How Can This Ayurvedic Food Make You Feel Great?

AYURVEDIC ANALYSIS

Mustard seed is a vigorous and energizing herb for the adventurous spirit. For a faint hearted person, mustard seed restores courage. This pepper spice is full of pop and surprise. It seems to explode in the sinuses and nasal passages, reminding me of the last time I ate too much wasabi at a sushi bar.

The striking spice has been used throughout history from ancient Ayurveda and Greek medicine down to the modern day. Pythagoras includes mustard as a remedy for scorpion stings. Hippocrates used it in poultices to move blood in inflamed areas. Its use continued through medieval western herbalism. In 1699, an herbalist named John Evelyn wrote that Mustard quickens and revives the spirits, strengthens the memory, and expels heaviness. In early 2020, here's what one student from the Joyful Belly Food Lab had to say:

Footnote: The information for this article was in part gathered from a 2020 study at the Joyful Belly Food Lab. In the study, 35 students of Ayurveda ate mustard seed for 3 days and journaled the pharmacological effects. This study was sponsored by the Joyful Belly School of Ayurveda, and the Mastering Ayurvedic Digestion & Nutrition certification course.

What is a mustard seed?

Mustard seeds are small and round seeds in the Brassicacea family. They are often yellow, brown or black. There are approximately 40 different mustard species, many of them wild and some grown for use as spice. Wild mustards are easy to spot and grow all around us. The family of mustards used to be called Cruciferae because their flowers look like a cross. The mustard plant itself is part of the Brassica genus. This genus includes many popular foods like cabbage, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, arugula, rocket, radishes, and turnips.

Mustard seeds, greens and roots are eaten in many cultures. However, mustard is mostly known in Europe and the United States as a condiment, popular in French cooking and on hot dogs. Mustard condiment is a puree of mustard seeds, and vinegar. Turmeric is added to mustard to give it a bright yellow color.

However, the seeds are more common in Indian cooking. You fry them in searing hot ghee or coconut oil. After a few moments they'll start to pop like popcorn. This toasting of the seeds gives a pleasant crunch and more subtle, more nutty flavor. The aromatic compounds infuse into the oil, imparting a peppery mustard aroma into the whole dish. Be careful not to overcook them though. When burned, mustard seeds turn bitter. The seeds may be sprinkled over foods as a garnish. They add zest to any salad, and can lighten up a bowl of mashed potatoes.

Mustard seeds also appear in other culinary cultures, like Africa. They pop up in surprising places. In the United States you can also find the seeds at the bottom of many pickle jars or mixed into a honey mustard dressing!

Mustard greens may be relatively mild as in arugula, or very sharp, astringent and rough as in radish greens. The root is sharp and tastes like horseradish or wasabi. Maca, an adaptogenic herb of recent fame, is actually the root of a South American mustard family plant.

Qualities

Mustard seeds are hot and sharp. One student mentioned, "My nostrils awakened (cleared) and my eyes watered slightly." Mustard seeds are also aromatic and light. "I can feel it with every inhale of my nose," said one of the students.

Mustard's heat penetrates and moves stagnation, it destroys obstruction everywhere as it spreads. Hot, pungent, aromatic foods generally spread heat throughout the body - and mustard is no exception! Another student mentioned, "I felt the heat in my stomach and core. Then the heat began to spread throughout my body." The heat is clearing. The increase in blood flow flushes out toxins and purges lymphatic obstruction. "I felt a light and clean sensation in my body after consumption," said one of the students.

There is also a slight bitter taste to mustard seeds. Wherever pungent and bitter taste combine, the effect is called acrid. Acrid taste is rough and may be nauseating. It can even induce vomiting (i.e. mustard seed is an emetic).

For some, mustard's pungency can be too rough and intense. For most individuals, it irritates the back of the throat and sinuses. One student felt "intense fire penetrating my taste buds." Another says, "it was not worth the irritation in my body." This intensity can be good for Kapha. Mustard's heat can warm up Vata when cold, but it can also be too rough for Vata. The heat is generally too much for Pitta

Mustard seeds are also oily and their skin is slightly slimy (demulcent).

How to Apply

Mustard seed can be applied in several different ways. Grinding mustard seeds forms mustard flour. This mustard flour can then be mixed with water to make a poultice, or plaster, applied to the skin. Sometimes, mustard flour is mixed with vinegar which further enhances blood flow.

Mustard poultices are used to relieve internal congestion of various organs. It works by drawing the blood to the surface. Applying this poultice externally to the whole chest may help with respiratory problems caused by inflammation. Mustard poultices were traditionally used for pneumonia, bronchitis, and similar conditions

Fomentation is another process for applying mustard seed. A cloth dipped in hot tea made from mustard seed can be rubbed over the affected area of the body.

Be careful and watch out for skin irritation or burning caused by mustard poultices or fomentation. Essential oils from mustard seed may also cause blistering of the skin.
Mustard oil itself is less aggravating than essential oil of the mustard, but more hot and penetrating than frying the seeds in oil, In India, mustard oil is also used for cooking and applied topically as a massage oil. Rubbing mustard oil around an arthritic joint improves blood flow to the area and helps to relieve pain. Kaphas respond best to its use as massage oil. However, the oil is too intense for delicate Vata individuals, and too hot for Pitta's fiery nature.

The FDA banned the sale of mustard oil for cooking because it contains ephedra. Ephedra was heavily marketed in the weight loss industry and for its stimulating qualities. Its overuse led to health problems and death. However, Asian stores still sell it with a label marked, "Not for human consumption."

There are many other ways of using mustard seed. You can make a tea of crushed seeds, or a footbath. As a footbath, Mustard seed can be used as a counter-irritant to treat certain types of headaches. Hot-type headaches are caused by excess blood in your scalp. If you have this type of headache, you can use a foot bath to draw blood downward from the head. The counter irritation pulls blood away from the original irritation. Taken internally, mustard seed can help reduce a cold-type headache. Those with high Pitta need to be careful, however, because mustard seed taken internally may exacerbate heat-related headaches.

Stimulating, Energizing, Sharpens Focus

As it moves blood upward into the brain, heat and pungency increase mental focus and determination. This feels clearing and empowering to your mind. "After taking mustard seed, " one student observed, "My mind was very clear and alert." The peppery heat goes immediately to the frontal lobe and sinuses. There, the sharpness of mustard seeds stimulates the mind and increases focus. Another student said, 'I can feel the heat, throbbing and spaciousness in my front lobe."

The stimulating, energizing qualities of mustard seed help to motivate Kapha individuals, especially when groggy or sluggish in the morning. They'll enjoy the (increased pep (prana). In his 1699 Acetaria, John Evelyn wrote, "Mustard, especially in young seedling plants, is of incomparable effect to quicken and revive the spirits, strengthen the memory, and expel heaviness." One student notes, "I felt more energetic and went to work out."

My wife, Natalie, reported that she was feeling tired in pregnancy and then used mustard oil for self-massage (abhyanga). After doing this she was so stimulated that she couldn't sleep the whole night!

One downside to mustard seeds for Pitta-dominant people is higher levels of irritability and hyperfocusing.

Improves circulation, Gets Blood Moving, heats up the blood (Rakta)

The spiciness and aromatic quality of mustard seeds dilates your blood vessels and gets your blood moving. This increased circulation explains mustard's use in weight loss: it leads to stronger digestion and faster metabolism. This is especially helpful for Kapha individuals who tend to have stagnant blood and sluggish digestion.

The warming effect and dispersing quality of mustard seeds improves lymphatic circulation. The improved lymphatic movement can reduce swelling, edema, and puffiness. For this intense lymph-stimulating effect massage your body with mustard oil or rub your body with mustard powder (as in an ubtan).

Mustard seed is one of the best herbs for treating enlargement of the spleen (splenomegaly). As it improves circulation to the scalp, mustard seed can improve hair growth.

Watch out for excess heat in the blood if you already have high Pitta. Mustard seed could have a few harmful effects in people with high Pitta, such as increasing inflammation and harming the eyes. The increased blood flow can also exhaust the liver. Mustards heat and intensity is known to aggravate bleeding disorders and vitiate the blood (raktagami, rakta dhatu vrddhi/dushti)..

Skin

The pungency of mustard seeds improves blood flow to the skin and opens the pores. As a rubefacient mustard seeds flushes the skin, making it red. It also induces sweating. "I noticed my sweat was more abundant," one student said. But several students also complained mustard seeds gave their sweat a pungent odor. Taken internally, mustard seeds also increase urination (diuretic).

If you have a deep skin abscess or even cystic acne, a mustard seed poultice can help it come to a head for easier treatment (lancing). According to Nicholas Culpepper, a famous herbalist of the 1600s, the dispersing quality of mustard seed also helps bruises and other skin marks dissolve and disappear.

Mustard seed is used to relieve itchy skin (pruritus). As such, it is in a class of herbs called kandughna.

Relaxes Muscles & Alleviates Pain

Most people think of pain as "hot" because inflammation usually accompanies pain. However, pain is actually cold and stagnant in nature. Herbalists frequently treat pain with heat and aromatic quality to break up obstructions. This is especially true for muscle pain.

Mustard's aromatic warmth deeply penetrates muscles, so mustard is useful as a muscle relaxer. Culpepper describes that it, "helps a crick in the neck." The penetrating heat irrigates the muscles with blood to ease pain. The aromatic quality of mustard seed helps to disperse swelling, stagnancy, and cold congestion of blood anywhere. The rejuvenating blood flow can also restore feeling in tingling or numbness. This is useful to diabetics.

Apply mustard seed or oil topically to ease tensions, cramping, and colicky conditions anywhere in the body. Internally, it is also used as an antispasmodic for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), colicky pain, and cramps. This includes colic headaches, irregular heartbeat, and Parkinsons. Mustard has also been used for epilepsy.

Relieves Arthritis / Joint Pain

Osteoarthritis (sandhi gata vata) is cold and dry in nature. Joints typically have poor circulation. Mustard seed's warmth penetrates joints and eases joint pain. A paste made of mustard seed helps reduce stiffness and improves flexibility of the joints.. Mustard seed has been used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (amavata)..

Digestion & Elimination

The pungency and aromatic compounds in mustard seeds increase the amount of enzymes secreted in the GI. This is due to improved circulation of blood to the gut. Vata individuals can sprinkle mustard seeds on food to warm digestion (low agni / vishama agni). Kaphas can use mustard seed to stimulate and invigorate sluggish heavy digestion (manda agni). One student noted, "I felt a warming sensation in my mid abdomen."

The acrid quality (bitter and heat) can cause nausea. One tablespoon of mustard powder can bring you to vomit. Vomiting therapy (Vamana) can be helpful in some situations, as it clears toxins from the body. It is part of the five therapies of panchakarma, which is a cleansing and rejuvenating program used in Ayurveda. However, Vamana should only be done under the guidance of a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner.

You'll want to avoid mustard seeds if you experience any inflammation (gastritis) in the GI tract. One student mentioned, "I noticed an irritating burning in the upper part of my stomach (epigastrium), like the feeling when I had an ulcer, but shorter lived."

Stools become more regular and generally softer when using mustard seed. Their spiciness can help Vata or Kapha constipation. Cold Vata types with irregular digestion experienced less gas and better formed stools. However, mustard seed can irritate the bowels of hot Pitta types, causing much looser stool. Mustard seeds are a carminative, which relaxes intestinal walls allowing release of gas.

1-2 ounces of mustard powder was once a fashionable laxative for older people. But you should use caution with taking larger quantities. Too much of the powder in the intestines can cause inflammation of the stomach and intestines. Elimination can leave a burning sensation.

Ground mustard seeds are used in cleansing enema decoctions (Asthapana basti) and can help with intestinal worms as well. However, use in small amounts only as in excess the pungency will lead to urgent evacuation of the bowels. As pungency disperses blood, mustard seed can be useful for hemorrhoids and fistulas.

Clears & Opens the Lungs

The sharpness of pungency breaks up mucus. One student said, "Mustard seeds cleared out my sinuses within seconds. A few minutes later, I felt like my breathing was deeper and clearer." This is beneficial for Kapha types who experience mucus congestion.

Mustard oil is used in nasal drops (nasya). A few drops in each nostril can help clear the sinuses (shiro virechana). Mustard seeds are used to warm the back of the throat. You can gargle with a tea made of mustard seed, which can help clear your voice in the morning (source: Culpepper).

The aromatic quality of mustard seeds dilates bronchial tubes. Mustard warms the lungs and moves fluids. This can be helpful in case of pneumonia, asthma, and bronchitis. One student noted, "My grandma used mustard plasters for chest colds"

Reduces Menstrual Pain

The antispasmodic quality of mustard seeds relieves menstrual cramps due to cold congestion and colic. Blood clots hurt when they pass through the cervix. Clots are caused by cold, congested blood that lies stagnant in the uterus. A mustard seed poultice is warming and increases blood flow to the uterus -- moving stagnation. The warming effect of the mustard seeds relaxes the cervix. It makes the passing of clots less painful and it also breaks up clots.

Using mustard seeds for external and internal use is very helpful for relieving cramps due to colic, or asynchronous contraction of the uterus. The warmth also reduces spasms and colicky cramping.

Avoid mustard seeds in cases of excess bleeding in the female reproductive tract (such as in uterine fibroids). Mustard seeds may increase menstrual flow (emmenagogue).

Summary

Mustard seeds are a vibrant and invigorating spice. They can add pop and adventure to your culinary life. The peppery blast of mustard revives the spirits and moves the blood. It's warmth eases muscle tension and restores blood flow. Mustard effect is strong - it is an intense spice that clears stagnation and obstructions throughout the body. It is a flavorful and zesty addition to your herbal practice.

WHY EAT AN AYURVEDIC DIET?

Eating Ayurvedically makes you feel nourished and energized. An Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body type and the specific imbalances you are working with at any given time. Ayurveda shows you your specific body type’s needs and what should be favored in your Ayurvedic menu. Watch as you eat less but feel more satisfied because what you are eating truly nourishes you. Since Ayurveda believes all disease begins in the digestive tract, food is your first medicine. By eating a healthy diet that’s ideal for your body, you experience optimal health.

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Is Mustard Seed Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether Mustard Seed is a good fit for you. Time to complete: approximately 1 minute.

AYURVEDIC MEDICINAL BIOCHARACTERISTICS

What is the biocharacteristic theory of medicine?

INCREASES Increases These Biocharacteristics (Gunas) Functional Ayurveda helps you assess imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating these characteristics weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which characteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct imbalances before you get sick. Every characteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite characteristic. Learn More	CLEAR ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC Clear refers to anything that cleanses or flushes out wastes, or that digests ama. LEARN MORE ABOUT CLEAR EASY ABOUT EASY BIOCHARACTERISTIC Easy refers to anything easy to digest, or digests quickly. LEARN MORE ABOUT EASY LIGHT ABOUT LIGHT BIOCHARACTERISTIC Lightness is identified by reduced weight. LEARN MORE ABOUT LIGHT MOBILE ABOUT MOBILE BIOCHARACTERISTIC Mobile refers to anything that stimulates the nervous system, muscles, or activity. LEARN MORE ABOUT MOBILE
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? Learn More	BITTER ABOUT BITTER BIOCHARACTERISTIC Bitter is disagreeable and stimulating rejection, and a strong taste often associated with black coffee, dark chocolate, and most salad greens. LEARN MORE ABOUT BITTER PUNGENT ABOUT PUNGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC Pungency is characterized by irritation, or sharp, spicy foods that irritate the mouth such as black pepper. LEARN MORE ABOUT PUNGENT
DOSHAS The Three Doshas / Body Types According to the biocharacteristic theory of medicine, people tend to get sick, over and over again, due to habitual causes and imbalances that are unique to the person. Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness. Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency. Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses. The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history. The 3 functional body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha). Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. Catabolic people tend to be easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. Metabolic people tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. Anabolic people are heavy, stable and grounded, but if they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion. Learn More	PACIFIES AGGRAVATES
HAS THE FOLLOWING	EFFECT: Rajasic RAJASIC Rajasic foods stimulate desire or nervous energy. Red meat, high protein food, garlic and onions stimulate desire. Rajasic foods include chili peppers, coffee, and anything that stimulates movement. LEARN MORE ABOUT RAJASIC , Sattvic SATTVIC Sattvic foods promote awareness and a refreshed mind by nourishing the body without taxing digestion. Sattvic foods do not stimulate desire or nervous energy. They create clarity instead of drowsiness or heaviness. LEARN MORE ABOUT SATTVIC , Alkalizing ALKALIZING An herb or food that makes the urine more alkaline (higher pH). This herbal action can be helpful for a number of inflammatory conditions. LEARN MORE ABOUT ALKALIZING TYPE: Spices ELEMENT: Air AIR Resembles air (vayu) in quality - highly mobile, drying, light, cold, subtle, rough. LEARN MORE ABOUT AIR , Fire FIRE Resembles fire (tejas) in quality - hot, sharp, penetrating, light, dry. LEARN MORE ABOUT FIRE SUBTASTE: Acrid ACRID Acrid taste is a combination of bitter and pungent tastes. Example include radish, turnip, and coffee. LEARN MORE ABOUT ACRID , 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. LEARN MORE ABOUT AROMATIC COLOR: Brown MOVES ENERGY: Outward OUTWARD Outward-moving substances stimulate circulation, push heat towards the skin, or are stimulating. LEARN MORE ABOUT OUTWARD , Upward UPWARD Upward-moving substances (Urdvha Gati Marga) include anything stimulating or activating. LEARN MORE ABOUT UPWARD

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES

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.

Here are the herbal actions of Mustard Seed:

Bone & Joint:

Antiarthritic

ANTIARTHRITIC

Herbs that ease arthritic pain and promote joint health.

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Digestion:

Nauseating

NAUSEATING

Brings about feelings of unease and discomfort in the stomach, often accompanied with the involuntary urge to vomit.

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Warms abdomen

WARMS-ABDOMEN

Warms the muscles and organs of the abdomen, stimulating digestion and metabolism.

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Antispasmodic

ANTISPASMODIC

Herbs that reduce or inhibit muscle spasms or cramping, such as in asthma, colic or IBS.

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Carminative

CARMINATIVE

Stimulates the release of gas. Helpful for bloating or cramping abdominal pain. Propels food downward.

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Emetic

EMETIC

An herb that causes vomiting.

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Purgative

PURGATIVE

Where general laxatives target the colon, purgatives are strong laxatives that target complete elimination of the small intestine. Use only sporadically as it can be habit forming.

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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.

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Cleanse and Detox:

Burns Toxins

BURNS-TOXINS

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

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Detoxicant

DETOXICANT

An herb that eliminates or metabolizes toxins from the body.

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Energy Vitality Strength:

Stimulates energy

STIMULATES-ENERGY

This category groups thyroid and adrenal stimulating herbs

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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.

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Cardiac Tonic

CARDIAC-TONIC

Strengthens and tones the heart. Cardiac tonics are used to treat a wide range of heart issues.

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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.

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Immune System:

Antimicrobial

ANTIMICROBIAL

An agent that kills microorganisms or inhibits their growth. Antimicrobial is an umbrella term that can be broken down into specific categories of target microorganism, such as anti-bacterials, fungals, and virals.

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Antirheumatic

ANTIRHEUMATIC

Antirheumatic herbs help to ease and prevent arthritis and rheumatism. Many are also anti-inflammatory, analgesic, detoxicants and blood thinners. Antirheumatic herbs deal with problems involving the painful, stiff, swollen joints, and fatigue.

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Antiseptic

ANTISEPTIC

Capable of preventing infection by inhibiting the growth of microorganisms. Helpful in infections and for those with weak immune systems.

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Flushes Membranes

FLUSHES-MEMBRANES

Herbs in this category stimulate mucus membranes to release fluids, flushing them out.

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Kidney & Urinary:

Diuretic

DIURETIC

Herbs that promote urine formation, thereby flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while eliminating any excess water retention. As diuretics reduce water retention, they are often used to reduce blood pressure.

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Lung and Sinus:

Clears sinuses

CLEARS-SINUSES

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

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Irritates throat

IRRITATES-THROAT

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

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Warms chest

WARMS-CHEST

Warms the chest and lungs, clearing mucus and allowing for clear breathing.

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Bronchodilator

BRONCHODILATOR

An herb that encourages the widening or opening of the lung airways. Helpful in cough and asthma.

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Decongestant

DECONGESTANT

An herb that reduces mucus congestion in the sinus or lungs by restricting blood flow to mucus membranes.

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Mind, Stress & Sleep:

Relieves tension

RELIEVES-TENSION

An herb that releases tightness, constriction, and rigidity in a muscle.

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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.

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Wakes you up

WAKES-YOU-UP

Invigorates the body and improves energy by stimulating circulation.

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Analgesic

ANALGESIC

Relieves or reduces feelings of pain without eliminating sensation.

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Reproductive Health:

Abortifacient

ABORTIFACIENT

An abortifacient is a substance that induces abortion. These herbs are contraindicated in pregnancy.

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Emmenogogue

EMMENOGOGUE

Herbs which stimulate blood flow in the pelvic area and uterus. They are used to increase scanty menstruation, relieve menstrual pain, and other functions.

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Promotes Virility

PROMOTES-VIRILITY

Encourages virility and potency.

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Skin Care & Beauty:

Diaphoretic

DIAPHORETIC

An herb that induces sweating, often by dilating blood vessels close to the skin.

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Antipruritic

ANTIPRURITIC

Antipruritics are herbs that inhibit itching that is often associated with itching skin conditions such as sunburns, allergic reactions, eczema, psoriasis, chickenpox, fungal infections, insect bites, or contact dermatitis (as in poison ivy exposure.)

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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.

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Find Your Symptom:

Strengthens resolve

STRENGTHENS-RESOLVE

Increases determination and courage by reducing stress and building strength.

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Warms ears

WARMS-EARS

Stimulates peripheral circulation to warm extremities, including the ears.

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Warms head

WARMS-HEAD

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

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Muscle-Health:

Muscle relaxant

MUSCLE-RELAXANT

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

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Bowel-Poop-Elimination:

Breaks Up

BREAKS-UP

The Sanskrit word for breaking up congealed matter / clogs in the body. Often used for constipation. Be careful with herbs that have Bhedana action.

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Joyful Belly is a recognized school of biocharacteristics medicine.