Hello beautiful being,
Our mental and physical immunity are deeply intertwined. Anxiety or stress often manifests as tightness or a tense belly.
By caring for our physical immunity, we can support our mental immunity and vice versa. In the Ayurveda approach to psychology, it is said that it’s easier to heal the mind than the body. And if we are mentally strong (sattva bala), we can help the body heal—and we know this because placebo trials always win, which proves that if the mind thinks it can heal, it will.
We can tell if our mental immunity needs some boost if we feel overwhelmed quickly, need validation from others, struggle with regulating our emotions, are stressed frequently, have low energy, or cannot implement lessons from past mistakes. Depression and anxiety are obvious signs of weak mental immunity.
You know that your mental immunity is strong when you see challenges as a way to grow when you don’t take things so personally, and when you trust that life has your back. You are coping with stress and are grateful amid a challenge. You follow your goal and have the ability to respond (response-ability).
Strengthening mental immunity begins with cultivating Ojas—the life force that resides in the heart. A healthy Ojas provides emotional stability, calmness, strength, and a loving attitude.
We can enhance Ojas through:
1. **Nourishment**: Eating foods appropriate for our unique constitution, using supportive herbs and spices, regular oil massage, spending time in nature and cuddling.
2. **Yoga Practice**: Yoga is a way to care for the body so that the mind can be trained to be free of fluctuations.
In The Body Keeps The Score, Bessel van der Kolk, MD, states, “Yoga is one of many time-honoured methods for reclaiming ownership of the body and feeling safe and in control.
Another critical factor in strengthening mental immunity is boosting your Agni, the fire of digestion. A strong Agni leads to a healthy gut, strong metabolism, energy, and resilience. Ways to kindle this inner fire is through regular mealtime and the quantity and quality of the food, herbs, and spices.
Here are some Ayurvedic spices that can support and strengthen Agni:
– Ginger is known as the “universal medicine” and adaptogen.
Add freshly grated ginger to warm water with a squeeze of lemon in the morning to awaken digestion, or chew a small piece before meals to prepare your stomach for digestion.
– Cumin- helps reduce gas and bloating, enhances nutrient absorption, and balances all three doshas.
Add cumin seeds to hot oil as a base for cooking, or make a simple cumin tea by steeping the seeds in hot water. Sip it after meals to promote digestion.
– Fennel- cooling yet supportive of digestion, particularly soothing for Pitta dosha and easing bloating and indigestion.
Add fennel seeds to warm water, or chew a few seeds after meals to freshen breath and aid digestion.
– Black Pepper- a powerful digestive stimulant that aids nutrient absorption, boosts metabolism and eliminates toxins.
– Sprinkle a pinch over meals to enhance flavour and digestion, or add it to teas and soups for a metabolic boost.
– Turmeric has anti-inflammatory and detoxifying properties, and turmeric enhances Agni while cleansing the body.
– Add a small pinch of turmeric to warm milk or tea. Combining it with black pepper increases its absorption.
– Cinnamon- Warming and balancing help regulate blood sugar levels.
– Sprinkle it on millet porridge (recipe on the recipe page) or in teas, or mix cinnamon and Chaga mushroom in warm water to support digestion and stabilize energy.
– Cardamom- a gentle stimulant for Agni, helps reduce bloating and soothes the stomach.
– Add cardamom pods to tea or grind the seeds and sprinkle them on warm foods to aid digestion without overheating the system.
For a quick way to build Agni, try this mixture:
– ½ tsp of ginger powder
– ½ tsp of cinnamon
– 1 tsp of Chaga powder (on offer- click here LINK)
Boil water and drink this blend before meals to stimulate Agni and support digestion.
Ways you can stay centred while being triggered
