Is "Vata" Giving You A Nudge?

I love Ayurveda. It's what propelled me into the world of health & healing, and well, it just makes perfect sense.

In a very brief nutshell, according to Ayurveda, there are 3 major energies/qualities that are present in all of life:
Vata, pitta & kapha.

Every person, plant, animal, season, time of day, color, food, herb... you name it - they're ruled by & contain these three "doshas" in some way, shape or form.

Right now we are in the thick of "vata" season which runs from the end of September until around March.

Vata is made of the elements air & either. This makes the energy of vata very changeable & sometimes erratic. Vata energy is un-grounded, dry, cold, erratic, creative, fast paced, excited and irregular.

We can see the energy of Vata this time of year in our environment as the leaves have changed, dried out and fallen off of the trees. The air is cold & dry, and the wind that tends to predominate this time of year gives us the feeling of that un-grounded erratic, excited movement of vata.

When we are in the season of a specific dosha, it tends to be the case that the same dosha within us will become out of balance if we're not mindful. So because we're in vata season presently, we're more apt to see vata imbalances in our lives.

Because vata rules & controls the balance of the other doshas, pitta & kapha when we focus on supporting and balancing our vata dosha as best we can, it also serves our other 2 doshas as well- yay!

So what does imbalanced vata dosha look like in our day to day lives?

Vata rules the colon first and foremost in our physical body as well as having a strong connection to our nervous system- which let's face it touches every aspect of our body!

If vata is giving you a "nudge" that it needs some lovin' care it may look like:

-constipation & or IBS with constipation
-digestive cramping/gas
-sharp pains in the body
-dry, cracking joints & arthritic conditions
-dry hair, skin & nails
-irregular menses/painful menses
-spasms in the body (ie: muscle cramps, restless leg syndrom)
-insomnia/unsettled sleep
-anxiety/worried/fearful mental state
-hyperthyroidism
-exhastion/adrenal fatigue
-random weight loss
-sensitivity to sound

Here are some sure ways to bring your vata to a more balanced & peaceful state:

-Follow a routine
Vata is erratic so adhering to even just a little bit of a routine will help to ground this "run around with your head cut off" energy that vata rules. Simple things like when to wake up & retire is a good place to start.

-Eat
 Skipping meals is one of the worst things to do during vata season. Get 3 meals in every day - at the same time of day preferably and stick to naturally sweet (yams, corn, chicken, rice), salty (celery, seaweeds, olives, unprocessed sea salt), and sour (cranberries, pomegranate, citrus, sauerkraut, kombucha) foods. These flavors calm & support vata dosha.  Oh- and cook your food! Vata needs all it can get for warmth & fire as it's already cold & dry. Raw foods are best left out of the picture especially if you veer toward gas and hard bunny pellet like stools (typcial vata). Think soups, casseroles, stir fries & paninis this time of year!

-Oil up
On the inside & outside! Remember vata is dry and brittle so adding moisture in all forms is key. Healthy fats/oil are one of the best things to lubricate vata. Start eating more avocados, unrefined oils like coconut, olive, hemp, flax, butter & ghee, nutbutters & soaked seeds..

Abhyanga is the external application of oil to the skin before showering each day - or at least to your feet before you retire.
 Sesame oil is the more nourishing and grounding for vata, but coconut or sunflower is a little bit lighter and more easily absorbable if you find sesame to heavy.
Simple apply a thin coating of oil from head to toe by pouring quarter sized amounts of oil into your palm and rubbing in brisk up and down motions into your skin toward your heart. Hop in the shower & let the heat & water open your pores up to absorb the oil into your skin- no need to wash off. Just rub it in- remember oil is a wonderful cleanser:) Use soap & water on your armpits & nether regions only.

If nighttime works better for you simply apply a quarter to silver dollar amounts of oil to each foot, rubbing it in thoroughly. Put on socks if you have fancy sheets, and off to sleepy land  you go. Rubbing  your feet can be extremely nourishing & calming to the nervous system- this is a must for those experiencing insomnia & anxiety daily.

Relax & Breathe
Because people high in vata imbalance are usually running around like a crazy person ( you might not even notice this because you're so used to it!) Stopping, sitting and breathing can be so very important- for everyone- but especially when vata dosha is running a muck.
Whether it's making time to just breathe 5-10 deep full inhales & exhales first thing in the morning before you even get out of bed, or just before you close your eyes to go to sleep, intentional breathing is so important.

What is intention breathing? It means bringing awareness to your breath, to breathe on purpose. Obviously, we don't need to think about breathing, but when we do, it becomes that much more powerful & healing to our bodies. When we breathe we are literally communicating to all the cells in our body, especially our nervous system, that all is well. Stuck in traffic? In line at the grocery store? Breathe, breathe, breathe.

Move Your Body-But Not Too Much!
People with a "cranky" vata dosha often work out TOO much. Veer toward movement & exercise that is calming and grounding Yoga, Tai Chi, swimming, walking or lite jogging. Try not to be excessive as if you have a high vata presence in your life- you're already in overdrive! It's time to slow down... just a tad:)

Drink Water
Vata is dry remember?  1/2 your body weight in water is a must - but especially during the Winter/vata season.
Add fresh grated or chopped ginger  to taste & lime with warm water first thing in the morning before you drink or eat ANYTHING else. This will wake up your "digestive fire" or agni, warm up your circulation, clear out toxins, boost metabolism, and give your colon a little "push" to get things moving in the AM even BEFORE that cup of coffee!
Drink this all day if you like - but please do get that water in (  No ice please! Save that for the Summer:))

Play
Vata is creative, imaginative & innovative and loves to learn & explore. Make time for this- cause we're all still kids at heart after all.
Dance, craft, cook, read, take a class, create! Do whatever feeds your spirit. Give your inner vata child a place to let loose & be free.

Here's to happy vata season! xo Amanda


Questions? Comments? Curiosities? Don't hesitate.



Want more? Sign up for my e-newsletter HERE to receive health and wellness tips, recipes and musings..

*The information shared on this blog is for educational purposes only.  If you are pregnant, nursing, have  serious health condition or are taking prescriptive medication please consult your healthcare practitioner before using herbal supplements. 

Digging Roots, Building Immunity & Turning Inward

Being in the dirt has always calmed me & brought me peace (well, I am a Taurus).  And while I know getting elbow deep in garden beds isn't everyone's idea of a blissful afternoon there is definitely something about the Autumn season that brings us back into ourselves.  It makes us turn inward, dig deep into our spirits and assess things.

It doesn't only affect humans, all of Nature participates in this action in a way- the plants retreat back into their literal roots to sleep & await the Spring, as do the animals who hibernate through the colder season.

While Spring prompts you to BURST FORTH and create, play, explore, Fall prompts you to slow down, regroup, ground & turn inward.

Here are some of my favorite tips to ease you into the Autumn/Winter months to encourage a happier, healthier mind, body & spirit this coming Spring!

~Eat roots! Rooty veggies are super grounding, nourishing and help you to be very present, grounded and give us that super cozy full feeling in our bellies that we crave this time of year. Try a hearty stew, cassarole or bake!

~Make time for breath/meditation. Nothing grounds & centers you more than your own breath. And it's free! Whether it's 5 minutes a day of quiet breath work & reflection or simply remembering to breathe with intention throughout your day, it makes all the difference.

~Use Mantra. LAM (pronounced like "lama") is the Sanskrit sound for the root chakra.  The root chakra represents our foundation, what supports us, where we come from & our stability.  Chanting this sound in your mind upon waking in the morning or before resting at night will strengthen & balance your root chakra.

~ Make time for reflection. Journaling, meditation & prayer are all ways to clear our heads and make space for peace and quiet. When we still our minds, we get the most insight and inspiration for whatever is going on in our lives. Quietude is an essential part of  work of introspection.

~ Have fun with crystals & aromatherapy! One of my favorite ways to ground and center myself throughout my day is with a crystal in my pocket and an aromatic spritz in my space & on my face!
Crystals that can be helpful for grounding & strengthening the root chakra include: red calcite, petrified wood, pyrite, smokey quartz, red jasper & carnelian- or really any other red or dark colored stone. My favorite essential oils to ground (lately! My preferenceis always changing:)) are Patchouli, Palo Santo, Cinnamon, Cedarwood & Spruce. Think earthy, woodsy smells. These can be combined well with floral scents like Lavender & Clary Sage. But truly it's all about what scents ground YOU.
Whatever you decide use no more than 10-15 drops per ounce container you may be using to spritz yourself. A simple spray bottle filled with water or witch hazel does the trick! Have questions? Don't ever hesitate. (Btw. crystals, aromatherapy, prayer, Mantra, meditation & prayer go REALLY great together:))

~ Move. Nothing brings you more out of your chatter box brain and into your body than movement. Run, skip, dance, hula hoop, ski, snow shoe, ice skate, practice yoga, kick box, belly dance.... whatever speaks to your soul at the moment. But do move, especially during the time of year when it's extra challenging to get yourself up and moving! You'll be glad you did!

~ Make a healing root tonic! This tonic will help boost immunity, cleanse the liver & energize your whole body from the inside out!

Winter Tonic Recipe:
Equal Parts Dried or fresh:
Dandelion rt,
Burdock rt,
Sarsaparilla rt,
Ginger rt,
Yellow Dock rt,
 Braags Apple Cider Vinegar
32oz mason jar
*Optional (Horseradish, Turmeric, Solomon’s Seal, Astragalus, Ginseng…)
If the roots you use are fresh grate or chop them & fill the jar 1/2 way up. If dried fill the jar just about 1/4 way. Follow directions for tinctures above. Pour acv over the herbs just about to the top and poke around with a chop stick. Do your best to eliminate all air bubbles. Once all air bubbles have dispersed fill your jar the rest of the way up, cap tightly and store in a dark cool place for 6-8weeks. Shake daily and give it your love and good intentions! After after 6-8 weeks strain with a cheesecloth into a clean & sanitized 32 oz jar and store in a dark cool place. Take 1 tbs (adult) or 1 tsp (child, elder) daily for most benefit!

Follow all or some of these tips and I promise they'll serve you well through the Fall & Winter for a more grounded, balanced & rejuvenated you this Spring!

xo Amanda


Want more? Sign up for my e-newsletter HERE to receive health and wellness tips, recipes and musings..

*The information shared on this blog is for educational purposes only.  If you are pregnant, nursing, have  serious health condition or are taking prescriptive medication please consult your healthcare practitioner before using herbal supplements. 

My Top 11 Tips To Ride Out "Vata Season" As Your Healthiest, Happiest You.

"Vata", "Pitta" and "Kapha" are the 3 energies or "doshas" recognized in Ayurveda that show themselves in all areas of our lives including our physical, mental & spiritual selves, time of day, foods, herbs and even the seasons of the year.  Vata Season begins from now until late winter.

Vata energy is erratic,  cold, dry, creative, kinetic, fast, changeable & excited.

We can see these elements in the environment around us in the Fall especially if you live in the North East as the leaves change, the breeze picks up, the temperature drops and the fast pace of the impending Holidays are inching our way.

In the physical body Vata rules the colon & elimination as well the nervous system. In the mind Vata rules creativity & love of knowledge as well as fear, anxiety & worry.


Each one of us has Vata energy within us, just in varying degrees. If you have a lot of Vata energy in your physical and mental make up, it may look like this:

You may experience:
*Sensitivity to sound
*Dry hair, skin & nails
*Cracking achy joints
*Tendency to rush from project to project, running late for appointments
*Aversion to cold
*Scattered thoughts & forgetfulness
*You love reading books & have 5+ books started but none finished...yet:)
*Forget to eat & skip meals
*Insomnia or poor sleep
*Tendency toward worry & fearful thoughts
*Gas, constipation, dry hard stools
*Painful, erratic menstrual cycles
*Muscular spasms

Whether you have a predominance of Vata in your individual make up or not, when we move into Vata season, "Vata energy" is heightened in all of us.

During this time  it's in our best interest to tame and balance our own Vata tendencies as best we can as we move through the Fall & Winter season.

How do we make peace with Vata?

Think all things warm, naturally sweet, cozy, grounded, easy, organized, well oiled, gentle, planned, peaceful...

1. Eat cooked food.

Put away the salad, get out the soup. Remember we are avoiding adding more of the cold, dry, raw Vata energy.
If you must have your raw greens, be sure to dress them with a good amount of oil in vinegar as this will make it easier and "warmer" for you to digest during Vata Season.

Naturally sweet, sour & salty foods are best for balancing Vata.

2. Turn up the heat.

Cook with warming spices: ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, cumin & turmeric... Don't skimp:)

These herbs are packed with antioxidants, antimicrobials, taste great and will aid in circulation, detox, digestion and energy.


3. Nix the Ice & HYDRATE

Drink Warm (or at least room temp.) water with fresh ginger.
Add lemon or lime too if you like.

This is the perfect beverage to amp up digestion, metabolism and move waste from the body. If nothing else get at lease 1 8oz. mug of ginger tea in before for you have anything else in the AM.


Whatever you do keep hydrated 1/2 your body weight in ounces ya hear?



4. Oil Up.

Self massage is one of the best gifts you can give yourself.

Whether you can manage a quick head to toe oil rub down before hopping in the shower (any unrefined oil will do- warmed or room temp. is up to you), or if you can only manage to fit in a nice foot rub before hopping in bed at night- do it.

Abhyanga (self massage) soothes the nerves, strengthens the skin & aids in daily detox.

Eating healthy fats is also a key component in keeping your physical body well lubricated during the dry, cold vata season.

Focus on butter or ghee (clarified butter), avocados, olive oil, coconut in all its forms, hemp seeds, flax seeds, cod, mackerel, salmon and supplementing with Omega 3's.


5. Follow a Routine.

Your body wants a routine. Set alarms if you have to. Your most important meal is lunch- make it your largest and eat it before 2pm.

Our natural clock is at it's happiest rising no later than 7am and going to bed no later than 11pm.

This may sound wacky but give it a whirl.

Waking and retiring at specific times allows our bodies to detoxify & rejuvenate as we sleep.

Staying up past 11, is when we'll often get our "second wind". I know you know what I'm talking about:)
This "second wind" is really the energy our bodies need to allow our organs to detox- not have a night cap and answer a few more emails.

Eat consistently & sleep consistently. Try it you'll like it:)



6. Go Easy On the Caffeine. 

Drinking too much caffeine isn't great for anyone, but especially those who have high Vata.

Try switching to green tea or yerba mate a few days a week- or go super green and try one of my favorite herbal allies Nettle- She'll give you the energy boost you need without the caffeine- MY PROMISE.


7.Make Friends With the Neti Pot.

It's really not scary.

It's something you just have to try, and then you'll realize how simple and easy it is.

The neti flushes excess mucous, microbes & bacteria from our sinus & nasal passages keeping all those nasty bugs & flus at bay.

Try it you'll be happy you did-especially those of you who are "sinus" imbalance prone.


8. Try Yoga.

Yoga (there are lots of kinds- so try more than one!) is a wonderfully grounding, peaceful yet powerful and cardio pumping practice (if you do it right!).

 I find it particularly helpful for bringing more balance to the erratic, chaotic and sometimes crazy energy Vata can instill in our lives.

If you can't make it to class try a youtube video- it's free! And if not yoga, move your body in SOME way, any way for at least 15 min daily.

9. STOP and BREATHE

Whether it's a 30 minute meditation or 5 minutes upon waking or before you go to bed, intentional breath is of the utmost importance.

 Anytime you think of it, stop and breath with intention- especially when you're stressed waiting in traffic, in line getting groceries or when you're have a difficult discussion. It makes all the difference.



10. Go Green:

Here are my favorite Vata herbal allies:(found at any good natural food store)
   

*Ashwagandha: take 8oz of milk (any milk will do your pick) a tsp of ashwagandha, add a pinch of cinnamon, cardamom & turmeric and bring to a simmer. Turn off the heat add a bit of maple syrup or raw honey to taste and drink before bed. This brew will relax you to sleep while it rebuilds your reserves as you rest.

 
  *Gotu Kola, Rose, Sacred Basil Tea: So to your natural foods store and buys these herbs in bulk. Add equal parts of each herb and mix together. Add 1 tsp per 8oz mug steeped at least 15min. This blend will ground, center & bring a peaceful disposition to your mind & body.

 
  *Triphala: Probably the weirdest tasting of all Ayurvedic herbs but one of the most powerful. If you feel really out of whack and need a "reboot", take 1/2 tsp of triphala powder in 4oz of warm water drunk before bed. It will cleanse you from head to toe & is a gentle laxative. Please only use triphala when you are thoughtfully eating as well ie: cutting out sugar, alcohol, processed foods etc. as it's meant to aid in a gentle detox.



11. Breathe & Ride the Wave


Fall is a crazy busy time- no doubt. The most important thing we can do is focus on enjoying it right?

The country fairs, the foliage, the holiday cooking, time spent with friends and family. Soak it all up, leave the stress behind and breathe.

The more we breathe with intention and surrender to the moment - whatever it brings the more we can fully enjoy our crazy lives to the fullest.  Focus on what's important and focus on what feeds your spirit. Forget about the rest:)


May your Vata Season be warm, cozy, peaceful, healthy and bliss-filled! xo Amanda


Want more? Sign up for my e-newsletter HERE to receive health and wellness tips, recipes and musings..

*The information shared on this blog is for educational purposes only.  If you are pregnant, nursing, have  serious health condition or are taking prescriptive medication please consult your healthcare practitioner before using herbal supplements. 

Elderberry & Friends to the Rescue! Preventative Health for Cold & Flu Season

Herbal syrups are really just super duper potent teas with sweetener added. Traditionally white sugar is used which is what gives syrups the thick viscous consistency  that you find with ordinary cough and cold syrups.   I prefer to keep as much sugar out of the picture as possible, as all forms of sugar invite inflammation and disease into the body and slow our immune function. SO our syrups will not be thick.  For this recipe I offer raw honey as your sweeter because I feel it's one of the most healing sweeteners available to us.

Here is an outline of the herbs you can decide to use in your syrup. Feel free to keep it simple and just use Elderberry or decide to use all six!

Elderberry: Sambucus canadensis

Known for it's antiviral, immune enhancing properties, diaphoretic (encourages sweating) and expectorant (helps us to clear out our lungs) properties.

Ginger Root: Zingiber officinale

Known for it's warming & circulatory functions, aids in detoxification, digestive support & it's anti-spasmodic (calms spasms & cramps) property. 

Tulsi/Holy Basil:Ocimum tenuiflorum 

An adaptogen known for it's digestive support, mood enhancing/balancing, warming properties & adrenal & immune support.

**Lemon Balm: Melissa officinalis

Known for its anti-microbial & anti-viral functions, anti-spasmodic, anxiety & stress support , digestive & liver supportive properties.

Stinging Nettle: Urtica dioica

Amazing for everything. Period. No really. Read more about this favorite herb of mine here.

***Licorice Root: Glycyrrihiza glabra

Adaptogenic, anti-inflammatory, liver supporter, expectorant, mucilaginous (lubricates), adrenal & immune supporter.

**If you have hypothyroidism, please check with your primary healthcare provider first before taking Lemon Balm on a regular basis as it may be contraindicated.

***If you have high blood pressure please check with your primary healthcare provider before taking Licorice as it may be contraindicated

 Elderberry & Friends Cold & Flu Syrup

Recipe makes approx 32oz of syurp.

What You'll Need:

-Large soup pot

-food mill/coffee grinder

-fine mesh strainer or cheese cloth

- 64 oz filtered water

-raw honey* optional

-splash of booze (1/4 cup) (vodka, brandy... any will do) *optional

-32 oz mason jar for storage

-2 ounces dry Elderberries - if you want to start simple (Elderberry is perfect all by its lonesome!)

OR if you want to get a little crazy try:

-1 ounce Elderberries, 

-1/2 ounce dry Licorice Root,

-1/2 ounce Mix of dry Nettle Leaf, dry Tulsi/Holy Basil, dry Lemon Balm 

- 2 inches of fresh chopped Ginger root

Here's a picture of what dry Elderberries look like. You can find Elderberries & most dry herbs at any herbal pharmacy or good natural food stores in the bulk section. 

As mentioned above if you've never made an herbal concoction before and want to keep it simple- just keep stick to the Elderberries. Elderberry is a phenomenal herb all on it's own so you really don't need to get all fancy. BUT if you want to get all crazy then go ahead and pick up the Nettle, Lemon Balm, Tulsi & Ginger to make it an even more well rounded and powerful blend.  It's totally up to you and all good either way.

GOT EVERYTHING READY?? LET'S DO THIS!

1. First thing's first: you want grind up your herbs! I like to use a coffee mill but you can use any kind of grinder even a blender if your blades are sharp. If you're choosing to use all the herbs just grind your Elderberry & Licorice root- leave the rest out (Lemon Balm, Tulsi & Nettle) and chop your fresh Ginger separately .

2.Pour the 64 ounce of cold pure filtered water into your soup pot. Add your ground Elderberries (and Licorice & chopped Ginger root ). Give the contents a little mix to make sure the herbs are submerged in the water. 

3. Now measure your water level in the pot. I use a chop stick to measure by making a mark with a sharpie as to where the water mark lands.  You can eye ball it too if you want. Now put your stove on high, cover your pot and bring to a boil.

This usually takes about 5 minutes.

4. After you've brought your brew to a boil, lower your stove top to med/low bringing the herbs to a simmer. Leave the cover on cracked slightly. Continue to simmer for about 40-60 minutes until the liquid has evaporated to 1/2 its original amount. Again check periodically with your marked chop stick or your eye ball method.

5. Now once you have half the amount of liquid in your pot than what you started with (approx 32 ounces) turn off the heat. If you opted in to use all of the herbs for this recipe then it's now time to add your dried Nettle, Lemon Balm & Tulsi. Mix them in and fully submerge them into the liquid then cover the pot again and let sit for 15 more minutes. 

6. If you kept it simple with just Elderberries you can now decide whether you'd like to sweeten your brew. So have a taste. Raw honey is my top choice as it also have a huge amount of anti-viral and anti-microbial properties in its raw form. But Elderberries are pretty delicious all by their lonesome so sweetening is up to you. If you do decide to sweeten, let your brew cool for another 15-20 minutes with the cover off, then add 1/8 -1/4 cup of raw honey to taste, mixing well until the honey is dissolved.

*For those of you who added the Licorice to the recipe, go ahead and taste a bit of the brew. You may find it is already quite sweet and doesn't need any honey- your call.

7. Now it's time to strain! Grab your strainer and a bowl to catch your syrup and pour away!

And don't forget to press out all of the liquid from the herbal matter once you've strained! You don't want to waste any of this brew!

8. To preserve or not to preserve...This syrup will last you about a week refrigerated if you added honey.  Without honey it will last 3-4 days.   So if you have a family of four, you'll most likely whip through this 32 ounce batch pretty quickly and you many not need to add a preservative.

But if you're like me & you just live with a partner or roommate, you may want to think about adding a splash of booze to help preserve your syrup. About a 1/4 cup of your alcohol of choice will suffice.  This will keep your syrup good to go for up to 2 months refrigerated. 

9. Now pour your syrup into a clean 32. oz jar of choice, cap tightly and voila! Congratulations! You have now made your own cold and flu remedy syrup! 

Don't forget, especially if you were wrapped up in following these directions for the first time-Add those special ingredients- Love- And good intentions to your health and well being! Hold your jar of syrup in your hand, thank yourself for taking the time to make it, thank the herbs for their medicine and send all of your loving & healing thoughts right into the jar infusing it with even more power and healing for yourself & loved ones that will enjoy it this season! 

Cheers! Here's to your health!

As you notice in my picture I like using shot glass dosages for myself lol! Below are standard dosages for adults, elders and children:

Adult Dosage: Prevention 1-2 Tbsp daily, 

                              When Sick: 1-2 Tbsp up to 6x's daily every 1-2hrs.

                               *Recovery time: 1-2 Tbsp daily

                   Children & Elderly Dosage: Prevention: 1-2 tsps daily

                                                     When Sick: 1-2 tsps up to 6x's every 1-2 hrs

                                                      Recovery time: 1-2 tsps daily

*Typically we don't treat ourselves long enough when go through a cold/flu. When we start feeling like ourselves again, we let self care go to the way side. Be sure to continue to take your syrup at least 3-4 days AFTER you feel like your old self again... that way the cold/flu won't creep back on you a week later:) You'll thank me!

Like what you've read and want more? I'd be honored if you shared this blog & or joined my e-newsletter! xo Amanda

*FYI: All of the information on this blog is for educational purposes only! Please make your own decisions about your health & health care choices! None of the information shared is meant to treat, cure or replace any other forms of medicine or treatments. If you are pregnant, nursing or have a serious medical condition please consult your chosen health care practitioner for guidance.

My Eyes Were Opened In 2005

 I was dealt a pretty serious dis-ease of my own in 2005.  Up until this point, I'd never thought much about what it meant to be healthy.  I was brought up on the typical American diet, which consisted of mostly processed foods, lots of soda and some home cooked meals that revolved around meat every Sunday.  My mother and I had  randomly decided to experiment with vegetarianism when I was 15.  I'd done a research paper on it and it seemed as though there were lots of benefits.  So we both gave it a whirl and it stuck.  Don't get me wrong- it took us awhile to learn how to be "healthy" vegetarians. For the first several years we relied on everything soy and processed fake meats. But we felt healthier and didn't miss regular meat at all.
That's where the "health experiment" ended for me.  I still loved junk food and ate plenty of it (I still struggle with my love for it!) and I was probably the worst kind of vegetarian possible all through college.

I ended up studying abroad in India in 2001 for 3 1/2 months with a group of other students, who many of which were hardcore vegan, Earth worshiping, community loving hippies.  Being around these people for over 3 months straight and learning from them was a huge turning point in my life.  Although I found most of them quite challenging and I certainly wouldn't have sought them out as friends in another arena, they truly played an enormous part of showing me my path.

In 2005 I was diagnosed with my first (what doctor's called) serious health imbalance.  Because I was introduced to Ayruveda in India, aromatherapy, herbs, vitamins & health food by my fellow students on the trip back in 2001- I decided that I would take that leap of faith and try the world of integrative medicine.
 Long story short- I healed myself and I realized what a teacher dis-ease was.  Without having gotten sick, done the work, used the tools- I never would have experienced the power and importance of all the things that are involved with self care, self love, and integrative medicine.  I may have continued into herbalism without having dealt with a disease on my own, but I don't think that the passion I have now for my work would have been quite as strong.

I've been studying herbs, Reiki & integrative medicine going on 10 years now, and I can say with certainty  that almost every little ache and pain, every cough or sneeze, every skin blemish, burp or fart and almost every life threatening or serious illness, is our bodies way of communicating with us.  It's our bodies waving the bright red caution flag, calling out "Hey! I need some help over here!"  The voices may start out small and quiet, usually so much so, that we can live with the discomfort of the symptoms and maybe even accept them as signs of aging. Then our body's signals get louder and louder until sometimes it may reach a point where you can no longer ignore the signs anymore, and you've got a  full blown "situation" to deal with.  Our bodies, do their very best to keep us healthy and strong- but they can't do it alone! Our bodies need our full undivided attention & help!

What a lesson & blessing it can be if you allow dis-ease to teach you  and learn what you can do for yourself to heal.
I'm not just talking about what the wonders of modern medicine can offer us ( which absolutely has it's place and thank goodness we have it...) I'm talking about the healing that comes from whole hearted self care.  Food, water, movement, spiritual/religious practice, playing, whole food vitamins, herbs, essences, aromatherapy, energy work, massage....
When our eyes are opened to see how each of us is so unique & have different needs and that quick fixes and magic bullets are not the long term answer for health & happiness, then we truly become our own best healers.
Taking care of ourselves is a job no doctor, no herbalist, no naturopath or chiropractor can do for us.  Healing & staying healthy and strong is a lifelong path and process you must choose to prioritize for yourself- but if there is a cause that's more worthwhile, I'd like to know what it is.  YOU are your own best healer. xo Amanda



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My Love of Cheese, Stinging Nettle And the Neti Pot

Check Out My Favorite Neti Pot: Baraka Neti

It's true. I love cheese. I've tried and tried to break up with it, but I just don't think I have it in me. Or maybe I do have it in me, but just wouldn't want to live life without it.
Yes, I'm that dramatic when it comes to my love of food.
Although I do my best to live in a gray world ( I don't believe "black and white" really exists), I find it's in my nature to go to extremes and find it hard to find a happy medium at times. I've been vegan, played around with "raw", done lots of different cleanses, elmination diets, been sugar free and tried some fasts, but in the end, I just to listen to my body, mind and spirit and do my best to find that happy medium to come back to that makes me feel my best. It's a day to day journey- but it's something I always strive for.

Okay so why am I going on about my love of moldy dairy? Because it's time to talk ALLERGY SEASON! Oh yes, and as my title foreshadows; Cheese, Nettle and the Neti pot are all key players in keeping our bodies happy & healthy during allergy season. AND the trick is to start NOW- preventatively looking at what we can do for allergies- not waiting until the first symptoms appear. (There are lot's of different kinds of allergies out there today- so right now I'm talking the sniffley, sneezey, congested, red eyed- sinus discomfort kinda allergies.)

No matter if allergies are a year round struggle for you or just during the Spring or Fall, I have some super simple tips that will help you better fare your allergy woes.

First thing's first. What typically exacerbates allergies? The well known offenders are mold, pollen, mites, dust & pets.
As a lot of folks are finding out, diet is a huge contributer to allergy symptoms as well.  Dairy of all kinds, refined sugar, all soy products and for some folks refined wheat are also all ENORMOUS offenders of creating more mucous in our body.
When we are sniffling and congested the last thing we need is to be adding more mucous into the picture.
If you don't believe me enjoy a big fat bowl of ice cream. Afterwards tell me if your nose starts to drip or if you start getting a "frog" in your throat.
Or try a healthy dose of your favorite homemade mac and cheese and see how you feel after that.
I guarantee that even if you aren't necessarily susceptible to allergy symptoms you'll still experience at least a sniffle or sneeze.
I know it's so sad for us food lovers. But I'm not here to tell you to STOP eating the food you love. I'm here to teach you what you're triggers might be and to encourage you to check in with your body when you eat to see who your offenders might be. Then once you know, the decision is yours:)

Okay, so maybe now you're clearer on what your allergy triggers are. Now, what can you do to manage- and even hopefully prevent the unpleasant symptoms?
The neti pot is your best friend. I REPEAT; the neti pot is your best friend. If you haven't made friends with a neti pot yet, I suggest you do so STAT. Truly, I promise, it will change your life.
Check out my video on how not scary and super easy the neti pot is. Hey, if my mom can do it ( and she does!) anyone can!
The neti pot's role is to flush out the sinus cavities-plain and simple. We are inhaling various germs and microbes, dust, pollen and hundreds of other possibly irritating particles on a daily basis. And if we tend to be congested in our nasal and sinus cavities, that means all of those particles are getting stuck up there!
No good.
The neti pot gently and effectively clears the nose and sinuses and it seriously only takes 5 minutes of your time daily. For real. I use mine almost every single day- and when I skip- I notice and wished I hadn't.
An added perk to my neti pot use is that when I have my moments of sugar and dairy bingeing ( yes, it does happen, I won't pretend to be perfect.) I am able to bring my mucous levels back to normal within a day or two depending on how overboard my indulging went. The neti is an amazing ally to have for everyone- allergy sufferers or not.

Finally let's not forget our herbal allies! If you know me, then you know I adore Nettle (Urtica dioica).
I use it for just about everything- but did you know it's a natural antihistamine? Well it's true! Not only is Nettle a rich green, mineral & vitamin packed herb that nourishes and supports whole overall body, it also fights off histamine responses from allergies! Horray! Goldenrod and Eyebright are also great allergy fighters, but I just don't think they taste as good:).
Liver support is also of enormous importance when it comes to allergies and my go-to herb for the liver is... yes, you guessed it good ole' Lion's tooth aka Dandelion root! Nettle and Dandelion root are wonderful combined as a strong tea steeped overnight and drunk the following day or taken as liquid tincture. With chronic conditions (which allergies tend to be), my preference is always tea/infusions- but I get that tea's are not always convenient. Just don't forget the water/hyrdration element (so important!)! If you are in the thick of allergies and you want to get an immediate herbal blast then by all means go ahead and take a dropper of herbal tincture directly in your mouth- but if your going for prevention, then squirt a couple droppers of tincture into your water bottle and drink it all day.  This way you get the herbs and the hydration too.
Fresh Ginger & lemon are also your allies as they support the liver & warm and move the body (promote circulation & detox!). Do add those to your water daily for even more herbal support- plus they're delicious too.

The time to start is now! Don't wait, spring is just over a week away! Have a talk with your food, introduce yourself to some herbs and don't forget to go out and get your neti pot!

HAPPY ALMOST SPRING!
XO AMANDA

Questions or comments? Don't ever hesitate!

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Make Your Own Medicine! Rosemary's Fire Cider Recipe

http://www.spiritofchange.org/blog/keep-fire-cider-free

I love my herbal community. We are a bunch of loving, brilliant, fiery, passionate, opinionated, strong, compassionate, confident, stubborn, chatty, mother Earth loving, forces to be reckoned with. 

That being said, we're still human, and we don't always make the best decisions. And sometimes we let our egos get in the way, cause well, we're human and we'll probably struggle with that balance to the end of our days.

So when an herbal company (Shire City Herbals) decided that they would trademark the term Fire Cider, a recipe & name that was coined decades ago from Rosemary Gladstar (pioneer herbalist extraordinaire!) who coined the name & recipe from her Grandmother ages before that, to protect their product from being made & sold by others- it's needless to say it created quite a ripple in the herbal community. 

The  question is, who does the original name Fire Cider truly belong to? A practicing herbalist for close to 40 years who has published the name Fire Cider along with the recipe in countless journals, books and even youtube videos so that the recipe and medicine could be shared to all? Or a young and successfully growing company who wants to own and protect a product and name that they feel is truly theirs and theirs alone? Or neither? Should it belong to anyone? 

Countless herbalists offered their opinions from thoughtful well written letters to Shire City, to not so tasteful blasts on blogs and facebook regarding their stance-for or against the trademark. It certainly got us all thinking about what herbal medicine really means.

I'd like to offer what I feel is one of the most if not founding blocks of herbal medicine: It is medicine for the people- for everyone, period. 

This was one of the first things I learned and heard coming from the mouths of countless herbalists like Susun Weed & Rosemary herself. 

Herbs and herbal medicine are for the people- the community- the world! 

Herbalism is about giving the people the tools and knowledge to take care of themselves! Self care, self love, self prioritizing, self made medicine- that is what whole health is all about!

And so I say WHO CARES? 

Whether Shire City Herbals wins the trademark or not- the medicine won't ever really be just theirs.  Just like Pizza Hut doesn't have the trademark on pizza and Panera doesn't have the trademark on Cream of Broccoli soup.  If you know how to make it MAKE IT YOURSELF then it's yours!

You don't need to buy it from anyone- you can make it with love, intention and appreciation- which will be the richest, most potent and most effective medicine by far. 

Making your own medicine can be incredibly magical because only you can control your thoughts, feelings, intentions, prayers and mantras that you consciously put into the process itself- and all of that energy WILL be sealed into that brew and will EMPOWER IT and ENERGIZE IT the way no other medicine will ever be made- because it will be made by you for you- and NOTHING beats that. Plus you can change up your own recipe any time you want to suit your needs to boot!

And so.... I offer you Rosemary's Gladstar's famous Fire Cider recipe to get you going! This is the one I started out with back in the day and I will change it up sometimes.. adding a dash of Cinnamon, or Cumin, adding different kinds of peppers, or onions- anything goes! Start with this and let it evolve on it's own- or keep it the same. Whatever  you do have fun, enjoy the process and share the recipe!  Herbal medicine is to be enjoyed and experienced by all!

Rosemary’s Fire Cider (32oz jar recipe) 
Click for the video^^^

 Braags AC vinegar

¼ cup grated horseradish

1 chopped onion

1 head of garlic, peeled and chopped

2 tablespoons powdered turmeric

Cayenne -as much as you like

1 cup raw honey (more or less to taste)

My General Instructions For Rosemary's Recipe: Label your jar first. Always use a sharpie pen as others will fade. Label should say the herb used the menstrum used (vinegar), the date you made it, and the date is will be ready to strain (6-8 weeks from the date you made it.) And perhaps an affirmation, intention, mantra??**

Add all of your herbs to the 32 oz mason jar. Now fill your jar with ACV, almost to the top. Grab a chopstick and poke your concoction, releasing all air bubbles. Let your filled jar sit for a 5 min. or so. Poke with your chop stick again to make sure no air bubbles remain. When you're satisfied, fill the jar  the rest of the way with ACV- so much so that when you cap it, it spills over the sides, making sure there is no space left, completely sealing your jar. Before capping your jar be sure that all of the herb material is covered  (about ¼ inch of vinegar floating above the herbs) without any pieces of herbs poking out.

Once capped, wipe your jar dry and store in a dark cool place for 6-8 weeks visiting and shaking it daily, sending all of your love, positive energy and affirmations into it and giving thanks to the herbs for giving of themselves to help you! 

Believe me this act is just as powerful, if not more so than the medicine in the jar itself. And this is something that you won’t typically get out of a tincture bought at a health food store (unless it's from a reeaaally special company :)) !

(**affirmation suggestions: love, light, Reiki symbols, perfect health, bliss, balance, cold blaster, sweet dreams, tummy tamer, pure happiness…. Anything to empower your blend according to your needs and what you hope to receive from it.)

After 6-8 weeks Strain the mixture through cheese cloth or a fine sieve right into another clean/disinfected mason jar, add the honey, mix well and label new jar with the contents and date made. Keep Refrigerated..

Adults take 1 to 2 Tablespoons at the first sign of a cold and continue throughout the day (approximately every 2 to 3 hours) until the symptoms subside. Or take 1 teaspoon daily for preventative care

GO FORTH AND MAKE YOUR OWN MEDICINE! XOXOX AMANDA

Would you like to find out more about the Shire City's Trademark lawsuit?

http://www.examiner.com/article/herbalists-fighting-copyright-of-fire-cider-free-recipes-labels-and-an-e-book

http://networkedblogs.com/TV6CR

http://freefirecider.com/

https://www.change.org/petitions/united-states-patent-and-trademark-office-revoke-fire-cider-trademark

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Bah. More Snow.

If you're like me, then you like snow- when you have no where to be and you can admire it safely from your couch, warm and cozy with a cup of tea.

Although snow storms can be frustrating (you'd think us New Englanders would get used of it!- We don't.) sometimes it forces us to stay home with our families- and hopefully make use of the "extra" time for self care & self love practices.

Here are some of my favorite things to keep warm, cozy and grateful during a snow storm (or anytime really!)

*Hot tea! Winter time can often bring us down emotionally from lack of sunlight, frigid temperatures... perhaps you'd like to try a mood booster: Lemon Balm, Rose, Holy Basil & Mint! Just buy about 1/8th to 1/4 cup loose herb at any natural food store. Grind them together in a food or coffee mill when you get home & store the blend in a glass jar. Use 1 tsp of tea ( in a fill your own tea bag) and steep for 15 min or more. Add some raw honey to taste and enjoy!

*Warm oil foot rub. Choose your oil of choice- coconut, sesame or even olive- heat a 1/2 cup of oil double boiler style on the stove top on low- just to make it warm to the touch- don't burn yourself:) Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil- perhaps mandarin, bergamot or lavender? Give those feeties a nice rub and but one some warm fuzzy socks and let all of that goodness and warmness soak in and calm & ground you.

*Make your favorite nourishing soup! Here's one of my favorite recipes (minus the fish sauce:)).

*Get out a piece of paper and take five minutes to write down some things your grateful for. This is also fun to do with friends and family over some tea. Just sit together and go around in a circle sharing those things that make us happy, bring us joy and make us grateful. Anything goes:)

Life is all about perspective. So rather than be a moody Judy about the weather (I'm guilty!) choose to surrender to it, make the best of it (and those snow days!) and look for the beauty that is in the Winter season but also surrounds you each and everyday if you'd just take a moment to notice it:)

XO AMANDA

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I Teach Because I Need To Learn Too.

I am always so humbled by the clients & students that I work with. I often learn more from them than any book I could read or any class I could take.
I was once told that teacher's teach what they most need to learn themselves. That's spot on for me.
If you ask any healthcare practitioner why they're so passionate about what they do, I bet they'll share a healing crisis story that they went through, which brought them to the healing arts.
That's how my story began. In fact without my own healing crisis, I don't know that I would have ever found Ayurveda, Herbalism or Reiki of my own accord. But going through the crisis, seeing how these modalities worked first hand AND seeing the amazing results was the best thing that could have happened to me.  That's why I look at disease and imbalance as a blessing in disguise. It's a teacher- one that won't let up until you listen.  Sickness and disease calls you out and makes you look at yourself, your life and asks you "What next? What do you want? It's your call- it's your choice, but something's gotta change." And of course we all answer those questions differently.
So, as I continue to learn and grow in my own personal life, my own healing path, I continue to teach. For me teaching isn't only a way to spread the word of self care and self empowerment for others, but also a reminder to myself- a check in on what I've let fall to the wayside in my own life.
I am by no means perfect. I have the tools and knowledge that I know "I should" do EVERY SINGLE DAY- but do I? No, not always. I fall off the "wagon" sometimes too. And that's part of learning as well. Knowing that health, healing and life is a journey and it's not always- or maybe even ever, perfect.
But every day is an opportunity to live your life in the way YOU want to live it, even if yesterday didn't go that well. The power is in knowing what to do, what tools are at your disposal to get you back on track. And that's what I have for myself and that's what I ABSOLUTELY ADORE sharing with others. I so desperately want people to know that it's ALL IN THEIR HANDS, HEARTS AND SPIRITS, if that's what they decide.  And each of us has to figure out what feels best to them- we all choose differently- and it's all good. We're all on our own path and it's a beautiful thing.
So I guess this rant is to really just take a moment to say THANK YOU to every student, client and drop-in that has ever crossed my path and asked for guidance. You are my mirror, my teacher, my ally and my strength to keep me on my own healing path and to help me to be an even better practitioner to help others. I'm forever grateful to be doing this work with all of you, as a team, as friends, as empowered human beings on this beautiful roller coaster of a ride called life. You fill my heart.
XO AMANDA

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