●○●Ayurveda Spring Detox with Oil Pulling●○●

During our sleep cycle microbes and bacteria enter our body through our mouths. This bacteria multiplies rapidly and migrates to different parts of the body, lowers the immune system, and cause disease.

••PREGNANCY-- promotes the proliferation of microorganisms in the oral cavity colonization of pathogens {{especially in the early periods}}

Oil pulling removes and protects your mouth and body from these harmful toxins.

••HOW IT'S DONE••
First thing in the morning, before brushing your teeth, take 1-2 tbsp oil and begin pulling through your teeth and sides of mouth. Ayurveda states to use sunflower, sesame, or coconut oil. I like to use coconut oil, which has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and a bunch of good fats.. The oil will be in solid form if it's kept below 76 degrees and will take a few swishes to warm up. It's important to make sure your oil is unrefined and cold-pressed. Expeller pressed oils are extracted using harsh chemicals like hexane which can cause nervous system damage.

Pull the oil around your mouth through your teeth for 15 minutes. If you want to achieve enhanced results you can increase the time to 20 minutes. When you're first starting out 15 minutes can feel like an eternity. Try to do this as long as you can and increase your time whenever you feel ready. You may not be able to effectively remove all toxins in under 20 minutes, but going over 20 minutes could cause your body to reabsorb the toxins---it's important to stay conscious of time.

Some have found it easier to do this if you distract yourself by listening to music or taking a shower, however it's best to remain present as you detox.

••OIL PULLING BENEFITS••

◇Promotes oral health
◇Strengthens the enamel on your teeth
◇Repair cavity filled teeth
◇Removes bad breath
◇Removes plaque and bacteria
◇Strengthens gums
◇Promotes healthy sinuses
◇Removes tension in the neck and jaw

NOTE: Do not gargle or swallow any of the oil. Oil pulling lifts away bacteria and toxins--you do not want to ingest or absorb these back into your mouth/gut.After you are finished, brush your teeth and tongue to awaken your organs and further remove toxins from your body.

○○Spring Detox Massage○○

Healing with Ayurveda--Tongue Cleaning

As Spring approaches you may have a desire to detox, cleanse, lose weight, make new eating habits, etc. In order to detox our bodies we must eliminate toxins from within. Start your Spring off right with this ancient Ayurvedic healing practice from India.

{{TONGUE CLEANING}}

This ancient practice helps stimulate the internal organs through energetic connections with the rest of the body. The oral cavity can be viewed as one of the main gateways between your mind, body, and environment. The tongue is viewed as the mirror to all the organs in the body--so a daily observation can give you clues towards your overall health. It serves as an opportunity for staying present, which is something that can be hard to achieve in our busy lives--especially if you are pregnant, or a parent yourself. This practice allows you to reflect on your daily habits and see how these habits have affected your health. There are multiple indicators such as the presence of thick white coating--which signals that Ama (toxin buildup) has accumulated. A coated, hairy tongue is an indicator of an imbalance of keratin, a protein that produces skin, hair, and nails. When the diet is imbalanced, or the oral cavity is irritated, keratin can accumulate--leaving a discoloration of the tongue.

Becoming aware of these indicators can be an important preventative tool. Through increased awareness you will be able to identify imbalances before they manifest into sickness/disease.

Through removal of Ama taste receptors are given a boost which not only helps to eat less, but also decreases the necessity of adding excess sugar, salts, and spices to our food in order to make them more flavorful. Many of the phytonutrients and signals that our body synthesizes from the foods we ingest are interpreted by receptors on the tongue. Build-up interferes with this connected between food and the body--a clear tongue is essential towards creating a healthy connection between both.

Tongue cleaning offers advantages to your overall health and wellbeing. First thing in the morning, after strengthening (another post to come), cleansing, and brushing, clean your tongue with a stainless steel scraper (The Charaka Samhita--an ancient text of Ayurveda states that “tongue scrapers should be made of gold, silver, copper, tin and brass and should be non-sharp and curved, so as not to injure the tongue”). In our case, stainless steel is the best option.

~~~~~~A healthy tongue should be pink, free of coatings, bumps, or marks~~~~~~
Observing the alignment, color, surface, shape, movement, and coating can help indicate any imbalances.

BENEFITS OF TONGUE CLEANING
*Improve digestion by increasing your sense of taste
*cleanse the body by removing Ama and bacteria from your oral cavity
*increases clarity of the mind by reducing heaviness and Ama from the head
------When your physical and emotional bodies are balanced it can expand spiritual awakening------
• Clears toxins & bacteria from the tongue
• Helps remove buildup that leads to bad breath
• Enhances the sense of taste
• Gently stimulates the internal organs
• Promotes overall oral & digestive health
• Increases your awareness of your state of health

HOW TO ACHIEVE THE BEST RESULTS
*It’s best to when used everyday at each brushing--especially in the morning when you have an empty stomach.

¤hold the two ends of the tongue cleaner in both hands. 
¤extend the tongue and place the tongue cleaner on the surface of the tongue, as far back as is comfortable.
¤gently pull the tongue cleaner forward so that it removes the unwanted coating. 
¤rinse the tongue cleaner and repeat this action 5-7 times or until no more coating is being removed and your tongue feels fresh and clean.
¤for an extra boost-- add up to 10 or more strokes to further stimulate the internal organs, supporting digestion and healthy elimination.
¤rinse

¤¤Remember to be gentle. If you begin to stimulate the gag reflex you are being too rough!¤¤

Additional herbs for oral health: tumeric, alfalfa, clove, cinnamon bark

Follow-up post to come○○Another Spring Detox - Ayurveda Healing Tip!

○○IRON BOOST SMOOTHIE○○

#iron deficiency is the number one nutrient deficiency in the world. During pregnancy, iron requirements increase three-fold to {30-45mg} per day and women experience a significant drop after birth. Iron deficiency can cause:
~fatigue
~weakness
~decreased immune function
~confusion
This smoothie contains over 40% of your daily iron requirement, 35% of your magnesium requirement {non-pregnant/lactating women}, AND 18g of protein.

INGREDIENTS
~1 FROZEN BANANA
~2 TBSP RAW CACAO POWDER
~1 TBSP BLACKSTRAP MOLASSES
~2 TBSP HEMP PROTEIN
~2 TBSP NUT BUTTER
~1C. OF CASHEW MILK OR MILK OF YOUR CHOICE
Optional: maple syrup or honey
#postpartum #healing #ironboost #smoothie #wholefood #plantpower#energyboost #proteinsmoothie #newearthrising