Ojas Elixir - Drink To Boost Immune System and Vitality
Hi Everyone,
You have all heard me talk about what Ayurveda considers the 2 most important criteria for maintaining health and vitality.
They are:
AGNI (UHG-nee) - a balanced digestive fire.
OJAS (OH-jas) - our "Vigor," "Strength." or "Vitality".
We need a balanced Agni to maintain Ojas. It corresponds to the modern concept of immune system resilience. The key word here is resilience because it also applies to mental and emotional resilience. When Ojas is present we experience healthy agni, mental and emotional stability, clear thinking, positive vibes and restful sleep. This creates a natural inner and outer "Glow." We have all have encountered someone who "IS GLOWING." There is literally a twinkle in their eyes, radiance in their skin and a healthy libido. Ayurveda sees this as a person with robust Ojas.
Chronic stress, processed foods, overstimulation, negative thoughts and emotions, and lack of sleep are things that can deplete Ojas.
Ojas is the first thing to be created in the body of all living things. It is ghee colored, it tastes like honey and smells like roasted puffed rice.
~ Caraka Samhita Sutrasthana 17.74
Ayurveda considers Ojas connected to nature, and that essence will directly influence our life experience. That is a mouthful and a pretty powerful statement.
In a nutshell, we need to protect and maintain our vitality in order to sustain health and longevity.
Here's a classic Ayurvedic Elixir to boost Ojas.
Start with a dozen good quality raw almonds (soak overnight and peel them.)
2-3 Medjool dates ( pitted and soaked overnight)
1 cup milk - traditionally in Ayurveda they use good quality whole milk but you can use a good quality nut milk as a substitute.
1 cup water
1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
1/4 tsp. cinnamon powder
1/4 tsp. ginger powder
1/4 tsp. of turmeric powder
Pinch of saffron, maybe 2-3 stems
1 tsp of ghee
Coconut flakes (optional)
You may want to add a touch of vanilla extract, and/or 1 teaspoon of honey. If you decide to add honey, remember not to add it while the beverage is too hot. When honey is heated it becomes toxic to ingest.
The almonds have to be soaked for at least 3-4 hours to soften the skins so they can be peeled, but overnight is also good, if preferred.
The dates should be soaked for at least an hour. This will soften the dates and make them easier to blend. Don't throw away the date water, add it into the mixture.
Place the peeled almonds, soaked dates and date water into a blender.
Then add the remaining ingredients.
Blend until completely smooth.
This elixir is generally ok for each dosha.
For high Vata the drink is ok as it is.
For high Pitta maybe swap the honey (because it's heating) and use maple syrup.
For high Kapha maybe just use 1 date, or omit all together, and leave out the ghee.
Optional things to add:
1/4 tsp ashwagandha powder
1/4 tsp shatavari powder
See how we can play around with this recipe...
There's many ways we can tweak this to make it suitable for your unique situation and dosha..
Due to the heavy and sweet nature of this drink, one shouldn't consume it every single day. Take this drink 2-3 times per week for 4 weeks, or until you feel energy and vitality returning back into the body..
If you have a high level of Ama (toxins) in the body, this drink may not be for you. Some indicators are a feeling of heaviness, poor circulation, dull appetite, or a coated tongue.
Drink while still warm! It makes a great breakfast drink.
It can be taken before bed too, especially to calm Vata dosha.
It's great after doing a detox, recovering from an illness, or anytime there's depletion.
If you'd like to know if this drink is appropriate for you, just reach out.
By The way...this drink is great as we get into the fall season. It helps keep the immune system stable.
Happy Sipping!!
Leelah
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