There are so many changing wellness trends, we tend to hop on to the bandwagon without being informed. From aiming to take a holistic approach, we get trapped into marketing gimmicks and our routines are filled with unnecessary herbs and spices.
So the question remains, can these herbs be consumed every day? We must be mindful and ask ourselves a few questions before we include habits in our lifestyle. Ask yourself,
- What is the purpose?
- How do you want the herb to help you?
- Understand your body, because it is very complex and unique.
- Make note of the bodily changes, and wonder if this solution is working for you?
- What works for you, may not work for someone else.
Before you go with what's trending, let’s talk about the most commonly used spices and the misconceptions.
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is not a kitchen spice. We’re sure everyone has heard of, tried or even made “moon milk” with ashwagandha. It's worrying to see people consume it daily whether as a pill or in their “moon milks''. But the question remains, are you supposed to consume this, without a consultation? Let's dig deeper and tell you why it isn't recommended to consume every day.
Did you know this herb is extremely heavy to digest?
Ashwagandha manages the lightness of mind because it has unique properties to balance all the doshas of the mind. The herb contains oleo gum, resins and sugar - it is hard for the digestive system to digest all the components in one go.
Who is it not recommended for?
- People who tend to feel heavy and extremely lethargic.
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It is also advised not to take it as a single ingredient for people with fluctuating hormonal conditions. It will be given in combination with other herbs.
Please Note: ashwagandha is not recommended in early stages of treatment.
It's easy to go to the vitamin section at any store and pick up a bottle of pills. But did you know that Ashwagandha extracts found in pills are not as effective? And to add more to the confusion, there are many varieties of ashwagandha too. So which one is the right one to consume?
Which variety of Ashwagandha should you consume?
Wild Variety
- Contains somniferum, a hallucinogen (causes altered thoughts, perceptions and sensations).
- Hence, do not consume this variety. Make sure about the origin of the herb.
- Cultivated variety
- Contains sugar, resin, etc., which is safe for consumption. Do make sure it doesn’t come adulterated with the wild variety.
When should it be consumed?
- In the night - around 3 hours after dinner and it should be around 1 hour before bedtime.
- it is important to remember to eat early and then consuming ashwagandha before going to sleep. there should be a considerable gap between the food and intake of the herb because this leads to impaired results of the herb.
- Do not take it every day if you are self-prescribing
Turmeric
“Golden Milk/Latte” is trending these days in the west and we have been consuming the “haldi doodh” for generations to boost our immunity. Did you think that fresh turmeric would be more effective/healthier than the powdered version?
It’s time we burst your bubble. Powdered turmeric is recommended and not fresh turmeric for herbal teas or everyday cooking. Surprised? Scroll down to know why.
- Fresh turmeric – can be heavy to digest, extremely heating, and has a bitter taste due to its rhizome and high moisture content.
- Shade dried – loses moisture therefore it is easier to digest and becomes less heating than fresh turmeric.
- Amba haldi (mango-ginger): it is cooling and recommended for people who suffer from frequent acidity, ulcers, burning sensations, heat-related acne, etc.
When is fresh turmeric recommended?
- Extremely rarely. Only as a part of traditional/ age-old recipes that can balance extreme heating effects with counteractive/ cooling agents such as coconut gratings/ ghee.
- Do not overindulge in turmeric during summer/monsoon season as it is heating. However, the white turmeric (mango ginger) is warming (not as heating as your usual wild turmeric).
- While turmeric is a blood purifier, it is also a blood thinner- please avoid turmeric if you are on anticoagulant & antiplatelet medication.
Triphala
Triphala is known to be a combination of 3 miracle herbs when it comes to general wellness and constipation* (conditions apply with regards to constipation).
When is triphala not recommended? or over usage can cause?
- If you usually feel dry - dry hair, dry skin, dry nails and are feeling dehydrated, generally
- If you are suffering from constipation with hard, pellet-like stools
- Underweight
If you experience the above conditions, can triphala be consumed sometimes?
Yes, it can consumed sometimes. The way you consume it makes all the difference.
Mix triphala with milk or ghee, not just with warm water if you experience above symptoms of dryness, pellet constipation or underweight
In general, can it be consumed everyday for a long period of time?
Please note that the continuous and regular usage can create a mild laxative effect which can cause gastrointestinal effects. It is also “drying” in property, which means that if you suffer from extreme dryness which could also be the cause of your constipation - having triphala may not be as effective on you.
Just like with vitamin supplements, its good to know when to consume triphala, how long to take it before, taking a rest, and then re-start if needed.
How do you consume triphala?
Other combinations with Triphala, based on your body type:
- Triphala + Ghee—petite, thin body frame and dry body structures, pellet poop
- Triphala + milk—moderate body frame with heating tendency
- Triphala + honey/warm water —bigger, corpulent body frame with oily body structures and with excess phlegm/mucus accumulation in the body
A good thing to remember is that these are herbs, they have medicinal properties, and it's good to consume them after understanding more from health practitioners/doctors for your specific conditions. Do not self-prescribe, just because they are trending on the internet!
Note to remember - If you are chronically constipated, always consult before you try anything. Severe dryness, diabetic medication could be the trigger of constipation.
Make sure your daily routine is right for you, and be consistent with it. Your health deserves better and we, at Dearist, are here to help you with that. Before you make any choice, or conclusions before you make a decision without consulting a doctor, or an expert - we aim to keep you well informed.
Disclaimer: these are general guidelines not based on a personal consultation. always speak to your health provider/professional/nutritionist for specific issues.