The 6 Stages of Digestion

The 6 Stages of Digestion

By Sheyna Haisman-Holmes  In Ayurveda there are six stages of digestion from initial food consumption to cellular nourishment. The five elements (ether, air, earth, water, fire) and the six tastes (sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, astringent) work together to...
The 3 Nyāyas (Laws of Nutrition)

The 3 Nyāyas (Laws of Nutrition)

By Sheyna Haisman-Holmes  In Ayurveda there are three laws that govern nutrition and they are called the nyāyas. Everything we consume must be digested, broken down, assimilated and absorbed at a cellular level in order for proper nourishment to take place. Different...
What’s Your State of Agni?

What’s Your State of Agni?

By Sheyna Haisman-Holmes  In Ayurveda, our state of health depends mostly on the condition of our Agni (digestive fire). Looking at the state of our Agni is usually the first thing to address in our healing and will be the most important thing in our longevity. Good...
Ayurvedic Practices to Handle the Heat

Ayurvedic Practices to Handle the Heat

In case you haven’t noticed, it’s hot! Across the US we’re experiencing a heat wave; this is the season known in Ayurvedic and Chinese Medicine as Late Summer. For many of us the heat can feel both exhausting and irritating. How do we surrender to the heat and support...
Herbal Necessities for your Summer

Herbal Necessities for your Summer

            In the summer, it is especially important to give the digestive system a boost. Agni (the digestive fire) is naturally low during this season as the body seeks to keep cool by dispersing heat throughout the system. That’s why nature provides lighter and...