when i was a wee lass first learning about ayurveda, i was fascinated by all the herbs and spices i had never heard of. i’ve always been and plant and holistic healing nerd.

as i started my journey to holistic and ayurvedic health, i was discouraged by how expensive all these new herbs were. what do you mean i have to import triphala from india???

as a did more research and tarted courses in herbalism, i realized there are many herbs in my spice cabinent that have ayurvedic properties.

what is ayurveda?

ayurveda is the oldest healthcare system in the world. it is based of the vedas, a series of holy hindu texts dating back to 1500 BCE. they are some of the oldest holy texts in the world!

the vedas give specific directions on how life should be lived in order to have physical, mental and spiritual alignment. ayuveda stems from those directions, and over the last 3000 years has become a standard for healthcare in india. recently, as yogic culture has come to the english speaking world, ayurveda has come with it.

want to learn more? head over to my ayurveda for beginners blog post.

herbs in ayurveda

since ayurveda originated in what is now india, they use herbs local to the region. many of those herbs aren’t common ingredients in american cooking. when is the last time you used ashwaghanda, tulsi, triphala, or boswellia? unless you’re an ayurveda nerd like i am, probably never.

if you are new to ayurveda, all the new herbs and spices can be overwhelming. no sweat! there are plenty of herbs in your spice cabinet that can aid you in your journey to ayurvedic wellness.

1. turmeric

   turmeric is the king of anti-inflammatory herbs. it is one of the most studied ayurvedic herbs, and science confirms that there is very little turmeric can’t help! some of the benefits are:

   • better digestion

   • promotes healthy blood sugar

   • boosts immune system

   • supports brain and bone health.

   how to use turmeric: turmeric can be used in many things, but my favorite used are in a creamy vegan curry or in a golden milk latte. turmeric should always be taken with black pepper, because pepper boosts turmerics bioavalibility.

   dosha considerations: turmeric is used to balance all the doshas, but in large qualities it aggravates pitta and vata.

2. cumin

   if you’ve had any warm tasting food, it probably has cumin in it. cumin is used in a variety of cuisines, and for good reason! it has a distinctive, pungent taste that can add zip to any dish.

   beyond tasting amazing, cumin has lots of health benefits such as:

   -stimulates digestion

   -aids fighting congestion

   -relaxes muscles and eases cramps

   how to use cumin: if you want some bitter notes to your food, throw a little cumin in! cumin tastes amazing in latin and indian dishes.

   dosha considerations: cumin balances pitta and kapha, but aggravates vata because of its bitterness.

3. coriander

   i used to forget what coriander was all the time, because i only ever cooked with cilantro. coriander has a similar cooling effect as cilantro, and is a common seasoning in india and morocco.

   coriander has similar health properties as cumin, just a little less spicy

   how to use coriander: if you’re looking to add a cooling factor to an otherwise spicy dish, coriander is great. you can make a classic ayurvedic tea from cumin, coriander and fennel seeds.

   dosha considerations: coriander is fine for kapha and pitta types, but aggravates vata.

4. cardamom

   cardamom is one of my favorite spices, mostly because it’s at the base of every amazing cup of chai! it’s especially great if you have any fluid retention or congestion. it’s considered ayurveda’s most potent anti-muscus cure.

   how to use cardamom: my favorite use of cardamom is in my ayurvedic chai mix. it can be put in most indian dishes, such as rice pudding or dal.

   dosha considerations: cardamom pacifies all three doshas!

5. cinnamon

   cinnamon is the sweet spice king. your house is not a not a home unless you have cinnamon in your kitchen, cinnamon is incredibly versatile, and is used in most deserts. like post other spicy herbs, it is great for digestion

   how to use cinnamon: the real question is what can’t you use cinnamon for? it can go in everything, from zucchini bread to this amazing vegan pumpkin chili. cinnamon is often used is sweet recipes, so people with kapha imbalances should focus on spicy or savory recipes.

   dosha considerations: cinnamon irritates pitta, but is fine for vata and kapha.

have any other ayurvedic herbs you love using? let me know in the comments!

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