metaphysical herbs
TRANSCRIPT
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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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