Did you know that your oral health is extremely important to your overall health? One oral health practice that is becoming increasingly popular is oil pulling. There is tons of information out there on oil pulling and how to do it properly, but some of it is conflicting information. To clear things up, here is everything you need to know about oil pulling:
What is it?
Ginseng was discovered more than 5000 years ago in the mountains of Manchuria, China. The name is derived from the Chinese word “jen” meaning the form of man and “shen” defined as the crystallization of the essence of the earth. However, this ancient herb was used approximately the same time in North America by many of the tribes there, though the European invaders did not know of its existence until the 16th century.
Laughter is the best medicine—the only problem being it shows our teeth in true colors. Here are five natural tricks to keep that smile gleaming and beautiful.
You know that feeling, the one in your stomach that tells you when something is not quite right? We use the colloquialism “gut feeling” to describe an emotion – an intuition – that we feel in our stomach, deep within the core of our being. We use other terms, too, to describe feelings that originate from our gut. Telling someone you have “butterflies in your stomach” is a way of communicating that you’re feeling some combination of excited/nervous/unsettled. Telling someone your “stomach is upset” generally communicates that you’ve eaten something wrong or you’re stressed.
Most of us have been sucked into the ‘eat small meals more frequently’ advice given out by dieticians, nutritionists and the media in equal order, with varied results. However, new research points out that frequent snacking and small meals may be more of a hindrance than a help!
The word mudra is a Sanskrit word meaning a hand gesture that symbolizes something – and accordingly bestows joy and happiness. Mudras are considered so very important because it is said that our hands are full of our karmic energy, while our fingers are like plugs that help exchange energy between our pranic force (life energy) and the universal cosmic energy.
I eat almost everything with my hands. The few exceptions include soup and chocolate mousse, but generally, all foods are finger food to me.
It may just be because I'm Indian and it's culturally normal to eat with my hands. Also, I've never been taught by my parents to use a knife and fork, and any foray into cutlery-use was either experimental or necessitated by circumstances. Like that time I attended an etiquette course and was flabbergasted that while the instructors thought to teach me about cutlery, they failed to mention that not all cultures fit within this "norm."
Imagine a tree that cures almost anything that ails you. If there were ever a tree, Moringa oleifera – or drumstick tree - would be it. Referred to as the “miracle tree,” Moringa is used by Ayurveda practitioners to help prevent about 300 different diseases in patients. From the leaves to the bark, the tree can be used for medicinal purposes. Native to South Asia, Moringa is commonly used in curries and stews. It can be ground into a paste, powder, or enjoyed as a tea. It is so healthy, in fact, that it is said to be more nutritious than kale.
As we step into a new year we are steeped in the consciousness of new frequencies, new energy patterns and the massive intentional waves generated by the collective to “create anew” - for this is what Capricorn inspires. It is no wonder “new year's resolutions” come in with the influence of this sign. Ruled by Saturn, Capricorn birth stones of garnet and ruby are all about grounding one into core power and strength for the long haul.
Drive away any winter woes with a bowlful of healthy and nourishing goat trotter soup, made as a traditional Indian recipe…