part ii: Foods + herbs for your dosha 

In this session we’ll go over each dosha,
and how tastes, herbs, and foods can help us maintain balance.
This way, you can easily decide which remedies are best
for your own unique body, and have these staples handy.

V A T A

〰️

Balance {Cold + Dry}
with {Warming + Nourishing}  

• ELEMENTS: ETHER (empty space) + AIR (wind)

• QUALITIES: COLD + DRY

• COLD needs WARMING

• BALANCING TASTES for COLD: SWEET + SOUR

  • Sweet: Lubricates to further liquefy food as it converts, immunity of the gut

  • Sour: Liquifies macronutrients for conversion, highly enzymatic

• Benefits from warm soups/stews/broths, cooked foods, foods in bowls, eating consistently

• WARMING HERBS: ashwagandha, ginger, cinnamon, tulsi

  • SPOTLIGHT: Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) 

    • Warming + Grounding adaptogen

    • Number one herb in Ayurveda for Vata imbalance

    • Withania somnifera is its species name, som, means “sleep”

    • Its used to nourish Vatas who're out of balance by soothing fatigue, stress, anxiety

    • It's an adaptogen that supports the immune system, stabilizes blood sugar + balances hormones

    • Use this nervine in PM rituals, try adding ashwagandha powder to a milky tea to support restful sleep + to wind down from the day 

    • Note: ashwagandha is part of the nightshade family, important to note if you're on a diet avoiding this group of plants

• DRY needs NOURISHING

• BALANCING TASTES for DRY : Sweet + Salty

  • Sweet: Lubricates to further liquefy food as it converts, immunity of the gut

  • Salty: Assimilates water carrying vitamins and minerals to tissues through proper lymph and blood flow

• Benefits from wet cooked foods, broths/soups/stews, seaweeds, and grazing on food throughout the day

• NOURISHING HERBS: licorice, cardamom, basil, cilantro

  • SPOTLIGHT: Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra, G. uralensis) 

    • Moistening + Sweet

    • Glycyrrhiza glabra, is an adaptogen that nourishes the adrenals and helps with fatigue due to its moistening properties, supporting the waterways of the body

    • A demulcent used for inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, sore throats, dry cough, etc.

    •  An immunomodulator that helps to regulate immune function, great for those with seasonal allergies

    • Known as the harmonizer in traditional herbal formulas

    • Note: please avoid using licorice if you have hypertension or high blood pressure. If you're on any medications it's best to consult with your healthcare practitioner or herbalist before use, licorice can actually enhance the effectiveness of some pharmaceuticals, making their actions more intense

P I T T A

〰️
BALAncing {Hot + Wet}
with {Cooling + Cleansing} 

• ELEMENTS: FIRE (action) + WATER (digestive fluid)

• QUALITIES: HOT + WET

• HOT needs COOLING

• BALANCING TASTES for HOT: BITTER + ASTRINGENT

  • Bitter: Alkalize and excrete toxins, cuts through the excess

  • Astringent: Activates need for digestion to break down macronutrients

• Benefits from raw, wet, and alkaline foods, eating three meals on time a day

• COOLING HERBS: aloe vera, mint, fennel, dill, shatavari

  • SPOTLIGHT: Shatavari  (Asparagus racemosus)

    • Cooling + Moistening 

    • This adaptogenic herb is commonly used in Ayurveda for women

    • It helps to bring the whole body back into balance, and gives us the power to easily adapt to stressors when used consistently over time

    • More specifically, it's known traditionally as a female reproductive tonic

    • It's used to enhance libido and promote fertility, and for women who feel their hormones are out of balance due to excess dryness

    • It’s often used as a galactagogue, an herb that helps mothers produce more breast milk

    • Because it's a demulcent, it's great for soothing and healing inflamed tissues, both internally and externally. Meaning sore throats, inflamed digestive systems, sores, etc.

    • Shatavari is a cooling, sweet and building herb, great for those who are feeling dry, depleted, and fatigued

    • Try adding the powder to warm milk with a touch of cardamom and honey, a perfectly soothing late night herbal latte

    • Also a mild diuretic, so best to avoid if you're already on intense diuretic drugs

    • Note: it’s best to speak with a practitioner first if you're eliminating any phyto-estrogenic foods and herbs, have excess Kapha or mucous in the body, or have an major medical hormone related conditions before using shatavari

• WET needs CLEANSING

• BALANCING TASTES for WET: SOUR, BITTER, PUNGENT

  • Sour: Liquifies macronutrients for conversion, highly enzymatic

  • Bitter: Alkalize and excrete toxins, cuts through the excess

  • Pungent: Action for follow through, coals on the fire

• CLEANSING HERBS: elecampane, rosemary, thyme, black pepper

  • SPOTLIGHT: Chamomile (Matricaria recutita, Chamaemelum nobile) 

  • Cooling + Bitter

    • Famously known as a sleep aid, but this herb can be used for anxiety and frazzled nerves all day long

    • It's known as a nervine in Western Herbalism, which essentially means it helps to calm and sooth the nervous system

    • The bitter notes in chamomile stimulates the digestive juices, making digestion easier all around

    • Because of its anti-spasmodic properties, chamomile tea is great for those with irritable stomachs, especially those triggered by stress or PMS

    • As a carminative this herb has compounds that sooth the digestive tract and ease indigestion

    • It's cooling nature and anti-inflammatory properties make it a great remedy for Pittas who're running too hot, or those with red and inflamed skin issues

    • Great as a simple infusion with a touch of honey, pairs well with lemon balm and lavender for extra nervous system support

    • Note: chamomile is in the Asteraceae plant family, best to avoid if you have an allergy to daisies

Kapha 

〰️

Balancing {cold + wet}
with {Warming + Cleansing}

• ELEMENTS: WATER (liquid) + EARTH (solid)

• QUALITIES: COLD + WET

• COLD needs WARMING

• BALANCING TASTES for COLD: SOUR + SWEET

  • Sour: Liquifies macronutrients for conversion, highly enzymatic

  • Sweet: Lubricates to further liquefy food as it converts, immunity of the gut

• Benefits from warm soups/stews/broths, cooked foods, foods in bowls, eat consistently

• WARMING HERBS: sage, chilies, sumac

  • SPOTLIGHT: Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) 

    • Our "gateway adaptogen,” also known as Holy Basil, is one of the most pleasant tasting herbs dried or fresh

    • A nervine known for its ability to calm the nerves and uplift ones spirit, this is a great plant to take daily and over time to soothe a frazzled nervous system

    • Used by herbalists to help relieve mental fog and aid with stagnant depression, which is also excess Kapha

    • Helpful for those with allergies to mold and dander

    • Tulsi is easy to grow during the summer months, we love making fresh tulsi pesto or a simple infusion

• WET needs CLEANSING

• BALANCING TASTES for WET : SOUR, BITTER, PUNGENT

  • Sour: Liquifies macronutrients for conversion, highly enzymatic

  • Bitter: Alkalize and excrete toxins, cuts through the excess

  • Pungent: Action for follow through - coals on the fire

• CLEANSING HERBS: elecampane, rosemary, thyme, black Pepper

  • SPOTLIGHT: Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis)

    • Schisandra chinensis: Known as the "five flavored fruit," the berries are sour, sweet, bitter, astringent + pungent

    • Sour quality beneficial for frequent urination or drying up excess fluids, a Kapha imbalance 

    • Its anti-inflammatory properties are beneficial for wet coughs and asthma

    • It's a nervine that has a dual effect on the nervous system, it has a mild stimulating quality and at the same time it helps reduce anxiety, and is calming

    • Known to be beneficial for normalizing blood pressure

    • The berries have a tangy flavor that tastes great in drinks, sauces, desserts

    • Note: in Traditional Chinese Medicine, it's best to avoid schisandra when acutely sick with a viral or bacterial infection