Cloves are a common kitchen spice with pitta increasing properties. It’s warming nature increases Agni, or digestive fire. It's used around

Healing comes in infinite forms. For many people, animals are the best healers because they are intuitive, nonjudgemental and embodiments of love. They provide nourishment, companionship and deep connection. Since I was a young girl, I've been fascinated by horses. During those childhood years of angst, I often dreamed of jumping onto a horse and riding far off into some mystical land. Horses symbolize freedom, strength, power, and intuition; they gift us an opportunity to ex

These vegan coconut-carrot pancakes are moist, naturally sweetened and spiced with aromatics like cardamom, cinnamon and nutmeg. They are topped with a tart coconut-maple syrup cream. This recipe is grounding, vata-balancing and full of Vitamin A. It was a rainy Saturday morning in Los Angeles and I was craving something sweet healthy and nourishing. When I opened by fridge, I saw a pound of carrots, lots of lemon and some coconut milk. I thought about making a traditional

Hot water therapy is one of the best and easiest practices to transform your health. This simple practice is an ancient Indian medicine ritual that will enhance digestion and reduce bloating while rejuvenating every organ of your body, including your skin and brain. It will strengthen your kidneys, give you more energy, enhance your mood, help you loose water weight and body fat. Can you guess what it is? Sipping hot water throughout the day. There are so many benefits of dr

Winter is a Vata-Kapha Season and we are susceptible to colds, congestion and flus. However, if you keep your immunity and digestion strong, you can help your body ward off bugs and viruses. According to Ayurveda, most diseases starts at the gut. Below I share 3 powerful remedies to enhance digestion, clear colds, congestion, boost immunity and keep you healthy throughout the winter months.

Fall is here and bringing with it a lot of change. The trees are starting to shed their leaves and we're reaping the last burst of vegetation during fall harvest. Fall is the season of vata and transition. This means that vata energy is growing in nature–and therefore ourselves. Vata is composed of air and either and vata's qualities are light, changeable, mobile, rough and dry. We may begin to see the influence of vata manifest in our mind and bodies this season as: dry ski

Mercury went retrograde on Tuesday, August 30th. Many people are feeling the effects of this planetary shift. I know I am! Thankfully, we can lessen or even rise above the effects of this “dreaded” period which can bring travel delays, miscommunication and clouded mental capacities. 7 WAYS TO SURVIVE RETROGRADE 1. Prayer: Say a prayer for protection. We are connected to a Higher Power which ultimately governs the entire cosmos and cares for our well-being. Earnest prayer uni

A woman’s womb is a powerful energetic center and Kshetra (the seat of conception); it is a field of deep ancestral wisdom and feminine mystical experience. The yoni serves dual functions: it is the channel for sexual intercourse and the channel that delivers life and births a soul on to earth. As one of the three pillars of life and longevity, sex is fundamental to our existence and vital to health and well-being. Making love enhances immune function, encourages restful slee

Who doesn’t savor the smell and taste of freshly roasted garlic? Without garlic, home-made Italian minestrone and Indian curry just wouldn’t be the same. Besides waves of pleasure tantalizing your taste buds, garlic is a superb remedy for a variety of medical conditions that has been used as medicine since ancient times. It’s known traditionally around the world as the “Herbal Antibiotic.” The healing properties of garlic have been mentioned in Sanskrit texts dating 5,000 ye

This month’s New Moon falls on USA Independence Day, July 4th, making it the perfect time to explore how we can achieve greater freedom in our lives. According to Ayurveda, ‘freedom’ is a mental state and a personal choice. Whether it’s freedom to choose for ourselves or freedom of self expression, we all desire some sort of freedom when it comes to human life. With financial freedom we can afford to travel, hire brilliant minds, and enjoy fine wines. Freedom can mean many th

Marijuana has been honored and time-tested in Ayurvedic Medicine. The ancient sages of India appropriately named cannabis Triloka-Vijaya, meaning: “victorious in all three worlds,” recognizing it’s profound ability to heal the mind, body, and spirit. According to ancient Vedic texts, Marijuana is a gift from the Gods and is intimately connected to Lord Shiva, the Mythological God of Dissolution. This herb is said to reacquaint us with life, reminding us of the ephemeral natur

As an herbalist and a creative, ginger is one of my best friends. It’s a universal medicine benefiting everyone and treating thousands of diseases. The ancient texts say that everyone should eat freshly sliced ginger before large meals, because ginger strengthens digestive fire, ensuring you properly digest and assimilate the food you consume. We can’t fully access our creative potential if we’re feeling blocked physically, mentally, or energetically. After all, ancient sages

I felt mildly melancholy returning home from my trip to the Bahamas. I sat in my Prius aimlessly changing radio stations, sitting bumper-to-bumper in midsummer Los Angeles smog. Nothing on the radio sounded good. Coming home to a concrete jungle after running barefoot on beaches and swimming in crystal blue water took a bit of an adjustment. I love Los Angeles. It’s an epicenter for creativity, diversity, and delicious world cuisine. We have gorgeous beaches, mountains, and