How to Make Ayurvedic Foods

How to Make Ayurvedic Foods



Ayurveda is an ancient healing art that focuses on the total well-being of the individual. It's used to cure many ailments, from the common cold to cancer. Maintaining a proper diet is a very important part of Ayurveda. Follow these steps to find out how to make Ayurveda foods.







Learn the Basics of an Ayurvedic Diet




1


Plan to have meals that include the 6 tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent and astringent. Ayurvedic principles state that such meals are balanced. They help the body function at its highest potential.





2


Eat only after the last meal has been digested to improve bodily functions.





3


Choose food in its natural state. Avoid foods that contain chemicals, dyes or artificial flavors.





4


Learn the effects of combining food. Ayurveda states that certain food combinations, like fruits eaten with starchy foods, are harmful to the body.





5


Regulate the quantity of food eaten at every meal. Make sure that each item in the meal is proportional.





6


Know your dosha. "Dosha" refers to your mind and body types. It determines the type of foods that are right for you.



Discover Your Dosha




1


Visit the "Jiva Ayurveda" Web site to find out what your dosha is (see Resources below). They offer a free dosha test.





2


Take a test to determine your body type. There are 3 Ayurvedic body types: "Vata," "Pitta" and "Kapha."





3


Determine your state of mind by taking a Psychological Constitution quiz. The 3 Ayurvedic states of mind are: "Sattvic," "Rajasic" and "Tamasic." A Sattvic mind is a balanced mind.





4


Use your new-found dosha to determine what your Ayurvedic foods will be.



Choose and Make Your Ayurvedic Foods




1


Study an Ayurvedic diet chart to learn what foods are right for your unique constitution as well as what foods to avoid. The "Jiva Ayurveda" Web site gives you a chart after the dosha test (see Resources below). The cost to make Ayurvedic foods should be what you spend on groceries now.





2


Ensure a balanced "Vata dosha" by avoiding non-vegetarian diets. Eat food that's warm, heavy and spicy. Include oil in most meals.





3


Consider switching to a vegetarian diet for a balanced "Pitta dosha." Ayurveda also recommends avoiding oil as well as food that's spicy, hot or processed. The good news is that frozen desserts, like ice cream, is encouraged.





4


Keep fats and oils to a minimum for a balanced "Kapha dosha." Make hot meals and avoid frozen desserts as well as salt and butter. The Ayurvedic diet plan for Kapha dosha encourages light meals in appropriate portions.





5


Learn more about Ayurvedic Foods by visiting the "Big Shakti" Web site (see Resources below).








Tips & Warnings










Seek the immediate assistance of a medical doctor or go to an emergency room if you suffer symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, anxiety attacks or uncontrolled bleeding.








Before you start any alternative medical technique, be aware that many have not been scientifically evaluated. Keep your doctor informed about any radical changes to your diet.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2033068_ayurvedic-foods.html

How to Make An Herbal Tincture

How to Make An Herbal Tincture



A tincture is a concentrated extract of an herb who's active ingredients cannot be extracted by using water or if heat will destroy them. Using alcohol for extracts will preserve them for up to 2 years.







Things You'll Need:





7 oz Dried Herb, OR 1 1/2 lb Fresh Herb




1 1/2 c Water




2 1/2 c Vodka or Brandy




Large Jar









1


Put your herb/s into a large jar and pour alcohol/water mix over the top. Make sure that all air bubbles are out before you seal tightly. Store in a cool location for 2 weeks. Shake jar daily.





2


Pour mixture through a jelly bag or cheesecloth into a clean container. Sqeeze out the remaining liquid from the bag.





3


Pour mixture into small, clean dark colored bottles and store tightly. Keep in a cool dry place after labeling.








Tips & Warnings










Standard doses of the tincture: 1 t up to 3 times a day. This can be diluted in water.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2127615_herbal-tincture.html

How to Make an Herbal Steam Inhalant

How to Make an Herbal Steam Inhalant



When you or your child's head is all stuffed up but you don't want to reach for that bottle of decongestants, try this easy to do steam inhalant. It will open your sinuses, ease the pressure and relax you right to sleep.







Things You'll Need:





Your Choice - Chamomile




Lavender




Sage




Thyme




Lemon Balm




Peppermint




1 Qt. boiling water




Towel for tenting









1


Bring 1 qt. water to a boil - remove from heat





2


Add about 1 handful of any of the above listed herbs - Cover - Let steep for about 5-10 minutes





3


Remove cover - lean over pot and inhale gently - place towel over head and pot





4


Continue inhaling for 5-10 minutes - when you are done, strain the herbs from the water - pour into your favorite tea cup and enjoy!








Tips & Warnings










Chamomile is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and relaxing for sick kids








Mints decrease sinus stuffiness and pain and are antiseptic








Lemon Balm is soothing to the mucous membranes and calming to sick kids








Thyme has antibacterial and antiviral properties









Lavender
is an anti-inflammatory, relaxant and relieves headaches








When using herbal steam inhalants with
children
, check the heat of the steam before placing the towel over your child's head.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2130632_herbal-steam-inhalant.html

How to Make a Spice Pillow

How to Make a Spice Pillow



Spice pillows have been used for many years. Early pioneers used spice pillows to ease headaches or relax for a good night's sleep. This spice pillow is filled with natural herbs and flowers to help relax the sleeper's mind and body.







Things You'll Need:





Needle and thread




Velcro




Rose petals




Dried chamomile




Dried lavender




Sandalwood, jasmine, lavender, peppermint or rose essential oils




2 tsp. orris root




Pillow stuffing




2 5-by-5 inch pieces of silk or cotton fabric




1 mesh or muslin bag









1


Sew the 5-by-5 inch pieces of fabric together on three sides. Make sure to sew them wrong side out so when you turn the fabric right side out, it creates the pillow.





2


Fill the mesh bag with the spices. Use 1 part rose petals, 1 part chamomile and 1 part
lavender
. Squeeze 5 to 7 drops of the essential oils you chose into the bag. Add 2 tsp. orris root. The orris root helps the spices and oils retain their scents.





3


Close the bag by tying it up with a ribbon or by sewing the open end shut.





4


Turn the pillow from step 1 right side out. Fill it with the pillow stuffing. Leave enough room inside of the pillow for air to circulate around the mesh bag.





5


Place the mesh bag inside the pillow form. Put the bag as close to the middle of the pillowcase as possible.





6


Sew the Velcro to the inside edges of the pillow. The Velcro allows you to change the spices as needed and to wash the spice pillowcase.








Tips & Warnings










This pillow works best as a flat, square shape. It is also possible to slide your spice pillow into a pillowcase or sham.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2125181_make-spice-pillow.html

How to Wash Different Types of Jeans

How to Wash Different Types of Jeans



If you wear jeans often, then you probably own many different types of jeans. Jeans come in many different colors and styles that you need to take into consideration before you wash them. Otherwise, you may ruin jeans washed all in the same load.









Step
1



Categorize your jeans: colored, dark, and light jeans are a few common types.




Step
2



Wash new jeans without any other clothing. Before you regularly wash your jeans, you should put them in the wash alone. Dark colored jeans in particular tend to bleed and can ruin any other clothing you have in the load.




Step
3



Load the jeans with similar colored clothing and jeans. If you have dark jeans, wash them with other dark jeans and pants. Turn dark jeans inside out to prevent them from fading. Lighter jeans and colored jeans should go in with clothing with a similar hue.




Step
4



Use warm water for each type of jeans you wash. Unless otherwise specified on the tag, all jean types wash the best in warm water with a cold rinse.




Step
5



Hang the jeans to dry or put them in the dryer for 25 minutes on a low setting. High temperatures cause shrinking and breakdown the spandex in stretch jeans.







Tips & Warnings









Don't put more than four pairs of jeans in the washer at a time, even if they're the same type. You'll overload the machine, restricting its ability to agitate and get the clothes clean.








Don't wash the jeans in your home washing machine if they have a lot of elaborate beading on them. Send them out to the dry cleaners instead.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2271720_wash-different-types-jeans.html

How to Wash a Bathing Suit

How to Wash a Bathing Suit



Bathing suits are unlike any other garments. They are made differently from other articles of clothing and are often composed of unique materials. Swimsuits are also worn under conditions in which other garments are rarely exposed. Proper washing is essential to keep suits vibrant and to increase their durability.







Things You'll Need:





Cleaning products









Step
1



Rinse your swimsuit with cool water before you wash it with a cleaning solution. Take it off, put it in a sink for several minutes and then rinse with flowing water for an additional few minutes.




Step
2



Wash your bathing suits with cleaning products that are made specifically for swimwear.




Step
3



Wash your bathing suits by hand. Never put a bathing suit in the washer, as the agitation will break down the material quickly. While hand washing takes a little more time and effort, it is worth it to keep your favorite suits in tip-top shape.




Step
4



Dry your swimsuits naturally. Air-drying a flat-laid suit will help maintain the shape of your bathing suit and eliminate undue stress on the material. Do not stretch your suit across any device while it dries. Also, do not let the suit air dry in the sun.




Step
5



Avoid using the bathing suit "wringers" available in many lockers rooms. These machines will get out extra moisture from your suit but are very rough on the material. These machines have been known to snag suits and ruin elasticity. Once you finish

swimming


, rinse your suit and place it in a drip bag. Clean it as soon as possible and lay it out to dry.




Step
6



Remove stains from a bathing suit by washing it in Bio-OX

Citrus


Concentrate. You can obtain this product from the official Bio-OX website (see Resources below).







Tips & Warnings









Wear your older suits while swimming in chlorinated pools and save your favorite suits for when you just want to lounge. This will eliminate the problem of washing out chlorine from your best suits.








Never put a swimsuit in a dryer. Repeated mechanical drying will ruin the elastic in your suits.








Never allow your bathing suit to dry without cleaning the chlorine out of it. Suits can become brittle and faded quickly if you adopt this practice.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2228128_wash-bathing-suit.html

How to Walk Properly and Gracefully in High Heel Shoes

How to Walk Properly and Gracefully in High Heel Shoes



There's actually a reason that high heels make a woman so attractive. High heels visually lengthen the leg and force the calf muscle to pop out. The higher the heel, the more the buttocks and breasts are pushed out, creating a stunning silhouette. The good news is anyone can look great in high heels. The tricky part is learning to walk properly and gracefully in them.









Step
1



Buy the right size shoe and make sure it fits comfortably. This is essential for walking gracefully in any type of shoe but especially if you walk in high heels. If the shoe pinches or hurts, there will be no hiding the pain and your walk will suffer because of the need to compensate for that pain.




Step
2



Begin with lower heels and progress into higher heels at half-inch increments. Although it may not seem like a lot of height, it's stressful on the leg and walking incorrectly in high heels that you're not accustomed to can cause damage.




Step
3



Pull your abdomen in towards the spine, making sure not to arch the back by keeping straight posture. When you walk, look straight ahead and keep your chin level with the floor. Although it may feel like you need to lean forward, concentrate on standing straight; you won't tip over.




Step
4



Lift your foot and point your toe straight ahead rather than to the side, which may be more natural. Place your heel gently on the floor, aiming for the mid-line of your body position.




Step
5



Keep your legs close together, pointing toes forward and placing the foot straight, essentially creating a straight line when walking. The motion should be heel-toe with the weight placed on the ball of the foot. Walk in short strides when wearing high heels.




Step
6



Allow your hips to sway from side to side. This is the natural compensation for being tipped up on your toes. This natural rhythm when you walk is part of the allure of wearing high heels.


http://www.ehow.com/how_2211014_walk-properly-gracefully-high-heel.html