green Peas,  Broccoli

Magnesium

Pumpkin Seeds,   Spinach, Swiss Chard, Sesame Seeds, Halibut

Black Bean, Sunflower Seeds, Cashews, Almonds

Potassium

Swiss Chard, Lima Beans, Potatoes

Yams, Spinach, Papaya

Pinto Beans, Lentils, Kidney Beans

Iron

Lentils,  Spinach, Venison

Sesame Seeds,  Garbanzo Beans

Lima Beans,  Olives, Navy Beans

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Sardines, salmon, flax seeds and walnuts

Vitamin B -6

Tuna,   Chicken, Turkey

Venison, Potatoes,Cod, Sunflower Seeds

Halibut, Spinach,Banana

Vitamin C with Flax seed twice a day

Cod Liver Oil

I Like to use BLUE ICE™ Royal Butter Oil/Fermented Cod Liver Oil Blend

Foods that should be avoided or eliminated from the diet are

Processed foods

Artificial coloring, sweeteners, flavors and preservatives

foods with Salicylates such as berries, apples, clove, oranges, peaches,grapes, peppers, prunes , plums, and tomatoes

Some people also have a problem with eggs, wheat,milk,chocolate, corn and soy.

After eliminating from the diet for 3 months foods can be reintroduced slowly. If a reaction happens eliminate the food from the diet.

 Get enough rest and choose foods that are warm, cooked, nourishing, and easy to digest. Sweet berries, fruits, small beans, rice, and all nuts are good foods to have a part of a balanced diet after the ADHD   is under control.

Sources

Worlds Healthiest Foods

Live strong

Feingold

Natural ADHD Solutions

• Also visit www.blh-homeopath.com – for more information on Beth, and homeopathy 
• Download your free, 67 page, comprehensive guide to the natural treatment of ADHD. Informative, factual, but easy-to-understand – this resource will teach you about effective, safe, drug-free treatments for ADHD.

Ayurvedic healing

Perfect Health

Tomorrow I start my class for perfect health. I am Studying at the Chopra Center to become a Perfect Health teacher for Deepak Chopra. My first class is Panchakarma. What is Panchakarma? Panchakarma is the ultimate mind-body healing experience for detoxifying the body, strengthening the immune system, and restoring balance and well-being. It is one the most effective healing modality in Ayurvedic Medicine. It promotes Detoxification and Rejuvenation. It is recommended on a seasonal basis, as well as when an individual feels out of balance or is experiencing illness

Benefits

Eliminate toxins and toxic conditions from your body and mind
Restore your constitutional balance improving health and wellness
Strengthen your immune system and
become more resistant to illness
Reverse the negative effects of stress on your body and mind thereby slowing the aging process
Enhance your self-reliance, strength, energy, vitality and mental clarity
Bring about deep relaxation and sense of well-being

My ten day retreat will consist of

Step One: Preparatory Procedures

Panchakarma begins with oleation – applying and ingesting pure essential oils in order to loosen and mobilize accumulated toxins or ama. This step includes supplementation with organic seeds, as well as deep, soothing daily ayurvedic massage treatments using herbalized oils.

A vital aspect of this step is Swedana, a Sankskrit word meaning “that which produces heat in the system.” Specific steam and warm oil therapies are used to heat the body. This process helps open the body’s circulation channels (srotas) and allows toxins to flow more easily from the tissues to the GI tract for elimination. Swedana also relaxes the body, releasing tension and allowing impurities to be eliminated through the sweat glands.

Step Two: Elimination and Release

Once the body’s toxins have been mobilized, gentle therapies are used to release them from the body. The treatment includes a sequence of daily bastis – a therapeutic process in which medicated oils and herbal preparations are used to flush toxins from the intestinal tract. Bastis are often referred to as enemas but actually offer many more healing benefits than a simple colon cleanse. During a basti, the herbalized oils enter the deeper tissues and eliminate fat-soluble toxins that can’t be dislodged with standard enemas.

This stage of panchakarma also includes nasya, an ayurvedic treatment that gently cleanses the upper respiratory tract and sinuses. This soothing process uses pure herbalized oils to improve the flow of life energy and help you breathe freely and easily.

Step Three: Rejuvenation

The final step of panchakarma is rasayana,a term that means “that which is nourishing.” Once the toxins have been released, this is a critical time to begin replenishing the body with natural foods and herbs, revitalizing massage treatments, and healing practices such as meditation and yoga.

Abhyanga is an individually prepared herbal-oil massage designed to deeply penetrate the skin, relax the mind-body, break up impurities, and stimulate both arterial and lymphatic circulation. It enhances the ability of nutrients to reach starved cells and allows for the removal of stagnant waste. The desired result is a heightened state of awareness that will direct the internal healing system of the body.
Shirodhara is administered by gently and methodically pouring warm herbalized oil over the forehead, synchronizing brain waves and profoundly coordinating and calming the mind, body, and spirit.

Garshana treatments consist of a dry lymphatic skin brushing with either wool or a silk glove. This enhances circulation and cleans the skin so that subsequent oil and herbal treatments can penetrate deeply into freshly cleansed pores of the skin.

Swedana is an individually herbalized steam bath, during which the head and the heart are kept cool while the body is heated to remove mental, emotional and physical toxins lodged deeply within the tissues. The cool head and heart provide a sense of calm and openness while the therapeutic steam over the entire body can penetrate and cleanse deeply, without the body becoming overheated and stressed.

Pizichili is a continuous stream of warm herbalized oil soothingly poured over the body by two Ayurvedic therapists as they massage the body in perfect unison. The warmth of the oil and synchronicity of the massage combine for a deep tissue cleansing while supporting a heightened state of awareness that transcends description.

Udvartana is a deeply penetrating herbal paste lymphatic massage. This powerful exfoliating treatment magically Restore Your Natural Radiance conditions the skin while pressing stagnant lymphatic toxins out of the body.

Five Senses Therapy treatment combines the therapeutic effect of all five senses working in concert. Sound therapies are specific Vedic hymns and mantras recommended for each imbalance. Touch therapy enlivens specific vital points on the body called marma points. Taste therapy uses certain herbal medicines. Sight uses Ayurvedic color therapy, and smell is accessed with combinations of rare aromatics. The effect is a harmonizing of all the senses to bring one’s awareness to the source of thought and feeling within the heart.

Basti is an herbal enema specially prepared to pull toxins out of the colon. This is the final stage of each daily Panchakarma treatment. The freshly loosened impurities from each day of treatment are flushed out of the body via the effects of the basti. The basti also transports Ayurvedic medicines into the blood and tissues in order to trans-form the memory of damaged and toxic cells. It is considered one of the most important and most powerful aspects of the Panchakarma treatment.

Nasya consists of individually prescribed herbs and oil drops, inhaled through the nose, which clear the sinuses of excessive mucus. It is also an important therapy when medicating the central nervous system. This treatment combats the deep dryness that exists at the root of many respiratory and allergic conditions.

Shiro-Abhyanga-Nasya is a luxurious combination of a deep head/neck/shoulder massage and facial lymphatic massage, followed by deep inhalation of therapeutic aromatic steam, and a nasal and sinus nasya with herbalized nose drops. This popular treatment is an invaluable tool balancing most head, neck and respiratory disorders.

Pinda Swedana is a deep cleansing treatment where rice boiled in milk and herbs is massaged deeply into the tissues and joints. The treatment is deeply relaxing and rejuvenating as well as powerfully detoxifying.

By the end of my detoxification I will feel renewed and ready to tackle the new year.  I will share my experience with you as I journey towards Perfect Health.

Sources

Chopra Center

Ayurvedic healing