During a recent sleep-deprived week, I consulted Ayurvedic practitioner Divya Alter and her mentor Dr. Teitelbaum. They both recommended a warm milk ojas tonic to calm and soothe nerves.
When describing Ojas, Dr. John Douillard likens it to how bees “collect the nectar of thousands of flowers and concentrate them into honey: the ‘ojas’ of the flowers… when we eat fresh, unprocessed foods, microscopic amounts of their essence accumulate over time through the process of healthy digestion and become ojas. If the digestive process is disturbed, the essence of the foods will not be extracted and no ojas will be made.”
Being stressed or over-active depletes ojas, leading to overall depletion, inflammation, even hormone imbalances.
Dr. Douillard goes on to offer some simple examples of other ways to boost ojas:
- Loving others
- Laughing
- Acting on things you are passionate about
- Giving and serving others
- Yoga, breathing, and meditation
- Nose breathing exercise
- Being in nature
- Eating fresh wholesome foods in a relaxed manner
- Getting ample rest: 7-8 hours of sleep with the natural cycles (up early, to bed early)
In the meantime, try my Divine Nighttime Ojas Milk – advised for my personal dosha (hi Vatas!) by Ayurvedic consultants Divya Alter and her mentor Dr. Teitelbaum.
divine nighttime rose ojas milk
inspired by Dr John Douillard’s recipe & his valuable insight
free of gluten, meat, refined sugar, soy
serves 1
ingredients
1 cup organic cream on top whole milk [pasteurized OK, non-homogenized / sub unsweetened non-dairy milk of choice]
1/2-1 tsp organic ghee
1-2 dates, chopped
1/4 tsp rose petals, dried & crushed
1/4 tsp fennel seeds
1/4 tsp cardamom, ground
1/4 tsp cinnamon, ground
1/8 tsp vanilla powder or 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 saffron thread [optional]
1/8 tsp shatavari powder [optional, to balance hormones / sub ashwagandha powder]
*optional: 10 almonds soaked & peeled, for extra ojas building [blended at the end]
instructions
Add all ingredients except vanilla to a small pot with a bit of water to cover the bottom to avoid burning.
Bring to a slow gentle boil over medium heat and turn down immediately to simmer for a few minutes, stirring occasionally.
*Optional but extra-delicious step: Let cool slightly before adding to blender or Nutribullet and blitz for 10 seconds until frothy.
Enjoy warm after dinner/before bed.
*Photo from The Living Alchemy.
divine nighttime rose ojas milk
Ingredients
- 1 cup organic cream on top whole milk [pasteurized OK, non-homogenized / sub unsweetened non-dairy milk of choice]
- 1/2-1 tsp ghee
- 1-2 dates chopped
- 1/4 tsp rose petals dried & crushed
- 1/4 tsp fennel seeds
- 1/4 tsp cardamom ground
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon ground
- 1/8 tsp vanilla powder or 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 saffron thread [optional]
- 1/8 tsp shatavari powder [optional, to balance hormones / sub ashwagandha powder]
optional
- 10 almonds soaked & peeled [for extra ojas building, blended at the end]
Instructions
- Add all ingredients except vanilla to a small pot with a bit of water to cover the bottom to avoid burning.
- Bring to a slow gentle boil over medium heat and turn down immediately to simmer for a few minutes, stirring occasionally.
- *Optional but extra-delicious step: Let cool slightly before adding to blender or Nutribullet and blitz for 10 seconds until frothy.
- Enjoy warm after dinner/before bed.
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