VATA cold and dry PITTA hot and wet KAPHA cool and moist
When purified, the Doshas become
PRANA TEJAS OJAS
LIFE LIGHT LOVE
Characteristics of the Doshas
ether and air fire and water water and earth
catabolism metabolism anabolism
breath, nerves digestion builds tissues of body
communication assimilation, transformation synthesis
Doshas are increased by
high desert climate tropical climate cool seashore, verdant
rainforest
mature years teen through middle age childhood
What does it mean that our
products are "ayurvedic"? This:
that we look at the beauty and abundance of the natural world from an
ayurvedic perspective.
We prefer ingredients that are very
lightly processed. We do no seek out "chemically improved -
modern chemistry for better living" ingredients. Too much processing
creates Vata imbalance in the body and therefore the skin. Vata has a
purpose, but beyond that - since it is composed of ether - space - and air, it
is drying, cold, dispersing, and dis-organizing. It disrupts the warmth
and moisture impulses of the body and the structural wisdom of the body.
Computers, cell phones, TVs, microwaves, and the fast-modern lifestyle with
its loss of connection to nature are already Vata disrupting.
Our ingredients are mostly organic and are
collected from mechanically cold-pressed seed oils, hydro-distilled essential
oils, simple extracts of herbs, plant substances, and earth sourced minerals,
combined while blending the ingredients and chanting. Our emulsifiers are
naturally occurring plant and vegetable compounds. Our preservatives are
plant based, and this was the most challenging part of creating the
formulations. Most health food store products contain at least phenoxyethanol
which has been associated with central nervous system damage in larger amounts.
Those products also often contain parabens, which have been found to be
harmful, and EDTA, which also can create problems.
Eco
Botanica® doesn't use highly processed
ingredients because we want to protect your Vata and the Vata of our
environment, the Earth.
Eco Botanica® supports your
Pitta to do its job of transformation, without inflammation.
Eco Botanica® supports your Kapha
to be strong and to support you, without being congested and slow.
YOUR AYURVEDIC CONSTITUTIONOne of the herbal combinations that we take daily is Triphala. We put 1/2 teaspoon in hot water and let it sit through the day, and then drink in the evening, at least 1 hour after dinner. Triphala tones the digestive tract and helps relieve an excess of any of the doshas. We have found that Triphala really helps with malabsorption problems. You will benefit more from the foods you eat by including Triphala in your daily routine. Triphala strengthens the elimination system so you are cleansing your body more thoroughly on an ongoing basis.
You may prefer to take the Triphala tablets, shown above, or the Triphala liquid extract, also available at Banyan Botanicals.
Some of the other herbs we use often are: Turmeric, Ashwaganda, Guggulu, Guduchi, Shatavari, and Tulsi. We cook with lots of fresh ginger and use Cumin, Coriander, Cardamon, Cinnamon, Cloves and Black Pepper. We adjust the herbs we use seasonally. Be sure the herbs you buy are organic. We also love tea with Tulsi and Rose Petals.
We love to eat lots of organic greens such as kale and mustard greens. We often have mung dahl and rice with greens. Yum.
We formulate our products from an ayurvedic viewpoint, keeping in mind the energetics of the substances we use. Each plant substance brings its own gifts. Some are more Vata, with cooling and dispersing energies. Others are Pitta - warming and transforming. Kapha energies are cooling and calming. As you learn more about your own body/mind/spirit balance you can make more informed choices.