Constitutions: Good for all!

Time of year: Year round

I live to host. Meaning I love throwing parties, celebrating birthdays, and dancing with friends.

Truth be told, I do not live a monastic Vedic monk life. I will microdose. I will have the occasional wine or cocktail. I will definitely eat the birthday cake. And I will occasionally stay up past ten dancing into the night.

But I can say for certain that when I do ANY of those things, I am making a batch of this Ayurvedic witches brew. Or one of my GFs is making it, and brings me a cup when I am dancing. WOW. How freaking blessed is this life. We can have fun, and make our healing brew to keep us on course.

Here are some other times when I make this tea:

• TRAVEL- wow. Travel throws our whole system off, including our digestive system. Basically we are not meant to move at super fast speeds ya’ll, our vata goes way up, and as a result we need some remedies to help us stay grounded. This is one of them.

• After or during a heavy meal. Cue thanksgiving and the holidays. Yup I am brewing it up ALL THE TIME.

• If I have any gas, or digestive discomfort.

• When my mind is racing and I feel scattered. Sip sip sip.

The Importance of Healthy Digestion

Ayurveda isnt alone anymore in saying that having strong digestion is crucial for your health. When our digestion is strong, it helps our body keep the elements in balance. Not too much air, not too much fire, not too much earth. What that means in the bigger picture is that ama (toxins) is not allowed to accumulate throughout the entire body.

Beyond the gut- research is showing that a balanced digestive system supports our mental and emotional health! A clear mind, and balanced emotions sure are needed as we navigate this very rajasic, loud world.

This traditional Ayurvedic tea is a staple in my life. Year round. Period.

Cumin, coriander, and fennel seeds are SUPERFOODS.

These spices are frequently used in Ayurvedic cooking, and for a reason! They are potent medicine. I personally plow through 1 lb bags of them on the regular. I use them THAT OFTEN.

Here are a few of the benefits of these superfood seeds.

Cumin: Cumin has the pungent taste, meaning it will helps stimulate our digestion and supports our elimination! It also helps prevent gas, relieves congestion, and helps flush out ama (toxins).

Coriander: Coriander also improves digestion and controls gas, but it also reduces inflammation, calms muscle spasms, and increases absorption and assimilation of nutrients. 

Fennel: Due to its cooling quality, fennel is the best spice for Pitta types to support digestion. Fennel also relaxes the digestive tract, making it helpful for treating IBS. Fennel also helps to move lymph, promotes breast milk, increases mental alertness, and fat burning. 

When I did my Pancha Karma Treatment training in Santa Barbara, my teacher had a big pot of this tea for us every morning; AND she added rose petals and peppermint to it! Then I started playing around with variations and noticed I was not the only Ayurvedic Practitioner doing so.

Chamomile flowers can be added if you need a sleeping aid, and want to make it at the end of your day!

My personal favorite variation is adding rose petals and loose leaf peppermint, but thats because I have a lot of pitta in my system- even in winter. So their cooling properties are a powerful remedy for me.

When its the heart of winter and really cold, I enjoy adding some fresh ginger root, half of a cinnamon stick, and a couple whole cloves.