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Agni -Digestive Fire- Metabolism

Agnis can be thought of as enzymes and endocrine factors governing all digestive and metabolic functioning. Digestive activity is governed by the doshas and may become excessive or deficient when a dosha is out of balance.    

Excess Vata in the body produces weak, irregular digestion and causes gas.  

Solution: Eliminate cold drinks, they extinguish agni. Drink room temp or hot drinks like hot spice water (recipe below).   Cook and make teas with fresh ginger 

Excess Pitta is an overheated furnace and food burns up quickly and  may cause burning sensations, thirst, acid indigestion.  

Solution:  Garnish your foods with cilantro chutney to cool overheated Pitta fires.  Also a walk in the cool moonlight does wonders to cool pitta. 

Excess Kapha in the digestive tract results in low digestive fire, making it difficult to digest any foods. The person may feel dull and lethargic  and may gain weight.

Solution:  Try a tea with equal parts freshly ground black pepper and fresh ginger to trigger digestive enzymes.  It is crucial to avoid cold drinks.  The hot spice water is good for kapha too--it supports digestion for all 3 doshas. 

Ojas -the Juice of Life

Ojas is the by-product of perfect digestion. It is life's energy or ultimate vital energy and exists on the physical level, at least in the ancient texts if not yet discovered by modern science. The functions of ojas are non-physical.   

Think of ojas as similar to a crystal that takes energy waves and transforms them. Ojas transduces the "waves of consciousness" into the life force that animates us.  Its a beautiful virtuous cycle.  More consciousness means more ojas, more ojas means more consciousness. Ojas is responsible for our contact with the underlying field and is responsible for bala--our strength and immunity which maintains the integrity of our body.   

Freshly preparing foods with love. (...and spices), cultivating bliss in our lives,  and being thankful for our abundant blessings nourish the gift of ojas for us.  

Although we always treat the person, not the condition in Ayurveda, colds and coughs often manifest from Kapha - Vata disorders. The Kapha excess builds up the cool and moist qualities resulting in mucus congestion or  a runny nose.   Excess Vata can reduce agni and lead to loss of appetite, poor digestion, chills, and dry symptoms.

Heroic Ginger to the Rescue.  Ginger is a great remedy for colds and coughs and a host of other ailments like air sickness and joint pain.  It does a great job of clearing the micro-channels.  Ginger is used widely in Ayurveda but is contraindicated for hyperacidity, vertigo, any form of hemorrhaging (including menstruation), and vertigo.  It is a medicine chest in one substance.     

Congestion Relief  

Simply boil one teaspoon of powdered ginger in a pint of water,pour steamy water into a large bowl, and place a towel over your head  and inhale the steam for 5 minutes.  Of course be careful as you do this--steam is hot.   

Cold Relief  

Take lemon and ginger juice with warm water and a little honey.   Note: This recipe is heating and is good if you are chilled with a Vata or Kapha cold.  If you have a Pitta cold with a fever, cooling mint tea may serve you better.   

Cough Relief

For a Kapha Cough--meaning mucus and congestion is present.  Mix 1/2 tsp ginger powder plus a whole clove plus 1/4 tsp of cinnamon.  Steep in 1 cup of boiling water.  Drink 2 or 3 times a day.  

For a dry Vata cough - mix 1 tsp of honey with 2 pinches each of black pepper  and cardamom.  Eat 2 times per day to coat your throat and pacify Vata. 

Equal parts ginger, cumin and coriander  

or  

Equal parts licorice, cardamom, cinnamon plus a slice of ginger or ground ginger.