Hair Oil Massage, Please!

Growing up, my mom would give us a weekly head oil massage. We would keep the oil in our hair overnight and wash it the next morning. There are many benefits to these oil massages and I am so thankful to my mom for doing this for us through our childhood. Not only do these massages relieve tensions and aches but also increases blood circulation in the scalp and make our hair grow strong, smooth and lustrous. Heat up the oil so it is warm and apply it to your scalp and hair, gently massaging it in for 5-10 minutes. Leave it on for a couple hours or overnight and wash with shampoo once or twice to get all the oil out. Below are some of my favorite oils.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

I always make sure to use a certified extra virgin olive oil that has been extracted from olives without the use of heat or chemicals. Olive oil is my oil of choice for my kids and is great for those with very thick and oily hair. Olive oil helps with: 

• Moisturizing
• Repairing split ends
• Preventing hair loss
• Dandruff

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is one of my favorite oils to use because of its smell. I buy a jar of coconut oil from the grocery store which is in solid form when stored in cooler temperature. Coconut oil helps with:

• Antimicrobial properties
• Cooling properties
• Hair conditioning and moisture retention
• Preventing baldness and gray hair

Amla Oil

Growing up, my Nani (Grandma) would give us the best head massages with Amla Oil. Amla is also known as the Indian gooseberry and has been used for Ayurvedic medicine for many centuries. Today, it is difficult to find pure Amla oil as it is made by soaking the Amla dried fruit in other fruit oil such as coconut and almond. Amla oil helps with: 

• Darkens hair without the use of dyes
• Prevents graying
• Cleansing agent
• Hair growth
• Moisturizing

Turmeric Latte...Really?!

Walk into all the trendy cafes in San Francisco and you can buy a turmeric latte for $7!! What the heck? Growing up, my mom would make me turmeric latte...aka Haldi Ka Doodh when I was sick, could not sleep or needed a pick me up. It is my moms go to Indian home remedy. Haldi ka Doodh is known to build immunity and fight against illnesses and is also well known in Ayurveda for its health benefits. Try my moms easy to make recipe below.

Turmeric Milk Recipe

Ingredients:
- 1 cups milk
- 1 tsp turmeric powder or fresh grated turmeric
- Ghee
- Pinch of saffron, optional
- Honey or jaggery, optional

Method:
Heat the milk along with the spices/ingredients for 2-3 minutes. Add the sweetener if you want. Strain and drink.

The Khichadi Detox Bowl

Growing up, my mom would often make us Khichadi (kich-ah-ree), one of my favorite comfort foods. This simple mix of lentils, rice, vegetables and Indian spices was fed to us to bring us to health but little did I know that khichadi has many nourishing and cleansing benefits. It is considered one of the most healing meals in Ayurveda, because it balances all three doshas. Khichadi pulls toxins from your body, is high in protein and is extremely healing to your digestive tract and intestinal mucosa. Khichadi recipes vary depending on the region. Below is one of my favorite recipes. I enjoy it most with a spoon of ghee, yogurt and papadum. 

Serving size: 4 servings

Ingredients: 

• ½ cup diced onion
• 1 ½  tbsp olive oil or coconut oil
• 1 tbsp grated ginger
• 1 tbsp chopped garlic
• 1 tsp whole mustard seeds
• ½ tsp turmeric
• ½  tsp cumin
• ½  tsp coriander
• 1 tsp curry powder
• 1 small dried red chili pepper, crumbled (or half for less spicy)
• ¾ tsp kosher salt
• ¼ cup split mung beans or whole mung beans soaked over night
• ½ cup brown or white basmati rice
• 2 ½ cup water
• 2 cups chopped vegetables ( like carrot, pees, celery, cauliflower, broccoli)
• 2 tbsp chopped cilantro
• squeeze lemon or lime
• 1 diced tomato
• spoon of ghee

Directions: 

• In a medium pot, sauté onion in oil over medium high heat for 2-3 minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium add ginger and garlic, and sauté a few minutes, until golden brown.
• Add spices, pepper, salt and  stirring, toast for a few more minutes.
• Add soaked mung beans and rice.
• Add water and 2 cups chopped veggies bring to a good boil.
• Cover. Turn heat to low, and let simmer for 20 minutes.
• Check for doneness. Continue cooking for 5 to 10 more minutes if necessary. Some rice takes longer, and if you do not pre-soak your whole mung beans, you will need to add more water, which will change the recipe proportions and flavor…so try to soak if possible.
• Once it is done, mix with ghee and top with fresh diced tomato and fresh cilantro and a pinch of salt and pepper, and a squeeze of lemon or lime.

Why Your Dosha Type Matters

What does Dosha mean? It is a term very familiar to those who practice Ayurveda, the holistic science of health focusing on the connection of mind and body. Dosha refers to the three energies that make up every individual, performing different physiological functions in the body. Every person has all three doshas but usually only one or two dominate. All three Doshas - Vata, Pitta and Kapha are important and can cause suffering when diet and lifestyle choices are not healthy. Knowing your Dosha can help you maintain balance, lasting health and peace of mind. 

Not sure what your Dosha type is? There are many questionnaires online. My favorite one is offered HERE. Once you know your Dosha type, you should follow a diet and lifestyle that works for your type. Below are personal characteristics as well as diet and lifestyle tips for each Dosha type.

The 3 Dosha Types: 

Vata Dosha

• Energy that controls bodily functions associated with motion (breathing, blood circulation, heartbeat)
• When in balance: creative, talkative, social, enthusiastic
• When out of balance: dry hair, dry skin, dry nails, constipation, gas, bloating, fear, anxiety

Health & lifestyle tips for Vata

• Maintain regular habits
• Eat and sleep at the same time every night
• Berries, fruits, small beans, rice, nuts and dairy are great for the Vata diet
• Moderate exercise intensity such as yoga, walking, swimming and tai chi are good
• Get enough rest
• Avoid strenuous and frantic activities

 

Pitta Dosha

• Energy that controls the body's metabolic systems (nutrition, body temperature, digestion, nutrition)
• When in balance: witty, organized, focused, goal oriented, content
• When our of balance: inflammation, acid reflux, burning eyes, anger, ulcers

Health & lifestyle tips for Pitta

• Keep cool by avoiding overexposure to direct sunlight and fried and spicy foods
• Avoid alcohol and tobacco, overworking, and overheating
• When aggravated, susceptible to feeling negative emotions like hostility, hatred, intolerance, and jealousy
• Choose fresh vegetables and fruits that are watery and sweet, especially cherries, mangoes, cucumbers, water melon, and avocado
• Have lots of salads with dark greens such as arugula, dandelions, and kale
• Avoid conflicts
• Cultivate the virtues of honesty, morality, kindness, generosity, and self-control.

 

Kapha Dosha

• Energy that controls growth in the body and it supplies water to all body parts, moisturizes the skin, and maintains the immune system
• When in balance: dependable, generous, caring, steady, grounded
• When out of balance: sluggishness, lack of motivation, weight gain, congestion, water retention, insecurity, envy

Health & lifestyle tips for Kapha

• Be active on a daily basis as Kapha types are prone to sluggishness, depression, and being overweight
• Get out of the house and actively seeking new experiences
• Choose foods that are light, warm, and spicy. 
• Tea with dried ginger and lemon is a great pick-me-up for Kaphas
• Avoid heavy oily and processed sugars, which are detrimental to Kaphas

What Exactly is Ayurveda?

Growing up, I often heard the word "Ayurvedic" or "Ayurveda" almost on a daily basis.  "Ayurveda" is a wellness term that has become pretty trendy in recent years with bloggers, celebrities and alternative medicine experts. What exactly is this buzzword? Ayurveda is grounded in thousands of years of Indian tradition and is one of the oldest and most continuously practiced systems of medicine in the world focusing on the connection of mind and body. Ayurveda (Ayur = life, Veda = science or knowledge) is a science of life.

The two main guiding principles of Ayurveda are: 

1. The mind and the body are inextricably connected
2. nothing has more power to heal and transform the body than the mind

Here are a few simple ways you can incorporate the principles of ancient Ayurveda into your busy and modern lifestyle to calm your mind, soul, body, spirit AND improve your overall physical health.

• Meditate 10 minutes every morning
• Get abundant, restful sleep
• Eat fresh food everyday
• Sit on the table and eat each meal mindfully
• Exercise an hour a day
• Give yourself (or get) oil massages especially in the dry seasons
• Know your Dosha type and try to follow the diet and lifestyle routine that fits your mind/body constitution.