Life happens - chocolate helps!

Clients often ask - ‘Can I still eat chocolate?’ I am a self professed ‘chocoholic’ (though it is no secret). We all have a vice and this is one of mine and I believe moderation wins when we are in a balanced state.

Theobroma cacao is considered to be the food of the gods. Over the last past decade, I have also grown to connect, honour and cultivate the ceremonial rituals around cacao to enhance the energetic benefits. Cacao taken in this way can be healing, induce mental and emotional clarity; especially around love, purpose, intuition and personal growth. Personally it helps me to feel present, softer and be in a state of surrender and connect to my creativity.

Cacao, like many plants is considered to have her own intelligence and the more we live in harmony with the plant-world the more we can gain healing benefits and connect to a deeper-rooted wisdom.

Regular commercial chocolate bars can be highly processed at high temperatures with added sugars, preservatives and undesirable artificial flavours and additives - obviously not good! However pure and raw cacao offers protection from free radicals with its incredible antioxidant properties, helping us to counteract the effects of exposure to stress, pollution, chemical and encourages more health and vitality.

𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙗𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙩𝙨:

  • Improves focus and memory

  • Elevates mood and lifts depression

  • Contains phenylethylamine - ‘the love molecule’ which increases levels of endorphins in our brain - has a similar chemical effect when we are we fall in love or are on top of the world.

  • Contains anandamide -‘the bliss molecule’ (‘ananda’ is the Sanskrit word for ‘bliss’), a neurotransmitter produced in the brain that triggers a desire for substances when we feel physically, mentally or emotionally stressed. 

  • Supports infertility

  • Gently stimulates sexual desire

  • Contains magnesium and iron

  • Increases vata and pitta - reduces kapha (without sugars)

If you have tried 100% raw cacao, you will know that it has a very bitter taste (rasa), it has a pungent aftertaste (vipaka), light and dry, with a heating energy (virya). It is rajasic (stimulating in nature) to the mind and can be difficult on digestion so a little goes a long way.

𝘾𝙖𝙘𝙖𝙤 𝙑𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙘𝙤𝙖

Raw < - > processed

Prana (life force energy) < - >  no life force

Balancing for all dosas < - > imbalancing for all doshas

Anti oxidant < - > create toxins (ama)

Heart opening < - > Heart clogging 

Satisfies the energy body < - > satisfies mind craving

While in Peru, a few years ago I loved getting involved in the bean to bar process. The chocolate flavour develops through the fermentation processing of the bitter alkaloids present in the seeds of the cacao beans. The are then dried, cleaned, roasted and shelled to extract the cacao nibs.

Like many sacred plants - we can all be more conscious of how they are sourced and harvested. #ethicalfarming

How do you like to eat your chocolate?

Ayurvedic Hair Care (oiling)

Ayurvedic Hair Care (oiling)

Hair oiling holds significant importance in Ayurveda for promoting hair health and overall well-being and for many good reasons. Ayurveda suggests various ingredients that are beneficial for hair health when used in hair oil formulations as they nourish the hair, strengthen the roots, promote hair growth, and improve the overall health and appearance of the hair.

Some commonly used ingredients in Ayurvedic hair oils include: bhringraj (eclipta prostrata), amla (Indian gooseberry), brahmi (bacopa monnieri), neem (azadirachta indica), coconut oil, Sesame oil, hibiscus (hibiscus rosa-sinensis), jatamansi (nardostachys jatamansi).

Read More

Ayurvedic take on nightshades

Ayurvedic take on nightshades

Nightshades are believed to trigger an inflammatory response (also contains oxalates) in the body especially in the joints and are very aggravating to vata and pitta. Nightshades are heating in nature and have a sour and pungent post digestive action (vipaka) and also fall in the category of Rajasic and Tamasic food which can alter the state of mind to become either overactive or dull.

Read More

Say no to sugar cravings!

Say no to sugar cravings!

If you are looking to curb those sugar cravings then shardunika or better known as gurmar leaves or botanically known as gymnema slyvestre. In Ayurveda it is labelled as ‘madhunashini’ - meaning that it is a destroyer of the ‘sweet taste’ and this herb does not waste time getting to work because the moment it touches your tongue you will become insensitive to the sweet taste.

Read More

Vyayama - Exercise according to Ayurveda

Vyayama - Exercise according to Ayurveda

Did you ever stop to think why we have SO many bones, joints and different muscle groups? That’s because as humans, we are designed to MOVE and movement is the key to health and longevity. Just like our diet needs to be personalised to our unique body type, so does our exercise pattern. With Ayurveda you should tailor your exercise routine to what suits you and adapt it according to age, health state, season, climate etc. 

Read More