ADZUKI BEANS

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 382 likes

SAVE FOOD

Adzuki beans are known to have originated in China where they are used extensively in traditional medicine. They are a staple in the macrobiotic diet and very popular in Japan, second only to the soybean in terms of consumption and popularity.

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)

AMARANTH

(4.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 425 likes

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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...

ARTICHOKE

SAVE FOOD

Artichokes are a traditional liver remedy. As a member of the thistle family, they are

ARTICHOKE HEARTS

SAVE FOOD

See the Ayurvedic Analysis of Artichokes page.

ASPARAGUS

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 429 likes

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Asparagus has a delicate flavor and texture making it an ideal vegetable for gourmet cuisine!

BARLEY

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 353 likes

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Barley has an ancient history, and was first cultivated in the Near East.

BASIL

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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...

BEER

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 109 likes

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Beer is Cheer Few people don't enjoy a cold beer on a hot summer's day. The paradox is that beer, although bitter and refreshing to taste, heats the body up. On a hot day, that increased heat leaves you thirsty and dehydrated,...

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.

BUCKWHEAT

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 180 likes

SAVE FOOD

Buckwheat's hearty warmth hits the spot on any damp cloudy day in November. Enjoy as you snuggle up with your loved ones, or while listening to crackling logs in a wood burning stove. Smoky, nutty and earthy, buckwheat is slightly demulcent like...

BURDOCK ROOT (GOBO)

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

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

BUTTERNUT SQUASH

SAVE FOOD

Winter squashes, including butternut, are eaten in the autumn after they have absorbed the sun's energy over the summer. This stored energy gives squashes a warm ojas building heartiness that can comfort you through colder weather. Where most tonic...

CARDAMOM

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

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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...

CARROT

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 2 ratings, 603 likes

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Ancestors of the wild carrot came from Iran and Afghanistan, the center of genetic diversity for carrot. Carrots were bred from a species of wild carrot, called Queen Anne's Lace. Originally they were grown for their aromatic leaves and seeds. Since...

CELERY ROOT

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

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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 SEED

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 80 likes

SAVE FOOD

Celery seeds are actually a very small fruit, these "seeds" yield a valuable volatile oil.

CELERY STALK

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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.

CILANTRO

SAVE FOOD

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.

COFFEE

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 217 likes

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Coffee as a SacramentWhat are your rituals around coffee? Coffee has become a sacrament in our culture. A client reports, "The only time my husband and I relax together is over coffee." My response, "If your marriage is dependent...

COLLARD GREENS

SAVE FOOD

Collard greens, like other fibrous greens, can be difficult to digest for Vata dosha. Make sure they are cooked well!

CORIANDER SEED

SAVE FOOD

Coriander is the seed of the cilantro plant. Its pleasantly fragrant aroma lifts the spirits and has a rustic feel.

CORN

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 2 ratings, 126 likes

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Meso-Americans domesticated corn (also known as maize) in pre-historic times, spreading through much of the Americas between 1700 and 1250 BCE. While most corn stands at 8.2ft, at least one variety of corn grows to 39 feet in length.

CRANBERRY

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Cranberries grow in acidic bogs. Early settlers in North American thought cranberry flowers looked like a crane, and named them 'craneberry'. They are a major commercial crop in North America.

CUCUMBER

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 253 likes

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Oft considered a vegetable, these elongated cylindrical delicacies are actually a fruit. They join watermelon and honey dew as succulent members of the summer friendly melon family. Originally from the Indian subcontinent, cucumbers are now grown...

CUMIN

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 4 ratings, 374 likes

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Appreciated since ancient times, cumin's aroma has wafted through kitchens since at least the second millennium BC, even flavoring breads and soups mentioned in the Bible. The highly valued spice was a currency to pay tithes to priests. The ancient...

DAIKON RADISH

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

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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....

DATES (DRIED)

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 2 ratings, 202 likes

SAVE FOOD

Dates have been a staple food and cultivated in the Middle East for thousands of years. Their cultivation has been documented in Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt and as far back as 6000BC in Arabia.

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,...

FENNEL SEEDS

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 3 ratings, 478 likes

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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. Fennel seeds...

FENNEL STALK

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 2 ratings, 293 likes

SAVE FOOD

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.

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.