By Seema Rajwar
December is a very special month.
It’s a paradoxical time filled with celebrations, bonhomie and festivities on the one hand and the quietude of the soul on the other.
Think cosy winter nights, clinking wine glasses around a lavish family dinner or simply curled up near the fireplace in your PJs with a warm cup of tea and your favourite book for company.
As cool air graces the land with its presence – everything in nature comes to a standstill.
The nights are longer and days shorter.
The air outside is dry yet the fresh aroma of dahlias and sweet songs of the nightingales promise to keep your heart warm and spirit joyful during this transitional season.
Ayurveda and the function of Agni
Ayurveda is a 5000 year old healing tradition that has its origin in India.
Its Sanskrit meaning translates as ‘Ayu’ – life and ‘Veda’ – knowledge.
Hence, Ayurveda simply means the ‘knowledge of life’.
An Ayurveda approach is not a cookie cutter method, in fact its predominant aim is to de-stress the mind and erase the trace of disease before its onset.
It regards every life as precious and blends natural remedies, healthy food choices and the gentle art of yoga and meditation to restore your health and wellbeing.
In Ayurveda, a strong digestive fire implies an overall good health.
It’s in the stomach, where the food particles are broken down, digested and the nutrients filtered in the liver that impart the body with dynamic energy, strong body function, radiant skin colour, and a bright intellect.
But what happens when the Agni (digestive fire) is disturbed due to wrong food choices, stressful lifestyle or seasonal change? You feel lethargic and depressed.
Especially during December, when the climate is cold, the blood flow becomes stagnant making the circulation sluggish. You may realise your immune system feels weak during this time of the year, you may also tend to stay late in bed to catch 100 winks instead of 40 and crave for rich, heavy comfort foods such as meat stews, potatoes, creamy pies, chocolates and hot cacao lattes to wrap yourself up in a blanket of comfort and satisfy your ravenous appetite.
Simple DIY Ayurveda remedies to help re-kindle the Agni
Pic courtesy: Unsplash
Dr Neethu Vasudev, HOD, Panchkarma, Arya Vaidya Pharmacy says: “Ayurveda advises you take the time to exercise and regulate you’re eating habits. Avoid canned, fried, heavy food and include plenty fruit, greens and freshly cooked foods instead. Regular abhyanga (warm oil massages), practicing yoga and pranayama, going for brisk walks in nature during the winter season will also refresh your mind from seasonal depression and help nip lethargy in the bud. Besides, a few home remedies with kitchen spices should suffice to help with seasonal digestive imbalances.”
Recipes to restore digestive health
After-meal Spice Mix
5 tbsp fennel seeds
2 tbsp cumin seeds
2 tbsp coriander seeds
1 tbsp dry ginger powder
4 medium size dates (dried and finely chopped)
Method:
- Pulse-grind all ingredients (except dates)
- Add finely chopped dates in the end and store the mixture in an air-tight bottle
- Consume one teaspoon post lunch and dinner
Ayurveda Spice Honey
Ingredients
10 oz organic honey
2-3 thin orange slices
1 tbsp dry ginger powder
2 -3 medium cinnamon sticks
5 star-anise pods
5 cloves
Method:
- Take all ingredients and add it into the honey
- Seal the jar and let the spices sit for a week before consumption
- Take one teaspoon before lunch and dinner
- You can also add a tablespoon to a warm cup of water and consume it as post-digestive tea
(Seema Rajwar is a Journalist & Ayurveda Counsellor)
