Nasya is the administration of oil through the nostril. As we enter the cold, dry vata winter months nasya is especially important to lubricate the tissues and protection from germs. It is an ayurvedic daily practice that has been shown to help remove toxins from the head resulting in more clarity of the mind, reduced stress, and prevention of wrinkles in the face. It is regularly used in ayurveda to treat stress, headaches, anxiety, sleep disorders, sinusitis, colds, allergies and depression. Continue Reading
Warming Up to Moxibustion
Moxibustion, a traditional Chinese therapy that has been used throughout Asia for thousands of years, involves burning mugwort to facilitate healing. The term moxibustion is derived from the Japanese word "mogusa" meaning herb (mugwort) and the Latin word "bustion" meaning burning. It is also interesting that the actual Chinese character for acupuncture, translated literally means "acupuncture-moxibustion." Moxibustion is done to strengthen the blood, stimulate the flow of qi, and maintain Continue Reading
Herbal First Aid Kit
A quality first aid kit is invaluable in an emergency. For home use a larger first aid kit is ideal and a smaller one makes a good portable option. If you are not familiar with the items in your first aid kit you can keep a small note card in the kit which includes the remedy, what it is used for and the dosage. It is also important to keep track of the longevity of each item in the kit and replace when needed. Syrups, capsules, powders, bulk herbs lose their potency and should be replaced every Continue Reading
Finding Good Quality Vitamins
Vitamins are defined as “a group of organic substances essential in small quantities to normal metabolism, found in minute amounts in natural food stuffs or sometimes produced synthetically: deficiencies of vitamins produce specific disorders,” but how do you choose a good quality vitamin from the copious amount available, within a wide price range. The first step is to research a company that interests you. It is a good idea to find out what company owns the brand name and is it a company Continue Reading
