Soothing Vata Dosha...

​"When life 
   gets busy - 
  it helps to
soothe
   Vata dosha"

Vata dosha is made up of the elements  ether and air making it the lightest of the doshas. ​
In Ayurveda, Vata governs the nervous system and all movement through the mind and body including our thoughts. When Vata dosha is in harmony it brings a sense of lightness, creativity and adaptability to change, but what happens when Vata dosha becomes imbalanced through day to day living or a change in our environment?

With qualities similar to the wind: light, mobile and drying - we may begin to experience these same qualities through the symptoms of dry skin, dry hair and a sense of ‘spaciness’. Also feeling light headed, anxious or depleted of energy.
​These can be our cues to rest, to adjust our diet and to soothe Vata dosha.

What you can do:

Take in the sights and sounds of nature. A tranquil lake, green grass and the shade of the trees all help to soothe the senses and create a sense of calm.

• ​Include adequate rest and daily meditation. This helps to balance physical and mental activity.
• Treat yourself to an Ayurvedic relaxation massage with soothing warm oils to alleviate the dryness of Vata dosha. Time for relaxation brings harmony to an active lifestyle.
• Replenish with nourishing, moisturising, seasonal food.​ Sweet potato, mango, avocado, cherries, cucumber, pineapple, apricots and nuts -especially almonds all help to soothe Vata dosha.
•  Try making a Kicharee (a traditional one pot dish of basmati rice, mung beans, spices and vegetables with a little ghee added). 
• Explore the wonderful variety of soothing herbal teas - a good alternative to caffeine which can over stimulate Vata dosha.

​
​*Specific dietary recommendations are available through a personalised consultation suited to your  dosha. You can find out more here

​Herb in Focus: Lemon balm

Add one or two leaves to a cup of boiled water and steep. Also good with a squeeze of lemon juice and a teaspoon of raw honey.

• helps to soothe anxiety and nausea
• aids digestion
• helps to relieve headaches
• helps to promote a good nights sleep

Should be avoided if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
​

'A cup of lemon balm tea - fresh from my garden. ​
​I love the lemon scented fragrance and the refreshing, soothing taste.'

A sweet nutty treat...​
full of nutrition, quick to make and delicious!

​Ingredients
Dry
1 generous cup of mixed nuts and seeds: Brazil nuts, Raw cashews, Almonds, Hazelnuts, Pepita seeds, Sunflower seeds, Sesame seeds
1/2 cup of puffed quinoa seeds (adds texture and crunch)
3 tspns of cacoa powder
1 tablespoon of slivered almonds
Oily
1 tablspn of organic coconut oil
2 tspns of cacao powder
3 medium squares of good quality dark chocolate
1 tablespoon of Rice Malt Syrup (you could also use natural Maple Syrup).
1 tspn of natural Maple Syrup
Extra for chocolate centre
50g dark chocolate, 1 tspn of cocoa, 1 tspn of natural peanut butter, 2 tspns of Rice Malt Syrup
A handful of whole hazelnuts

​'​I like to keep a batch of these in the fridge ready to share with family and friends.
​A little 'healthy' sweetness also helps to ground Vata dosha.'

​
​
​Blitz the nuts and seeds except the slivered almonds, in a food processor or Vitamix machine. Place in a large bowl with the remaining dry ingredients.
Gently melt the 'Oily' ingredients (including the cacao and dark chocolate) in a medium bowl placed over a small saucepan of simmering water. When melted and mixed together add to the dry ingredients in the bowl. Mix in  the chopped slivered almonds. Place mixture in the fridge for 20 minutes.
In a small bowl, melt the ingredients for the ‘extra chocolate centre’ except for the hazelnuts.
Take the mixture out of the fridge and roll into balls. Make an indent in each one and fill with a little of the chocolate mixture. Add one hazelnut. Close with a little extra mixture and roll into ball shape.
Place on a small baking tray lined with baking paper that will fit in the freezer. Cover and freeze. Once set - about 30 minutes, place in a container and either keep in the fridge or leave in the freezer.

With so many choices in herbal teas - there is always a new variety to discover.

Which is your favourite herbal tea?

If you would like to share, click in 'comments' and follow the prompts

Workshop News...

Thank you to everyone who attended the latest 'Foundation for Health' workshop!

Workshop feedback can be read here.
You can also find future workshop dates here. 

Wishing you a happy and healthy festive season -
​ 
​keep well and stay nourished...

The information in Nourish Notes is for educational purposes only and is not intended to treat diagnose, prescribe or heal any health condition or to replace standard medical treatment or advice.