Ginger

 Ginger, zingiber officinale, is a bit of a miracle medicine that Ayurveda holds in high regard. Its Indian name is shunti, but it is also called vishvabeshaja, which means the universal medicine. It strengthens digestion, cleanses the body and reduces gas formation. Ginger also helps against nausea (e.g. motion sickness), headaches, coughs, colds, swelling and joint pain. So feel free to use it in your cooking or make ginger tea. For joint problems and headaches, it can also be applied externally. Ginger effectively balances vata and kapha. It can increase pitta to some extent, especially fresh ginger, so if you have a lot of pitta in your constitution, it may be good to use it a little cautiously. Good luck!

Kapha-season

 Spring is here, and the first flowers have come. This means that we have entered the part of the year dominated by the kapha dosha. Kapha is heavy, sluggish, stable and cold. To balance it, we need warmth, movement, activity and stimulation. Here are some tips for an Ayurvedic spring:

• This is the time when the body is at its strongest and has the easiest time rebuilding itself as everything in nature grows. Therefore, this is the time when we can exercise the hardest. Don't overdo it, but be regular. We need both aerobic exercise that gets the heart rate up and strength training that keeps the muscles in shape. In addition, dancing, ball games and other things that promote coordination between mind and body are good.

• Eat your main meal for lunch and a lighter meal in the evening. Eat warm and not too heavy food.

• Don't eat too much; don't eat if you're not hungry. But have regular meal times.

• Eat sitting down in peace and quiet without doing anything else in the meantime. Enjoy your food! Also, take it easy after eating.

• Drink warm water. Never drink cold or carbonated drinks.

• Eat vegetarian food and avoid red and processed meat in particular.

• Use lots of spices but not too much salt.

• Get up early and avoid sleeping during the day.

• Be active with things you find fun. Play, laugh, sing, dance and enjoy life.

Have a lovely spring!

Treating colds

 Last week, I wrote some tips on how to stay healthy during colds. But what if you do get a cold? What do you do? The advice I gave last week also applies then (except that you shouldn't exercise when you're sick), but you can also try the following:

• Eat only light food; always warm, and soups are good. Avoid meat, fish and eggs.

• Reduce salt, sweet and sour food.

• You can try chewing on clove, cardamom, or roasted cumin seeds.

• Boil a litre of water with 2-3 pinches of black pepper or a slice of fresh ginger, 1 teaspoon of whole cumin, 1-2 pinches of salt and 1 teaspoon of whole coriander. Let it boil for 3 minutes. Then strain and pour into a thermos and drink during the day.

• A mixture of half milk and half water boiled with ginger and turmeric is good.

• If you have a sore throat or cough, gargling 2-4 times a day with warm water, to which you add half a teaspoon of salt, a pinch of black pepper, and a pinch of turmeric can help.

• For a cough, it can also help to warm the upper back with a hot water bottle. But avoid heating the area around the heart.

• Mix a tablespoon of good-quality honey with a quarter teaspoon of liquorice root powder, ground ginger, cinnamon, turmeric or black pepper. Eat one or two teaspoons of the mixture a few times a day.

• Do not wash your hair as long as you are sick.

• Get plenty of rest so that you recover.

Preventing colds

 This time of year, it is common for colds to be rampant. Colds are caused by a virus. They are around us all the time, and usually, our immune system can defend us against them. But if we have too much ama, waste products, in the body or imbalances in vata or kapha, there can be a gap in the defence that the virus can exploit to penetrate. Here are some tips to keep the defence firm and the body healthy:

• Always eat in peace and quiet, focusing completely on the food and enjoying it. Then, it is digested more efficiently, reducing the risk of waste products.

• Do not eat too much hard-to-digest food, especially not too much meat, and avoid leftovers, additives, white sugar and processed food.

• Avoid cold food and drinks. Instead, eat warm, nourishing soups and stews, etc. and drink warm water.

• Stay warm. Dress appropriately when you go out.

• Exercise regularly and actively but not so hard that you become completely exhausted.

• Go to bed early and sleep at night, but do not sleep during the day.

• Spices such as ginger, turmeric, thyme, marjoram and black pepper can help.

• Ayurvedic treatments, especially Maharishi Ayurveda Aromatherapy, are very effective in prevention.

• Do not stress too much and do not exhaust yourself, but make sure to have balance in life to stay happy, alert and strong.

David Lynch

 We recently received the sad news that David Lynch had passed away. David is known as one of the world's most creative and original filmmakers, with works such as Twin Peaks, Mulholland Drive and Blue Velvet, among others. His films have a feeling and a subtle aesthetic that is ingenious, and he has received many awards. However, it is not as a filmmaker that he did his greatest work. He himself practised Transcendental Meditation, TM, and described how it helped him find the truly unique ideas deep within himself. But above all, he also helped many others. He created The David Lynch Foundation, which aims to help people who have problems in life accessing TM to get their lives in order. Countless disillusioned students in troubled schools, traumatised war veterans and stressed-out healthcare workers have gained new vitality and new joy in life thanks to David's efforts. That's great - he truly deserves all the respect and gratitude.