5 ways to start the New Year on a healthy note

1. Take Triphala every night for the next 2 weeks

   Triphala is an Ayurvedic formula excellent for detoxing and rejuvenating the body at the same time. It also encourages balanced, full elimination, by pulling stagnated Ama or toxic residue from the digestive tract and increasing the colon’s absorption functions. Triphala can be taken in capsule or powder form.

2. Make sure you have a regular sleep cycle set
   If you're going to bed past 10pm do your best to start getting ready for bed earlier. If you don't feel sleepy by 10pm, set your alarm and wake up at 4:30am one morning, that night plan to be in bed by 9:30pm make sure to not nap during the day or consume caffeine in the afternoon. Drink some warm milk with nutmeg and poppyseed after dinner. Stay off electronics, keep TV off in the evening and keep the lights low after 9pm. Do your best to reset your sleep cycle, even if you start by just going to bed 10 minutes earlier each night.

3. Drink a healthy detox tea daily for 1-2 weeks
   Boil two quarts of water in the morning then add:

   ¼ tspn. cumin

   ½ tspn. coriander

   ½ tspn. fennel

   Steep for 5-10 minutes, strain if you wish and drink the tea warm throughout the day. (at least 5-6 cups)

   This tea will help gently detox the body and help with weightloss if weightloss is needed.

4. Start doing something that makes you sweat 3x / week
   You can do this by joining a gym and doing cardio, walking fast uphill, swimming, biking, etc. And if there isn't time for any physical activity, then fill a bath with hot water, before getting in the bath, apply sesame oil to your body, massage lightly from head to toe, once oil is applied, soak in the hot bath. Drink warm water or the detox tea before, during and after.

5. Try a mono-diet for 3 days
   This gives your digestive system a chance to relax.You can choose to eat kitcheri (breakfast lunch and dinner) which is considered the best food in Ayurvedic medicine for cleansing and nourishing at the same time. Or you can choose a single healthy food and have that same food breakfast lunch and dinner for 3 days. If you're depleted, weak or sick, do not do this type of diet.

And an added bonus

If you're not using a tongue cleaner every morning, get one and start cleaning your tongue in the morning before having anything to eat or drink. During sleep toxins appear on the surface of the tongue, if not cleaned off they reabsorb into the body. It's easy to do, just scrape the tongue from back to front gently a few times. This can be done more than once a day but is especially beneficial in the morning.

Wishing everyone a Healthy and Happy 2018!

Sylvia Whelchel,

Dr. of Ayurvedic Medicine