Tag Archives: healthy

Turmeric Golden Honey

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Nature’s cure for cold and flu season!

Golden Honey for balancing Immunity during cold and flu season!

Turmeric, which contains the active compound curcumin, has become widely known in the last couple of years as an anti-inflammatory, immune booster, natural antibiotic and blood pressure regulator amongst many other remedies. Golden Honey (a mixture of turmeric, honey and black pepper) is a natural remedy that can be taken by the whole family. (Check with your physician if you are taking medications for blood pressure or gall bladder disease before consuming)

Golden Honey Recipe and how to use:

At the first signs of a cold, flu or feeling run down, make Golden Honey and consume it in this way.

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup of raw organic Honey
  • 1 tablespoon of organic Turmeric powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon of black Pepper (do not omit this ingredient. It’s necessary for the benefits of Turmeric to enter your bloodstream)

Mix together and store in a glass jar.

  • At the onset of a cold or the flu, take 1/2 a teaspoon of the Golden Honey every 2 hours until symptoms are alleviated. Let the honey sit in your mouth for a few seconds before swallowing.
  • Use as cough mixture. Take 1/2 a teaspoon for annoying tickling coughs or sore throat.

This Golden Honey also makes a great cup of Golden Milk to give you a good nights’ sleep! Just add a spoonful to a cup of warm milk of your choice (cow’s, coconut, almond, etc.)

Stir and enjoy!

Know Your Spices!

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Choose spices that work for each family member!

It’s hard to cook a meal for a family that everyone likes or that is ‘beneficial’ for everyone!
Well, there’s a solution to this if you understand spices!

For example; you might have a child who is putting on weight eating the same amount of food as another child in the family. Perhaps one child is predominantly Kapha and the other Pitta or Vata. Of course, there could be various reasons, like not exercising or other underlying causes, BUT with spices you can help this child’s digestive system manage the food better.

I make different pots of spice blends for each family member according to their constitution (Kapha, Pitta, Vata). At meals they are able to use their personal spice to create a more compatibly healthy meal.

Try it and see! Make one for you and your spouse, too.

For more details and help choosing which spices, book a session with me here![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Vata Dosha

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Elements: Ether (space) & Air (wind)

Physical attributes: Thin, wiry, dry, sinewy, delicate, lithe, cold, irregular, chest breather, shaky

Emotional & mental attributes: Energetic, nervous, quick thinking, light sleeper, dry humor, airhead, mobile

Vata is associated with hollow organs such as the intestines and the lungs. Keeping these organs clear of gaseous toxins and waste will maintain healthy Vata dosha.

Imbalances include but not limited to:

    • Hardened Lymph Nodes
    • Glandular Disorders (Hyper)
    • Gas, bloating
    • Dry skin & joints (arthritis)
    • Constipation, weight loss
    • Poor circulation
    • Muscle spasms, shaking & cramp
    • Asthma
    • Cold hands & feet
    • Insomnia
    • Tinitus
    • Anxiety, Fear, Shame, Irritable
    • Indecisive

Remedies include but not limited to:

    • Hydration! ~
      • Electrolytes – Essential Fatty Acids – Probiotics (as needed)
    • Eat cooked food in bowls such as soups, stews, Broths, oatmeal
    • Root vegetables
    • Avoid dry, crispy, crunchy foods
    • Create a daily routine – dinacharya (wake, meditation, exercise, eat & sleep)
    • Apply oil to the body and feet for grounding
    • Meditate on TRUST
    • Practice grounding exercises
    • Practice breath work (Pranayama)
    • Stay out of the wind (if you can’t, then find solutions in Ayurved)
    • Avoid caffeine & alcohol in excess (switch to Green Tea)
    • Avoid sugar (switch to local honey) 
    • Avoid gluten
    • Avoid table salt (switch to sea salt) 

Take charge of your life now and make that first step! 
Click here to see what your options are: https://calendly.com/susansykes

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Photo by Fabian Møller on Unsplash

ANCIENT WISDOM OF AYURVEDA

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“If diet is wrong, medicine is of no use.
If diet is correct, medicine is of no need.”
 
Ayurvedic proverb ~

photo by Megan Markham

Ancient Wisdom of Ayurveda!

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“If diet is wrong, medicine is of no use.
 
If diet is correct, medicine is of no need.”
 
Ayurvedic proverb ~

 

 

 

Ayurveda: The Science of Life

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The literal translation would be Life (Ayur) Science or knowledge (Veda). In effect, it is the ancient wisdom and science passed down for thousands of years integrating the mind, body and spirit as one functioning system. It is said that longevity and optimum health can be achieved when the system is in balance. Ayurveda helps us find and keep that balance! It will work for those who are healthy and want to stay well or those who have become out of balance and are living with disease. Depending on the severity of the condition, Ayurveda offers a long or short path back to good health. Working in conjunction with your doctor, there are many Ayurvedic remedies and lifestyle changes that are suggested. Deciding where to start can be challenging, but once you find a good practitioner who you resonate with, you should start seeing results. I suggest using the NAMA site to find someone in your area or work with me! I’m on Zoom, too! Let’s get you started! https://www.ayurvedanama.org/ .

Ayurvedic Lifestyle

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As a child, I used to help injured and frightened animals, patiently bringing them back to health and rekindling their trust in humans. I often stood up for the rights of kids less able to fend for themselves, and built self-esteem in those who had none. Later on, after losing my way and finding it again through love and higher power, I became inspired to study the Healing Arts after a workshop with Deepak Chopra. Over the years, I went on to complete certifications in massage therapy, Pilates, meditation, Feldenkrais and ultimately Ayurveda, which includes lymphatic massage, nutrition, Aromatherapy, sound healing and herbal medicine. I am NAMA certified and an Ayurvedic Practitioner n California.

Through my own needs, I began formulating remedies for skin care, mood enhancement, hormonal imbalances and created the product line, Melina’s Garden.

I specialize in Pulse consultations, Menopause, breast health, tongue analysis, body alignment and the use of Ayurvedic tools such as Guasha & Cupping Therapy.

A consultation with me will give you the opportunity to understand your body better and how to best support yourself through lifestyle, nutrition and self-care.

I am a mother of three outstanding young adults. I love life and want to help others feel well and happy. I am available via email, phone or Skype for counsel in health and life!

Email me for more information: susan@melinasgarden.com

Meditate!

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I invite whoever reads this to join me in meditation once a day. Just try it! Start with 5 minutes, then 10, 15, and 30! You’ll be surprised how differently you’ll be able to handle stress and obstacles that come your way.

It’s been one of the healthiest choices I’ve made in my life. Many years ago, I was given a mantra – ‘the ode to Ganesh’ – Om Gam Ganapataiye Namo Ha, by a friend who made me repeat it over and over again until he was sure I would recite the words correctly and get the help of Ganesh to remove the obstacles that were in my way…… It worked. For almost a year I used this mantra exclusively. I went on to learn more and more mantras that have served me well over the years. I am able to ‘drop in’ to the relaxed state of meditation anywhere and anytime as it becomes second nature when one meditates often.

Learn to meditate and you will free your mind – I promise!

How to meditate:

Sit down in a comfortable position in a quiet place

Close your eyes

Breathe long slow deep breaths

Concentrate on your breath

Let thoughts come…… and go…….

Don’t try to stop the thoughts; let them enter your mind; look at them; let them go

Keep bringing your attention back to the breath. Listen to your breath.

If you have learnt a mantra, repeat it over and over and over and over! If you have Mala beads, move each bead along the string over and over again from beginning to end and back again.

That’s it!

Soon you will no longer have random thoughts entering your mind. The ‘monkey mind’ will simmer down and be calm, welcoming the stillness of meditation. If you find yourself shifting about and feeling uncomfortable, be patient, that too shall pass. The stress in your life will drop away and things that seemed daunting will no longer bother you -:)

ps. I make custom Mala beads to order with semi precious stones. Let me know if you’d like a strand for your new meditation practice!

Namaste!

Stress Relieving, Energy Boosting Smoothie Recipe

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Smoothie Recipe for two people.

  • Fresh strawberries x 10
  • Kale x 4 small leaves
  • Unsweetened almond milk x 2 cups
  • Unsweetened unfiltered organic local Apple juice x 1 cup
  • Aloe Vera juice (inner fillet) x half a cup
  • Raw organic Cacao nibs x 1 tablespoon
  • Organic Maca powder (adaptogen) x 1 tablespoon
  • Bee pollen (Local pollen helps reduce allergies) x 1 teaspoon

Juice together in blender! YUM!

Hydration and the perfect salt

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The vast majority of Californians, arid desert dwellers and crispy, crunchy, salty food eaters run dry. Super dry!

Re-hydrating your body is essential to manage healthy organ and tissue function.

What to do? Start by deleting table salt from your diet and your cupboard. It has no healthy place in your kitchen. Swap ‘bad’ table salt with ‘good’ grey or pink salts or other mineral rich sea salts that can be found in most stores that sell a variety of spices.

Next, use ‘good’ salt dissolved in water to create an electrolyte drink that you use once or twice a day. In Ayurveda there are two ways to make this electrolyte rich water. You can either stir a quarter teaspoon of ‘good’ salt into a full glass of room temperature water and drink it, or you can make a ‘Sole’ (described below) and drink it daily.

Sole is best prepared in a glass mason jar with a plastic lid or a metal lid that has parchment paper or a napkin between it and the glass. (metal and good salt do not go together!)  Fill quarter of the mason jar with your choice of ‘good’ salt and fill the rest of the jar with spring water. Let the salt and water sit overnight. This is ‘Sole’. Do not stir the salt and water. In the morning drink one tablespoonful of water from the ‘sole’ in a glass of regular water and again in the afternoon if you feel tired and need a ‘pick me up’.

Note: Use wooden or plastic spoons, NOT a metal spoon, as metal de-ionizes the salt. It’s also a good idea to put ‘good’ salt on your food AFTER you cook it to avoid de-ionizing the salt during the cooking process.