
Cilantro is the leaf of the coriander seed. Both the leaves and the seeds have citrus overtones. Cilantro, as a cooling herb, pairs well with hot spicy dishes.
Looking for a new way to keep your body refreshed and cleansed this summer? Mung beans can help you keep your cool when the days are hot. These nourishing legumes are also famous for their cleansing abilities in Ayurveda.
Cool and soothing, verdant and fragrant, fennel is a member of the carrot family that includes other popular spices such as cumin, coriander, dill and celery. Fennel is used as a flavoring in some natural toothpastes and mouth fresheners.
From tingly shampoos to teas and flowerbeds, mint is an inspiring, popular worldwide herb whose medicinal qualities are also extensive. Varieties of mint grow in nearly every country and climate. In Central and South America mint is called hierbabuena,...
Saffron's use is ancient. Saffron-based pigments have been found in 50,000 year-old paintings in northwest Iran. It conjures romance, royalty, and delicacy wherever it appears. Alexander the Great bathed in saffron to cure battle wounds. Cultivated...
Love for cardamom resonates through history - for instance, ancient Egyptians chewed cardamom to whiten their teeth and sweeten their breath. Cardamom helps take the edge off of caffeine in the famous drink Turkish coffee. Cardamom is a member of the...
Rosewater is the water leftover from the production of rose essential oil. It has a wonderful rose fragrance. As Ayurveda students, we sprayed ourselves with rosewater mist on hot days to keep cool. Rosewater is available in most Indian and Middle...
The neglect of rose petal as a medicinal in western herbalism is astounding! A few hundred years ago, rose petal use was ubiquitous, in rose water, syrup, honey, sugar, conserve, julep, vinegar, electuary, wine, oil and ointment. It is still a popular...
Pomegranate comes from the latin words for apple (pomum) and seed (granatum), altogether meaning 'seeded-apple'. The seeds of the pomegranate are embedded in a white membrane that is also used for its medicinal qualities in Ayurveda. The french word...
A green mango is an unripe mango. Green mangoes are more sour than ripe ones. In Bangladesh, green mangoes are served sliced with mustard and lime. Green mangoes are also used in mango pickle.
The name lavender comes from the latin root lavare meaning 'to wash.' Lavender flowers yield abundant nectar for beekeepers. Pumas respond to lavender the way cats respond to catnip.
The short answer is yes, chickpeas are good for you. Here are some of the ways: The fiber in chickpeas is nearly 75% insoluble and remains undigested as it reaches the colon. This significantly bulks up stools for a satisfying morning...
Okra is ojas building like most plants in the mallow family. It is also slimy and astringent, a seemingly unusual combination. Since okra is also cool, it is tri-doshic. Okra is especially helpful for relieving dryness in the joints.
Asparagus has a delicate flavor and texture making it an ideal vegetable for gourmet cuisine!
Amaranth represented up to 80% of the caloric intake of the Aztecs before the Spanish conquest. Amaranth tastes somewhat like corn, but is somewhat less sweet. Others have described the taste as nutty, like bacon or wood, or slightly bitter. It is...
Red lentils are more Vata provoking than mung beans, harder to digest, and more drying. Traditional dals are heavily spiced and very thin. Thick lentil soups are generally too heavy for western digestive systems unaccustomed to legumes as a source of...
Chances are, Popeye never ate spinach, he ate lamb's quarters instead. Next time you take a stroll in your neighborhood, look for this nutritious weed that boasts a meaty, hearty flavor. A northern relative of quinoa, lamb's quarters is packed with...
Also called string beans!
Lima beans are a relatively sweet, easy to digest bean and an important source of protein for vegetarian.
Hibiscus is from the same family as okra, cotton, and chocolate. More obscure members include durian, marshmallow root, & kola nut.
Goji berry is called wolfberry in Chinese medicine because it is a member of the nightshade family.
Artichokes are a traditional liver remedy. As a member of the thistle family, they are
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Founder of Joyful Belly Ayurveda, John Immel, answers the question ‘What is Ayurveda?’