Your New Medicine Cabinet

The kitchen is a great place to start when it comes to welcoming Ayurveda into your life!

Nourish Your Body, Mind, and Spirit

Ayurveda teaches us about aligning with the rhythm of nature and understanding how the elements of the Earth influence our inner and outer environments, and your kitchen is one of those environments. Your kitchen is a place where you can create balance and harmony in your body, your mind, and your spirit through your food.

Herbs and spices have long been used in Ayurvedic cooking to add flavor and promote balance in the body. For example, ginger root is excellent for soothing an upset stomach, while fennel helps to reduce gas and bloating. Likewise, cumin aids digestion by stimulating the production of enzymes that break down food.

The first step is to eat fresh, healthy food. Ayurveda believes that food should be nutritious and easy to digest. It is recommended to avoid processed foods, deep-fried foods, and heavy sauce mixtures.
That can cause imbalances in our bodies.

Nature’s Medicine

The first medicinal drugs came from natural sources. They came from plants, seeds, flowers, roots, and bark. These were nature’s pharmaceuticals. In ancient times, these natural medicines were prepared in many different forms and used to treat various illnesses, from minor digestive issues and common colds to the more complicated ones, including high fevers, plagues, and viruses. These remedies were prescribed as teas, tinctures, and elixirs and sometimes prepared and applied topically for use as ointments and poultices. Many are still used with proven efficacy and, most importantly, without adverse side effects.
Ayurvedic medicine offers a variety of simple but effective tips for improving digestion.

Which Spices and Herbs Do I Start With?

Before you stock your pantry with new items, you’ll want to go through what is already there. Check expiration dates and eliminate all the spices that have been there for a while. Spices go stale and lose prana (life force), which will significantly impact the quality of your food and meal. You want to create and preserve a high vibration in your kitchen as this is now your central hub to vibrant health!
There are so many beautiful herbs and spices used to restore health and improve digestion to be named in this post, but here are a few that you can begin to experiment with and use in your cooking. Keep it simple and start small. Use one at a time to familiarize yourself with it and see if you like it and how it makes you feel.

Turmeric is a spice commonly used in Indian cuisine. It has strong anti-inflammatory properties and is also a powerful antioxidant. Adding turmeric to your diet help to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer. It also works as a blood & lymph cleanser, builds blood tissue, and even closes wounds.

Ginger is another spice with a long history of use in Ayurvedic medicine. It effectively treats nausea and vomiting and can also help relieve pain and inflammation. Ginger is an excellent addition to recipes for those suffering from stomach upset or indigestion.

Cinnamon is another spice with both culinary and medicinal uses. It has been shown to help regulate blood sugar levels and can also help to reduce inflammation. Cinnamon is a delicious addition to sweet and savory dishes.

Coriander is a common spice among Ayurvedic remedies. It is part of a cleansing tea trio called CCF Tea. Which is a blend of Coriander, Cumin, and Fennel which are steeped in water and taken as a tea for a gentle detox.

A Sacred Place

The kitchen is the heart of a home. It is my sacred place. In most cultures, a kitchen is a place where people come together in times of cheer and celebration and in times of difficulty and sadness as well, whether it’s for baking a sweet cake for a celebration, a healthy meal for nourishment, or making warm soup and an herbal tea for healing.
Make your kitchen your sacred space. Remembering it is where you come to for deep nourishment, healing yourself and your loved ones.

Always enter with good vibes, positivity, creativity, and love!

If you’re interested in learning more about Ayurveda and tips and recipes on using food as medicine, check out my other Blogs!