• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Secondary Navigation Social Media Icons

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Vimeo
YOGUE

YOGUE

Yoga, Ayurveda + Eco Living with Insiya

  • Yoga + Ayurveda
    • Ayurveda with Insiya
    • Weekly Yoga Classes
    • Online Yoga with Insiya
  • Blog
    • Ayurveda
    • Life
    • Nourish
    • Parenting
    • Style
    • Yoga Practice
    • Yogue Travel
    • Wellness + Eco-Beauty
  • Recipes
  • About
    • About Insiya
    • Published Writing
    • Yogue in the Press
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
  • Home

Ayurvedic Immunity Tea

03.11.15 | insiyar | 11 Comments

Immunity Tea

Ayurvedic Immunity Tea… mmmm delicious

Hello from Santa Cruz, California, where my husband, son and I have now been living for over a year.  If you’ve followed my travels at all over the fledgling course of this blog you will know that this is a milestone in what has been our peripatetic gypsy life of the past seven or eight years, or ever since we got hitched!

So far, Santa Cruz is treating to surf, sunshine and an embracing yoga community – plus our son loves it here – especially our little beach house and his constant joy at being able play with his toys in one place, vs. taking only a few in a suitcase! – and most importantly (I think) – he has a little band of friends and loves both them and his school.

Yet even in this land of golden sunshine, Fall has arrived with even a few, short rainstorms, which prompted me to share some thoughts – inspired by a wisdom tradition I study: Ayurveda – on the changing season and how we can best sustain our immunity during these months of turning toward greater darkness.

According to Ayurveda, the ancient Indian philosophy of life, health and healing, Fall or Autumn is a time when the force of the Vata dosha (or bio-energy) – Vata translates as wind/air or space; is at its highest.  To understand the quality of Vata, consider the quickness and coolness of autumn wind, the drying out quality of Fall,  the leaves which start to lose their green vitality and juiciness and begin to prepare for a winter of sleep.  You can also feel it in swift temperature changes throughout the day – the mornings and nights are cold here while during the middle of the day the sun is strident. The quickness of these changes can destabilise our physiology say the Ayurvedic sages and doctors – which is why – fall is traditionally seen as a time when it is easy for us to fall ill.  If you think about the onset of winter cold and flu season, it generally begins right now and in Ayurvedic terms, this happens when we allow the instability and erratic-ness of Vata to destabilise us.

How can we allay the effects of this season and stay healthy?  It’s more simple than you think.  Since Vata is all about change-ability – we can counter that with it’s opposite: routine.  This is a time when we both need to and can detoxify our bodies and minds by following a routine of gentle, sustained exercise such as yoga, healthful, whole foods and a regular sleep schedule.  The more routine we can establish, the easier it will be for our bodies and minds to regulate and sustain our immunity as we make way for the cooler months to come.  Plus if you look after yourself now, you can enjoy the festive season so much more.  For more on a daily Ayurvedic routine, check this post out here on Dinacharya. 

Detoxifying the liver is ideal now – as the liver has been working hard for us all year and needs some extra love. Here’s a simple recipe containing three powerful, immune superstar herbs that act together to support liver detoxification.  According to traditional chinese medicine, the liver is most active between 1 and 3 a.m. and so it’s beneficial to drink this tea before bedtime.  Honestly, I love it in the mornings also! Turmeric is known as both an anti-carcinogen and an anti-inflammatory; and works closely with black pepper which stimulates digestion and cleanses the body of excess kapha dosha (the watery/heaviness that can cause colds and excess mucous in our bodies).  Ginger with its pungent kick is wonderful for improving circulation and warming the body.  And the lemon and maple syrup add a delicious lift.

Fresh cut organic ginger

This recipe is adapted from Get it Ripe, a wonderful vegan cookbook by Toronto/Montreal based holistic nutritionist Jae Steele.  My lovely friend Jen from Centre Luna Yoga in Montreal, shared the book with me and it is definitely one of my kitchen staples.  This recipe is common in Ayurvedic cuisine.  Turmeric, black pepper and ginger were essential ingredients in my grandmother’s, mother’s and any Indian/ Ayurvedic kitchen!

Recipe:

  • 1 tsp grated turmeric root or 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1 tsp grated ginger root or 1/2 tsp dried ground ginger
  • 2 – 3 twists of black pepper (from a pepper mill)
  • 1 1/2 cups filtered water
  • juice of 1/2 lemon
  • 2 tsp maple syrup or to taste (you can use raw honey also, but be sure to let the tea cool a little bit before adding the honey)

Method:

Combine turmeric, ginger, black pepper and water in a saucepan on medium-high heat.  (If you use turmeric powder, you can also toast the powder on a dry skillet for 30 seconds to a minute and allow it to get toasty and warm before you add it to the pot of water).  Allow the mixture of herbs to simmer for 5 – 10 minutes; be careful not to boil. Strain and pour into a mug, add lemon juice and maple syrup to taste, stir and enjoy.

notes:
* ps. Turmeric stains a bright yellow so be careful with your countertops, clothing, dishtowels etc. I once had a security deposit deducted from a rent check as I left a turmeric stain on a kitchen countertop! 🙁  In fact turmeric is also used as a natural dye. If you have a glass saucepan, and a glass mug, use them as the colour won’t stain the glass.

** Be sure to use organic ingredients and non-irradiated spices.

Namaste + enjoy.

Insiya.

← Previous Post
Khichadi: the Ultimate Winter Comfort Food
Next Post →
Honey, Honey… an easy Ayurvedic face mask
Tweet
PinIt

About insiyar

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. eoin finn says

    October 7, 2010 at 4:10 pm

    great advice, as always, insiya! cheers to you and the thousands of ayurvedic practitioners who helped discover this deep wisdom!

    Reply
  2. jen says

    October 8, 2010 at 12:04 am

    Thanks Insiya! This is exactly what I need right now!

    Reply
    • Yogue says

      October 8, 2010 at 1:15 am

      ditto, i’m going to make some tonight! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Danielle Gentilcore says

    October 8, 2010 at 12:59 am

    I am so grateful for this wonderful recipe and information you have shared with us. I am always looking for natural teas/remedies, for me it is the only way. Can’t wait to purchase the book Get it Ripe!

    Reply
    • Yogue says

      October 8, 2010 at 1:15 am

      you are so welcome! be well.

      Reply
  4. Francis Pelletier says

    November 4, 2012 at 5:38 pm

    Do you know where I can find fresh turmeric in Montreal? Thanx in advance.

    Reply
    • Yogue says

      November 28, 2012 at 5:15 pm

      salut francis, i am not 100% sure, but try this place: http://veganmontreal.com/2011/06/24/bio-terre-epicerie-sante-natural-food-store/ bonnec chance.

      Reply
  5. Katie Blake says

    December 17, 2012 at 11:02 pm

    This is wonderful. Thank you for the recipe. I used honey instead of maple syrup. I also tried it with milk, but it is better without. We are lucky to get fresh turmeric.

    Reply
    • Yogue says

      December 18, 2012 at 10:02 pm

      Thanks Katie! I do make it with honey as well. Just be sure the liquid is not too hot when you add in the honey. Peace.

      Reply
  6. Brandy says

    October 27, 2016 at 12:21 pm

    Finally found fresh turmeric here in the Midwest! I made this today all whole ingredients in my vitamix til hot then strained into my mug-super good and very warming indeed! (And now I have a lovely tinted containerOh well!)
    Thanks for sharing Insiya!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

ABOUT YOGUE  Hi, I'm Insiya. Journey with me as we live slow, scatter beauty and tread lightly on the planet.

Find me online

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Vimeo

Recipes

Spiced Apple Almond Muffins

January 17, 2019 By yogue 5 Comments

Once there was a busy mama and yoga teacher who realized that in her goal of always cooking healthy, … [Read More...] about Spiced Apple Almond Muffins

Simple Spiced Summer Oatmeal

August 16, 2018 By yogue Leave a Comment

Summer has been rushing by...   until we arrived in the middle of Ontario, to the area close to … [Read More...] about Simple Spiced Summer Oatmeal

Ayurvedic Chai: My Favorite Recipe

August 16, 2017 By insiyar 8 Comments

Contrary to popular belief, an oh-too-sweet chai latte at Starbucks is really not the same as a cup … [Read More...] about Ayurvedic Chai: My Favorite Recipe

Footer

Live slow, tread lightly, scatter beauty.

Menu

  • Yoga + Ayurveda
    • Ayurveda with Insiya
    • Weekly Yoga Classes
    • Online Yoga with Insiya
  • Blog
    • Ayurveda
    • Life
    • Nourish
    • Parenting
    • Style
    • Yoga Practice
    • Yogue Travel
    • Wellness + Eco-Beauty
  • Recipes
  • About
    • About Insiya
    • Published Writing
    • Yogue in the Press
    • Contact
  • Home

More

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Vimeo

Search

Copyright © 2023 · YOGUE 2021

Hazel Theme by Code + Coconut

 
Loading Comments...
Comment
    ×