AJWAIN

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 430 likes

SAVE FOOD

Ajwain is native to the Middle East and is still common in Egypt as well as Indian cooking. Like turmeric, ajwain is a spice used to enhance digestibility rather than flavor.

ALFALFA SPROUTS

SAVE FOOD

Promotes strength and solidity. Anabolic, but without creating stagnation. Regulates estrogen (phytoestrogens can increase or decrease estrogen as needed). Liver, Spleen Yin Tonic. Alfalfa is a urinary & GI membrane restorative. (Source: Holmes)

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 7 ratings, 552 likes

SAVE FOOD

Often used for weight loss, vinegar strongly increases the flow of bile. Bile is a fatty, oily substance made by the liver, and stored in the gall bladder. It helps you digest fats. Since bile is also a fatty oily substance, draining bile from the...

ARTICHOKE

SAVE FOOD

Artichokes, a member of the thistle family, are a hepatoprotectant. Artichoke may be gassy for those with weak digestion. Artichoke is very high in fiber. It's chologogue properties, together with its high fiber content make it ideal to flush toxic...

ARTICHOKE HEARTS

SAVE FOOD

See the Ayurvedic Analysis of Artichokes page.

ARUGULA

(4.50 out of 5 stars) 2 ratings, 473 likes

SAVE FOOD

Its sharp peppery flavor is a sign that arugula is light and easy to digest for those with slow, cold digestion, or to help take a heavy meal and "lighten" it, so your body can assimilate the nutrients of the entire dish.

BALSAMIC VINEGAR

SAVE FOOD

Vinegar heats up digestion, but aids fat metabolism. Balsamic vinegar is made with red wine, which is hotter than other vinegars.

BASIL

SAVE FOOD

Basil's warm and spicy aroma adds a passionate flare to any dish, bringing the heat of the Mediterranean sun to your table. Its bright green color and vigorous flavor is unmistakable in pesto. It adds verve to a home-made tomato sauce, and is a perky...

BEET GREENS

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 174 likes

SAVE FOOD

The astringency of the beet can cause a fuzzy feeling on the teeth.

BITTER MELON

(4.00 out of 5 stars) 3 ratings, 182 likes

SAVE FOOD

The bitterest member of the gourd family, bitter melon is a popular vegetable in south asia from India northward to China.

BURDOCK ROOT (GOBO)

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 138 likes

SAVE FOOD

Bitter detoxicant, Cold vasodilator, depurative, alterative, astringent diuretic. Stimulates kidneys to eliminate uric acid. like dandelion rt but not a potassium diuretic

CARDAMOM

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 8 ratings, 736 likes

SAVE FOOD

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...

CELERY ROOT

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 92 likes

SAVE FOOD

This bright food is one of the lightest of root vegetables. It's the only root vegetable with as much flavor and freshness as leafy greens - something you can't get from a turnip or carrot. Imagine a root vegetable that's perfect for spring, and that...

CELERY STALK

SAVE FOOD

The word for celery comes from the Greek word selinon which translates to 'parsley,' a close relative of celery. Celery's powers have been known since antiquity. Leaves of it were found in the garlands surrounding King Tut's tomb, and Homer makes...

CHICKWEED

SAVE FOOD

Cooling, lymphatic decongestant, alterative, anti-inflammatory diuretic, astringent, bitter. Mild demulcent. like Cleavers but stronger decongestant.

DAIKON RADISH

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 112 likes

SAVE FOOD

Daikon is native to southeast and east Asia. From white to purple to green to pink, Daikon comes in several varieties. It's also known as white radish, winter radish, long white radish, oriental radish, and mooli. In Japan, many types of pickles are...

DANDELION LEAVES

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 300 likes

SAVE FOOD

When most people think of dandelion, they think of pulling this pesky weed out of their manicured lawn. It's the poster child for weeds. This is especially ironic because colonists brought the dandelion to the Americas as an important medicinal plant....

DILL

SAVE FOOD

Dill seems to lighten the palate. As one client reports, "Dill embodies the taste of freshness with a little kick." It is called shatapushpa in Ayurveda. Dill is a member of the carrot family (apiaceae) along with parsley, celery, cumin,...

ENDIVE

SAVE FOOD

Endives are more bitter and cooling than other greens.

FENUGREEK

(4.50 out of 5 stars) 2 ratings, 237 likes

SAVE FOOD

Fenugreek is one of the oldest medicinal plants. It has been used since 4000BC. It's name means "ram's horn clover". It was found in the tomb of Tutankhamen.

GINGER (FRESH)

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 4 ratings, 798 likes

SAVE FOOD

IntroductionA steaming hot mug of ginger tea on a damp day warms up your bones and burns away thick, heavy congestion. When the weather is soggy, you feel tired and groggy. You naturally crave sunlight and heat. Pungent and light,...

GRAPEFRUIT

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 226 likes

SAVE FOOD

Grapefruit is a relatively new addition to the citrus family. It is a hybrid first discovered in the 18th century. Described as tart, tangy, or sweet, the grapefruit is said to be one of the "Seven Wonders of Barbados, because legend says the fruit was...

GREEN CHILIS

SAVE FOOD

The entire nightshade family (solanaceae) aggravates Vata and Pitta, due to the weak liver of these two body types. All peppers aggravate Pitta due to heat. Note that black pepper...

GREEN TEA

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 314 likes

SAVE FOOD

Green Tea is a preparation using minimally processed leaves from the camellia sinensis plant. This is the same plant used in normal black tea. Black tea leaves, however, are more processed.

HONEY

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 246 likes

SAVE FOOD

Honey - The Nectar of the Gods This pure and natural heavenly gift from nature was the first sweetener known to man. Honey's sweet goodness has been an icon of abundance for centuries. It's golden syrup seems to capture the...

HORSERADISH

SAVE FOOD

Horseradish is a sharp, acrid spice that kindles agni. It is even used in steakhouses to help digest a heavy meal.

KALE

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 381 likes

SAVE FOOD

Start with lacinto kale if regular Kale is too bitter but make sure you eventually switch over to the real stuff.

KOMBUCHA

SAVE FOOD

Akin to vinegar, kombucha is highly acidic and increases Pitta. As a medicine, kombucha should be consumed in small quantities only, such as a tsp before meals.

LEMON ZEST

SAVE FOOD

Citrus zest is highly aromatic bitter, making it ideal for stimulating appetite and reducing upper GI food stagnation. Ysha Oakes reports, "The gentle pungency is digestive, and carries limonene which is well researched for anti cancer properties."

MINT

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 2 ratings, 334 likes

SAVE FOOD

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,...

MUSTARD GREENS

SAVE FOOD

Raw brassicas contain chemicals that can block thyroid function called goitrogens. These chemicals are easily inactivated by steaming or cooking.

RADISH (RAW)

SAVE FOOD

The word radish derives from the latin word for root, "radix." Domesticated in Europe in pre-Roman times, radishes are an edible root of the Brassicaceae family. They come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. They are inexpensive, grow quickly...

RED PEPPER FLAKES (CHILI)

SAVE FOOD

The entire nightshade family (solanaceae) aggravates Vata and Pitta, due to the weak liver of these two body types. All peppers aggravate Pitta due to heat. Note that black pepper...

RED WINE VINEGAR

SAVE FOOD

Vinegar heats up digestion, but aids fat metabolism. Balsamic vinegar is made with red wine, which is hotter than other vinegars.

SAGE

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 91 likes

SAVE FOOD

Culinary sage, although a diaphoretic, has an anhydrotic action - it prevents excessive sweating. This is useful in night sweats of all kinds - from chronic febrile conditions to menopausal syndrome. Culinary sage stimulates the pituitary adrenal...

SEAWEED (HYDRATED)

SAVE FOOD

Seaweed must by hydrated before serving to pacify Vata, otherwise it is too dry. The fire quality of salt aggravates Pitta and the liquid quality Kapha. Seaweed supplies iodine and has a rich nutrient profile. Examples include: Wakame...