Nature provides us with a treasure trove of healing herbs. Ayurvedic herbs are an amazing addition to feel better and impact the body in a deep physical way, supporting long lasting change.
In Ayurveda, we don’t see herbal supplements as bandaids for poor lifestyle and diet choices, so we don’t look for quick fixes by taking a pill. It’s important to address the cause of imbalance/ dis-ease first, then assess what would be supportive.
Taking a supplement at the same time every day, and consistently for several weeks is a good place for the body to start responding and reacting to it.
It’s also not recommend to take a dry pill or capsule as is, as it creates extra work for the body to break down, rehydrate and absorb the herb.
Instead, we use Anupans, ie carrier substances, to ingest herbs and optimize their action. Anupans help improve the delivery of herbs, and their absorption and assimilation. Anupans are chosen for their affinity to particular tissues or systems of the body, as well as to their effect on dosha imbalance.
💦 Warm Water is a great, easy carrier: it rehydrates herbs and facilitates absorption.
On a pinch, you can take your pill and swallow warm water, but ideally you’ll want to rehydrate a powdered herb for a bit, then ingest it.
When you do it this way, it gets to your stomach ready to be used, rather than force your body to pull water to rehydrate and break down the pill, or break through the capsule used, then rehydrate and absorb the herb.
🍯 🐝 Honey is sweet and heating, and has a bit of astringency and a scraping action, which is good for clearing stagnation. It also can help stimulate the digestive fire, ie support digestion of the herbal supplement.
It is balancing for both Vata and Kapha, but can aggravate Pitta in excess. It has an affinity with the respiratory tract, the lactation system in women, and the mind.
It binds well with the herbs and is considered a healing nectar in Ayurveda. You can take your herbs with a bit honey as is, or add to warm, non boiling water.
🥛 Warm whole milk is an amazing carrier and deeply nourishing. It is sweet and cooling, and has an affinity with many systems and tissues of the body, including the reproductive systems and the mind.
It is pacifying for Vata and Pitta, but can be too heavy and dense for Kapha. It also has potential to soften the energetics of herbs that could be too intense.
Bring milk to boil to lighten it, then let cool for a few minutes before adding your powdered herbs. Wait another few minutes to rehydrate.
🧴Oil is one of Ayurveda’s favorite substances and carriers. It is deeply nourishing and lubricating, and herbs infused in oil are extremely potent.
Because our skin is the largest organ of our body, topical application of oil is very effective to support and address imbalance. Using oil is balancing for the nervous system and the mind, and is usually tridoshic.
Each oil has a specific affinity to a dosha and tissue in the body, but Sunflower (for Vata, Pitta and Kapha) and Sesame (for Vata and Kapha) oils are a good place to start.
Nasya and Abhyangha are 2 practices you can look into if you’re interested in bringing more oil into your life !
🥃 Tinctures are not very traditionally used in Ayurveda, but have become popular because of their convenience and ease, and the influence of Western herbalism.
Tinctures are made with either alcohol or vinegar, which are sour and heating, and so may have a positive or negative impact on the imbalance we are trying to address. If wanting to add fire and warmth, it can be useful to use a tincture. If the problem is linked to excess heat and fire, they are more adequate anupans (carriers) than tinctures.
If you'd like to order Ayurvedic supplements on Banyan Botanicals, feel free to use code EMILIEB15 for 15% off your order.
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