7 Beneficial Ayurveda Spices

Would you like your family to bond and have wonderful, magical times together? How would you like to have your children happier, calmer, better behaved, and more appreciative? Would you like to reduce the need to take your children to the doctor as often as you do? Imagine that your family's health issues naturally clear up; would you like to live this way?

Welcome back to the idea of 'Cooking', and specifically, 'Ayurvedic Cooking'!

There are many benefits from doing things on your own, including making your own simple, home-cooked meals from scratch. Buying fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and beans save you loads of money compared to eating out, and increases health and happiness (from being healthy). Cooking together brings the family together; simple, delicious, and healthful meals can be made within half hour; and overall health noticeably improves (eg, often allergies and other illnesses improve). Each benefit is exciting enough to merit its own discussion. In this article we will focus on 7 easily available cooking improve the taste of the foods, and can be used to improve health. Many of the ways these address common health issues have been shown through scientific research.

Ayurveda offers your family a more personal insight and use of the herbs, helping you choose which herbs are most suited to your constitution or dosha. Thus foods can be delicious as well as healthful for your own particular palette. If you need to know your dosha, free online dosha tests are available.

What makes these seemingly insignificant and oft overlooked spices such powerful allies is that they improve the digestion. Ayurveda notes that the cause of most physical illnesses is due to poor digestion; well digested foods mean nutrition is absorbed and fed to the body for health and immune strength. So let's take a more grateful look at these 'sacred crumbs'

1. Black Pepper

Best for Dosha: Vayu and Kapha dosha (constitution) people

Best for Conditions: Burns up ama very well, colds, flu, cough, gargle for sore throat, fevers, colon cleanse, digests fat and obesity; metabolism, mucus, expectorant, sinus congestion, cold extremities, raises agni, epileptic seizures, with honey, clears Kapha from the system in the morning. External-inflammations, urticaria, erysipelas.

2. Cumin

Best for Dosha: All

Best for Conditions: digests bread, along with caraway, fennel and dill relatives; colitis, gas, digestion, abdominal pain, distention, for overeating and eating heavy foods.

3. Cardamom

Best for Dosha: All

Best for Conditions: Absorption of nutrients, asthma, bronchitis, colds, cough, excellent for stomach complaints, hoarseness, indigestion, loss of taste, helps the spleen and pancreas, reduces Kapha in lungs and stomach, stimulates the mind, with milk it reduces mucus formation, detoxifies caffeine in coffee, nervous digestion, vomiting, headache, belching, acid indigestion, nausea, expels Vayu in colon and digests foods in colon, convalescing from diarrhea, biliousness, respiratory disorders, involuntary urination.

Spiritual Uses: spiritual peace and purity; gives clarity and joy

Antidote: Helps digest foods if they create sluggish digestion. Ice cream, milk, cold or sweet foods like bananas, coffee

4. Coriander

Best for Dosha: All

Best for Conditions: Griping, flatulent colic, rheumatism, neuralgia, indigestion, vomiting, intestinal disorders, removes excess Kapha, eyewash, conjunctivitis, relieves internal heat and thirst, skin/rash problems, urogenital system (burning urethra, cystitis, infections, etc.), sore throat, allergies, hay fever, for all Pitta disorders, burning, juice for allergies, hay fever, and skin rashes (and externally as well); antidotes hot pungent foods, bleeding hemorrhoids. Used to balance very hot foods and spices (eg, chillies).

5. Fennel

Best for Dosha: All

Best for Conditions: Abdominal pain (gas or indigestion), menstrual cramps, hernia, diarrhea, colic, vomiting, morning sickness, nausea, anorexia, cough, dry cough, promotes semen, increases vision, raises agni, difficult or burning urination, digestion-children and elderly; promotes menstruation, nursing mothers-increases breast milk flow.

6. Fenugreek

Best for Dosha: Vayu & Kapha

Best for Conditions: Longevity, nerves, allergies, arthritis, skin, rejuvenation, diabetes, allergies, bronchitis, flu, chronic cough, dysentery, dyspepsia, convalescence, edema, toothache, sciatica, neurasthenia, counters cold (i.e., extremities, abdominal pain, indigestion, respiratory and reproductive systems, hair growth, promotes breast milk flow, liver hypo-function, seminal debility, debility, outdoor winter work). Precaution: Do not use when pregnant.

7. Turmeric

Best for Dosha: Kapha/ good for all doshas in moderation

Best for Condition: Amenorrhea, anemia, arthritis, blood purifier, blood tissue formation, circulation, cooking spice, cough, diabetes, worms, jaundice, eye problems, fevers, gas, hemorrhoids, edema, indigestion, ligament stretching, metabolism regulator; mucus relief, and hysteria (from inhaling fumes); pharyngitis, protein digesting, skin disorders, abscess, urinary diseases, wound and bruise healer; a natural antibiotic that also improves intestinal flora; inflammatory bowel syndrome (e.g., ulcerative colitis), Chron's Disease, chronic hepatitis, chronic bronchial asthma, psoriasis, all inflammatory conditions.

Spiritual Uses: Gives one the Divine Goddess's energy and prosperity; Chakra and subtle body cleanser; limbers for Yoga asana practice

Precautions: Do not use if pregnant, with excess Pitta, with acute jaundice or hepatitis.

So bring the family into the kitchen and share the magic of cooking, sprinkle a little more love in your life; save money, enhance health, and discover just how sacred the cooking experience can be!

This article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to treat, diagnose, prescribe or health any condition.

It in not intended to substitute for care from duly licensed health professionals.