Irresistible Vegan Truffles

A special thank you to Meg Wolff for this amazing recipe!
12-18 servings

2) Run second set of Brazil nuts, walnuts, dates and apricots through the food processor until evenly chopped.
3) Add remaining ingredients. Process until combined.
4) Roll into balls, then roll in the coating mix.

Meg Wolff also has an article in The Huffington Post entitled: Want to Make Eating Better Easier?  Follow a Hero’s Advice.
We encourage you to read and comment on this article.

Natural Grief or Persistent Depression?

Before talking about depression, it is important to distinguish it from the natural and necessary process of grieving. Depression is not grief. Grief is a normal and healthy way to cope with traumatic or sad events in your life. It is indeed a necessary mechanism to help you move on when things fall apart or you experience a loss. We all feel great sadness at different times in our lives, perhaps from the end of relationships, a divorce, moving away from family and friends, losing a job, or falling ill.

Even if you feel confused or hopeless after a loss or traumatic event, it does not necessarily mean you are depressed. You may be simply going through the grieving process, which is absolutely natural. Furthermore, since some events are more traumatic than others, they may require more time to grieve and recover. Now, if the sadness or depressed mood continues for a long period, then there is a chance you may be experiencing depression, and should seek professional help. Early treatment of depression can definitely help with a successful recovery and prevent severe recurrences.

Depression involves your mind, body, mood, and energy. It affects not only how you perceive the world, but also how you eat, sleep, think, and feel about yourself and others. It is not a sign of personal weakeness, it is a serious imbalance that needs attention and may have emerged from a variety of factors, both conscious and unconscious, past and present. Read the rest of this entry »

In honor of May being National Mental Health Month it seems a good idea to present some ayurvedic insights and healing options for mental health disorders.

Mental health is one of the areas in nursing and medicine that has always brought anguish to my heart.  What I witnessed in my psychiatric rotation in nursing school was that many are often traveling a very fine line in our society, and the western medical offerings seem to only hold symptoms at bay with pharmaceutical drugs that carry numerous unwanted and undesirable side effects.

What seems to be most the three most common and prevalent imbalances I see today in my private practice are bi-polar disorder, depression, and anxiety.

When approached from an ayurvedic perspective, I have hopes of seeing relief of symptoms for the millions of people who suffer with these disorders.    It is truly an imbalance that creates the symptoms of these mental health illnesses.   A restoration and balancing of the doshas and the overall energy field and centers can bring tremendous success towards healing.

Unfortunately, western medicine doesn’t address these imbalances with prescription drugs.

In Ayurveda, bi-polar disorder is a “battle” between the vata and kapha doshas. Read the rest of this entry »



In my 20 years as a holistic nurse I would have to say that digestive disorders are one of the most common complaints I get from my clients.

And yet, Ayurveda offers treatments that can completely reverse symptoms and digestive problems. As a clinical ayurvedic specialist the simplicity of the treatments I recommend to my clients often surprises them. Just because the remedies are simple, easy, and don’t require prescription or over the counter medications doesn’t mean they aren’t effective.

Here’s one of my simplest tips that you can use to heal your digestion at the source, the root of the problem, once and for all.

~~ Know your “dosha”

According to Ayurveda, every individual has his or her own unique and specific body type.

It is referred to as your constitution, or “dosha”. There are nine basic body types in Ayurveda that are used as general guidelines to determine your unique physical, mental, and emotional make up. The proportion of various elements in your body type is the key to healing in Ayurveda.

It’s important to have an idea of your constitution because each body type has conditions that it is prone to and treatment is individualized according to your body type and needs.

So how does that effect your digestion? And how can you use this information to restore balance and promote health and healing? Read the rest of this entry »

Ayurveda Cleanse: Smoothie Recipe

In honor of St. Patrick’s day  here’s what I’m drinking, and recommending to clients this week, to lighten up and clean up for Spring.  This recipe fits the bill for Kapha types who can tend to feel a little heavy and bogged down with the moisture and cool temps during Spring.

This recipe also fits the bill for a total body cleanse…packed with nutrients and fiber that cleanses the digestive tract and supports  the kidneys to remove toxins.

Note:  I recommend a Vitamix or Blendtec blender for best results.  Blenders with less power don’t allow for a smooth texture and complete pulverization of whole foods to release the enzymes and nutrients.

Green Tingler Smoothie

2 fresh oranges, skin removed

1-2 stalks celery, to taste preference.

1 ripe pear

1 handful spinach, (or other leafy green you like)

1 ripe banana

1 tsp Spirulina powder

1/2 to 1 inch piece of fresh Ginger, ( to taste, more for vata and kapha types).

water, to desired consistency

Blend all ingredients in the blender until smooth.  You can play with the amounts until you find the perfect combination for your taste and body constitution.  ENJOY !

** Vata and Pitta types can add a few fresh dates to sweeten if desired.  Kapha types may add a bit of raw honey if desired but the fruit adds a nice sweet taste.

As a holistic nurse I have always had one burning question when it comes to health and healing….how come some people “follow all the rules” and still get critically ill.  Of course there are some things in life that are just “destiny”, a “twisted fate” that provides an opportunity for spiritual growth. Yet, as a medical professional I have always tried to search for the best information to help others heal and achieve their goals for vibrant health and longevity,

I believe every individual has much more control over reversing chronic illness than at any other time in history.  Yet, it is important to make sure that your information comes from sources that are not tainted by profit seeking corporations or special interest groups supported by pharmaceutical companies or government agencies.

If you suffer from any of the conditions listed below, have you or your doctor considered you may have toxic metals in your body.  Have you considered it may be time for a heavy metal detox ?

TOXIC METALS : The reason you fell sick

Dr. Kaayla Daniel and Dr. Galen Knight have observed that even when people follow healthy dietary guidelines, they can still have serious health problems. They may digest their food poorly, experience digestive distress, or be generally sickly.

One reason may be toxic metals like:

•Mercury
•Aluminum
•Cadmium
•Arsenic
•Lead
•Nickel, and other metal poisons that flood the environment and invade your body.
These toxic metals can cause or contribute to a long list of diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other brain and neurological disorders. While the medical establishment recognizes the acute toxicity that comes from high levels of metals in your body, far more people suffer the adverse effects of low-level, chronic exposure. Read the rest of this entry »

So many times clients miss one of the most important elements of successful and true, deep healing.  As long as they are focused on the current experience of symptoms in their body this becomes their reality.  However, in order to change their situation they must take their attention away from thoughts of illness, pain, and stress.  I believe this is one of the reasons that Ayurveda and Pancha Karma are so effective at creating vibrant health and reversing illness……it offers enjoyable,  luxurious, yet therapeutic treatments that take your mind off of the illness and puts you in touch with the positive aspects of your bodymind.  It connects you in a positive way to your inner wisdom and healer.  When that happens, a shift can occur…..putting you in the best position for healing.

Time and time again I have seen that once an individual changes their focus to what is possible, rather than what their current reality is small miracles begin to follow.  It is best said in this quote:

“Don’t get lost in the diagnosis, the medicine, or in the statistics about what somebody else did about it. If you don’t feel good, it’s because you’re not thinking in a way that allows the Energy to flow. You could just get really, really mad at someone you love and make every muscle in your body stiff. And you would ask,”Why does my body feel this way?” And we say, because you’ve had a Vibrational tug-of-war going on…Stop looking for anything other than your mental and emotional state of being as answers to why you feel how you feel in your body. It is all Vibrational – no exception! And when you get that, then it doesn’t matter what diagnosis has been given to you – it doesn’t matter – it’s temporary”.

— Abraham

I know this is a stretch for many but if you are living with chronic illness, find some one who has successfully healed what you suffer with.  They will tell you that the most important tool they used to get well was their mind,  I recommend that you start working with a holistic, integrative practitioner that addresses all aspects of your wellbeing.  One of the most detrimental places you can search for help is a “support group” where people sit around and talk about their problems and illness, it only serves to  hold everyone in a vibrational “holding pattern”…stuck with their physical symptoms.

Move forward.  Decide how you want it to be.  Change your mind, change your reality,change your health!

With a bumper crop of raspberries growing in my back yard I’m always looking for new ways to enjoy their health benefits.  Mostly, I gobble them up by the handful before they have a chance to make it into a recipe.   However,  I try to save some for one of my favorite Ayurvedic breakfast drinks….. Rose Milk Shake.  (See the recipe below).  These little berries are loaded with cancer fighting health benefits.

 Raspberries are a delicious fruit and  a very healthy whole food fruit as well. Research published in the May 2005 issue of the journal Biofactors shows that Raspberries are loaded with powerful phytonutrients and antioxidants that can support your immune system and help your body to ward off disease.

The antioxidants in Raspberries include ellagic acid which protects your cells from becoming damaged. Other nutrients in Raspberries include quercetin and other flavonoid molecules  classified as anthocyanins, and they belong to the group of substances that give raspberries their red color.  (Also found in grapes).

The anthocyanins in Raspberries are very powerful antioxidants that have antimicrobial properties as well, including the ability to prevent overgrowth of certain bacteria and fungi in the body such as Candida. The biggest contribution to raspberries’ antioxidant capacity is their ellagitannins, a family of compounds almost exclusive to the raspberry, which are reported to have anti-cancer activity.

 Raspberries are a great source of manganese and vitamin C that help protect the body from oxygen-related damage. They are also a good source riboflavin, folate, niacin, magnesium, potassium, B vitamins and copper. 

RASPBERRY-ROSE SHAKE

This is a cooling and refreshing drink for summer. When served warm, all body types can drink it year round.  Rose petals are known to nourish the heart and calm the mind.

This recipe makes 2 cups

2 cups organic milk  (you can use nutmilk, kapha should use lowfat)

2 tablespoons rose petal preserves  (rose petal preserves and rose water are sold in most Indian stores)

1 tablespoon rose water

1 cup fresh raspberries.

Mix all ingredients together in a blender.  Enjoy!

I know, it’s almost un-American to go to a picnic or BBQ  and not see everyone’s favorite….potato salad.  And a small helping ever once in a while is good for the soul.   But you can also be the hit of the summer cookout season with a new updated version, that is packed with super nutrients and fiber, instead of empty calories and fat.

The classic white potato is an astringent food and mostly balancing to Kapha types, (for vata and pitta types it needs to be well cooked and seasoned).  This recipe is a tasty hit, (thanks to the folks at Banyan Botanicals), and whenever I take it to a party folks are always excited for a something a little different.  If you really want to make it your siganture dish try adding your favorite fresh herb from the garden.   Fresh chopped cilantro garnish mixed in adds a nice cooling digstive energy, but you could add some fresh dill or thyme.  You get the idea, add whatever herbs are good for your dosha, especially the cooling ones for pitta during the summer.

Sweet Potato Salad

Preparation time:

30-45 minutes

Boil whole or cut in several pieces:

4 c. sweet potatoes (2 large)

Whisk together in a small mixing bowl:

1 Tbsp. fresh ginger root, finely grated

½ tsp. organic lemon peel, finely grated

¼ c. fresh lemon juice (1 ½ lemons)

1½ tsps. raw honey

2-3 Tbsps. sesame oil

Salt to taste

When the potatoes are tender enough for a fork to go into them easily, drain off the water (I often save it for future use in soup stock), and peel the potatoes. The peels will come off easily using your fingers or a small knife. Cube the sweet potatoes into ½ inch pieces. Put them in a serving bowl and toss well with the dressing. Serve warm or cool.