Sweet Beet & Mint Soup

How to Make Sweet Beet & Mint Soup

SERVINGS: 2
PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES
COOK TIME: 60 MINUTES
SKILL LEVEL: EASY
MEAL: LUNCH-DINNER
STYLE: AYURVEDIC
PREPARATION: BOILED, SOUP, PUREE
FOR OCCASION: CLEANSE, ON-THE-MEND

INGREDIENTS

SKILL LEVEL: EASY

1/4 c	MINT
2 tbsp	GHEE
1 c	BEETS
1/2 c	WATER
1/2 inch	GINGER (FRESH)
1/4 tsp	BLACK PEPPER
2 pinch	SALT (MINERAL SALT)

PREPARATION OF THIS HEALTHY RECIPE

1. Chop the beets

2. Add them to a soup pot with the water, ghee and spices excluding mint and bring to a boil.

3. Boil on low heat until thick.

4. Puree the mixture then add fresh mint leaves.

5. Cook on low for 10 more minutes. Enjoy!

How Does This Ayurvedic Recipe Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Beets provoke Kapha. Tubers tend toward heaviness and beets are naturally sweet. A variety of beets account for half of the world's refined sugar production. All heavy, Kapha provoking foods should be lightened by spices that make them easier to digest. Otherwise, heavy foods have a tendency to bog and clog the blood. We've used mint as a digestive in this recipe.

Raw beets provoke Pitta but cooked beets are Pitta pacifying. Cooked beets transform the starches into sweeter sugars that are cooling. Beets cleanse and cool the blood, nourish the liver, are a gentle laxative, and improve the eyesight. Beets are good for anemia. Beet juice increases stamina and was used as an aphrodisiac in Roman times.

Pureed foods are easier to digest. They are 'pre-chewed.' Babies, convalescing patients, and Vata constitutions have weak digestion. Insufficient chewing of food forces their stomachs to break down larger chunks by acids. While an easy task for a tooth it takes time and effort for acids to penetrate a chunk of food. Pureed beets are thus gentler than diced.

Beets are high in bio-flavonoids. Generally, bio-flavonoids show anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and anti-cancer activity. The body tries to get rid of bio-flavonoids soon after they are eaten. To eliminate them the body activates phase II enzymes that also help eliminate mutagens and carcinogens.

WHAT IS SWEET BEET & MINT SOUP?

Warming, grounding and sweet, Sweet Beet & Mint Soup has a luxurious purple sheen and surprising spicy finish. The aromatic oils in mint offer a surprising lift to the heaviness of the beet root.

AYURVEDA'S GUIDE TO VITALITY & WHOLESOME NOURISHMENT

Your Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body and your specific imbalances. With an Ayurvedic diet you feel joy and satisfaction because what you are eating truly nourishes and balances you. Disease results from diets and lifestyles that are incompatible with your nature. By eating a personalized diet matched to your body, you experience optimal health. See How it Works.

Is Sweet Beet & Mint Soup Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Sweet Beet & Mint Soup' is a good fit. Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes at your own leisure to learn more about your body.

Metabolic Nature of Sweet Beet & Mint Soup

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

METABOLIC NATURE

Metabolic Nature

Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). 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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LIQUEFIED

ABOUT LIQUEFIED BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Substances that thin fluids (lower viscosity of blood plasma). These may include blood thinners or mucolytic herbs.

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MOBILE

ABOUT MOBILE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

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

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EASY

ABOUT EASY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

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

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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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LIGHT

ABOUT LIGHT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Lightness is identified by reduced weight.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIGHT

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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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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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

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

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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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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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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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.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MELANCHOLIC

Other

Subtaste:

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

, Bland Negative Calorie

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Sweet Beet & Mint Soup
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:

Warms Abdomen

WARMS-ABDOMEN

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

SEE ALL 'WARMS-ABDOMEN' 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

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

Digestive

DIGESTIVE

Herbs that encourage healthy digestion.

SEE ALL 'DIGESTIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Bowel Health:

Relieves Burning

RELIEVES-BURNING

Herbs that soothe a burn or reduce an internal burning sensation, such as aloe vera.

SEE ALL 'RELIEVES-BURNING' FOODS / HERBS

Cleanse & Detox:

Internal Detoxicant

INTERNAL-DETOXICANT

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

SEE ALL 'INTERNAL-DETOXICANT' FOODS / HERBS

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

Mind, Stress & Sleep:

Wakes You Up

WAKES-YOU-UP

Invigorates the body and nervous system, increases energy.

SEE ALL 'WAKES-YOU-UP' 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

Stimulates Crown

STIMULATES-CROWN

Creates a feeling of awareness or tension in the area at the top of the head.

SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-CROWN' FOODS / HERBS

Relaxes Eyes

RELAXES-EYES

Eases tension in eye muscles, so the eyes feel less strained, often by supporting the liver.

SEE ALL 'RELAXES-EYES' FOODS / HERBS

Nerve Relaxant Grounding

NERVE-RELAXANT-GROUNDING

Encourages feelings of stability and heaviness. Makes you feel settled, mentally relaxed. Mildly sedates the nervous system to ease stress. Can bring a spacey or anxious person back to earth. Reduces agitation, irritation, stress and racing thoughts.

SEE ALL 'NERVE-RELAXANT-GROUNDING' 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

Dopaminergic

DOPAMINERGIC

Dopamine lifts mood, but also reduces prolactin, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and lutenizing hormone (LH).

SEE ALL 'DOPAMINERGIC' FOODS / HERBS

Anxiolytic

ANXIOLYTIC

Herbs that help people suffering from anxiety or panic. They promote a state of calm and often improve sleep. Most anxiolytic herbs are also nervines.

SEE ALL 'ANXIOLYTIC' FOODS / HERBS

Energy Vitality:

Stimulates Energy

STIMULATES-ENERGY

This category groups thyroid and adrenal stimulating herbs.

SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-ENERGY' FOODS / HERBS

Refreshing

REFRESHING

Stimulates and wakes up the body, leaving it feeling cool, fresh, and energized.

SEE ALL 'REFRESHING' FOODS / HERBS

Satisfies Stomach

SATISFIES-STOMACH

Provides a sense of gratification and fullness in the stomach.

SEE ALL 'SATISFIES-STOMACH' FOODS / HERBS

Skin Care & Beauty:

Diaphoretic

DIAPHORETIC

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

SEE ALL 'DIAPHORETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Refreshes Skin

REFRESHES-SKIN

Flushes the lymphatic system to cool, awaken, and revive the skin.

SEE ALL 'REFRESHES-SKIN' FOODS / HERBS

Antipruritic

ANTIPRURITIC

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

SEE ALL 'ANTIPRURITIC' FOODS / HERBS

Respiratory-Health:

Flushes Sinuses

FLUSHES-SINUSES

An herb that relieves sinus congestion by flushing out mucus.

SEE ALL 'FLUSHES-SINUSES' 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

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:

Irritates Kidney

IRRITATES-KIDNEY

Tight, sharp pain just below ribs in the back.

SEE ALL 'IRRITATES-KIDNEY' 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

Constituents:

Coumarin

COUMARIN

Moderately toxic, vascular tonic, hypotensive, and anti-inflammatory.

SEE ALL 'COUMARIN' FOODS / HERBS

Iron

IRON

Iron is necessary for the transport of oxygen in red blood cells.

SEE ALL 'IRON' FOODS / HERBS

Rosmarinic Acid

ROSMARINIC-ACID

Inhibits autoantibodies from binding to TSH receptors in the thyroid.

SEE ALL 'ROSMARINIC-ACID' FOODS / HERBS

Betaine

BETAINE

Used to reduce homocysteine in the blood, which supports proper liver function and prevents fatigue and blood clots. Improves muscle stamina and weight loss.

SEE ALL 'BETAINE' FOODS / HERBS

Nitric Oxide

NITRIC-OXIDE

Improves circulation by dilating blood vessels. Protects blood vessels from damage. Improves athletic performance, libido, immunity, and brain health.

SEE ALL 'NITRIC-OXIDE' FOODS / HERBS

, Fats, Carbohydrate, Soluble Fiber, Beta Carotene,

Saponins

SAPONINS

Can be used to make soap. Saponins stimulate mucus membrane secretion, liquefying mucus for easy removal (expectorant).

SEE ALL 'SAPONINS' FOODS / HERBS

, Folate, Manganese, Potassium

Foods with a Similar Nature to Sweet Beet & Mint Soup

Mint

Mint has these Actions in Common
Antipruritic, Burns-toxins, Digestive, Nervine, Stimulates-crown, Stomachic, Antispasmodic, Carminative, Dopaminergic, Refreshes-skin, Stimulates-energy, Vasodilator, Anxiolytic, Diaphoretic, Internal-detoxicant, Refreshing, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Wakes-you-up
LEARN MORE
Mustard

Mustard has these Actions in Common
Diaphoretic, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Warms-abdomen, Antipruritic, Cardiac-stimulant, Digestive, Muscle-relaxant, Vasodilator, Antispasmodic, Carminative, Flushes-sinuses, Stimulates-energy, Wakes-you-up, Burns-toxins
LEARN MORE
Mustard Powder

Mustard Powder has these Actions in Common
Antipruritic, Cardiac-stimulant, Digestive, Muscle-relaxant, Vasodilator, Antispasmodic, Carminative, Flushes-sinuses, Stimulates-energy, Wakes-you-up, Burns-toxins, Diaphoretic, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Warms-abdomen
LEARN MORE
Mustard Seed

Mustard Seed has these Actions in Common
Antispasmodic, Carminative, Flushes-sinuses, Stimulates-energy, Wakes-you-up, Burns-toxins, Diaphoretic, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Warms-abdomen, Antipruritic, Cardiac-stimulant, Digestive, Muscle-relaxant, Vasodilator
LEARN MORE
Cloves

Cloves has these Actions in Common
Internal-detoxicant, Vasodilator, Burns-toxins, Diaphoretic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Warms-abdomen, Antispasmodic, Cardiac-stimulant, Digestive, Nervine, Anxiolytic, Carminative
LEARN MORE
Allspice

Allspice has these Actions in Common
Burns-toxins, Digestive, Nervine, Stomachic, Cardiac-stimulant, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Vasodilator, Antispasmodic, Carminative, Muscle-relaxant, Stimulates-front-of-brain
LEARN MORE
Ginger (Fresh)

Ginger (Fresh) has these Actions in Common
Burns-toxins, Digestive, Refreshing, Vasodilator, Cardiac-stimulant, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Wakes-you-up, Antispasmodic, Carminative, Nervine, Stomachic
LEARN MORE
Ajwain

Ajwain has these Actions in Common
Cardiac-stimulant, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Antispasmodic, Carminative, Nervine, Vasodilator, Burns-toxins, Digestive, Refreshing, Wakes-you-up
LEARN MORE
Beets

Beets has these Actions in Common
Antispasmodic, Irritates-kidney, Relaxes-eyes, Vasodilator, Anxiolytic, Muscle-relaxant, Satisfies-stomach, Warms-abdomen, Internal-detoxicant, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Stimulates-energy
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Rosemary

Rosemary has these Actions in Common
Cardiac-stimulant, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Antispasmodic, Diaphoretic, Muscle-relaxant, Stomachic, Burns-toxins, Digestive, Nervine, Vasodilator
LEARN MORE
Dill

Dill has these Actions in Common
Carminative, Internal-detoxicant, Stomachic, Antispasmodic, Diaphoretic, Nervine, Vasodilator, Burns-toxins, Digestive, Stimulates-energy
LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Sweet Beet & Mint Soup

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common
Cardiac-stimulant, Stimulates-energy, Diaphoretic, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Internal-detoxicant, Stomachic, Muscle-relaxant, Vasodilator, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Antispasmodic, Nervine, Anxiolytic, Refreshing, Burns-toxins, Stimulates-crown
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Breath of Fire / Shining Skull (Kapalbhati Pranayama)

Breath of Fire / Shining Skull (Kapalbhati Pranayama) has these Actions in Common
Cardiac-stimulant, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Digestive, Wakes-you-up, Internal-detoxicant, Muscle-relaxant, Nervine, Refreshing, Antispasmodic, Stimulates-crown, Anxiolytic, Stimulates-energy
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Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama)

Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama) has these Actions in Common
Nervine, Refreshing, Antispasmodic, Stimulates-crown, Anxiolytic, Stimulates-energy, Cardiac-stimulant, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Digestive, Wakes-you-up, Internal-detoxicant, Muscle-relaxant
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Deodar (Himalayan Cedar, Devadaru)

Deodar (Himalayan Cedar, Devadaru) has these Actions in Common
Digestive, Muscle-relaxant, Nervine, Refreshing, Stimulates-energy, Antispasmodic, Vasodilator, Cardiac-stimulant, Wakes-you-up, Carminative
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Breathing Exercises

Breathing Exercises has these Actions in Common
Antispasmodic, Stimulates-energy, Anxiolytic, Wakes-you-up, Cardiac-stimulant, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Muscle-relaxant, Nervine, Refreshing
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External Breath (Bahya Pranayama)

External Breath (Bahya Pranayama) has these Actions in Common
Stimulates-front-of-brain, Anxiolytic, Wakes-you-up, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Nervine, Refreshing, Stimulates-crown, Stimulates-energy
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Sit in the Sauna

Sit in the Sauna has these Actions in Common
Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Antispasmodic, Vasodilator, Anxiolytic, Burns-toxins, Cardiac-stimulant, Diaphoretic, Internal-detoxicant, Muscle-relaxant
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Encourage a Sweat / Sweat Therapy

Encourage a Sweat / Sweat Therapy has these Actions in Common
Cardiac-stimulant, Diaphoretic, Internal-detoxicant, Muscle-relaxant, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Antispasmodic, Vasodilator, Anxiolytic, Burns-toxins
LEARN MORE
Wild Ginger

Wild Ginger has these Actions in Common
Stimulates-energy, Antispasmodic, Vasodilator, Burns-toxins, Cardiac-stimulant, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant
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Yogaraj Guggulu

Yogaraj Guggulu has these Actions in Common
Carminative, Internal-detoxicant, Muscle-relaxant, Nervine, Antispasmodic, Vasodilator, Anxiolytic, Burns-toxins, Cardiac-stimulant
LEARN MORE
Pennyroyal

Pennyroyal has these Actions in Common
Carminative, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Muscle-relaxant, Nervine, Stimulates-crown, Antispasmodic, Vasodilator, Cardiac-stimulant
LEARN MORE

College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

AYURVEDIC RECIPES