Ayurveda Archives - Jovanka Ciares

What is Panchakarma (as featured in the Kardashians)

You Can Do THIS without being as rich as the Kardashians!

Whether you follow the Kardashians or not, they are impossible to miss! I don’t personally watch their show or follow them, but I do love traditional practices that help people heal and feel amazing.

Last week, a friend mentioned that Ayurveda was front and center in one of the Kardashian episodes and specifically a treatment call Panchakarma. I must admit I got curious, checked out the portions of the show and the reference to this ancient practice.

Personally, I LOVE pachakarmas and believe that we all can learn about its principles and practices and perhaps even try some ways to do your own ‘mild’ version of a cleanse at home.

So today, I’m sharing how you can do your own little Western version of panchakarma without breaking the bank!

Follow These Steps!

PRE-CLEANSE (2-3 days)

No caffeine, alcohol or sugar
No heavy workouts of sex
Get a book to learn the basics – “Ayurveda Beginner’s Guide” is a good option
Learn to make Kitchari – follow this recipe

CLEANSE (4 to 7 days)

100% plant based, whole foods for the entire cleanse
Options are small smoothie, soups, salads and kitchari
Can use ghee or mushrooms if vegan
Try Abyangha – oil massage – once a week
Bouncing / Rebouding
Use heat – saunas/steam rooms
Massage your feet with Sesame and ginger essential oils

Real Wellness with NFL star Ricky Williams | Jovanka Ciares

Today I have a really awesome treat. I met Ricky Williams (the ‘Heisman Healer’) a few months ago and loved his commitment to excellence in his career as an NFL player AND to his own wellness journey.

He co-founded Real Wellness and sat with me to talk healing, men’s health and alternative practices and traditions. Check out the interview and let me know what you think!

Check Out Real Wellness Here: https://realwellnessherbal.com/

Whiter Teeth At Home In 5 Minutes A Day

You love teas and herbal remedies as much as I do… but after months of drinking teas, coffee and other drinks, your teeth are looking a bit yellowish… what do you?

Whitening gels bought in stores can be very abrasive and irritating to your gums. And similar procedures at the dentist office can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. What to do?

Check out my one-two teeth whitening routine that will get you a beautiful smile in a giffy.

1. Coconut swish / oil puling

3-10 mins TOPS per day

You don’t want to aspirate some of the oil into your lungs

Always spit out the oil in the trash, never in the pipes

ALWAYS brush your teeth immediately after oil pulling.

2. Activated charcoal

Gets rid of free radicals and pollutants too

Use a thin layer of charcoal

Brush LIGHTLY, never too harsh

Do it 3-4 days in a row, then rest for 3-4 days

After brushing gently, I follow with another brush and clear water, to remove the charcoal excess from my tongue, gums, etc.

Copper Vessel Water Benefits

Storing water in a copper vessel creates a natural purification process. It can kill all the microorganisms, molds, fungi, algae and bacteria, present in the water that could be harmful to the body and make the water perfectly fit for drinking. In addition, water stored in a copper vessel for a few hours acquires some quality from the copper. Copper is an essential trace mineral that is vital to human health. It has antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic and anti-inflammatory properties. It also helps neutralize toxins.

Unlike some nutritional elements, the body cannot synthesize copper, so you need to get it from dietary sources. The best dietary sources of copper include seafood, organ meats, whole grains, lentils, nuts, seeds, chocolate, cereals, potatoes, peas and some dark green leafy vegetables. Or you can drink water stored in copper.

According to Ayurveda, drinking copper-enriched water first thing in the morning on an empty stomach helps balance all three doshas (Kapha, Vata and Pitta). This also ensures proper functioning of different organs and several metabolic processes.

In addition to that, here are 10 reasons why drinking water from a copper vessel is beneficial for you.

1. Helps the digestive system perform better

2. Aids weight loss

3.Helps heal wounds faster

4. Slows down aging

5.Helps reduce high blood pressure

6. Can reduce the risk of cancer

7. Protects you from infections

8. Helps arthritis and inflamed joints

9. Boosts skin health and melanin production

10. Beats anemia

Drinking 2 to 3 glasses of water that has been stored in a copper vessel is another easy way to supply your body with enough copper.

Have you tried this or think you would? Let me know in the comments below!

Herbal Plan For Dry Persistent Cough

I’ve had a cough for 8 straight weeks! Got a cold 2 months ago and the silly cough stayed and stayed. 8 weeks later, I was freaking out, not knowing what could possibly be causing this crazy cough. So yet again, I paid attention to foods that can be aggravating and creating the wrong internal environment, while using some awesome herbal and home remedies. Within 7 days, the cough was gone!

Check out the video and tips in writing below!

Dietary guidelines:

Reduce dairy, white food and sugar. Essentially, anything that cause phlegm!
Drink a TON of water

Remedies include:

Gargles of warm water and salt
Eucalyptus essential oil on your chest
Use a steamer or humidifier in the evening
Nasya oil for the nose
Thyme tea
Marshmallow root powder tea

Important Reminder: Any cough that lingers longer than 8 weeks should be revised by a specialist. In my case, I went to my acupuncturist who recommended me some herbs and that helped out as well!

Detox Oil Massage (Abhyanga)

An Abhyanga Massage is a warm oil, self-administered massage that helps balance your physical constitution, moisturize the skin, helps the skin to release toxins, and is known to help tone muscles all over your body.

You can use a variety of oils and Ayurveda, the science of life and Eastern medicine traditions in India, recommends sesame or almond oils for Vata types, coconut and sunflower for Pitta and corn and olive oils for balancing Kapha. However, if you don’t know your Ayurvedic type, do not despair: simply pick sesame and almond oils in winter and coconut or sunflower in summer.

The massage can be done in the morning before your shower, or in the evening before bed. I often do it once a week in the evenings.

Check out the video and the description on how to do another version of the Abhyanga massage below the video:

How to Do The Massage

Start by warming the oil to skin temperature, and drizzle a small amount of oil into the palms of your hands. (Warm the oil by holding the bottle under warm water, never use a microwave).
Massage the top of your scalp (on days when you wash your hair), pay particular attention to the circumference of your ears, and the soles of your feet.
Massage with long strokes on your limbs, and round strokes on your joints.
It’s best to leave the oil on the body for 20 minutes before washing it off in a warm shower or bath.
Try not to use a lot of soap, let the water rinse out the excess and the towel get rid of the rest. At the end of the shower, your skin should feel silky but not oily.

I hope you love it as much as I love it. Let me know in the comments below!

Herbs to Ease Heartburn, GERD and Acid Reflux

Have you ever suffered from that awful burning sensation at the top of your stomach? Or what about stomach pain, stinging sensation in the throat and chest, and persistent throat sore throat!

If you have or know someone who does, do not despair. There’s one little herbal remedy that people have been using for decades to help relieve these symptoms and more (it’s great for ulcers too)!

Even my dad uses it to help manage his GERD.

What’s the magic ingredient???? Slippery Elm!

First things first: to get yours, Click Here

Secondly: Check Out the video below (more below the video)

Thirdly, a fun Trivia: Slippery Elm is one of the few herbs that’s FDA approved as a medication!

Fourth and finally:

Here’s the recipe:

Mix slippery elm, cinnamon, nutmeg and water in a small pot to form a smooth paste.
Add nut or coconut milk and stir over a low flame, gently heating the mixture and stirring constantly until there are no lumps.
Turn off the heat and add your sweetener of choice.

Enjoy and feel better!

“Magic” Herb that kills STRESS + Ashwagandha

There’s a new herbal superstar in town! I’ve been using it for about 3 years and recommending it to clients with outstanding results. Why do I love it? Because it’s one of the most effective stress relieving substances I’ve ever tried. And it’s legal!

This little marble is called Ashwagandha and the people in India and those in the West who follow Ayurveda, have known about its amazing properties for decades.

It also happens to be an all-around health tonic (meaning, it helps your entire system, not just your stress levels). Learn more about it and get some of the herb here!

If you’re interested in trying this marvel herb, check out the ones from Lost Empire Herbs! I love it in tincture form and this company offers a truly high quality one!

Restore Gut Health with This ONE ingredient

Have you heard of Reishi mushroom? You may not want to toss your next salad with some reishi mushrooms (yeah, they are really bitter), but when you hear what all this little ‘shroom can do, you may decide to add it to your supplement regiment!

The Reishi mushroom, also known as ganoderma mushroom, has been used in Eastern “medicine” like Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda for many hundreds of years. And now, the Western World is slowly recognizing its healing properties.

But for the purpose of digestion and gut health, how does it help? Check the video below to learn how!

eye wash, triphala for eyes, jovanka ciares

How To Improve Your Vision Naturally

So I work long hours and plenty of those are spend on the computer, writing, creating scripts for videos, researching. SO my eyes get very strained and I think I’m starting to use my eye sight. Went to the doctor who confirmed about a year ago that I was “just a few months away” from needing my first pair of glasses.

Don’t get me wrong, I think glasses are totally sexy but I don’t want to have to rely on them unless I absolutely have to.

Here’s what I did to improve my vision naturally:

As you know, I’m passionate about Ayurveda and so I went to my ayurvedic practitioner and friend Saadia who recommended I use this really popular herb to wash my eyes with. TRIPHALA!

Triphala is an ayurvedic herbal formula that comes in pills and powders and it’s used to support digestion, maintain regularity, assist natural internal cleansing and nourishing the entire body.

I take it regularly and love it. But the thing is awesome enough to help me strengthen my eye sight. Here’s what I did:

Boil ½ teaspoon in 12 ounces of water at low heat
Let it cool off
Drain using a coffee or almond milk strainer
Keep in the fridge for up to a week
Use an eye wash and rinse your eyes for a few minutes
Do it daily for a few weeks and see how you feel.

I can focus better, see smaller print and my eyes don’t get tired any more. It’s fantastic!

What Is SHILAJIT And How It Can Help You!

I had abdominal surgery a few months ago to remove benign (but pesky) tumors in my uterus (also known as fibroids). I’ve been using a few alternative treatments to help me recover faster and more effectively. Taking Shilajit was one of the main things I used to manage pain and reduce the inflammation associated with major surgery.

Check out the video to learn what is Shilajit and how it helped me recover in just 3 weeks!

Now tell me, have you tried Shilajit? Are you willing to try it? What was your experience? Let me know in the comments below the video!

The Best Of All Yoga Breathing Exercises

Also known as alternate nostril breathing, this is a wonderful practice that you learn in yoga classes and all.

Pranayama is an ancient practice concerned with breath control. Research has shown that practicing Pranayama can relieve symptoms of asthma. It is also beneficial in treating stress related disorders, such as anxiety and depression. There are various types of Pranayama practice but the one I like the most and the one I will demonstrate here is the alternate nostril breathing.

Do you have any questions about Pranayama? Share your question and comments in the comments section below the video!

Natural Remedy For Bloating

So you had a great big ass meal and now you’re bloated and gassy. What to do? Here’s a real simple concoction tea that will kill that bloat in just a few minutes.

Like this recipe? Let me know by leaving a comment below and let’s start a conversation.

And if you have any questions, share those in the comments too!

moxibustion moxabustion for injury healing

Moxibustion for Injury Healing

I had abdominal surgery a few weeks ago to remove benign (but pesky) tumors in my uterus (also known as fibroids). I’ve been using a few alternative treatments to help me recover faster and more effectively. Using a moxa stick or moxibustion is one of the ways I’m managing pain and reduce inflammation associated with major surgery.

Check out the video below for details of how to use it and its amazing benefits!

Have you tried Moxa? What was your experience? Let me know in the comments below!

recovering from surgery the holistic way

Recovering from Fibroid Surgery the Holistic Wellness Way

As you know, I’ve been home with friends and family recovering from abdominal surgery to remove a pesky fibroid (myomectomy) that sort of died inside of me and was wrecking undo havoc in my life.

I’m getting stronger and feeling better every day and today I’m strong enough to write (not ready for video though) and I wanted to share here some of the alternative holistic treatments I’m doing from home to help speed my recovery.

My Diet

Major surgery that requires full anesthesia shuts down your system for hours and it could take much longer for those systems to wake up. Since we now know that digestion is at the cornerstone or your health and immunity, it is key that my diet is easy to digest, properly combined (to avoid constipation, indigestion, gas, bloating) and densely nourishing. Some of the things I’m eating include:

Kitchari – an Ayurvedic meal made with basmati rice and mung daal (yellow split peas)

Green Smoothies – Loaded with greens and fruit

Veggie Juices – A staple in my diet for years butternut squash11

Hearty Soups – lentil soup, butternut squash and root vegetable soups are my favorites

Acai Bowls – high anti oxidant content and really comforting and yummy.
The idea is to keep my digestion smooth and flowy and avoid the crazy constipation often associated with anesthesia and the pain medications.

My Supplements

The supplements I’m taking in the days and weeks after my surgery were suggested by my Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic practitioners and are designed to help the body reduce inflammation, prevent infection and purify the blood. Here are some of the things I’m taking:

Aloe Vera – awesome tonic to the reproductive system, digestive system and bladder

Oil of Oregano – powerful antibiotic, taken only for 5 days after surgery to prevent infections

Liquid Chlorophyll – a blood builder and purifier, taken as I had uterine surgery and had some blood loss

Aromatherapy – amazing to help manage discomfort, pain and energize your chakras (the amazing scents also make you feel really great)!

My Teas

Herbs have amazing medicinal properties and can help your body feel whole and energized without side effects. Here are the teas I’m taking while I recover:

Ginger – perfect to reduce inflammation in the belly, soothe your stomach and restore digestion

Fennel, Coriander, Cumin – this is a traditional Ayurvedic blend that also heals digestion, allowing you to prevent gas/bloating and helping you absorb nutrients more efficiently.

Red Raspberry Leaf – This plant is traditionally used to strengthen the womb and reproductive system in general. It was recommended to me by a friend who is also a doula.

Turmeric Tea – highly anti-inflammatory, from the first time I took it I started to feel the inflammation in the wound area start to decrease.

Alternative Treatments

I follow some of the principles of Chinese medicine and Ayurveda in my practice with clients and on myself. Surgery recover is no different. For my recovery, I’m using 2 specific treatments not very well known in the Western world but that people in Asia have been using effectively for hundreds of years.

Shilajit – A resin common in part of northern India and Asia known for its ability to accelerate and improve regeneration of tissue faster, making the healing process shorter and more effective. It is also known as an adaptogen, helping you cope with stress easier.

If you’d like to know more about it Click Here!

Moxi (or Moxabustion) – An herbal remedy commonly used in Chinese medicine used to increase circulation to a healing wound area or an area with inflammation, reducing inflammation almost immediately and speeding up the healing process. I plan on creating a video showing you how it’s done in the next week or so.

Tender, Loving, Care

And last but not least, TLC. Between mommy feet massages, sister feeding soups and friends bringing me an occasional coconut ice cream, I am blessed to have an incredible family and circle of friends. I amassed a small army of loving souls that without hesitation volunteered to help me in the first few weeks after surgery. I’m also sharing some of my process on social media to keep in touch with the outside world and in hopes that this experience can help others recover faster and better. surgery post 1

You can check out my Instagram and Twitter posts or follow me on Facebook to learn more!

I’ll be spending the next few weeks resting comfortably at home, allowing my mind to be present and working on a couple of amazing projects that will be birthed in early 2015.

My Diet

My Supplements

My Teas

Alternative Treatments

Tender, Loving, Care

I hope to share them with you very soon!