Well, it's hot in Texas. There's no doubt about that. The people in both places are truly welcoming and friendly. And cows are important (in rather different ways, admittedly...). This spring, I immersed myself in the study of the local Texas medicinal herbs. While my training in Ayurveda gave me a beautifully comprehensive system to understand the effects of … Continue reading How Texas is like India
Category: Herbs
Weaving A Life
May Day conjures up images of maypoles and children frolicking among sweet new spring flowers. Last week, I came upon the following scene at the American Botanical Council's annual Herb Day. I snapped this shot after the interweaving dance had progressed quite far, and the adults were having to bend down to weave under each other's … Continue reading Weaving A Life
The Power of Retreat
Tomorrow is New Year’s Day, and I plan to Retreat. I come from a long line of Retreaters, so a few excellent strategies were passed down in my genes. I’ve picked up a few more along the way. I tend to Retreat on a regular basis, whenever I have a sense that my life is running away … Continue reading The Power of Retreat
How (and Why) to Make Buttermilk (and Yogurt and Butter!)
Contrary to popular belief, buttermilk is NOT what you will find in the local Food Giant or Publix grocery store in the “buttermilk” carton. Oh no. It is an amazing health-promoting, smooth, tasty beverage made from fresh milk. In Sanskrit, it is called takra, and it has many healing properties. Gently sour and astringent, it … Continue reading How (and Why) to Make Buttermilk (and Yogurt and Butter!)
Making Medicine
I spent last Friday night standing in Vaidyagrama's open air kitchen looking out over the wall at the deep green banana tree tops, listening to the grazing cows mooing from inside the grove, and tending a fire stove trying to bring a vessel of Balaguduchyadi herbal decoction to a boil. Ayurveda offers guidance in lifestyle … Continue reading Making Medicine
The Grown Ups' Table
This past weekend, I chose to stay put while my classmates returned to Isha, a temple and meditation center that we all went to last weekend. I enjoyed myself thoroughly the first time we were there, but I didn't want to leave Vaidyagrama again, at least not for awhile. In so many ways, this place … Continue reading The Grown Ups' Table
Medical Camp Day
Every last Sunday of the month, Vaidyagrama hosts a “medical camp” in one of the nearby villages, offering free herbal medications and medical advice. This past weekend, we got to come along to help and to pick up what we could by observing since we certainly wouldn’t understand what was being said. We arrived around … Continue reading Medical Camp Day
India on the Horizon
It is now less than a week to my departure, seven days until I am in India. After a few years of studying Ayurveda and a decade of studying yoga, I am eager to be in the mother land of these deep wells of wisdom and tradition from which I have begun to sip. I … Continue reading India on the Horizon
Ivy Ingram, MA, AP 