It’s been a very full & satisfying summer but on the last stretch I was actually craving home, routines and a detox. My body is very clearly signalling that enough of a good thing is enough and the plentiful food plates of French dinners I have over-indulged in are making me feel heavy and sluggish and the bohemian lifestyle of holiday season took its toll on my “elan vital”!
Time to return to healthier habits and some smart self-care rituals.
One excellent Ayurvedic tool to rekindle the digestive system and clear up ama (toxins) in the body is to sip a little Cumin, Coriander and Fennel tea throughout the day.
This very straightforward recipe is a staple for wellbeing in Ayurveda, grounding and nourishing whilst stoking digestion without aggravating your metabolism. It allows the body to gently detoxify.
And it’s as simple as this:
For 1 cup of tea, fill the equivalent of 1 teaspoon with cumin, coriander and fennel seeds in equal measures. Add your water, bring to a boil then simmer for 5 to 10 minutes and enjoy.
If your digestive system needs extra care you could also chew on some grated ginger with a few drops of lime and a small pinch of mineral or rock salt before meals, about 10-15 minutes prior to eating will stimulate the start of the digestive process.
It’s a little bit too early for a more serious Autumn cleanse, which is best scheduled after Mabon – the end of summer feasting time (21st of September). But there are clear signs of Autumn in the air. Winds piping, leaves browning, earlier nights promising much needed snuggling indoors in the evenings.
For a soothing bedtime drink that will nurture but keep you light reach for a warm milk. Here are options that will send you to sleep with comforting flavours.
Cardamon-nutmeg: Add 2 pinches of ground cardamon and ground nutmeg each to a cup of boiled milk, either cow’s milk or almond.
Golden milk: Add 2 pinches of turmeric powder, a pinch of cinnamon, a very small pinch of salt to a cup of boiled milk.
The scents themselves are invigorating.
For more recipes that marry taste and rejuvenation check out my course, Boundless Energy.
Anne Schouvey 