Happy Spring! Mother Nature has certainly been keeping us on our toes this year with her fluctuating temperatures and last month's surprise frost. Thankfully, with the arrival of the Spring Equinox on March 19th, daylight is now increasing and warm weather seems to be settling in. Read on for Ayurvedic routines to pacify mucosy Kapha dosha this Spring, and book an appointment to learn how you can naturally address your specific spring cold, allergy and sinus concerns!

Ayurveda and the Spring Season

Spring season is the time of year when all of the world around us seems to be slowly and easefully waking up after a nice winter's nap. Thanks to the sun's warmth, the ground begins to thaw- loosening up and melting the water (represented by kapha dosha) that has solidified in the cold. According to Ayurveda, our bodies mirror what is happening in nature, so as the temperatures rise outside, the kapha in our bodies naturally begins to loosen up and we experience this as increased mucus production. While mucus can be great for lubricating us after a cold and dry winter, and for catching allergens "at the door" (i.e. our noses and throats), too much mucous production can clog our systems and can trap those allergens inside, causing infection. So Spring season is the ideal time to pay attention to kapha dosha and try to minimize its increase in our bodies. A great way to do this is through modifying our diet so that we minimize or avoid foods that are "kaphogenic" (kapha-producing), such as dairy products and baked goods- especially those made with white flour and/or white sugar. Better alternatives include: nut milks, using honey as a sweetener, seasonal fruits (fresh or dried) for desserts, and favoring ancient grains or at least 100% whole wheat bread products over products made with white flour. It is also a great time to eat the fresh vegetables that we can find at our local farmers' markets, as nature always provides us with the proper foods that we need to stay healthy in a certain season. Spring is a time for decreasing our intake of sweet, sour and salty foods (which are kapha-increasing) and increasing our intake of foods that are bitter, pungent and astringent (kapha-reducing). Many of the early spring vegetables, such as asparagus, leeks and our abundant varieties of leafy greens in the lowcountry have these beneficial qualities!

Ayurvedic & Herbal Home Remedies for Colds

While there is no outright cure for a cold, there are many things we can do to help minimize its symptoms and duration. Drinking copious amounts of tea made from grated fresh ginger root, lemon and honey is one of my all-time favorites for fighting infection and boosting the immune system when I have a cold. In India, it's simply called "Ginger Honey Lemon Tea" and is a menu staple in most restaurants. Garlic is one of nature's best immune system boosters, and is both anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial. Elderberry is another immuno-supportive herb, and is delicious in syrup form as a preventative, but probably better as a tincture when you are already sick. For sore and inflammed throats, I love Gaia brand's Echinacea-Goldenseal-Propolis spray. Keep it near you and spray three times once every hour to knock out infection. Ayurvedic herbs that I like to use when I blend formulas for colds include turmeric, sitopaladi churna and talisadi churna. Book a consultation if you need some cold support, or would like to learn more!

**NEW: Free Monthly Ayurveda Q&A at Lotus**

Are you curious about Ayurveda and want to know more? I'm now offering a free monthly drop-in on the basics of this 5000-year old traditional medical system, to help people new to Ayurveda to discover how Ayurveda can help us to live longer, healthier and happier lives. The date and time will rotate monthly, so if this first one doesn't work for you maybe a future one will! See details below for the May Q&A: