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 In This Issue:
·Nasya (Ayurvedic Nosedrops)
·Upcoming Events
·The Importance of Vitamin D
·Experiments In Skincare
October 2008
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Nasya (Ayurvedic Nosedrops)
Nasya, the administration of medicine through the nose, has been used for thousands of years in ayurveda. This entails the inhalation of smoke, herbs, oils or other substances. Part of the ayurvedic daily routine (much of which we discussed in an earlier email) is daily application of oil--medicated or otherwise--to the nasal passages.
This may sound weird to the western mind but once you understand the benefits and try it out yourself, I think you'll enjoy it! Nasya helps relieve symptons of allergies and colds, post-nasal drip, headaches, muscle tension in the jaw and neck, snoring, inflammation and nasal dryness that comes with cold weather and indoor heat. It enhances mental alertness, prevents upper-respiratory illness and protects against absorption of environmental toxins found in city air.
One can use a medicated oil (KK Ayurveda's Nasya Oil is made with sunflower oil, coconut oil, eucalyptus, sandalwood and rose. It's suitable for all doshas.) or plain sunflower or sesame oil.
There are two ways of administering nasya oil: either put 3 to 5 drops in each nostril and huff it or apply the oil to the tip of your pinky finger and massage the oil inside your nose.
Whichever method you choose, you'll do it twice a day, once upon waking and once before bed.
The nose is a direct route to the brain and thus the doorway to consciousness. Prana (life force) rides on the breath so having clear, lubricated nasal passages enhances our assimilation of prana. Nothing to sneeze at, hahahahahaha!
To be read in your best yenta voice:
Try it, you'll like it!
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Upcoming Events
Exhale Spa
I'll be doing a 90-minute Introduction To Ayurveda: What's A Dosha Anyway? workshop on Sunday, January 25 at 2:00 p.m. The cost is $25. Exhale Spa is located at 945 North State Street in Chicago. The phone number is 312.753.6500. You can reserve a place in advance by calling them or registering online. (Just follow the link below to the homepage and look for "workshops & events" under the "mind body classes" heading.)
Exhale Spa
lululemon
lululemon, if you don't already know it, is a great store for men's and women's athletic clothing and accessories. There are several in Chicago and and many other cities. (I'm a huge fan of the "be still" pant and the ujjayi 2 tank. I have several of each.) They have fantastic re-usable shopping bags imprinted with their entertaining manifesto.
I'll be giving a 2-hour talk about ayurveda in their 900 North Michigan Avenue store from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on March 19, 2009. I'll give you more details when I have them. I do already know, however, that there will be treats!
lululemon athletica
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The Importance of Vitamin D
Earlier this week there was a news story saying the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children get at least 400 iu of vitamin D a day. Some doctors say the amount should be higher, especially from October to April in Chicago, when the sunlight isn't very strong.
Last year during my annual physical, my doctor recommended a test to gauge the amount of vitamin D in my blood. I had never heard of such a thing and asked her why it was important. It turns out that vitamin D3 helps maintain blood levels of calcium; assists in absorption of calcium and bone mineralization (osteoporosis-prone women should take note of this!); strengthens the immune system; provides protection against hypertension, psoriasis and several autoimmune diseases; and helps defend against cancer.
My results showed that I had less than half the recommended level of vitamin D in my blood. I've been supplementing with as many as 4,000 iu of vitamin D in an emulsified form (Biotics Research Corporation's Bio-D-Mulsion Forte, to be exact). I have a physical next week and we'll see what happens.
You may want to ask your physician and/or pediatrician about adequate levels of vitamin D for you and your children.
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Experiments in Skincare
I vowed never to be in the skincare business again when I closed Who's The Fairest? (For those of you who don't remember or didn't know me at the time, I once owned an online beauty boutique called Who's The fairest? that sold great, offbeat skincare lines and cosmetics.) But I can't help myself.
In my search for personal-care products with more natural and organic ingredients and less chemical preservatives, I've discovered some excellent wholesale products that I'm customizing with therapeutic-grade essential oils of impeccable quality.
So far, I have a creamy (non-foaming) cleanser suitable for all skin types except very oily skin, an excellent lightweight-but-very-hydrating eye cream and a fantastic antioxidant serum that hydrates enough that I don't always use a night cream anymore.
I'm goofing around with my essential-oil blends but so far, I'm feeling pretty good about frankincense and neroli for the eye cream, geranium and rosewood for the antioxidant serum and 2 versions of the cleanser, blood orange-lavender and rose-sandalwood.
I'll keep you posted!
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Love,
Karen Klutznick
Ayurvedic Consultant & Educator
· KK@KKAyurveda.com · KK Ayurveda |
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