Eight Directions Wellness

Now is the time to pick up a copy of the Dal Chawal cookbook I worked on! Another wonderful cookbook is the Rancho Gordo Bean Book!

When times are hard, we eat more beans. And it's happening again now The fiber craze is pushing more people into the broad world of beans, as the U.S. bean industry looks to double American consumption of pulses by 2030.

It’s about time.

More medical schools are teaching students how to cook and use food as a tool for treating patients. It's part of a growing movement called Food Is Medicine. Think of it as a modern, research-backed version of “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” https://nyti.ms/4mEPpth

I’m far from a Luddite and use LLMs for certain tasks and research, but if we’re concerned about wellness- especially of our brains - this is worth reading.

MIT Study Finds Artificial Intelligence Use Reprograms the Brain, Leading to Cognitive Decline - Science, Public Health Policy and the Law By Nicolas Hulscher, MPH

I finally reached 600 followers on Instagram and figured I should document it for posterity lol.

It's that time of year again! All types of allergies including seasonal fall under the disorder asātmya or hypersensitivity in Āyurveda. Modern immunology describes allergies as over-reactions of the immune system to harmless substances, leading to IgE-mediated hypersensitivity, histamine release, and the characteristic symptoms we know and love.🤧

Ayurveda’s take on the pathogenesis of allergies provides a holistic framework for understanding the underlying terrain that predisposes one to such reactivity—weak digestion, buildup of toxins, dosha aggravation, compromised dhātu health, and srotas disturbance. All of these culminate in asātmya.

I use a blend of Western herbalism and Āyurveda for my seasonal allergies, which have just started to make my eyes burn and throat tickle here in Southern Colorado. My go-to Western ally from now until mid-summer is a strong decoction of nettle (Urtica dioica). Well-studied for its antihistamine effect, nettle helps reduce sneezing, nasal congestion, and itchy eyes associated with seasonal allergies. I didn't take a single dose of OTC allergy medicines last year.

While I buy bags of dried nettle by the pound (I use a loooot of nettle), soon the young plants are going to be sprouting - and this is when you want to harvest nettle by cutting off the tops (don't pull the roots). Don't wait until it's gone to seed in late spring. Don't touch it with your bare hands unless you enjoy pain.

Since Vitamin C is known to act as a natural antihistamine - reducing inflammation, supporting respiratory health, and regulating immune responses - I take 1/2 a tsp of Āmalakī in warm water at night for both its high Vitamin C and āma-reducing action. Bibhītakī and Harītakī could also work depending on a person's constitution - or the powdered blend of all three of these fruits known as Triphalā is an excellent option.

I will also use a neti pot in the AM and nasya oil in the PM before bed to keep my nasal passages clear and lubricated.

Depending on your symptoms and Āyurvedic constitution, your treatment plan could vary - I recommend seeing a practitioner who can help you navigate seasonal allergies as soon as the season arrives (if not before)! The newly opened Ayurvedic Community Wellness Center in Albuquerque would be happy to help either in person or online if you're not in the area.

Do you know Ajwain? 😉 You should if you experience occasional digestive discomfort. I steep a teaspoon of seeds in hot water and find that it relieves a stomachache within minutes. This is definitely a spice to keep in your kitchen pharmacy!