metaphysical herbs

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The Way of Ayurvedic

Herbs

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Get the Vibe: Herbal Mysticism

Herbs for Spirit & Consciousness

Samkhya

Ayurveda Philosophy

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Starts with the creation of the universe

Avyakta

Ever present UniverseAbsolutely transcendental,

indescribableEssence

Infinity, pure existence, unmanifest

Ever present UniverseAbsolutely transcendental,

indescribableEssence

Mystical soul journey

Mother of all healing

Also the…

SiblingChild

Aunt and uncle

Based not on medication

Based on meditation

Long before psychiatric drugs…

We treat the vibrations of the mind

The universe is formed of sound (shabd)

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Sound comes up out of the body

Using udana vayu

When we speak from the heart, our vibrations heal

PashyantiLanguage of the heart

Language of connection

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Herb called “speech”

Vacha root (Calamus)

We can heal with our words

Ayurveda and Yoga give a roadmap to the wordless union with infinity

Help people heal totally

Ayurveda is an advanced, complete healing system

because it is the experience of vibration,

the shabd

PulseBreathVoice

Connect us to the Universal vibration

Yoga relieves spiritual suffering, defined according to the kleshas or spiritual afflictions, starting with ignorance (avidya) of our true nature as pure consciousness, leading to a false identification of ourselves with our transient bodies & minds

Ether

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Mints

High in ether elementElevate awareness

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Peppermint

Hot and cold

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Spearmint

Cooling

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Horsemint

Very cooling

Horsemint

Wild, cultivatedHigh menthol

Not very available

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Bitter Taste

Bitter taste

Air and Ether elementsCold, dry, light↓P, ↓K, ↑VPromotes consciousness

Andrographis

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Andrographis with praying mantis egg case

Andrographis

Andrographis panniculataKalmegh (“king of the bitters”)Stem and leafVery bitterCleanse the awareness

Digesting mental energy

All we take in through 5 senses processed into meaningful experience by sadhaka agni, flame of intelligence in the mindSadhaka pitta is pitta subtype relating to brain & higher mind functionResponsible for

comprehension, discrimination, learning,

Digesting mental energy

Agni that governs high mental functions transforms “food of the senses” into meaningUnprocessed mental residue similar to toxins that accumulate in body Unresolved thoughts are psychic/mental ama

GUNA

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Sattva (essence)Creative potentialContentment, joy, peace, harmony

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Sattva in the Universe is responsible for Creation

"When Sattva predominates, the light of wisdom shines through every gate of the

body" (Bhagavad Gita 14:11)

When people are in a Sattvic state they radiate light, and joy; they are intelligent and wise.

In this higher state, there is awakening of the soul and a state of bliss.

Sattvic foods

Fresh vegetables and fruitsFresh nuts and seedsLegumesMilk productsWhole grainsRaw cane sugar and honey

Sattvic spices

Cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, fennel, fenugreek, turmeric

Sattvic

Cardamom

Cardamom

SattvicStimulates mind and heartClarifies awarenessGives joy to lifeOpens pranas

Sattvic herbs

GokshuraAshwagandaLicorice ShatavariJatamansiAmla

Rajas (active force)Energy, change

emotion turbulence

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Rajas

Quality of energy & turbulenceActivates all movement, responsible for maintaining what has been createdProvokes thought and activityIn excess, agitation, passion, aggression, competition, ambition, and self-seeking action that causes suffering

“When rajas predominates, a person runs about pursuing selfish and greedy ends, driven by restlessness and desire” Bhagavad Gita 14:12

Rajas

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Rajasic foods

Medium qualityStimulating, generate energyMeat, cheese, eggs, fish, hot, spicy/fried food, pickles, garlic, onions, white sugar, coffee, alcohol

Tamas (destruction, inertia)

Rest, dullness,depression, spoilage, resistance

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Tamas

Quality of darkness, inertia, dullness, destructionGives ability to complete what was generated by Sattva & RajasHeavy, material and solidPromotes calm & stability,  inactivity, lethargyEnables us to sleepObstructs movement in the mind

Tamasic foods

Low quality, devitalized foods Overcooked, canned, processed, frozen/junk foods Leftover stale or fermenting foodAlcoholOld meat

Meditation

2 challengesFalling asleep (tamasic)Racing mind (rajasic)

To quiet mind, maintain our alertness to explore our subtle nature, we need to increase sattva

“When sattva predominates, the light of wisdom shines through every gate of the

Goal of Yoga & Ayurveda, move toward:

sattvic state of mindlead a sattvic life

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EMOTIONAL PURITY

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Arjuna

“Not twisted”(Innocent in the heart)

Ashoka

“No grief”

Ashoka

Saraca asocaLeguminosae

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Ashoka

“Without sorrow”Bark, flower, leafRasa (Taste) Kashaya (Astringent); Tikta (Bitter)Guna (Characteristics) Laghu (Light); Ruksha (Rough)Veerya (Potency) Sheeta (Cool and calm)Powder 3-6g

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CULINARY CONSCIONESS

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Tulsi

Devotion

Tulsi

Ocimum sanctumVishnupriya (“the beloved one of Vishnu”)Tulsi (“The Incomparable One”)Holy basilPure sattva1 of 3 most sacred Indian herbs, with soma & lotusCultivated near temples & private homes, where it is purifies the air and sanctifies the environs

Tulsi

Opens heart & mind, encourages devotionUsing tulsi herbally supports energy of attachment, energy that draws prosperity near, & keeps it in our livesEnergetically, tulsi clears the aura & stimulates immune system

Tulsi at home

Tulsi stem mala promotes energy of attachment to the

Divine

Tulsi and amla at home

Bayberry

Bayberry

Myrica spp.Bark of rootHot, astringentImproves the voice, opens the mindPromotes energy of Divine transformationCalms the mind, opens perception

Hibiscus

Hibiscus

JapaStrengthens devotion in meditation with a mantra (japa) Flowers destroy all life obstacles, spiritual & material, assist in realization of all goalsPurifies the physical & spiritual heart & promotes wisdom

Destroys spiritual obstaclesEnhance mental and spiritual power

Fennel

Fennel seed

Cooling spiceCalms nerves, promotes mental alertnessWidely said to be the most sattvic spice

SPIRITUAL AWARENESS

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Brahmi

“God-like”

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Calamus(Vacha)

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Calamus

Acorus calamusRootSattvicMajor mind and brain herbPromotes awareness Increases communication, self-expression

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Vacha

Major herb for consciousnessStimulates power of self-expression and enhances intelligenceAncient yogis and seers used Feeds kundaliniPromotes circulation to brain, sharpens memory, enhances awareness, increases communication and self-

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For awareness, combines well with brahmi, jatamamsi, shankpushpi, licoriceWarms and pacifies vata

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Awareness activating properties of vacha have been credited to asaronesPrecursors to 1,2, 4-trimethory-5-propenylbenzeneA phenyethylamine thought to be 10x potent as mescaline

Miller, Richard Alan. 1993. The Magical and Ritual use of Herbs. Rochester, Vermont: Destiny Books. P. 58.

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Vacha

Vacha medicated ghee in nostril for awarenessSniff milk decoction/infused oilUsed to restore consciousness

extreme conditions

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Calamus

Powder 1-4 grams

Nauseating

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Camphor

Crystalized distilled oilVery small doses internallyIncreases pranaAwakens perception

Tilak

Tilak (forehead marking) made from camphor &

Tilak (forehead marking) made from camphor & saffronCools head & frontal lobes Promotes cool thinking and meditation

Saffron

SattvicLove, devotion, compassionUsed in Bhakti Yoga to enhance devotion

Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum flower

SevantiCooling diaphoreticChrysanthemum very cooling to the mindHelps surrender egoistic will, soothes anger

Chrysanthemum, chamomile flowers

Guduchi

Guduchi

Amrit (Nectar)TridoshicDivya aushadhi (divine plant)Best herb for clearing mental srotamsi (medhya rasayana)Aids all aspects of healthy metabolism

(the 13 agnis)Aids proper communication and coordination between all the various cells

Best rasayana for rejuvenating body & ridding deep rooted psychic & spiritual imbalances

Helps develop the amrit siddhi (ability to live purely on vibrational energy)

Helps get all prana from air, sun, moon, and vibrational intelligence of

Strengthens the flame that processes all emotional challenges. When this flame is strong, no emotional challenge is powerful enough to extinguish it.Depression cannot happen if the sadhaka agni is strong. Anger cannot happen when the heart agni is strong. When the sadhaka agni is burning brightly, one become spiritually free.

“Untouched by negativity as a lotus leaf by water”

Because guduchi opens heart in this way, it also indirectly helps mind by connecting the light of the soul to the mindTherefore a medhya rasayana (rejuvenative for the mind)

Guduchi is a very powerful and divine herb. It is called jivanti (life giving) because it can literally give your life back.

Guduchi can detoxify all the way down to shukra dhatu, which means that it can release some very deep toxins back into the blood. Use higher doses

3 plants have amrit (nectar of the gods)GuduchiHaritakiGarlic

(amrit gives it so many medicinal qualities, but it clouds awareness)

Ramayana

Ancient warIndra, king of the gods and keeper of the amrit (nectar of immortality), to bring back dead animals, sprinkled amritam (nectar) from the heavens on the dead animals. Some drops of nectar fell on the earth. Wherever a drop of the nectar fell on the ground, it became the guduchi plant.

Haritaki

Hara, Hindu name for God (Shiva)

Purifies the mind of its attachments

Haritaki

Brings fearlessness face of death & disease

Haritaki trees sprouted from drops from Indra’s chalice

Haritaki

Increases mental/spiritual awarenessHaritaki called “the mother,” given to children upon premature loss of a parent

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Lotus

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Lotus seed and root

Brings material/spiritual abundance to lifeHerbal food relaxes mind & opens heart chakra & root chakraSeeds, especially, assist devotion, spiritual aspirations

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Sandalwood

Chandana means “gladdening”

Sandalwood

It has a prabhava for giving happinessIt is a medhya remedyOpen the third eyeDevotion and meditationSandalwood is a vajikarana medicine

Shankpushpi

Shankhapushi

Restores clear quality of mind & relaxation

Outstanding rejuvenative tonic for mind

Profound mystical properties, with affinity for heart, throat, third eye,

Shankhapushi Taken with or prepared in ghee, it promotes tranquility without dulling mind

In depression, it upliftsIn mania it is calming

According to the Astanga Hridyam, ghee, cooked three times with shankpushpi juice and milk, makes even the dullest mind sharp

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