Chyawanprash, also called Chyavanprash or Chavana Prash, is an ancient Ayurvedic recipe that’s over 5,000 years old. A specific blend of herbs, spices, fruits, fats, and honey, it is full of essential vitamins, minerals, and other compounds that can help restore the mind and body. It is specifically designed to enhance ojas (life-force energy, vitality), fortify each system, and balance the whole being. Its’ origin story comes from a legend about a Rishi, or enlightened spiri

Depression is caused by losing the connection between you and your Self. For some, this loss is devastating and shows up as feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, guilt, extreme weight gain or loss, difficulty concentrating, and more. Life trauma (substance abuse, traumatic situations, stress, genetic predisposition, etc.) and an unhealthy mental digestion process is the overall reason for depression. After trauma, the mind then is in a position of trying to protect itself a

At Santa Cruz Ayurveda, we would like to extend our appreciation and gratitude to those who are fighting the CZU Lightning Complex fires in Santa Cruz and surrounding counties. We extend our hearts to those in the community who have lost their homes to the fires, and we recognize there are more challenges navigating relief resources with COVID still going on. We are proud to be a part of the Santa Cruz community and are devastated by the destruction that has occurred. We enco

In this article we will explore seven of the core Ayurvedic spices and how they interact with our bodies and constitutions. Spices are revered and cherished in Ayurvedic culture because of their abilities of enhancing the digestive system and cleansing toxins (Ama) from the body.  In Ayurveda, meals  should contain the six tastes (click the link to our article), which these particular spices are able to achieve and balance.  Spices prevent gas and bloating, and increase metab

The modern age of technology has seriously made sleeping a challenge for our society as a whole.  Under the system of capitalism, hard work and material gain is constantly prioritized over our inner peace and emotional stability.  Sleep should be prioritized because drowsiness affects our work, judgement, emotions and reflexes.  To counteract chronic sleep debt, people can abuse stimulants which also messes up natural sleep rhythms even more.  Every animal (including humans)

In Ayurveda, food is considered medicine. Foods are categorized according to their taste, their effects on doshas (constitution), as well as their effect on the tissues. This is why when choosing foods it is important to understand nutritional and Ayurvedic properties. For centuries rice has been an essential component of the Indian diet,  and is in fact a staple food of India, where Ayurveda originates. Different forms of preparation of rice are used in Indian custom. Rice r

In Ayurveda, every food has its own taste (rasa), a heating or cooling energy (virya) and post digestive effect (vipaka). When two or more foods with a different taste (rasa), energy (virya) and post digestive effect (vipaka) are combined, the digestive fire (Agni) can be overwhelmed and disturbed, causing disease and creation of toxins (Ama).  Poor food combinations can cause indigestion, fermentation, gas and bloating.  Over time, this can lead to more serious health issues

If you have ever been to an Ayurvedic physician or have taken any kind of online dosha quiz, you might know, the first thing they tell you is your Prakriti, which is the Sanskrit term for what combination and proportions of the three dosas you have. Doshas at Birth ⁣⁣Each of us are born with a unique nature, a unique constitution that we carry with ourselves throughout the life. From the time of our creation, prakriti (constitution of an individual) is determined by predomina

Fall and Winter Essential Herbs Why herbs? Herbs are an integral part in our Ayurvedic practice.  They are powerful tools that help with healing the mind and addressing emotions.  They have the ability to make us more open to change, calm anger and create better quality communication.  Herbs aid the body in healing the root causes of symptoms, and are a holistic and natural healing way to enhance the body’s natural functions. There are many ways to consume herbs: in tea, with

In the health and fitness world we hear all about the importance of protein, protein, and protein. Yet, there’s a huge part of our diet that is rarely talked about. That is fiber! Eating a diet high in fiber is best known to prevent or relieve constipation. However, fiber contains loads of amazing health benefits. It can help maintain a healthy weight, lower risks of diabetes and heart disease, and lower cholesterol levels. Fiber also helps to regulate the body’s use of sugar

Summer for many people is a time of activity, movement, and nature! Activities from family reunions, late night gatherings, summer camps, to vacations can all lead to a shift in diet, lifestyle, and exercise. Often vacation or summertime becomes about being a break from regular life where you can drink alcohol all day and eat processed foods. While this is okay in the short term, we believe vacation can be used to make you feel better and thrive! As our lives bring us to new

Summertime and the living is easy! Summer, like each of the seasons, brings a distinct personality of light, fire, heat, and intensity. Depending on your individual mind and body constitution (dosha), summer may aggravate your innate tendencies or increase your sense of harmony. Whether you relish in the heat of summer or prefer to be indoors, having a seasonal diet and lifestyle can help you improve your state of balance throughout the seasons. One of the fundamental princip

Coffee has spread around the world and has become an increasing part of many diets. Ayurveda teaches us that all plants serve a purpose. There are both benefits and possible downsides of coffee. In Ayurveda, coffee should be used as medicine, like all food or liquids we ingest. With any form of medicine, it is important to take note of the effects and adjust consumption due to your individual mental, emotional, and physical states. Coffee has a very stimulating effect on the

Do you have an idea of where you want to be in the future, but don’t know where to start? If so, it helps to differentiate between your aim and your goals. Your aim is the big picture or your desired outcome. Your aim can be anything that inspires you. It could be to live a healthy lifestyle or feel satisfied in your finances. It is the large picture that you can create goals for. Goals are more tangible and can be measured. Goals can end and be achieved. You can then create

For thousands of years, the heart has been recognized as the seat of the soul in many different cultures around the world. Today, science reveals that the heart beats over three hundred thousand times a day, delivering nutrition to almost all of the body’s 75 trillion cells. However, the heart is much more than a mechanical pump. It is the center of our essence, connected to our subtle energetic body, and is intimately intertwined with the heart chakra. With so many important

For thousands of years, Kitchari has been a prized recipe used in the Ayurvedic cookbook due to its amazing healing benefits and detoxifying effects. The simple porridge like dish is made of cooked white rice and split yellow mung beans, in combination with spices and vegetables. The dish is used to nourish babies, the elderly, the sick, and the healthy in times of deep spiritual practice and cleansing. If you are in need of healing, look no further than a Kitchari cleanse! T

In Ayurveda, it is said that we are one with nature. Back when everyone was relying on the foods they grew out of the ground for nourishment, people were naturally eating a seasonal diet because they were living in off the various harvests of the year. This is the way we were meant to live, as nature intended. However, in modern day, we can get practically any food we want in any season. This disrupts the natural cycle of our bodies. But through consciously paying attention t

Have you ever heard the term “you are what you eat”? Well, at Santa Cruz Ayurveda we take it a step further and suggest: you are what you digest. Ayurveda puts a strong emphasis on the right food choices and kindling a strong Agni, or digestive fire in order to fully assimilate all the nutrients you are taking in through food. Ayurveda serves not only to help cure, but also to educate and empower people to heal and nourish the body, mind, and spirit. We believe that a healthy