Today I wanted to share a little-bit of Ayurvedic wisdoms with you I learned through dr. John Douillard during my IIN studies. His lectures were most dear to me as they provided easy solutions for the typical daily life struggles we face. One in particular has saved me from unnecessary suffering later on in life, which I will share with you after a very brief introduction to what Ayurveda is.Ayurveda is India’s traditional, natural system of medicine that has been practiced for more than 5,000 years. Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word that literally translated means “science of life” or “practices of longevity.”
Ayurveda emphasizes:
- prevention of disease
- rejuvenation of our body systems
- extension of life span.
It teaches that through certain practices, not only can we prevent heart disease and make our headaches go away, but we can also better understand ourselves and the world around us, live a long healthy life in balance and harmony, achieve our fullest potential, and express our true inner nature on a daily basis.
Ayurveda provides an integrated approach to preventing and treating illness through lifestyle interventions and natural therapies.
In Ayurveda, symptoms and diseases that could be categorized as mental thoughts or feelings are just as important as symptoms and diseases of the physical body.
So how can you benefit from this science of life?
Let me tell you my brief story of healing. I participate in Dr. Douillard’s monthly study group where he examines a patient through live webinar, teaching us thinking out of the box and connecting the dots. During one of his recent online consultations, a lady was complaining of disfigured finger bones and bone outgrowths around her ankles (she suffered from rheumatoid arthritis).
Right away I looked at my body, as I am gluten sensitive and rheumatoid arthritis often comes with this sensitivity. To my amazement I spotted one sticky bone growing on my ankle. Dr. Douillard called it a fibrous tissue that if left alone will eventually calcify and harden to the extend that nothing will do to fix it.
I took action immediately after this phone call and bought what he recommended for the clogged lymphatic system (yes, coaches are humans and they have their own journeys that lead them to become health coaches…) that resulted in poor blood flow to the extremetes, like feet and hands. He suggested a simple Ayurvedic herb called Manjista. I drank half a teaspoon of it twice daily for the past five days. My sticky bone on my ankle is gone!
You might not have a bone sticking out, nor a lump under your armpit, but let me assure you that lymphatic system reacts to stress and since it is in charge of all the other systems in the body, it is really important to take care of it through herbs like Manjista, daily body scrubbing technique (which is one of the first things I teach during my consultations), and hot water treatment.
I don’t know about you, but I like to prevent things from happening and at the age of 46 I am more aware of what’s happening in my body.
What else is worth pointing out?
Ashwagandha – a strength of a thousand horses, which lets you sleep at night and rejuvenates you in the morning.
Shatavari – used for female hormonal balance
Brahmi – for brain functioning
Trikatu – for restoration of digestive fire, for gut permeability, and to fight colds during winter.
I like to buy those in bulk and mix 1/4 tsp of each into a spoon of raw honey, ghee – clarified butter and cinnamon.
Why ghee? Ghee has amazing transporting properties. It delivers nutrients to every cell of the body. It is used daily in Ayurvedic treatments and cleanses. When you mix it with honey and cinnamon, you will not feel it. It actually turns out to be quite delicious.
How to make ghee?
Buy organic butter and put it on low in your slow cooker for 6 hours. Strain it, cook with it (it’s doesn’t burn, it doesn’t go rancid, it’s shelf stable) and enjoy it if you are lactose intolerant, as by clarifying butter, the lactose is removed.
Trouble sleeping?
There are many factors involved, but this Ayurvedic evening tonic is wonderfully soothing to your nervous system. Gently heat-up a cup of milk (raw, flash-pasteurized, non-homogenized or any other milk alternative (made by you preferably). Add some raw honey, some cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. Shatavari and Ashwagandha, a spoon of ghee and a spoon of almond meal. You can run it through the blender or sip it just like that before bedtime.
When you balance out your hormones, when your gut is working properly, able to digest fats, proteins and seeds, when your lymphatic system isn’t clogged allowing for elimination, not accumulation of toxins, and when you sleep before 10 pm according to the circadian rhythm, and sleep peacefully, when you scrub your body with a hot towel or a special glove not only allowing the lymphatic system to function properly but also removing dead cell build-up, you will GLOW, you will feel BEAUTIFUL.
When you take care of your body, your body pays you back with gratitude!
Namaste,
Joanna
