AYURVEDIC HOME SPA GUIDE AND RECIPES

Improve your longevity by taking time to relax.

Whether you have been enjoying winter sports over the past few days or are stiff from shovelling the driveway, you may be experiencing dry hands, face, legs and hair. Or you feel you need to replenish? Or your holiday was soooo fulfilling you want to offer something luxurious to someone special? Think home spa.

Home spas are fun and much less expensive. Although they require a bit of preparation, you have total control over the textures and aromas used. Below are suggested ingredients but feel free to add or switch ingredients. For example, you could add cucumber slices over your eyes while resting.

RECIPES AGAINST NASAL CONGESTION, WATER RETENTION AND SLUGGISH DIGESTION

The past few weeks have been quite wet and increasingly cold, weather likely to

bring your kapha element out of balance. This disbalance may show up as nasal  congestion, water retention or sluggish digestion, especially for people with a Kapha constitution.

Here are 3 quick, luxurious recipes to set things right:

Nasal congestion: 

- fill the bowl part of your diffuser with rose water or plain water

- add 2 drops each of black pepper or eucalyptus, turmeric and lime or orange essential oil.

- before bed, replace lime by valerian or St. John’s wort essential oil

Sluggish digestion: 

- in one tablespoon of sesame oil

- add 2 drops each of cumin, anis, fennel and cardamom essential oils
- massage the stomach area

Water retention:

- in 1/4 cup of brahmi or sesame oil

- add 2 each of the following essential oils: black pepper, juniperberry, rose, and coriander

- massage your body vigorously, especially in the ankles, knees, thighs, belly, buttocks, and watery area in the upper arms


To enhance this massage mix 40 drops of dandelion tincture in a full glass of water 30 minutes ahead of time. Drink heartily 30 minutes ahead of time.

BEAUTY TIP FOR THE KAPHA WOMAN

To feel sexy before a party, mix:

- in 1/4 tsp of sesame oil.

- 1 drop of pepper and rose or jasmin essential oil

Use as perfume behind the ear, between the breasts, at the wrists and in the groin. (If you have sensitive skin, replace the black pepper essential oil by ginger.)

Everyone will want to know your secret. 
Can be used by kapha men too.