Allspice

How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?

CONSTITUTIONAL NUTRITION INSIGHTS

Recipes with Allspice: Mulled Spiced Wine

Highly aromatic & spicy, Allspice is an ideal appetizer that refreshes the mouth. It is a delicious addition to meats and desserts, where it doubles as a digestive aid. It's taste and astringency closely resembles cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves and it has similar properties and use to those spices.

Improves circulation

Allspice is intense in nature. Its spiciness naturally increases the heart rate. Aromatic compounds dilate blood vessels, making Allspice ideal for improving circulation. As it disperses blood, it is ideal to resolve a bruise, relax muscle pain and soreness, and warm up the joint space in arthritic conditions.

Clears the Respiratory Tract

Allspice's warmth spreads to the lungs, chest and head, acting as an effective decongestant. Allspice warmth clears the respiratory tract and sinuses. As it dilates capillary beds in the skin, it restores color to the skin. But caution, as this can cause a chill.

Muscle Relaxant

The aromatic compounds are useful as an antispasmodic for gas & bloating, asthma, painful menstruation, headaches, and IBS. Like cloves, Allspice is an analgesic that has been used for toothaches and muscle pain.

Energizing Stimulant

Allspice is a bright spice that reduces anxiety and lifts depression.

Digestive Effects

Allspice is an ideal digestive and stomachic. It is especially useful on protein rich foods. As a laxative, it causes looser, more frequent bowel movements. However, it's astringency may be useful for diarrhea as well.Leave a Comment

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SERVING SIZE: 1/8 tsp
FAMILY: Myrtaceae
SPECIES: Pimenta officinalis
EAT IN: AUTUMN-WINTER

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Medicinal Effects of Allspice

Constitutional nutrition systems use biocharacteristics to classify the metabolic nature of food, hebs, lifestyle choices, your body, and disease.

METABOLIC NATURE / BIOCHARACTERISTICS

Metabolic Nature / Biocharacteristics
Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (vital qualtiies). Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick. Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.
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LIGHT

ABOUT LIGHT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Lightness is identified by reduced weight.

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MOBILE

ABOUT MOBILE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Mobile refers to anything that stimulates the nervous system, muscles, or activity.

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CLEAR

ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Clear refers to anything that cleanses or flushes out wastes, or that digests ama.

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EASY

ABOUT EASY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Easy refers to anything easy to digest, or digests quickly.

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HOT

ABOUT HOT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot is identified by increased body temperature, metabolism, or inflammation.

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TASTES

The 6 Tastes
Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?
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ASTRINGENT

ABOUT ASTRINGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Astringency is characterized by constriction, drawing together, or drying.

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BITTER

ABOUT BITTER BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Bitter taste has cholagogue action - it is cold, clear, light, and stimulating. It increases digestive enzymes and is laxative, and drying.

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PUNGENT

ABOUT PUNGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Pungency is characterized by irritation, or sharp, spicy foods that irritate the mouth such as black pepper.

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AYURVEDA BODY TYPES (DOSHAS)

The Three Doshas / Body Types
Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.
Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.
Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.
Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.
The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).
Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.
Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.
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PACIFIES

AGGRAVATES

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors
Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia. They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature. Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.
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PACIFIES

MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold and dry with a slow, variable or erratic metabolism. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant. Analytical, intelligent, detail oriented and creative. Prone to ojas depletion, dehydration, an overactive nervous system, and depression.

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PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

A Phlegmatic has a cold and wet metabolic nature. The coldness implies a slow metabolism, the moisture that you are well-nourished. Phlegmatics tend towards sluggishness and thickened fluids, including mucus.

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AGGRAVATES

CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.

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SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

A hot and oily nature with a moderate metabolism and a well nourished body makes Sanguine individuals vigorous, vivacious, outgoing and generous, and prone to impulsivity and self indulgence. Bullish and intense when out of balance.

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Other Health Virtues

Subtaste:

Acrid

ACRID

Acrid taste is a combination of bitter and pungent tastes. Example include radish, turnip, and coffee.

SEE ALL 'ACRID' FOODS / HERBS

Aromatic

AROMATIC

Herbs or spices with volatile essential oils that present strong aromas. Aromatic oils shock, refresh and numb tissue, with the end result of relaxing, opening and clearing stagnant fluids in tissues.

SEE ALL 'AROMATIC' FOODS / HERBS

Subdosha:

Kapha Avalambaka, Kapha Bodhaka, Kapha Kledaka, Pitta Pachaka, Pitta Sadhaka, Vayu Prana

Family:

Myrtaceae

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Allspice
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

(see all)

Digestion:

Stimulates Peristalsis

STIMULATES-PERISTALSIS

An herb that promotes involuntary smooth muscle contractions to facilitate the movement of food and waste through the digestive tract.

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Appetizer

APPETIZER

Herbs that cleanse the palate & stimulate hunger or desire to eat.

SEE ALL 'APPETIZER' FOODS / HERBS

Carminative

CARMINATIVE

Stimulates the release of gas. Helpful for bloating or cramping abdominal pain. Propels food downward. Carminatives typically expel gas by relaxing the muscles of the intestines.

SEE ALL 'CARMINATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Digestive

DIGESTIVE

Herbs that encourage healthy digestion.

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Spleen Tonic

SPLEEN-TONIC

An herb that strengthens spleen function by improving strength of the blood. Spleen tonics Builds agni, brighten the person's appearances & firms up tissues.

SEE ALL 'SPLEEN-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Stomachic

STOMACHIC

An herb that increases appetite or settles a nauseas or nervous stomach. These generally increase the digestive fire, therefore relieving symptoms of sluggish or difficult digestion.

SEE ALL 'STOMACHIC' FOODS / HERBS

Bowel Health:

Stool Softener

STOOL-SOFTENER

Softens hard and difficult to eliminate stool. Stool softeners are the safest and most gentle type of laxative. Examples include warm milk with ghee.

SEE ALL 'STOOL-SOFTENER' FOODS / HERBS

Cleanse & Detox:

Burns Toxins

BURNS-TOXINS

An herb that detoxifies by helping your body metabolize toxins, as opposed to eliminating them.

SEE ALL 'BURNS-TOXINS' FOODS / HERBS

Internal Detoxicant

INTERNAL-DETOXICANT

Liquefies, dissolves, decongests or dislodges internal stagnant toxins. Decongests the lymphatic system.

SEE ALL 'INTERNAL-DETOXICANT' FOODS / HERBS

Mind, Stress & Sleep:

Numbs Anasthetic

STRONG NUMBS-ANASTHETIC

Inhibits sensation in a particular area.

SEE ALL 'NUMBS-ANASTHETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Stimulates Front Of Brain

STIMULATES-FRONT-OF-BRAIN

Creates a feeling of awareness or tension in the area in the forehead. Activates the frontal lobe - the area responsible for motor function, emotional expression, thinking, and decision making.

SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-FRONT-OF-BRAIN' FOODS / HERBS

Analgesic

ANALGESIC

Pain reliever, reduces pain without eliminating sensation. Also known as anodyne.

SEE ALL 'ANALGESIC' FOODS / HERBS

Antidepressant

ANTIDEPRESSANT

Herbs that lift feelings of depression, benefit the mind and improve mental function.

SEE ALL 'ANTIDEPRESSANT' FOODS / HERBS

Nervine

NERVINE

Balances the nervous system. They can help with stress, memory, early alzheimer's, and even chronic pain. Often they are aromatic in nature.

SEE ALL 'NERVINE' FOODS / HERBS

Energy Vitality:

Stimulates Energy

STIMULATES-ENERGY

This category groups thyroid and adrenal stimulating herbs.

SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-ENERGY' FOODS / HERBS

Skin Care & Beauty:

Rubefacient

RUBEFACIENT

An herb used topically that causes dilation of the capillaries and an increase in blood circulation. The skin will appear red or flushed.

SEE ALL 'RUBEFACIENT' FOODS / HERBS

Respiratory-Health:

Clears Sinuses

CLEARS-SINUSES

Cleanses sinuses by draining excess mucus, allowing for clear, easy breathing.

SEE ALL 'CLEARS-SINUSES' FOODS / HERBS

Irritates Throat

IRRITATES-THROAT

Creates abrasive feeling in the back of the mouth. May stimulate coughing.

SEE ALL 'IRRITATES-THROAT' FOODS / HERBS

Lump In Throat

LUMP-IN-THROAT

Makes you feel like there is a ball of tension around the Adam's Apple area.

SEE ALL 'LUMP-IN-THROAT' FOODS / HERBS

Warms Chest

WARMS-CHEST

Warms the chest and lungs, clearing mucus and allowing for clear breathing. Often these herbs are hot, aromatic, and pungent.

SEE ALL 'WARMS-CHEST' FOODS / HERBS

Decongestant

DECONGESTANT

An herb that reduces mucus production often by restricting blood flow to mucus membranes.

SEE ALL 'DECONGESTANT' FOODS / HERBS

Immune System:

Anti Inflammatory

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Reduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems.

SEE ALL 'ANTI-INFLAMMATORY' FOODS / HERBS

Antibacterial

ANTIBACTERIAL

Herbs that kill bacteria or slow their growth.

SEE ALL 'ANTIBACTERIAL' FOODS / HERBS

Heart & Circulation:

Cardiac Stimulant

CARDIAC-STIMULANT

Herbs that increase the heart rate. Useful in cardiovascular health, blood stagnation, and subjective feeling of heaviness in the chest area.

SEE ALL 'CARDIAC-STIMULANT' FOODS / HERBS

Warms Head

WARMS-HEAD

An herb that increases sensations of heat and warmth in the head.

SEE ALL 'WARMS-HEAD' FOODS / HERBS

Vasodilator

VASODILATOR

A vasodilator is an herb that widens the blood vessels by the relaxation of smooth muscle cells within the vessel walls, thereby increasing circulation systemically or to a local area.

SEE ALL 'VASODILATOR' FOODS / HERBS

Kidney & Urinary:

Dries Mouth

DRIES-MOUTH

Makes the mouth feel dry, or pasty.

SEE ALL 'DRIES-MOUTH' FOODS / HERBS

Weight Loss:

Lowers Blood Sugar

LOWERS-BLOOD-SUGAR

An herb that lowers blood sugar.

SEE ALL 'LOWERS-BLOOD-SUGAR' FOODS / HERBS

Bone & Joint:

Antiarthritic

ANTIARTHRITIC

Herbs that ease arthritic pain and promote joint health.

SEE ALL 'ANTIARTHRITIC' FOODS / HERBS

Strength, Muscle Health:

Muscle Relaxant

MUSCLE-RELAXANT

Herbs that relax muscles. Helpful for chronic pain or tension as well as healing from physical trauma.

SEE ALL 'MUSCLE-RELAXANT' FOODS / HERBS

Antispasmodic

ANTISPASMODIC

Herbs that reduce or inhibit muscle spasms or cramping, such as in asthma, menstruation, heart palpitations, migraine, or IBS.

SEE ALL 'ANTISPASMODIC' FOODS / HERBS

Foods with a Similar Nature to Allspice

Mustard

Mustard has these Actions in Common
Warms-chest, Analgesic, Burns-toxins, Clears-sinuses, Internal-detoxicant, Rubefacient, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Warms-head, Antiarthritic, Cardiac-stimulant, Decongestant, Irritates-throat, Spleen-tonic, Vasodilator, Antispasmodic, Carminative, Digestive, Muscle-relaxant, Stimulates-energy
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Mustard Powder

Mustard Powder has these Actions in Common
Antispasmodic, Carminative, Digestive, Muscle-relaxant, Stimulates-energy, Warms-chest, Analgesic, Burns-toxins, Clears-sinuses, Internal-detoxicant, Rubefacient, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Warms-head, Antiarthritic, Cardiac-stimulant, Decongestant, Irritates-throat, Spleen-tonic, Vasodilator
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Mustard Seed

Mustard Seed has these Actions in Common
Digestive, Muscle-relaxant, Stimulates-energy, Warms-chest, Analgesic, Burns-toxins, Clears-sinuses, Internal-detoxicant, Rubefacient, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Warms-head, Antiarthritic, Cardiac-stimulant, Decongestant, Irritates-throat, Spleen-tonic, Vasodilator, Antispasmodic, Carminative
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Ginger (Fresh)

Ginger (Fresh) has these Actions in Common
Carminative, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Antiarthritic, Burns-toxins, Decongestant, Nervine, Stomachic, Analgesic, Antispasmodic, Cardiac-stimulant, Digestive, Spleen-tonic, Vasodilator, Anti-inflammatory, Appetizer
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Rosemary

Rosemary has these Actions in Common
Rubefacient, Stomachic, Antispasmodic, Decongestant, Muscle-relaxant, Spleen-tonic, Vasodilator, Analgesic, Burns-toxins, Digestive, Nervine, Stimulates-energy, Warms-chest, Antidepressant, Cardiac-stimulant, Internal-detoxicant
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Cloves

Cloves has these Actions in Common
Digestive, Numbs-anasthetic, Vasodilator, Antibacterial, Cardiac-stimulant, Internal-detoxicant, Rubefacient, Warms-chest, Antispasmodic, Carminative, Nervine, Spleen-tonic, Warms-head, Analgesic, Burns-toxins
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Basil

Basil has these Actions in Common
Anti-inflammatory, Antispasmodic, Cardiac-stimulant, Digestive, Spleen-tonic, Antibacterial, Appetizer, Carminative, Internal-detoxicant, Vasodilator, Antidepressant, Burns-toxins, Decongestant, Nervine, Warms-head
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Mint

Mint has these Actions in Common
Spleen-tonic, Stomachic, Antidepressant, Burns-toxins, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Vasodilator, Antispasmodic, Carminative, Nervine, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Analgesic, Appetizer, Digestive
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Cinnamon

Cinnamon has these Actions in Common
Decongestant, Lowers-blood-sugar, Stimulates-energy, Antibacterial, Cardiac-stimulant, Digestive, Rubefacient, Warms-chest, Appetizer, Carminative, Internal-detoxicant, Spleen-tonic, Analgesic, Burns-toxins
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Nigella (black cumin)

Nigella (black cumin) has these Actions in Common
Analgesic, Burns-toxins, Digestive, Nervine, Vasodilator, Anti-inflammatory, Cardiac-stimulant, Internal-detoxicant, Spleen-tonic, Antispasmodic, Carminative, Lowers-blood-sugar, Stimulates-energy
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Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Allspice

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common
Antibacterial, Dries-mouth, Vasodilator, Antidepressant, Internal-detoxicant, Warms-chest, Antispasmodic, Lowers-blood-sugar, Warms-head, Appetizer, Muscle-relaxant, Burns-toxins, Nervine, Cardiac-stimulant, Stimulates-energy, Clears-sinuses, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Anti-inflammatory, Decongestant, Stomachic
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Deodar (Himalayan Cedar, Devadaru)

Deodar (Himalayan Cedar, Devadaru) has these Actions in Common
Antispasmodic, Vasodilator, Cardiac-stimulant, Warms-chest, Carminative, Warms-head, Decongestant, Analgesic, Digestive, Anti-inflammatory, Muscle-relaxant, Antiarthritic, Nervine, Antidepressant, Stimulates-energy
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Wild Ginger

Wild Ginger has these Actions in Common
Carminative, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Analgesic, Rubefacient, Antispasmodic, Spleen-tonic, Appetizer, Stimulates-energy, Burns-toxins, Vasodilator, Cardiac-stimulant, Warms-chest
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Thyme White Essential Oil - 1/3 oz

Thyme White Essential Oil - 1/3 oz has these Actions in Common
Internal-detoxicant, Nervine, Antibacterial, Rubefacient, Antispasmodic, Spleen-tonic, Appetizer, Stimulates-energy, Burns-toxins, Vasodilator, Decongestant, Digestive
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Bitter Orange Peel

Bitter Orange Peel has these Actions in Common
Cardiac-stimulant, Stomachic, Carminative, Decongestant, Digestive, Irritates-throat, Nervine, Anti-inflammatory, Stimulates-energy, Appetizer, Stimulates-peristalsis
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Yogaraj Guggulu

Yogaraj Guggulu has these Actions in Common
Carminative, Internal-detoxicant, Analgesic, Muscle-relaxant, Anti-inflammatory, Nervine, Antiarthritic, Vasodilator, Antispasmodic, Burns-toxins, Cardiac-stimulant
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Pennyroyal

Pennyroyal has these Actions in Common
Cardiac-stimulant, Carminative, Digestive, Muscle-relaxant, Nervine, Analgesic, Numbs-anasthetic, Antispasmodic, Rubefacient, Appetizer, Vasodilator
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Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama)

Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama) has these Actions in Common
Lowers-blood-sugar, Muscle-relaxant, Nervine, Antidepressant, Stimulates-energy, Antispasmodic, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Cardiac-stimulant, Decongestant, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant
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Breath of Fire / Shining Skull (Kapalbhati Pranayama)

Breath of Fire / Shining Skull (Kapalbhati Pranayama) has these Actions in Common
Antidepressant, Stimulates-energy, Antispasmodic, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Cardiac-stimulant, Decongestant, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Lowers-blood-sugar, Muscle-relaxant, Nervine
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Dong Quai

Dong Quai has these Actions in Common
Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Muscle-relaxant, Analgesic, Nervine, Anti-inflammatory, Stimulates-energy, Antispasmodic, Vasodilator, Cardiac-stimulant, Carminative
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Mugwort

Mugwort has these Actions in Common
Carminative, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Analgesic, Nervine, Anti-inflammatory, Stomachic, Antibacterial, Antispasmodic, Appetizer
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Allspice - Metabolic Impact Report

The reports shared below are part of an educational assignment completed by students at the Joyful Belly College of Natural Health Sciences. These represent subjective experiences intended to help students explore principles of Ayurveda through personal observation. In each report below, students ate the selected food for 3 days and self-reported these effects. See other food & herb reports at Joyful Belly.