By Dr. Anju Sodhi (Bams, ND) February is American Heart Month. Cardiovascular awareness is on everyone’s mind as we celebrate the organ of love. Yet, research on the matter in regards to women is scarce. Women’s health is an important topic, but it seems like fully discussing the ins and outs of cardiovascular health specifically for women needs improvement. As cardiovascular events are still the leading cause of death in women over 65, it is important to evolve the need for awareness for cardiovascular diseases in women. There is a vast amount of research in cardiovascular health, but most of...

By Dr. Anju Sodhi (Bams, ND) We’ve made through the holidays and now we have a new year ahead of us. Many of us make New Year’s resolutions and then realize that we don’t know how to accomplish them. Our minds seem cluttered and a big goal seems to be so far away. These roadblocks in our minds could be from a buildup of ama, or in other words, toxins in our bodies and minds. Our Agni, or digestive fire, is most likely weak this time of year. It is important to kindle this fire and regain our optimal strength....

Winter is almost officially here. Vata and Kapha are presenting their cold, heavy, rough, cloudy, and dense qualities. People may feel chapped skin, especially on the face and hands. Many people feel generally dry all over the body. To ensure you can have fun outside and take care of your biggest organ, try our Ayurvedic tricks for skincare. Winter tends to make us want to stay in and snuggle up with a good book or movie. However, we need to get good exercise during the winter months. This not only flushes the toxins out of the your skin but also...

By Dr. Anju Sodhi (Bams, ND) Respiratory viruses have already started to affect us this year. We can hear the coughs and sniffles of those around us or have felt the aches and congestion ourselves. With so many different respiratory infections possible, how do we protect our immune systems from so many assaults? The answer is to arm our immune system with as many tools as possible to be alert and ready for action. The respiratory system is always filtering and removing particles from the air we breathe. Strengthening the respiratory lining, from our nasal passages to the lungs, will...

Ayush Herbs’ Carditone® is a commonly used herbal preparation designed to support healthy blood pressure levels. Formulated by the Sodhi brothers, it has been utilized by naturopathic physicians and like-minded practitioners for 35 years. One of the most common questions we get at Ayush is do you have any studies on Carditone? We are happy to announce that now we do! The National University of Naturopathic Medicine’s Helfgott Research Institute performed a study on Carditone® to assess its safety profile. This was a single-arm, open-label clinical trial using 30 adults over a six-month period. It was recently published in the...

By Dr. Anju Sodhi (Bams, ND) The air is getting crisper, the leaves are changing colors, and the Vata aspects of fall are upon us. The cold, quick, dry, mobile, and clear qualities of Vata in the fall can cause a lot of disturbance in our skin. As the breeze picks up and the trees lose luster, we notice similar changes to our skin. We will discuss some ways to nurture the skin during this transformative season. Many people find their skin getting generally dry or in specific patches. This season can also cause skin eruptions both with singular blemishes...

We are sure you have seen many back-to-school articles discussing immune health and protecting against allergies. However, has anyone thought about discussing mental health with their kids during this jarring transition back to school? Fall is a time for Vata energy to collect. It gets dry, cold, and windy, all Vata qualities. Additionally, changing from a lax summer schedule to a rigid one, such as the start of school, is a Vata event. This is a beautiful season, but if we are not careful to change with autumn, many issues that correspond to Vata can occur. Having a conversation about...

In modern times, artificial chemicals are everywhere… Organophosphates (OPs), that make up Round-up pesticide, are some of the most prevalent chemical used in industrial farming. A recent judgment in a case of a man dying from cancer, the California jury punished Monsanto and awarded the man $289 million for exposure.1 This judgment stands on evidence that the exposure to Organophosphates poses fatal health hazards that get in the way of our pursuit of a healthy life. Effects of OPs in Adults: Several recent studies have shown the effect of OPs on our hormonal system. Acute effect of exposure resulted in...

By Dr. Anju Sodhi (Bams, Nd) There are so many skin care products on the market now, it can be overwhelming. The products claim various purposes, making it easy to have several lotions and creams on one’s vanity table. However, are all of these different kinds of products for lubricating and healing the skin necessary? Natural and simple products may be to the key to healthy and beautiful skin. Ayurveda has extensively used oils to lubricate the precious skin for millennia. These natural substances have a plethora of healing properties, each suited for different people. Furthermore, this medicinal system has...

By Dr. Anju Sodhi (Bams, Nd) Finding it difficult to fall or stay asleep despite having a chance to sleep is the definition of insomnia. Most people have experienced some sleep disturbance, whether it be one night where too many thoughts were swimming through the mind or over several weeks or months. During the transition to spring and then again to summer, many may find that sleep evades them more often or worse than during the winter. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 30-50% of the country suffers from short-term insomnia. The prevalence of insomnia that lasts three...

Winter, leaving behind its Kapha and Vata signatures, can leave skin feeling dull, heavy, and dry. Many people may notice that as spring rolls around, the skin erupts and tries to releases winter accumulations. Don’t worry, there are many ways to reduce or avoid having these skin worries as the days grow longer, the temperature gets warmer, and the world renews itself. Ama (toxins) have been trapped behind the dry skin. As the world around us warms, the ama melts and tries to escape through the pores. Unfortunately, the pores are inflexible because they have lost elasticity due to the...

By Dr. Anju Sodhi (Bams, Nd) Menopause is the golden age for women. It is the time when the body has yet another transformation into a powerful state. It is a natural process that occurs in women around the age of 50, though it may occur as early as 40 years or as late as 60 years old. Many women ease into menopause, but many of our sisters struggle with the change. Preparing the body for the transition will ease the time feeling unwell and increase the time feeling beautiful. During menopause, the ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone, halting...

Each and every one of us poop. What does your poop say about you? Your poop, stool, feces, or a bowel movement can teach a lot about the health of your whole body. The ancient Ayurvedic medicine and Greek physician and philosopher, Hippocrates, said that all disease begins in the gut. Your bowels are your body’s way of getting rid of wastes and toxins. Your bowels must be completely emptied, not just partially eliminated. Pooping should not be a painful exercise though. Some degree of urgency to poop, straining, and incomplete evacuation is considered natural. The normal stool frequency is...

Ginkgo biloba is one of the most widely used herbs in natural medicine. The idea that it can help improve cognitive function is far from new. However, new research is shedding light on how ginkgo works in the body and suggesting new uses for this fascinating herb. It has long been known that ginkgo biloba increases blood flow to the brain. However, that in and of its self is not sufficient to explain the clinical benefits of its supplementation. In mouse models ginkgo decreases oxidative damage in brain tissues and increased levels of brain derived neurotropic factor, a protein necessary...