Debra Riordan, C.A.S.

Beat the heat with Ayurveda

It’s summertime and our stress  can rise as the temperature climbs.  Of course, some wise souls know that this is a signal to take a noontime siesta but most of us still must go about our work and errands.  Even when we’re on vacation we can be bothered by the hot weather.  Here are some recommendations for foods that have cooling energetics and are especially helpful during the hottest time of the day:

• Fruits in general are considered to be cooling in both the Chinese and Ayurvedic Medicine traditions.  Certain fruit, in particular coconut, mango, watermelon, pomegranate and lime quite cooling in nature .  Utilize this information for your food choices or try adding a squirt of fresh lime to your water for additional taste and coolness.  It is especially important to buy organic fruit and vegetables to avoid contamination with pesticides and fertilizers.  I’m sure that you can also taste the difference!
• Most vegetables are cooling and bitter greens are particularly healthful during hot weather.  They also had added benefits of reducing our sweet cravings and supporting the health of the liver which is aggravated during late spring and summer.  Cucumber is also quite cooling but can cause flatulence and bloating for certain individuals.  Herbs can help to counteract these symptoms.
• Dairy products such as cow’s milk, cheese and cream are very cooling and calming on a hot afternoon.   Dairy may be harder to digest since it is considered heavy in the Ayurvedic tradition.  A light spice such as coriander, cardamom or nutmeg can help with digestibility and taste.
• Most grains are cooling and soothing because they have a grounding energy.  Since this food group has a heavier energy it’s best not to overdo grains at night.
• I hate to be the bearer of bad news but some food is especially aggravating with summer heat.  Be careful with overly spicy (pungent taste) seasoning such as garlic, onions and pepper.  Also too much red meat, fried and fermented foods can be heating in nature and might aggravate those with allergies, difficult skin,  or temper issues.  Also, try cutting back on sour fruits since they are considered to have added fire.  In other words enjoy lime rather than lemonade for a refreshing coolness.

Cooling foods for hot weather

Recipe for hot weather or for those with a heated constitution (Pitta nature), modified from The Ayurvedic Cookbook by Amadea Morningstar.

Pitta Lassi

Preparation time: 5 minutes

1/2 cup cottage cheese

1/2 cup yogurt

3/4 cup water

2 teaspoons coriander powder

1 tablespoon maple syrup

Blend cottage cheese, yogurt and water in blender or by hand.  Add coriander and maple syrup and drink at room temperature.

In part 2 of this series we will discuss particular teas, herbs and spices that are beneficial during hot weather.

Enjoy and stay cool!

Many of my clients are getting ready to take off for vacation and it’s important for them and for you to stay healthy.  Travel, especially air travel, stresses our system in many ways.  It has a drying effect so that we might notice dry eyes, dry skin or some digestive discomfort.  The nervous system can become aggravated leading to insomnia, anxiety or jetlag.  I work individually with clients to offer them specific nutritional, lifestyle and herbal support tailored to their particular needs.  There are some general recommendations that are helpful to all of us.  Here’s some tips for travel health:

• Plan and prepare for your trip well in advance.  By visualizing our journey and specific travel needs, we can truly be ready and unstressed.  Last minute rushing aggravates our nervous system and will contribute to jetlag, fatigue, anxiety or worse yet, irritability.
• Use ginger before, during and after your travelling.  My clients love this remedy!  Ginger has a grounding effect and is a fabulous remedy for jetlag, fatigue, stress and digestive upset.  Before you leave for your trip consider taking a bath with 1-2 drops of ginger essential oil added to the bath water and repeat this process once you arrive at your destination.  Internally enjoy ginger tea, ginger snaps and/or crystallized ginger candy.  Yes, you have my permission to enjoy some sugary treats such as these since ginger helps us digest the sweet taste.  (Of course, be cautious if you are aggravated by heating spices).
• Drink lots of fluids during your flight and upon your arrival, preferably something hot.  Air travel adds to the qualities of coldness, dryness and lightness.  Warm drinks help counteract these effects.  Careful with your alcohol and caffeine consumption since they are very drying to our system.

Enjoy your trip.  Don’t overschedule yourself during your time off.  Leave time to just relax, breathe and reflect.

I received some heartbreaking news today that challenged my ability to stay calm, focused and grounded.  I’ve been an on-site health adviser/practitioner at Elephant Pharmacy for the past four years and learned today that the company has closed its doors.  Elephant Pharmacy was a small retail chain in the San Francisco Bay Area offering choices of holistic and allopathic options for health and well-being.  This company emphasized healthier ingredients, green living and customized services for their loyal customers.  As a health practitioner, I was able to interact on the sales floor and/or provide brief health consultations with shoppers.  I would then devise a medicinal tea or herbal blend right on the spot, happy to help those in need.  What a pleasure!  Sadly, these challenging economic times had an overpowering impact on this relatively new business.  Employees and loyal customers already are feeling the loss.

I am deeply saddened that Elephant Pharm is gone and will miss this great resource, my fellow employees and the many open-minded customers that chose to shop there.  I’ll also miss this vast resource of ayurvedic, chinese and western herbs.  But, rather than stay downcast and depressed, I asked myself what would I advise my clients in this situation?  It’s time for me to heed my own health & counseling advise.  Here’s my quick tips for stress reduction, grounding and renewed clarity of mind:

Breathe...

• Breathe, breathe, breathe.  For clear thinking and serenity, we need some good old oxygen to feed our brain cells.  When we are stressed our breath becomes shallow and suppressed.  So take a moment to sit up straight, put a slight smile on your face and imagine that you are a puff of air flowing inside the lungs, staying still for a moment and then releasing gently into the atmosphere.  Repeat with the intention to go just a little bit deeper and this time pause a bit more after release.  Continue for three minutes and feel the change in your body and mind.
• Get outside and move your body.  Activity and exercise always support a healthier state of mind and being.   Movement brings about deeper breathing and grounding of the body.  If we practice our movement outside in a natural environment we become more aligned with all parts of nature.  This helps to adjust our state of being.  I especially enjoy getting out and walking by water since this also helps to cool an aggitated and overly intense mind.
• Creatively look for an unexpected opportunity.  We each have our unique talents and mine are harmonized with the world of herbs and flowers.  After today’s breathing and walking exercises by my favorite stream, I realized that I need the support of my beloved herbs and flower essences to shift my mind and emotions.  Yes, I want to feel my feelings but I’d like to take them to a higher level of awareness and insight.  Anotherwords, I’d like to get out of the muck of sadness and grief rising to the surface of hope and clear perception.  So, I’m now devising a new herbal tea blend called “Debra’s Be Happy” Tea which I’ll be drinking tonight.  After I’ve found my perfect formula, I’ll make it available to clients and friends for stress reduction, uplifting of spirit and clarity of mind.  I can’t wait to get started!

I’ve been appreciating the pink ladies out there in the dry, barren fields.  This is a lily plant also known as Naked Lady as it stands tall on a bare stalk with no leaves.  These plants pop up at a time when we’re craving the sight of freshness and growth at the end of summer.  Sometimes they stand alone, one plant in the middle of dead grass and weeds.  Sometimes they are dancing within their own community, maybe even in a place that has been doused by nasty weed killer.  Amazing, the perseverance and strength of this plant!  As far as I know, these plants do not have a specific medicinal use but their flowers certainly convey a special essence.

In fact, seeing this plant reminds me of the special time when I was learning how to make my own flower essences.  I was studying with herbalist Catherine Abby Rich and she offered these wonderful field trips where we would participate in the ritual of flower essence creation.  We would carefully select a couple of petals of the flowering plant and place in into a gorgeous glass filled with water and alcohol.  We actually preserved the essence of the flower in all its glory.

I’ve used this particular flower essence in formulations to help clients get in touch with their senses especially their sexual energy.  This essence supports an increase of awareness of the beauty of our feminine nature.  I can use my imagination to see these beautiful plants transforming themselves into young women dancing together and delighting in their sense of self and community.  What joys these plants convey!