#HERBALZAPPING
Living Ancient Ayurveda in Modern TimesSeven Simple Ways to Celebrate Earth Day Every Day
Instead of limiting our celebrations to one day a year, let’s celebrate Earth Day every day by taking these seven simple steps towards a greener, more Earth-friendly lifestyle:
- Take a shorter shower: Water is a precious commodity. Try to be conscious of how much time you spend in the shower. We recommend keeping your shower to under ten minutes!
- Bring your own bags to the grocery store: In Austin, grocery stores don’t have plastic grocery bags. Buy reusable bags and keep them in your car to reduce unnecessary plastic waste.
- Buy locally-grown produce: Take advantage of your local farmers markets! Support local farmers AND get super-fresh produce. If you eat meat, try to buy it from local sources, as well. Do your part to reduce the carbon footprint of your food.
- Drop off your gently-used clothing at Goodwill: Instead of tossing out old clothes, donate them to a charity. And try to re-purpose anything that can’t be worn again. We always rip up old t-shirts and use them as cleaning cloths at my house!
- Invest in energy-efficient lightbulbs and appliances: Any extra you spend upfront will be paid back to you in cost-savings! Good for the planet AND your wallet.
- Hand wash your dishes: Bonus points if you use a bin of soapy water instead of leaving the water running 🙂
- Invest in eco-friendly personal products: Vote with your dollar. Support brand with sustainable business practices!
Here at Herbal Zap, we are proud to support sustainable farming practices AND used recycled materials for our boxes. We try to follow the mantra “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” as much as possible in our day-to-day lives. What efforts are you making to live a greener lifestyle? We’d love to hear!
Herbal Zap on the Natural Underground
Herbal Zap on the Natural Underground
Three Ayurvedic Rituals to Revitalize Your Morning
Our waking moments set the stage for the day ahead. Ayurveda, the ancient holistic healing science of life from India, recognizes the potential that early morning has to impact the rest of our day. Start your day with intention using these three Ayurvedic practices:
1. Wake up with the sun (or earlier): A good day starts at sunrise. Our biorhythms tell us that we should wake with light and sleep with darkness. Try to set you alarm for a consistent time – 5 or 6 am – and stick with that waking time. Not only will your body thank you, but you will have more time to yourself to perform early morning rituals and get a jump-start on the things you need to get done
2. Drink warm water with lemon: Before you reach for a cup of coffee, give your body time to wake and nourish itself by drinking warm water with fresh lemon. This practice serves as an act of conscious awareness, allowing you to slow down and practice self-care, while also offering real, physical benefits. After eight hours of inactivity, our physical bodies use cues like light and hydration to know that it’s time to start the day. The lemon helps aid in digestion, balance pH and boost your immune system. For an extra digestive boost, add a packet of our Digestive Cool and Calm.
3. Breathe consciously: Sometimes, your morning is your only period of calm. Take advantage of quiet, early-morning hours to take a moment to breathe consciously. You can use this time to practice a pranayama ritual or just sit quietly, with eyes closed, and focus on your inhale and exhale. Try counting to ten, holding your breath, and then letting it out to a count of ten (very slo-o-owly!)
What do your mornings usually look like? How would you like them to look? Carve out a little time to practice the above rituals and get your days started off right. Your body and mind will thank you.
5 Ways to Beat Seasonal Allergies with Ayurveda
A box of tissues and two packs of Benadryl deep into spring? It may be time to try a more natural approach to beating seasonal allergies.
Ayurveda offers us ancient wisdom on how to take care of our mind and body. Herbal Zap founder, Genevieve Gilbreath, recommends the following herbs to help heal and strengthen your immune system during allergy season:
1. Vasaka (Malabar Nut)
Vasaka has been used for centuries to support respiratory function and broncho-dialation. Its leaves contain an essential oil which works as an expectorant, so you can cough up all that pollen and dust
2. Kulanjana
Sore throat? Kulanjana (blue ginger) has throat-soothing properties, while also working as an expectorant and providing bronchial support. Bonus: fights bad breath.
3. Ajowain
Ajowain seeds, part of the fennel and caraway family, are something you should always have in your holistic medicine cabinet. The seeds can be chewed and swallowed to help ease coughs. Or you can make some Ajowain tea by boiling a small amount in hot water with cinnamon sticks to ease nasal congestion and soothe your throat.
4. Long Pepper
Long pepper, sometimes called Indian long pepper or pippali, has long been used to treat asthma and bronchitis. Not to be confused with black pepper, this herb can be found in powder form at your local Indian grocers. Use ground long pepper in your cooking or take a teaspoon to help with your respiratory symptoms.
5. Shankhpushpi
Practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine use Shankhpushpi for mental stimulation and rejuvenation therapy, as well as to aid with nervous exhaustion. For allergies, the leaves of Shankhpushpi have been used to treat bronchial irritation and other respiratory issues. Try a Shankhpushpi supplement (or you can also find it in Herbal Zap’s Immune Support formula!)
In addition to incorporating these herbs into your diet (either naturally or through supplements), Ayurveda suggests you avoid excessive dairy during allergy season. Try dairy alternatives, like almond milk or coconut milk, and avoid cheese, ice cream, and excessive yogurt intake. Make sure to drink a lot of water, at least 32 oz. a day, to flush our your system, too!