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.

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.

It usually starts out as a vata imbalance, that is to say that, vata rises out of it’s home (the colon, another reason to make seasonal detox and cleansing part of your preventative self care), and usually a tremendous amount of energy rises up into the head. Vata is a combination of air and wind element so it is quite easily spread in the body, especially during Fall and Winter.

Our bodies are incredibly intelligent.   They preceive this imbalance and tries to correct it with the opposite qualities, Kapha, the qualities of heaviness, water, and earth….and the downward trend of the bi-polar disorder then occurs, depression.

From an energetic perspective, we see the energy rising up and out of the first and second chakras during the initial stages, and eventually the sixth and seventh chakras become over active during manic period.    Addressing root chakra issues and bring the energy back down and grounded will help to restore balance.

Opening and connecting the chakras on a regular basis, with energy healing treatment sessions, in addition to having the client do grounding exercises and breathing techniques on a regular basis will help to restore balance to vata dosha, as will following a vata pacifying diet.

When the vata dosha is restored to balance, Kapha will not need to lay such a heavy influence on the body and the mood swings will lessen.

I don’t claim to be a specialist in mental health nursing, and I never recommend that clients stop taking any medications that their doctor has prescribed to them.  But I do recommend that their doctor contact me so that he can be educated in the Ayurvedic perspective and the herbal remedies that I recommend to clients.

There are several ayurvedic herbs that help to pacify vata and restore balance to the body mind. These are quite different from western prescription drugs which work against the body healing itself. In western medicine once you start taking drugs like Lithium, Xanax, and Prozac, your body forgets how to make it’s own “feel good” mood stabilizers for  itself and the original cause is never addressed…why did the body stop making them? Or, what events occurred to make the body and mind unable to maintain appropriate levels for daily functioning and well-being ?

Some of the ayurvedic herbs I recommend for balancing mental health imbalances are listed below.

To restore balance to vata means bringing  energy back down: ashwhaganda, brahmi. shank pushpi, ginger, tranquil mind, mental clarity, and,triphala are all good for this

To relieve the heaviness of  kapha imbalance, emotions, and depression I recommend pippali, ginger, triphala

By treating these mental health issues and imbalances from an ayurvedic perspective, the body has a chance to actually heal itself. I will say this…..western medicine was actually on to something when they treated patients with electric shock therapy.  Not that I believe that this is a humane and effective treatment the way it was administered, but they were correct in their premise that these disorders originated in an energy imbalance.

Now a days we have so many alternatives for non-invasive energy healing and balancing, mental health patients would benefit greatly from regular treatment sessions over the long term. These imbalances don’t come on over night, treatment takes some time, diligence, and patience.

Note: As always you should check with your healthcare professional before changing or adding any medications or supplements to your daily self care routine.



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?

All are not created equal. According to Ayurveda, “vata” types have a tendency toward weak digestion, poor absorption and assimilation of nutrients, and frequent gas and bloating.

This is most often the result of chronic constipation due to “vata” tendency toward dryness in the body.

Taking a laxative or stool softener only puts a band-aid on the problem. The underlying issue of dryness has not been corrected so there still remains the cause of digestive problems. These body types may suffer from fatigue, low back pain, and other neurological problems as the result of accumulated toxins building up in the colon and then spreading elsewhere in the body, all originally due to the dryness and constipation.

Just because one can facilitate bowel movements with over the counter medications doesn’t mean they have eliminated the problem. This only “roto-roots” the colon, leaving it even more dry and depleted.

For vata types it is important to address the underlying cause with appropriate foods, herbs, and spices.

For “pitta” types, their digestive disorders usually take the shape of ulcers, indigestion, gastritis, and reflux due to an excess of metabolic “fire” and enzymes. With this body type, inflammation can create unpleasant symptoms and frequent diarrhea or loose stool.

Again, taking an over the counter or prescription medicine is only a band-aid for the problem. It shuts off the digestive juices and enzymes, but that ultimately creates an even more serious problem over the long term, “Leaky Gut” syndrome. Taking pills that shut of the hydrochloric acid and enzymes causes food to sit in the stomach and intestines, undigested. As a result, eventually the pills stop working and the impaired digestion now becomes a systemic problem.

For Pitta types these digestive problems can be reversed and relieved with foods, herbs, and spices that are sweet, bitter, and astringent.

Once you know your ayurvedic dosha, it is easy to create and follow a healing plan that will restore harmony and balance for your unique needs.

When you visit http://www.NaturalHealingVillage.com you’ll have instant access to some of my best tips and I will have a BONUS GIFT for you~~ You’ ll receive free instant access to a 7 day Mini E-course “Total Body Cleanse Secrets and Guide”, and you’ll also receive 3 FREE RECIPES.

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.

As Dr. Mercola explains:

“Most people are absolutely clueless about just how toxic mercury is. It is toxic at one in one billion-part quantities.  That is about the same concentration of one grain of salt in one swimming pool.  That is why having mercury fillings is such a major challenge to your health.

Heavy metal toxicity, just like chemical toxicity, has become one of the most pressing health hazards of our day. Your body is assailed by chemicals and heavy metals on a daily basis, oftentimes from the most innocent-looking sources, from your everyday cookware to your child’s rubber ducky.

It has now gotten to the point where babies are being BORN toxic due to the toxic load of their mothers. A 2004 study by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that blood samples from newborns contained an average of 287 toxins, including mercury, fire retardants, pesticides and chemicals in non-stick cookware.

Despite these dire warning signs, giant corporations and industry advocates like The American Chemistry Council are fighting tooth and nail to block any and all proposed bans on toxic agents that happen to be part of their profit-making schemes. According to EnviroBlog, the latest army of lobbyists is trying to crush U.S. Senate Bill 1313, which calls for a ban of perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) in concentrations exceeding 0.1 percent from food packaging, for example.

And California State Senate Bill 1713, which would ban BPA from baby bottles and toys, is also under attack by hired guns who are trying to scare everyone into believing this bill will put an end to all canned and jarred goods.

If there ever was a time to get more involved in the political process – as these are serious survival issues — now might be a good time.

How Do You Know if You’re Suffering from Metal Toxicity?

Acute metal toxicity is a lot easier to diagnose than that of chronic exposure. Indications of acute toxicity include:

•Sudden, severe cramping and/or convulsions
•Nausea
•Vomiting
•Sweating
•Headache
•Difficulty breathing
•Impaired cognitive, motor and language skills
Symptoms of toxic build-up due to chronic toxic metal exposure, however, are much more subtle, in large part because these symptoms are so “common,” such as:

•Fatigue
•Digestive distress, and reduced ability to properly assimilate and utilize fats
•Aching joints
•Depression
•Impaired blood sugar regulation
•Female reproductive problems such as menstrual difficulties, infertility, miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, pregnancy-induced hypertension and premature birth
Sound like anyone you know?

Add to that your exposure to toxic fluoride in your municipal drinking water, which actually increases your body’s uptake of aluminum, in addition to all the other health damaging effects it has in and of itself, and it’s no wonder you’re feeling less than great.

Why is Your Diet so Important When it Comes to Toxic Metal Detox?

In addition to limiting your exposure to toxic metals, which I will go over shortly, you need to focus on eating a healthy diet, preferably based on your nutritional type to reap the maximum overall health benefits.

The Weston A. Price diet recommendations, which were written in 1920 and still, like all truths, hold true today, includes these timeless guidelines:

•Eat foods that are natural, unprocessed, and organic (and contain no sugar except for the occasional bit of honey or maple syrup).
•Eat foods that grow in your native environment. In other words, eat locally grown, seasonal foods.
•Eat unpasteurized dairy products (such as raw milk) and fermented foods.
•Eat at least one-third of your food raw.
•Make sure you eat enough healthy fats, including those from animal sources like omega-3 fat, and reduce your intake of omega-6 from vegetable oils.
As Dr. Daniel et.al. explain in this article, optimal nutrition is essential when dealing with metal toxicity because if you are deficient in essential metals, your body will use toxic metals as “stand-ins” instead. For example:

•Calcium is replaced by lead, which deposits primarily in bone, and disrupts the formation of red blood cells. Lead contributes to poor bone health such as osteopenia and osteoporosis.
•Zinc is replaced by cadmium, which tends to accumulate heavily in your kidneys. Cadmium overload is associated with peripheral neuropathy.
•Magnesium is replaced by aluminum, which, among other things, induces neurochemical changes and has been identified as a contributing factor to developing Alzheimer’s.
•Manganese is replaced by nickel, which is carcinogenic.
Secondly, you also need vital nutrients to aid your natural detoxification process.

Guidelines for Reducing Your Toxic Metal Exposure

It may seem like a fight you’re destined to lose, however I firmly believe you can reduce you exposure to toxic metals quite dramatically, thereby giving your body a fighting chance to eliminate accumulated toxins and restore health.

These guidelines can help limit your exposure:

•Use glass, cast iron, carbon steel, titanium, and enamel cookware. Both aluminum and non-stick cookware are well known for their toxic dangers, and stainless steel can expose you to carcinogenic nickel.
•Minimize consumption of restaurant food as restaurants are required to use stainless steel pots and vats.
•Avoid stainless steel thermoses; the glass lined kinds are best. Later this year I will be offering glass water bottles that can also be used in lieu of a thermos, with neoprene sleeves to protect them from breaking.
•Avoid  cosmetics with aluminum bases, mineral powders that contain bismuth, and aluminum-laden antiperspirants, which have been shown to increase your Alzheimer’s risk by as much as 300 percent!
•Avoid vaccinations that inject mercury or aluminum directly into your bloodstream.
•Avoid and remove dental amalgam fillings.
•Avoid stainless steel orthodontics such as braces and palate wideners.
•Avoid costume jewelry if you are sensitive to metals.
•Avoid smoking and second hand smoke as it causes cadmium poisoning.
•Make sure you purchase your natural herbal remedies from a reputable source with strict quality testing. Some colloidal silvers can lead to silver poisoning, and some folk remedies can be high in mercury, lead and arsenic, either due to alleged medicinal properties or through unintentional contamination.
•Avoid conventional household cleaning products.
•Avoid conventional insecticides and herbicides. Also be VERY cautious when using the “natural alternative” Borax (boric acid), which can also cause serious health problems, including death”.

Sources:
Mad as a Hatter — How to Avoid Toxic Metals and Clear Them From the Body (PDF)

Dr. Mercola. com

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.

One of the simplest pleasures in life is enjoying a beautifully prepared meal especially if there is a fine blend of tastes and spices dancing on the palate.  Yet,  many don’t realize the tremendous benefit that spices can have on your health.  AS a matter of fact my four favorites below could be moved from the kitchen to the medicine cabinet,

Well, in my house the kitchen is the medicine cabinet.  And this is true of most who live an ayurvedic lifestyle……spices are a frontline therapy for health and restoring balance.  If you new to this idea, just take a peak at the list below and look at all the remedies one can get from just 4 spices.

Of course, like anything else, you should always check with a trained medical professional before embarking on a new alternative approach to healing, but spices have been around as a healing therapy for thousands of years and are very gentle yet, effective.  These 4 spices are good for all ayurvedic constitutions.

~~ Cumin

Best for Dosha: All

Best for Conditions: digests bread, along with caraway,
fennel and dill relatives; colitis, gas, digestion,
abdominal pain, distention, for overeating and eating heavy foods.

~~ Cardamom

Best for Dosha: All

Best for Conditions: Absorption of nutrients,
asthma, bronchitis, colds, cough, excellent for stomach complaints, hoarseness, indigestion, loss of taste, helps the spleen and pancreas, reduces Kapha in lungs and stomach, stimulates the mind, with milk it reduces mucus formation, detoxifies caffeine in coffee, nervous digestion, vomiting, headache, belching, acid indigestion, nausea, expels Vata in colon and digests foods in colon, convalescing from diarrhea, biliousness, respiratory disorders, involuntary urination.

Spiritual Uses: spiritual peace and purity; gives clarity and joy

Antidote: Helps digest foods if they create sluggish digestion.
Ice cream, milk, cold or sweet foods like bananas, coffee.
~~ Coriander

Best for Dosha: All

Best for Conditions: Griping, flatulent colic, rheumatism,
neuralgia, indigestion, vomiting, intestinal disorders,
removes excess Kapha, eyewash, conjunctivitis, relieves internal heat and thirst, skin/rash problems, urinary system
(cystitis, infections, etc.), sore throat, allergies,
hay fever, for all Pitta disorders, burning, juice for allergies,
and skin rashes (and externally as well);
antidotes hot pungent foods, bleeding hemorrhoids.
Used to balance very hot foods and spices (eg, chillies).

~~ Fennel

Best for Dosha: All

Best for Conditions: Abdominal pain (gas or indigestion),
menstrual cramps, hernia, diarrhea, colic, vomiting,
morning sickness, nausea, anorexia, cough, dry cough,
promotes semen, increases vision, raises agni, difficult
or burning urination, digestion-children and elderly;
promotes menstruation, nursing mothers-increases breast milk flow.

According to Ayurveda, Spring (kapha season) is the time to start incorporating more fresh greens and raw vegetables into our daily meal plans.  But if your digestive fire (agni) is low, you’re a vata type, or have had increased stress…….you may have difficulty digesting and assimilating these types of foods.  Raw foods do pack a powerhouse of enzymes and nutrients, but they also require a good strong digestive fire to break them down.

So how can you increase your greens and aide your digestion at the same time?  This recipe fits the bill!  Loaded with lots of digestive spices, and made into a soup, the vegetables are easy to digest because the blender has already broken them down into an easy to digest form, but also retains the nutrients.

And, it tastes delicious……isn’t that why we love to eat?  We love to stimulate our senses and taste buds!

Green Curry Soup

Servings: Two
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups filtered or spring water

1 cup tightly packed chopped spinach

1 cup chopped broccoli stalks

1/2 cup chopped leeks

1 avocado

1 carrot

4 – 6 soaked sundried tomatoes

1 clove garlic

1 tbsp miso paste

1 tsp himalayan or celtic sea salt

1 tbsp coconut oil

1 tbsp cumin

2 tsp tumeric

1 tbsp tamari or nama shoyu

1/2 – 1 tsp cayenne pepper

Preparation:
Blend the water, spinach, broccoli and leeks in a blender until smooth.  (I recommend a Vita-mix blender, for the best textured soup.  Visit: https://secure.vitamix.com/acb/stores/4/?COUPON=06-004346&store=1 ).

Add the remaining ingredients and blend again until smooth. You can adjust the spices to taste.

This can be served chilled in the summer or in winter it’s nice to warm it up a little. If you are warming it on the stove, to preserve the enzymes, keep it on the lowest heat, stir constantly and make sure it doesn’t go over body temperature by dipping your finger in. It should be just warm, not steaming hot.

I like to garnish with a dab of organic plain yogurt or flaxseed oil and top with some crunchy kale chips.