Turmeric – Transdermally & Transmucosally Too! – All 10% Off
This week we cover the topic of Turmeric – again – as you can guess there is more, much more, to share about the golden spice and its rampant misuse!
We now know that consuming spices is not just a matter of adding flavor to your meals – even though popular belief and a quick google search still confirms this!
“Spices are primarily used to enhance food through:
Flavor/Aroma: Ranging from sweet (cinnamon) to pungent (clove).
Color: Turmeric and paprika are used specifically for their vibrant yellow and red hues.”
We are truly blessed to have the full ayurvedic picture of what the human body is, and how it operates via the digestive fireS nestled within the 7 bodily dhatus/tissues, as well as the 5 bhutagni-s that govern the liver. These ayurvedic teachings help us begin to understand how each spice has unique distinct properties on different levels of the digestive process. This is why, spices are NOT be what they seem! For example, did you know that the green chili that is oh-so-pungent on the tongue actually only has its action in rasa dhatu with is the first tissue? Its effect fuzzes out like a cheap firecracker and its pungency has no impact after that first level – it only helps not make ama of food we are eating, but it cannot help digest things on the deeper tissue levels. On the other hand, did you know that Saffron – the highly prized and higher priced multi-faceted spice – even though mild in flavor – is so heating, sharp, and penetrating that is travels all the way deep into the 5th tissue, the bone tissue, and there, through its hot virya/property, detox fat and helps build bone?
Ayurveda opens up a fascinating world of properties and usages for spices. In this context, the use of Turmeric is so wrong, as Dr Lisa Raskin reminded us last week through Vaidya Mishra’s “prediction” that its misuse would be confused with its balancing properties. This is why in this week’s newsletter we cover more of Vaidya’s videos on the topic in addition to two new testimonials – scroll down to read more. Plus we are happy to announce that Dr Lisa Raskin is offering 20 minute “clarity call” sessions during which she will guide and advise you on specific questions you may have – more details below.
Here’s to your health through the ayurvedic use of the golden spice - namaste!
”If this resonated and you’re wondering whether what you’re taking might be working against your body rather than with it, I offer a 20-minute Clarity Call to explore whether this path fits what your body is asking for. $50, applied to your care if you move forward. No pressure, just listening. Click here: Clarity Call with Dr Lisa
“Four weeks ago my hands broke out in severe swelling and itchy rashes. We self-identified that I had had too much ‘curry’ too many days in a row — curry powder, curry sauce and also a curcumin supplement. We have seen this body reaction for me when my liver dislikes processing food ‘toxins’ I ingested. I got this eating too much ham (nitrates and other processing?) and from coconut milk (gums?). […]
(BTW – my […] sweetheart is an expert muscle tester and so she figured it all out, and I have been on a slow rebuild diet since then — cooked vegetables, beans/lentils, millet/barley/quinoa separated by 3 hours from uncooked fruit).
Thanks for your article on the dangers of curcumin as a supplement … that might explain what we observed. I had only started on that curcumin supplement a few weeks earlier. So, thank you for it!
Thank you also for the opinion piece you wrote about covering the back of the head/spine/vagus. It jibes with a few of my […] clients’ experience, so I point them to the article to read more.”
Turmeric Sutra with Vaidya Mishra
A Testimonial from Jay S. (March 5, 2026)
I met the SVA Team at the Conscious Life Expo almost two weeks ago. I learnt that the use of raw turmeric in my morning smoothies, as well as sprinkling uncooked turmeric to my salads/meals was definitely NOT a healthy move! I had been doing this for quite a while to address health issues but things had not been improving at all. After learning of Vaidya Mishra’s deep insights and teachings on the topic, I decided to give it a try. It’s been a week since I stopped consuming turmeric gratuitously in my shakes and meals without proper preparation and I confirm that my skins rashes, are abating, my anxiety levels do not peak anymore, I feel less hot and bothered, and more at ease. I am ready to explore SVA precepts and protocols further. THANK YOU for keeping the knowledge going!
Top 20 Benefits of Turmeric
In case you missed Dr Raskin’s article from last week, we are re-running it for your convenience below.
Turmeric Toxicity
Truth
or
Hype?
~ with Dr Lisa Raskin (DC)
About 18 years ago, I organized a public talk for Vaidya Mishra when he visited my practice in Austin.
I will never forget what he told the audience that night.
He predicted that within a decade or two, turmeric would be declared toxic and possibly even banned.
People were stunned.
Turmeric? The golden healing spice?
How could something used safely for thousands of years become problematic?
But Vaidya wasn’t talking about turmeric itself. He was talking about the way we were beginning to use it.
Here’s what he explained to us:
“Raw turmeric — or isolated curcumin in pills — is not the same thing as turmeric cooked properly in food.
And used incorrectly, it can overwhelm the liver.”
Same substance. Completely different effect.
Fast forward 18 years, and his prediction has come true.
We now have clinical reports and published cases of drug-induced liver injury caused by turmeric supplements — especially concentrated curcumin combined with piperine (black pepper extract), used in conjuction to force absorption!
The patterns are consistent:
• elevated liver enzymes
• hepato-cellular injury
• onset weeks to months after starting supplements
• improvement after stopping
Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration issued an alert. The U.S. Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network published cases. Medical journals are documenting severe reactions. Genetic susceptibility (specific HLA variants) is being reported.
I learned this lesson myself a few years ago!
I was dealing with significant joint pain. Long story. And I gave in – I bought one of those curcumin supplements.
Day one? Felt amazing. Day two? My body broke out in hive-like eruptions all over.
And I knew immediately what had happened. I’d been practicing SVA for so long that my body had developed an intelligence – it couldn’t bypass the principles anymore. It rejected what wasn’t safe, even when my mind wanted a quick fix.
Vaidya Mishra was right: it was never the turmeric — it was the form.
Food turmeric – the kind you cook with – is not the same as isolated curcumin in capsules, even at regular doses.
When you isolate curcumin, you strip away the plant’s intelligence — the cooling, balancing, buffering components that nature built around it. The liver gets hit with a single, potent, heating molecule and has to work double-time to process.
A hot liver loses its fine intelligence.
And that heat radiates outward — into the blood, immune system, and tissues.
But when you cook turmeric with other spices into food?
The other spices balance it. Protect it. Activate its intelligence without overwhelming your system.
The fats (ghee or olive oil) and water extract both the fat-soluble and water-soluble healing properties in a form your body can actually use.
Mom’s Super-Spice– with or without green chillies, with Turmeric and 20 more spices – is a tridoshic ready-to-use ayurvedic spice mix. Most masalas need to be cooked but “Mom’s Masala” is pre-toasted so you can sprinkle it on your soup, make a dressing with some olive oil and lime for a salad, or just add it to anything – delicious with fruit too! It satisfies cravings, balances all doshas, supports metabolism and absorption too. Get the benefits of all spices without worrying about preparation!
Dr Raskin continued:
And it goes into your body as food, not as a drug your liver has to frantically process. This is what “At what cost?” means.
Does a curcumin supplement reduce inflammation quickly? Yes. Does it come with a cost? Immediately for some people, years later for others.
If you want turmeric’s benefits, cook with it. Use it the way it’s been used for thousands of years.
Add it to your tridoshic spice mix. Cook it into your vegetables with ghee and water. Let it work as part of a whole system, not as an isolated compound.
Your liver will thank you.
Vaidya Mishra saw this coming. He understood that when we take ancient healing substances and turn them into pharmaceuticals, we lose the “intelligence” – and we create new problems.
Your body knows the difference between food and isolated compounds. Trust it!
Did you know that in addition to adding it to food, Turmeric has been used transdermally for thousands of years in India? Newly weds have to go through a turmeric paste ritual BEFORE their wedding day to make their skin glow! One of the properties of Turmeric is “varnya” – it enhances the radiance of the skin and is the perfect ingredient for daily use for skin care for nourishing and detoxing safely and effectively!
Take Vaidya Mishra “With You” – Everywhere You Go!
if you ever had the opportunity to meet Vaidya Mishra in person, or have encountered him via his many youtube videos or online courses, then you know what we mean! We all want to have him travel with us in this earthly journey, to help us in our decisions along the way, through the timeless wisdom and knowledge of SV Ayurved. And now we can! If you have not discovered our podcast channel yet, we invite you to look it up and explore the timeless teachings of SVAyurveda, as well as fabulous talks by other SVAyurveda doctors and educators.
We want to help you protect your purchase – there’s been an increase in lost/stolen packages.
To protect your shipment – in case your shipping address is not secure – we have now added the “signature delivery” option upon check-out on www.chandika.com and we highly recommend you select it to ensure your package is guaranteed to reach you after it leaves our warehouse. Kindly note we are unable to replace stolen/misplaced packages once they are confirmed delivered by the carrier of your choice.
Turmeric – Transdermally & Transmucosally Too! – All 10% Off
Turmeric Toxicity
Truth
or
Hype?
~ with Dr Lisa Raskin (DC)
About 18 years ago, I organized a public talk for Vaidya Mishra when he visited my practice in Austin.
I will never forget what he told the audience that night.
He predicted that within a decade or two, turmeric would be declared toxic and possibly even banned.
People were stunned.
Turmeric? The golden healing spice?
How could something used safely for thousands of years become problematic?
But Vaidya wasn’t talking about turmeric itself. He was talking about the way we were beginning to use it.
Here’s what he explained to us:
“Raw turmeric — or isolated curcumin in pills — is not the same thing as turmeric cooked properly in food.
And used incorrectly, it can overwhelm the liver.”
Same substance. Completely different effect.
Fast forward 18 years, and his prediction has come true.
We now have clinical reports and published cases of drug-induced liver injury caused by turmeric supplements — especially concentrated curcumin combined with piperine (black pepper extract), used in conjuction to force absorption!
The patterns are consistent:
• elevated liver enzymes
• hepato-cellular injury
• onset weeks to months after starting supplements
• improvement after stopping
Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration issued an alert. The U.S. Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network published cases. Medical journals are documenting severe reactions. Genetic susceptibility (specific HLA variants) is being reported.
I learned this lesson myself a few years ago!
I was dealing with significant joint pain. Long story. And I gave in – I bought one of those curcumin supplements.
Day one? Felt amazing. Day two? My body broke out in hive-like eruptions all over.
And I knew immediately what had happened. I’d been practicing SVA for so long that my body had developed an intelligence – it couldn’t bypass the principles anymore. It rejected what wasn’t safe, even when my mind wanted a quick fix.
Vaidya Mishra was right: it was never the turmeric — it was the form.
Food turmeric – the kind you cook with – is not the same as isolated curcumin in capsules, even at regular doses.
When you isolate curcumin, you strip away the plant’s intelligence — the cooling, balancing, buffering components that nature built around it. The liver gets hit with a single, potent, heating molecule and has to work double-time to process.
A hot liver loses its fine intelligence.
And that heat radiates outward — into the blood, immune system, and tissues.
But when you cook turmeric with other spices into food?
The other spices balance it. Protect it. Activate its intelligence without overwhelming your system.
The fats (ghee or olive oil) and water extract both the fat-soluble and water-soluble healing properties in a form your body can actually use.
Mom’s Super-Spice– with or without green chillies, with Turmeric and 20 more spices – is a tridoshic ready-to-use ayurvedic spice mix. Most masalas need to be cooked but “Mom’s Masala” is pre-toasted so you can sprinkle it on your soup, make a dressing with some olive oil and lime for a salad, or just add it to anything – delicious with fruit too! It satisfies cravings, balances all doshas, supports metabolism and absorption too. Get the benefits of all spices without worrying about preparation!
Dr Raskin continued:
And it goes into your body as food, not as a drug your liver has to frantically process. This is what “At what cost?” means.
Does a curcumin supplement reduce inflammation quickly? Yes. Does it come with a cost? Immediately for some people, years later for others.
If you want turmeric’s benefits, cook with it. Use it the way it’s been used for thousands of years.
Add it to your tridoshic spice mix. Cook it into your vegetables with ghee and water. Let it work as part of a whole system, not as an isolated compound.
Your liver will thank you.
Vaidya Mishra saw this coming. He understood that when we take ancient healing substances and turn them into pharmaceuticals, we lose the “intelligence” – and we create new problems.
Your body knows the difference between food and isolated compounds. Trust it!
Did you know that in addition to adding it to food, Turmeric has been used transdermally for thousands of years in India? Newly weds have to go through a turmeric paste ritual BEFORE their wedding day to make their skin glow! One of the properties of Turmeric is “varnya” – it enhances the radiance of the skin and is the perfect ingredient for daily use for skin care for nourishing and detoxing safely and effectively!
Take Vaidya Mishra “With You” – Everywhere You Go!
if you ever had the opportunity to meet Vaidya Mishra in person, or have encountered him via his many youtube videos or online courses, then you know what we mean! We all want to have him travel with us in this earthly journey, to help us in our decisions along the way, through the timeless wisdom and knowledge of SV Ayurved. And now we can! If you have not discovered our podcast channel yet, we invite you to look it up and explore the timeless teachings of SVAyurveda, as well as fabulous talks by other SVAyurveda doctors and educators.
We want to help you protect your purchase – there’s been an increase in lost/stolen packages.
To protect your shipment – in case your shipping address is not secure – we have now added the “signature delivery” option upon check-out on www.chandika.com and we highly recommend you select it to ensure your package is guaranteed to reach you after it leaves our warehouse. Kindly note we are unable to replace stolen/misplaced packages once they are confirmed delivered by the carrier of your choice.
Prana: Support the Reception, Circulation and Elimination – All 10% Off
If you are in LA this weekend, join us at the LAX Hilton!
WHAT IS PRANA?
&
WHY IS IT
THE
BEST MAHARASAYANA?
Dr Marianne Teitelbaum
When asked, many people say they know what the word prana is — that it is the life energy which keeps us alive.
One thing I love about Ayurveda is that it always goes way beyond the superficial meanings, and instead gives us an in-depth understanding of these very deep principles.
While yes, we can say that prana is indeed the life energy that keeps us alive, we can take it one step further and state that it also keeps our cells intelligent — to know what hormone or neurotransmitter to release and when to release it — giving our cells the intelligence to communicate with each other. Like sending hundreds of text messages to all parts of the body so the whole body is aware of what each cell needs at each moment in time.
Did you ever think how these processes occur in the first place? Where does this intelligence come from which oversees all these processes and multiple layers of communication?
These processes are controlled by prana — it’s just that you can’t see it because it is vibrational. So where does prana come from?
From the deepest silence, known as the Aditattwa, it begins to manifest into the Tritattwa — known as Soma, Agni and Marut. Soma is the cooling lunar energy, the water and earth elements. Agni is the hot solar energy, the fire element, and Marut is the space and air element. The space element is what gives our cells the intelligence to perform all their functions and the air element moves the Soma and Agni throughout the body since they can’t move on their own.
In fact, prana is like a battery — it is the bio-electric magnetic power of nature which is running our body’s magnetic power — recharging the organs and systems and contributing to the pacemaker of our heart, which is constantly being recharged with new pranic energy. And like a battery, prana has a minus charge, a plus charge and also includes the flow of the energy. The Soma is like the plus charge, the Agni is like the minus charge and the flow is governed by Marut.
Together, Soma, Agni and Marut are the three aspects of Prana. This prana comes into our bodies through orifices in the head — the top of the head, the ears, and nostrils. It comes into these orifices and goes down the spine and from there branches off to supply the pranic energy to all the organs, glands and systems. Sometimes the flow of the pranic energy can get blocked, so we use several transdermal creams used in specific ways, either down the spine or on specific marma points to open up the flow of prana. Marma points are mysterious points around the body which control all the organs and glands and are the intersection of Soma, Agni and Marut.
For example, if the person is suffering from irregular heartbeats and arrhythmias, one of the first things we do is to open up the flow of prana to the heart, since again, the pranic energy is like a cosmic pacemaker, keeping the heart pumping regularly throughout our whole lives. In fact, it has been stated that all diseases begin with lack of flow of prana to a specific area.
We also get prana from the food we eat, and from the water we drink. This is why we don’t want to corrupt the pranic energy in the food by microwaving it, freezing it, canning it, processing it or having it leftover. In fact, the food we cook today will have both less nutritional value and less pranic energy if it is leftover. And we want to have good alkaline water coming directly from the earth. Once we put chlorine in the water it kills the prana, so even if we filter out the chlorine we can’t bring the prana back to life.
We also get prana by breathing. Of course there is more prana out in nature, at the beach or in the forests, and less in a city such as New York City. Sometimes when I was sitting with my Ayurvedic teacher, Vaidya Rama Kant Mishra, he would tell a person to try to move out of the city and into the country if he felt they were receiving less prana and would overcome their health problems more quickly by living out in nature.
And just think how the electromagnetic frequencies (EMF’s) of the cell phones, cell phone towers, computers, WIFI etc. affect the prana. Since these EMF’s are also found in the space element — they actually pollute the space element and mingle in with the prana as it comes into our bodies, delivering toxic prana to all the organs and glands. We have many treatments and recommendations for people who are working around computers all day to help them mitigate the effects of the polluted prana circulating around in their bodies, causing numerous symptoms and sometimes serious diseases.
3 DROPS
of
Prana Balance Herbal-Memory Nectar to 10 oz of Spring Water
Calms and Focuses the Mind
Prana Vata is the subdosha of vata seated in the head which, in its balanced state, helps us to think clearly and use our sense organs properly. Vaidya Mishra says that one reason we call this subdosha prana vata is because most of the reception of universal prana happens in the head. In a real sense, prana vata is the master prana of the body. Thus, it’s imperative to keep prana vata steady and calm, yet alert and focused.
Prana Balance Herbal-Memory Nectar contains several herbs that support prana vata. These herbs include both types of brahmi – bacopa monnieri and gotu kola. The main prabhava of these herbs (specific ultimate effect) is medhya (good for the mind). Whenever you find your mind racing, feeling stressed, or unfocused, bring it back to balance with Prana Balance Herbal-Memory Nectar.
Additional ingredient-Wise Properties and Actions
Ashwagandha is a famous adaptogenic herb that strengthens the nervous system and makes us better able to handle stress.
Jatamansihelps calm and steady the mind without heating the physiology.
Peppermint allows prana vata to flow unobstructed by gently opening the channels of the mind and brain.
Coriander helps cool the physiology and binds acidic toxins in the blood, which may be agitating the mind. It also eases in more soma – the lunar, cooling vibration that stabilizes the physiology and the mind.
‘Prana Balance’ (Vaidya Mishra’s proprietary herbal blend) above ingredients are in a kosher Vegetable glycerine base. 100% sugar and fat free.
Disclaimer
This product and statements have not been evaluated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and are not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. All the information above is intended to be used for educational purposes only and may not be used to replace or complement medical advice.
Dr Teitelbaum – continued –
I remember one such patient who had acute flare-ups of multiple sclerosis and was being treated by neurologists with regular injections of drugs which were making her sick and weren’t helping anyway. We found that she had too many EMF’s in her pulse — it turned out she was working all day under high tension wires and cables bringing in electricity to her horse farm. We had her move her horses away from the overhead wires and once she did that, her MS totally went away, she got off her medicine and was fine, and still is fine, 20 years later — the MS never came back once we got good quality prana circulating back into her body. This is a good example of how the pranic energy can become polluted by the EMF’s of manmade electricity.
That brings me to another point — if you want to heal yourself, make sure the remedies you use have prana — try to avoid the synthetic pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. Yes, we know the B Complex was originally found in food when it was discovered, but when we make it in a lab it becomes the toxic version of the real thing, contains no prana, and as a result will have an unintelligent effect somewhere in the body, and be toxic to the liver and kidneys. Yes, it will have some benefit, but it will also have a side effect, just like the pharmaceuticals.
And don’t underestimate the value of pure prana in your life. If the prana is polluted or missing, like with too much EMF exposure or taking food, pharmaceuticals or nutraceuticals that are dumb or dead, then our cells become dumb and less intelligent. And what that translates to is that it could increase the risk of us getting cancer, since cancer is nothing more than the cells not being able to remember what they are supposed to do and as a result multiply out of control.
So you can see how important it is to understand more about the pranic energy and make sure that we get out in nature, breathe fresh air, eat food cooked fresh each day and avoid processed, microwaved and leftover food and try to mitigate the side effects of the computers and cell phones we work with everyday.
By doing so you will go a long way to prolong your life, avoiding serious diseases that might come if the prana becomes depleted or corrupted in your body.
Take Vaidya Mishra “With You” – Everywhere You Go!
if you ever had the opportunity to meet Vaidya Mishra in person, or have encountered him via his many youtube videos or online courses, then you know what we mean! We all want to have him travel with us in this earthly journey, to help us in our decisions along the way, through the timeless wisdom and knowledge of SV Ayurved. And now we can! If you have not discovered our podcast channel yet, we invite you to look it up and explore the timeless teachings of SVAyurveda, as well as fabulous talks by other SVAyurveda doctors and educators.
We want to help you protect your purchase – there’s been an increase in lost/stolen packages.
To protect your shipment – in case your shipping address is not secure – we have now added the “signature delivery” option upon check-out on www.chandika.com and we highly recommend you select it to ensure your package is guaranteed to reach you after it leaves our warehouse. Kindly note we are unable to replace stolen/misplaced packages once they are confirmed delivered by the carrier of your choice.
STOREWIDE 15% OFF PLUS FREE GLOBAL SHIPPING – Happy Love Day!
When February comes around, everything goes lush with red and pink hearts all over the place, augmented by excess chocolate and candy (still not a good time to detox just yet!), accompanied by waaaaay overpriced flower bouquets… After surviving the end-of-year-xmas-newyear-commercial-stunt, doesn’t this all feel like too much too soon???
And yet, you might have noticed that something is “in the air” that captures our hearts and minds carrying us into this unexpected wave of…
Could it actually be Valentine’s Day…? What is Valentine’s Day anyways ? Who was Valentine?
Turns out Valentine’s Day is connected to the pagan fertility festival of Lupercalia. “Lupercalia” derives from the Latin word, lupus (for “wolf”) and is connected to the legendary she-wolf who nursed Romulus and Remus – the mythical founders of Rome. Celebrated on February 15, Lupercalia was an annual ritual in which dogs and goats were slaughtered as sacrifice. In 496 AD, Pope Gelasius, in an effort to fade out pagan ritual sacrifice and christianize Rome, outlawed Lupercalia and declared February 14th a holy-day to honor Saint Valentine’s martyrdom. Not much of an upgrade you say? Since animal sacrifice was replaced by human martyrdom… Why was he sacrificed?
Saint Valentine went against the Roman Emperor Claudius II’s decree – who believed single men made better soldiers and forbade young men from marrying. Valentine disobeyed and continued to secretly perform weddings for young lovers. He was arrested, beaten, and beheaded!
St. Valentine’s day, epitomizes an unorthodox blend of ancient Roman, Christian, and medieval traditions. Originally intended to be a christian religious feast day, Valentine’s day evolved into a celebration of romantic love – Chaucer and later Shakespeare mention it in their works – Valentine’s day became a celebration of Spring intimations…
And today, in our consumeristic culture, Valentine’s day has turned into a big commercial holiday – “love” no longer matters, it is just an excuse for eating more chocolate and buying more: roses and heart shaped items!
But this does not answer our question. There IS something that we do feel this time of year. What could it be?
On the other side of the world, in another continent far far away, is an ancient culture that also held ritual celebrations at this time of the year, but for different reasons. In ancient Vedic culture, and based on accurate astronomical and astrological calculations, this is the time of year when Maha Shiva Rathri is celebrated. Masik Shivarathri is a monthly observance on the 14th day of the lunar month. On the other hand, Maha-shivratri – “The Great Night of Shiva” – is an annual major festival that occurs on the 14th night of the waning moon in February or March. On this day, the Sun and Moon in the Northern hemisphere are positioned to create a natural, powerful upsurge of energy – so it is an ideal time, according to Vedic astrology, for spiritual awakening. It is considered the “Great Night of Shiva,” because the divide between the divine and the human is at its lowest, facilitating profound inner transformation and the awakening of dormant consciousness. Mahashivarathri celebrates the wedding of the cosmic male and female energies – Shiva and Parvati – also depicted as the union of consciousness (Shiva) with primal energy (Shakti). Vedic culture teaches that this night can help remove past negative karmas and balance planetary influences in an individual’s life.That’s why fasting, night-long vigil and chanting are recommended.
This year, Maha Shiva Rathri almost coincides with St Valentine’s day as it falls on February 15th. Vedic astronomy calculations are scientifically verifiable and accurate, so we can say in all confidence, that they invite us to celebrate that silent awakening that heralds the arrival of Spring, the most beautiful time of the year when buds shyly appear, and Nature is slowly transformed into a festive colorful celebration of cosmic energies, when life is renewed through the interlacing embrace of the masculine and feminine …
Happy Maha Shiva Rathri!
Take Vaidya Mishra “With You” – Everywhere You Go!
if you ever had the opportunity to meet Vaidya Mishra in person, or have encountered him via his many youtube videos or online courses, then you know what we mean! We all want to have him travel with us in this earthly journey, to help us in our decisions along the way, through the timeless wisdom and knowledge of SV Ayurved. And now we can! If you have not discovered our podcast channel yet, we invite you to look it up and explore the timeless teachings of SVAyurveda, as well as fabulous talks by other SVAyurveda doctors and educators.
We want to help you protect your purchase – there’s been an increase in lost/stolen packages.
To protect your shipment – in case your shipping address is not secure – we have now added the “signature delivery” option upon check-out on www.chandika.com and we highly recommend you select it to ensure your package is guaranteed to reach you after it leaves our warehouse. Kindly note we are unable to replace stolen/misplaced packages once they are confirmed delivered by the carrier of your choice.
Boost Your Immunity, Shield Against Seasonal Sniffles – 10% Off This Week!
We all know that the best kept secret of Ayurveda is that it is NOT “one size fits all”… Even though we all share the same common cosmic foundational elements: the exact same laws that govern Nature also govern our bodies, minds, and hearts. In different proportions. That’s what allows for individual distinct traits and the beauty of plurality. This is why total health is always a work-in-progress. Based on your own body’s propensities in addition to your routine, the time of day, the season, where you live, etc, you will need to adjust and tweak your ayurvedic lifestyle. This is why despite following everything as you ought to, you may and will still get sick out-of-the-blue sometimes!
Below is a beautiful reminder by Dr Lisa Raskin – an expert ayurvedic practitioner herself – sharing her experience with getting sick, despite doing it all …
I want to share something personal with you this month. I’ve been dealing with one of the strangest illnesses I’ve ever had… Close to two weeks of the most profound exhaustion — the kind where lifting your head feels impossible.
Very little respiratory stuff. Just crushing fatigue, spinal and arm pain, and a body clearly working through something.
Here’s what got me: I eat according to SVA. I cook with the right herbs and spices. I avoid all the inflammatory stuff. I go to bed early. I walk on the beach. I do everything I teach you to do.
And I still got sick.
This virus was going around. I watched people around me get the same thing with very different experiences. Some had fatigue only. I got hit with spinal and arm pain. Loss of taste. Depression I’d never felt before. Same virus. Completely different expression.
That’s individual susceptibility.
And even with all my training and tools, I still had to figure out what was actually going on in MY body. I had to listen to what I was feeling even when I didn’t have proof yet. I had to match what I was doing to what was actually happening — not just follow some generic protocol.
This is why understanding YOUR pattern matters so much.
The virus finds YOUR weak link. Your gut. Your hormones. Your nervous system. Your immune system. Recovery isn’t about doing all the right things. It’s about knowing what YOUR body specifically needs.
I’m sharing this for two reasons.
First: If you’re sick right now, or recovering slowly, or frustrated that you’re doing everything right and still struggling — you didn’t fail. You didn’t miss something. Your body isn’t broken.
Health isn’t a test you can pass or fail. Sometimes your system is at capacity and it just needs time and gentleness — not more self-judgment.
Second: Even I had to sit with the confusion of what my body was going through. I had to investigate. I had to trust what I felt before I could see it. I had to adjust as I learned more.
That’s the work. Not cookie-cutter protocols. Not assuming everyone’s the same. But really seeing YOU — your history, your vulnerabilities, what’s actually happening — and figuring out what YOUR system needs.
That’s what I do with each of you. That’s what I had to do for myself these past weeks.
If you’re in the thick of something right now — illness, exhaustion, that feeling of “why isn’t this getting better?” — please be kind to yourself. Your body is doing its best.
The Maharani Academy, guided by senior SVA practitioner Corinna Maharani, offers a lineage-rooted training for those ready to cultivate hands-on, clinical skill through hands-on practice. The program emphasizes Ayurvedic Sacred Bodywork™ techniques, SVA Marma Therapy as taught by Vaidya R.K. Mishra, and the precise clinical use of SVA products, integrating treatment logic, preparation, administration and follow-up care.
Whether you are an experienced healthcare professional or new to Ayurveda, this training meets you where you are. Level 1 begins January 31, 2026 with 12 live online classes. For full certification, the journey continues with an intimate 10-day in-person practicum in Santa Barbara, limited to just six participants, offering deep experiential learning through daily hands-on practice, in a retreat-like setting.
Join us! The world needs healers and we love to have you join our family of healers and SVA practitioners.
Take Vaidya Mishra “With You” – Everywhere You Go!
if you ever had the opportunity to meet Vaidya Mishra in person, or have encountered him via his many youtube videos or online courses, then you know what we mean! We all want to have him travel with us in this earthly journey, to help us in our decisions along the way, through the timeless wisdom and knowledge of SV Ayurved. And now we can! If you have not discovered our podcast channel yet, we invite you to look it up and explore the timeless teachings of SVAyurveda, as well as fabulous talks by other SVAyurveda doctors and educators.
We want to help you protect your purchase – there’s been an increase in lost/stolen packages.
To protect your shipment – in case your shipping address is not secure – we have now added the “signature delivery” option upon check-out on www.chandika.com and we highly recommend you select it to ensure your package is guaranteed to reach you after it leaves our warehouse. Kindly note we are unable to replace stolen/misplaced packages once they are confirmed delivered by the carrier of your choice.
Ayurveda is clear about it: winter is the best time for total health. It’s all about “agni” – our digestive fire. In the wintertime, due to the cold weather, our “pachak agni” or digestive fire in the stomach, is strong and steady. That’s why we crave heavier meals, more frequently, in addition to sweet treats – lots of them! This is the best time to enjoy all guilt-free, but there is only so much the stomach can handle given our sedentary and stressful lives.
Enter “vrikshamla” 0r “Garcinia cambogia.”
Garcinia indica or Garcinia cambogia (“vrikshamla” in Sanskrit) is mentioned in the ayurvedic “nighantu”-s (or glossaries) as a vata and kapha dosha pacifying dravya or food ingredient. It is known to enhance absorption due to its thermogenic potency; to sharpen the taste buds, clearing away ama or toxic build-up in the oral cavity; and to make the body lighter because it carries the following 3 rasa-s or tastes: amla (sour), katu (pungent) and kashai (astringent). These 3 rasa-s enhance metabolism in general. More specifically, the amla rasa or sour taste also enhances and supports protein metabolism because it enhances agni in the mamsa dhatu or muscle tissue. In addition, the 3 rasa-s together help clear and unclog the channels too.
Garcinia’s first property is “amla” or sour, and we know that the sour taste is “agneya” or thermogenic. Due to this property, it pacifies kapha in all the 7 “dhatu”-s or tissues. But it also pacifies thirst because it pacifies vata in the stomach, samana vata, as well as in the chest or udana vata. In general, it is a wonderful fruit that balances the entire stomach and all the dosha-s in the stomach, enhancing coordination amongst them all: samana vata, pachak pitta, and kledak kapha – the 3 principles which support digestion: a) movement of space and air in the stomach; b) enzymatic levels; c) lubrication levels. When the stomach dosha-s are balanced, so many aspects of overall health also follow suit.
But yet another great attribute of this fruit is that it helps produce ama free rasa dhatu, or the very first dhatu or tissue that gets formed after we eat. In general, many health imbalances arise from just this, that an individual makes ama or toxins from the food they ingest. Rasa dhatu is the foundation for all the dhatus, and if it is free of toxins and balanced, all the other tissues that get built on this foundational dhatu or tissue will also be more balanced. In this sense, Garcinia or “vrikshamla” is a very balanced and balancing fruit with unique properties that optimize the healing processes in the body. But modern research has been most interested nowadays in its weight loss properties primarily.
Making ama free rasa dhatu helps to make ama or toxin free rakta or blood. However, pacifying kapha for all the 7 tissues does not only balance the medha dhatu or fat tissue, but it supports total health. Ayurveda reminds us that for total health we need to consume food ingredients that balance all the dosha-s or tissues, “sama-doshaha,” and enhance metabolism overall in the body (cellular and more) in a balanced way, in Sanskrit “samagnischa.” Garcinia carries these 2 highly desirable properties already. It is because of these that it helps clean the fat tissue and can result in weight loss. It is because it is good for overall total metabolism and a toxin free body that it can help individuals who are trying to detox their fat tissue. And there is an added bonus here as well, because when Garcinia supports the fat tissue, it is also supporting the bone tissue since good fat is food for the bone tissue.
Vaidya’s SVA lineage always recommends that food items be consumed as food, not as capsules with active ingredients isolated – for example consume turmeric as part of your meal, not as a capsule. And the same applies to Garcinia. To achieve the purpose of optimal health or even just weight loss, you need to have a total program including diet and lifestyle. Your body will thank you for it!
The Maharani Academy, guided by senior SVA practitioner Corinna Maharani, offers a lineage-rooted training for those ready to cultivate hands-on, clinical skill through hands-on practice. The program emphasizes Ayurvedic Sacred Bodywork™ techniques, SVA Marma Therapy as taught by Vaidya R.K. Mishra, and the precise clinical use of SVA products, integrating treatment logic, preparation, administration and follow-up care.
Whether you are an experienced healthcare professional or new to Ayurveda, this training meets you where you are. Level 1 begins January 31, 2026 with 12 live online classes. For full certification, the journey continues with an intimate 10-day in-person practicum in Santa Barbara, limited to just six participants, offering deep experiential learning through daily hands-on practice, in a retreat-like setting.
Join us! The world needs healers and we love to have you join our family of healers and SVA practitioners.
Take Vaidya Mishra “With You” – Everywhere You Go!
if you ever had the opportunity to meet Vaidya Mishra in person, or have encountered him via his many youtube videos or online courses, then you know what we mean! We all want to have him travel with us in this earthly journey, to help us in our decisions along the way, through the timeless wisdom and knowledge of SV Ayurved. And now we can! If you have not discovered our podcast channel yet, we invite you to look it up and explore the timeless teachings of SVAyurveda, as well as fabulous talks by other SVAyurveda doctors and educators.
We want to help you protect your purchase – there’s been an increase in lost/stolen packages.
To protect your shipment – in case your shipping address is not secure – we have now added the “signature delivery” option upon check-out on www.chandika.com and we highly recommend you select it to ensure your package is guaranteed to reach you after it leaves our warehouse. Kindly note we are unable to replace stolen/misplaced packages once they are confirmed delivered by the carrier of your choice.
What's Your Favorite Spice Blend? All Masalas 10% Off
Nature gives us delicious plants, herbs, spices, to enhance not only our taste buds but to balance and heal us! You want to incorporate more flavor and balance into your diet but not sure how to? Try one of Vaidya Mishra’s spice blends. Mom’s Masala is our “one size fits ALL doshas” – you can sprinkle, cook with it, or add it to your fruit or drinks. It has 20 spices/herbs plus Soma Salt.
Curry Leaves
Flavor For Food, Medicinal Plant,
Or Both?
~ Dr Marianne Teitelbaum
Herbs and spices are used as medicine in Ayurveda. They each contain some agni, or digestive fire, and can therefore help you digest and assimilate the nutrients in your food. We use spices instead of the commonly used digestive enzyme formulas available in health food stores since herbs and spices can help your body to produce its own digestive enzymes.
This is because some spices, such as cardamom, help you digest protein. Fenugreek and cumin help you digest fats, cinnamon helps you digest sugar and carbohydrates, and ginger and fennel are great for the digestion of all foods, capable of igniting the digestive fires without burning out the digestive tract.
Today I’d like to talk about the medicinal qualities of curry leaves. When people hear the word curry, they think of curry powder, but this is not the case with curry leaves. Curry powders are various blends of powdered spices used in cooking, but here I’m talking about the actual curry leaves which come from the curry plant.
They impart a wonderful earthy taste to the food and are famous because they support liver detoxification. As a result, they are used for many health problems since the liver is at the root of most, if not all, of our health issues. They help to reduce cholesterol and triglycerides, and purify the blood.
Curry leaves are known as “sweet neem,” which indicates that they have the quality of neem without being bitter. Like neem, curry leaves get rid of microbes, viruses and other pathogens without the bitter taste which neem gives, making it very difficult for many to incorporate it into their treatment protocols. And like neem, curry leaves can also lower blood sugar. Studies suggest they protect pancreatic cells and enhance insulin sensitivity.
When you have excess body heat without an infectious condition curry leaves can help and in fact they are known as the “tulsi of southern India” since they are a considered a “holy spice which can take care of everything.” Similar to tulsi, they can get rid of negatively charged environmental energies and balance and clean your own energy, especially if you grow a curry leaf plant in your own house, which is fairly easy to do since it grows well indoors near a window or skylight.
They are commonly used in traditional hair oils and masks in Ayurveda since they strengthen hair roots and reduce hair fall and premature graying. And their antimicrobial and antioxidant properties help maintain clear, healthy skin.
They stimulate your body to produce its own digestive enzymes and therefore help relieve indigestion, nausea and constipation. They are used quite often in remedies for gas, diarrhea and morning sickness.
They are rich in antioxidants and reduce oxidative stress and inflammation. Some studies even suggest that curry leaves might help protect brain cells from damage linked to aging or neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
You don’t need to use a lot when cooking with them. Usually one or two leaves per person should be enough. You can eat the curry leaves if you sauté them in ghee until they are crisp. The ghee picks up the fat-soluble benefits from the leaves and delivers those nutrients into your cells. Remember, all the cell walls in your body are made of cholesterol, so ghee becomes an excellent vehicle to deliver nutrients from not only curry leaves, but any food it is cooked with.
If you cook curry leaves into foods using water then traditionally they should not be eaten. The water picks up the water soluble nutrients and transfers them into the food.
Buy them fresh in an Indian market and pick them off the stem and add to your foods. I think you’ll love the flavor and at the same time reap some of the health benefits that these delicious little leaves have to offer.
The Maharani Academy, guided by senior SVA practitioner Corinna Maharani, offers a lineage-rooted training for those ready to cultivate hands-on, clinical skill through hands-on practice. The program emphasizes Ayurvedic Sacred Bodywork™ techniques, SVA Marma Therapy as taught by Vaidya R.K. Mishra, and the precise clinical use of SVA products, integrating treatment logic, preparation, administration and follow-up care.
Whether you are an experienced healthcare professional or new to Ayurveda, this training meets you where you are. Level 1 begins January 31, 2026 with 12 live online classes. For full certification, the journey continues with an intimate 10-day in-person practicum in Santa Barbara, limited to just six participants, offering deep experiential learning through daily hands-on practice, in a retreat-like setting.
Join us! The world needs healers and we love to have you join our family of healers and SVA practitioners.
Take Vaidya Mishra “With You” – Everywhere You Go!
if you ever had the opportunity to meet Vaidya Mishra in person, or have encountered him via his many youtube videos or online courses, then you know what we mean! We all want to have him travel with us in this earthly journey, to help us in our decisions along the way, through the timeless wisdom and knowledge of SV Ayurved. And now we can! If you have not discovered our podcast channel yet, we invite you to look it up and explore the timeless teachings of SVAyurveda, as well as fabulous talks by other SVAyurveda doctors and educators.
We want to help you protect your purchase – there’s been an increase in lost/stolen packages.
To protect your shipment – in case your shipping address is not secure – we have now added the “signature delivery” option upon check-out on www.chandika.com and we highly recommend you select it to ensure your package is guaranteed to reach you after it leaves our warehouse. Kindly note we are unable to replace stolen/misplaced packages once they are confirmed delivered by the carrier of your choice.
Final Few Days of Storewide Sale – plus FREE GLOBAL SHIPPING – orders of $201 or more….
~ FINAL FEW DAYS ~
15% Off All Your Favorites
Free Global Shipping on Orders of $201 or more
Happy New Year!
Your inbox is probably already full of detox programs and fasting challenges this time of year?Intermittent fasting always shows up in January… But here’s what I want to talk about: you might not call it intermittent fasting, you might just call it “I’m not hungry in the morning” or “I don’t have time for breakfast.” But if you’re going 14, 16, 18 hours without eating, that’s what you’re doing. And I see women doing this all the time – not because they’re following some biohacker protocol, but just because they skip breakfast. And they come to me anxious. Scattered. Brain fog that won’t lift. Hormones a mess.They don’t connect it to the fasting. But I do. Because I understand what happens when your digestive fire has nothing to work on in the morning.
Here’s what Vaidya Mishra taught me: your digestive fire – Agni – follows the sun. Strongest at midday, gentlest in the morning, lowest at night. When you skip breakfast entirely, that early-morning fire has nothing to metabolize. It’s like an empty pot on a stovetop – the flames are on, ready to cook your meal, but the pot is empty…. Can you guess what happens? It turns “inward” and burns the pot, and starts digesting the very nourishment that stabilizes your brain and nervous system.
Vaidya Mishra would check the pulses of meditators/yogic practitioners who skipped morning nourishment. Their energy was often scattered, ungrounded, moving upward instead of settling.The result? Anxiety. Brain fog. Irritability. That spaced-out feeling by mid-morning.
Your body doesn’t distinguish between “I’m skipping breakfast” and “There’s no food and I’m not safe.” If your nervous system is already taxed, your adrenals are already stressed, or your hormones are already struggling, long fasting windows read as threat. Cortisol rises. Blood sugar swings. Your body shifts into survival mode.And women’s hormones – especially during perimenopause, thyroid imbalance, or high-stress years – are incredibly sensitive to this.
This is where I always come back to the question: at what cost?
Yes, intermittent fasting might offer benefits for some people. But if the cost is increased anxiety, hormone disruption, and a nervous system pushed past its capacity – is that really helping you heal?
Who intermittent fasting tends to work for:
Men with robust constitutions; people with strong digestion and minimal stress; bodies that aren’t already in depletion.
Who it tends to backfire for:
Women with anxiety or nervous system reactivity; thyroid issues; irregular cycles or perimenopause; adrenal fatigue; high-stress lifestyles; digestive weakness; or past disordered eating patterns.
If skipping breakfast leaves you shaky, anxious, irritable, or desperately hungry – that’s not failure. That’s feedback.
A gentler way…
Eat something small within an hour of waking.Not a big breakfast. Just something warm, light, and nourishing to give your digestive fire a direction – instead of letting it turn inward. Such as: a few almonds soaked overnight; a warm stewed apple with a couple of cloves. Anything simple and easy to digest.Then, when you’re truly hungry, have your real breakfast.The stewed apple protocol was Vaidya Mishra’s way of bringing the body back into rhythm.
Instead of long fasting windows, try this:
Light nourishment within an hour of waking. Your biggest meal at midday. An early, light dinner – before 6:30pm if possible.This works with your circadian rhythm, not against it.
As we step into 2026:
Trust what your body tells you more than what the trends tell you!
If skipping breakfast leaves you feeling worse – anxious, foggy, scattered – your body is asking for what it needs.The loudest voices in wellness aren’t always the right ones for you.
I also share regularly on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and on my blog. If you’re not seeing my posts on social media, you can find more information here.
Wishing you a year of more listening and more ease!
Sensitivity-Informed Care · Natural Healing · Virtual Consults
~ What Would Life be Without Our Favorite SVA Pranic Formulations? ~
Why Everybody Loves SVA
How to Use your Roll-on Or Oil:
For Sleep/Relaxation: Apply to feet, legs, shoulders, and lower back, 20 minutes before sleep.
For Muscle Recovery: Massage onto sore areas after or before exercise.
For Skin: Use as a daily moisturizer to hydrate and soothe – specially on feet and legs. Do not use on the face. May use on neck and shoulder areas.
For Digestion: Apply to the abdomen with circular motions to encourage bowel movement
Transdermal SVA Magnesium is a natural muscle relaxant, will help with cramps, spasms, tension, and post-workout soreness; it will Calms your nervous system, reduce stress, lower cortisol, and promote better sleep by easing tense muscles. It will also improve your overall circulation and enhance skin vitality in your extremetieis – hands and feet where circulation tends to be slow.
How much Magnesium do we need?
Roll-on: you will get around 180mg of magnesium per 5ml - this translates into applying the roll-on back and forth 2-3 times.
Transdermal cream or Massage oils: A deodorant roll-on might have 280mg of magnesium (as hydroxide/chloride) per 1ml application – about 1 tsp.
There are many brands of topical Magnesium lotions on the market. But the SVA brand stands apart as it combines ayurvedic pranic wisdom with modern scientific know-how. Don’t take our word for it, see what our patrons are saying about it below…
MORE VIT D FOR MORE HEALTH!
DETOX & RELAAAAAX!
DAILY TONIC: DELICIOUS TOO!
MAGNESIUM: Less Stress!
EYECARE – EVERYDAY.
MORNING BREWS …
SLEEP: BETTER NATURALLY!
ORAL CARE – & DELICIOUS TOO!
ROSE: FOR BODY, MIND, AND HEART
Take Vaidya Mishra “With You” – Everywhere You Go!
if you ever had the opportunity to meet Vaidya Mishra in person, or have encountered him via his many youtube videos or online courses, then you know what we mean! We all want to have him travel with us in this earthly journey, to help us in our decisions along the way, through the timeless wisdom and knowledge of SV Ayurved. And now we can! If you have not discovered our podcast channel yet, we invite you to look it up and explore the timeless teachings of SVAyurveda, as well as fabulous talks by other SVAyurveda doctors and educators.
We want to help you protect your purchase – there’s been an increase in lost/stolen packages.
To protect your shipment – in case your shipping address is not secure – we have now added the “signature delivery” option upon check-out on www.chandika.com and we highly recommend you select it to ensure your package is guaranteed to reach you after it leaves our warehouse. Kindly note we are unable to replace stolen/misplaced packages once they are confirmed delivered by the carrier of your choice.
Have you ever wondered why we celebrate New Year on January 1st?! Rather than any other day – as some very ancient cultures did?
The answer is simple: Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar in the year 1582 .This calendar was to be used in all Catholic countries, and to replaced the Julian calendar – started by Julius Cesar – that had some inconsistencies. So the Julian calendar marked January 1st as the first day of the year in relation to an ancient Roman tradition honoring the two-faced deity “Janus” – he was the god of beginnings and transitions. This tradition was carried over into the Gregorian calendar, and with time, January 1st become the global standard with growing trade and colonialism, since the world needed one calendar everyone could follow for setting international standards for civil and business purposes. Even countries with lively ancient traditions that maintained their own traditional calendars for religious or cultural events ended up having to follow the global norm – the Gregorian calendar. Celebrating the new year on January 1st is a remnant of roman culture and results from historical commercial necessity.
The interesting thing is that January 1st really is NOT the first day of a new year in terms of the natural cycles of life on earth… In fact, many ancient cultures celebrated the new year on another day – on December 21st – the day of the Winter Solstice. The word “solstice” comes from the Latin solstitium, meaning “standstill.” The Winter Solstice is the day when the sun seemingly “stands still,” because the sun’s path across the sky appears to pause before reversing direction… This is an annual astronomical event.
The winter solstice — and the four seasons — occur because Earth is tilted at an angle of about 23.5 degrees relative to the sun. Earth does not rotate on a straight axis. This means that the Northern and Southern hemispheres receive different amounts of sunlight throughout the year as our planet moves around the sun. This is why, depending on how much sunlight a specific area receives, there will be a different season in place. The Northern Hemisphere receives scant daylight during its wintertime months, while the Southern Hemisphere experiences the opposite — summer prevails during the Northern Hemisphere’s winter and enduring winter just as the Northern Hemisphere basks in summertime. In December, on winter solstice day, there are fewer hours of sunlight the farther north you go in the Northern Hemisphere. People in this hemisphere might also notice that the sun is not that high in the sky, even at noon.
So the winter solstice is the shortest day and longest night of the whole year. As such, it heralds the official start of Winter, in anticipation of Spring. Starting December 21 to March 21, the days get gradually warmer and longer. December 21st is in many ways the “zero point” of the sun’s annual journey. The still mid-point. It marks an end that ushers in a new beginning.
This is why many ancient cultures upheld this day as the day of new beginnings or a new year. It’s all about the sun. For ancient cultures, across history and continents, the sun was far more than a celestial body: it was the ultimate source of life. Through it law and order were established in the universe as well as in individual and collective lives -through seasonal events and rituals marking the progression of the sun in the sky. Many ancient cultures personified the sun as a supreme deity, and studied its daily journey across the sky, watching how it maintained the cosmic order through the flow of time and the seasons.
The solstice was seen as the day of the rebirth of the sun, and therefore symbolized a time of personal rebirth and renewal with the return of light. Here are some example of ancient “sun worship” sites:
The Stonehenge in the UK: built around 2500 BC, its main axis aligns with the midwinter sunset and thousands gather annually to witness the sun’s alignment; Chichén Itzáin Mexico: On the spring and autumn equinoxes, the sun creates a shadow on the El Castillo pyramid that looks like a serpent slithering down the steps; Newgrangein Ireland: This prehistoric tomb is designed so that a beam of light enters the inner chamber only during the winter solstice sunrise.
Furthermore, in ancient Egypt, Ra – the sun, creature of all life - was considered the “king of the Gods.” He was believed to sail across the sky in a solar barque, or boat, by day and battle the serpent Apophis in the underworld by night to ensure the sun would rise again. The Inca worshiped Inti as their most important god and the direct ancestor of their emperors. They built the Coricancha (Temple of the Sun) in Cusco, which was once covered in gold to reflect the sun’s brilliance. For the Aztecs, the sun was a warrior in a constant struggle against darkness. They believed the sun required nourishment to stay strong enough to complete its journey. In Ancient Greece, Helios was the personification of the physical sun, often depicted driving a four-horse chariot. Over time, Apollo, the god of light and reason, became heavily conflated with solar worship.
What about the vedic tradition? Is the Winter Solstice also the beginning of a new year for the ancient Indians? Ancient vedic India had a highly elaborate and accurate system of calendars based on the cycles of the sun AND the moon! So things are a bit more detailed and complex. Based on this ancient lunar-solar calendar the new year falls not on the Winter Solstice day, but somewhere between March and April. The Vedic New Year is not just a calendar shift based on the numbers of days in a year etc. Nor is it just marked by the Winter Solstice. It results from detailed calculation that are tied to the creation of the cosmos itself. In this sense, the vedic new year commemorates Brahma, the creator god, who brings the cosmos, as well as time, into existence. That is why the vedic new year coincides with Spring, and marks a time for fresh starts, where frozen energy starts to flow and material existence literally blooms and blossoms. This year, the vedic new year will be on March 19, 2026. This marks the beginning of Chaitra Navaratri in the calendar of Vikram Samvat.
So why does this all matter? Where does this information take us in ayurvedic terms?
More than just an astronomical event, the Winter Solstice marks a great shift in our bodies, when the earth resumes its journey towards the sun, and the days start to get longer and warmer. But very very slowly – it takes time for things to thaw. And before the spectacular flourish of spring arrives, earth, along with our bodies, goes through a deep hibernation. It takes time for life to resurface, and for the next few weeks and months, as the weather remains cold and cool, our body’s physical channels – shrotas – are shrunk and impede circulation. You may feel more achy, more heavy, and prana vata will feel high making you less grounded and spacey! This is why it is important to sleep on time, and indulge in longer hours of sleep. In addition, shrunken shrotas may lead you you to crave more sweets and heavy rich foods. Vaidya Mishra taught that “winter is the best season for perfect health.” Why? Because the cold weather “traps” our pachak agni in the stomach and stokes it, so you not only crave richer heavier meals, but you CAN also digest them better. A big appetite and high digestive fire are the best two prerequisites for health.
So in this festive season, it is ok to let go and celebrate with friends and family, and feed your agni! AND key point is to NOT start dieting/detoxing after January 1st. This is NOT a good time for weightless or any type of detox. Nature does not support elimination, it rather requires nourishment. Trying to detox when your shrotas are clogged and heavy may results in complications.
So let this new year be truly a new beginning for you. One where you re-shuffle things in your life in alignment with the sun and the cycles of time and seasons that derive from the presence or absence of the sun. What does this mean? This: on January first, and for the next couple of months, stay low and be slow! Do no resist, rather: go with the flow of Mother Earth. Reset your biological clock to match the circadian rhythms of nature for daily activities and rest, and follow the seasonal tempo for diet – eat all you wish and more! Just stay on track with the sun, and ’honor’ the winter season – embrace all its gifts of sharpened digestive fire and blissful health: turn inwards, allow yourself to rest without guilt, and softly build new dreams – your rebirth and new beginnings will come with the Spring!
~ What Would Life be Without Our Favorite SVA Pranic Formulations ~
Why Everybody Loves SVA
Testimonials – and more!
How to Use your Roll-on Or Oil:
For Sleep/Relaxation: Apply to feet, legs, shoulders, and lower back, 20 minutes before sleep.
For Muscle Recovery: Massage onto sore areas after or before exercise.
For Skin: Use as a daily moisturizer to hydrate and soothe – specially on feet and legs. Do not use on the face. May use on neck and shoulder areas.
For Digestion: Apply to the abdomen with circular motions to encourage bowel movement
Transdermal SVA Magnesium is a natural muscle relaxant, will help with cramps, spasms, tension, and post-workout soreness; it will Calms your nervous system, reduce stress, lower cortisol, and promote better sleep by easing tense muscles. It will also improve your overall circulation and enhance skin vitality in your extremetieis – hands and feet where circulation tends to be slow.
How much Magnesium do we need?
Roll-on: you will get around 180mg of magnesium per 5ml - this translates into applying the roll-on back and forth 2-3 times.
Transdermal cream or Massage oils: A deodorant roll-on might have 280mg of magnesium (as hydroxide/chloride) per 1ml application – about 1 tsp.
There are many brands of topical Magnesium lotions on the market. But the SVA brand stands apart as it combines ayurvedic pranic wisdom with modern scientific know-how. Don’t take our word for it, see what our patrons are saying about it below…
MORE VIT D FOR MORE HEALTH!
DETOX & RELAAAAAX!
DAILY TONIC: DELICIOUS TOO!
MAGNESIUM: Less Stress!
EYECARE – EVERYDAY.
MORNING BREWS …
SLEEP: BETTER NATURALLY!
ORAL CARE – & DELICIOUS TOO!
ROSE: FOR BODY, MIND, AND HEART
Take Vaidya Mishra “With You” – Everywhere You Go!
if you ever had the opportunity to meet Vaidya Mishra in person, or have encountered him via his many youtube videos or online courses, then you know what we mean! We all want to have him travel with us in this earthly journey, to help us in our decisions along the way, through the timeless wisdom and knowledge of SV Ayurved. And now we can! If you have not discovered our podcast channel yet, we invite you to look it up and explore the timeless teachings of SVAyurveda, as well as fabulous talks by other SVAyurveda doctors and educators.
We want to help you protect your purchase – there’s been an increase in lost/stolen packages.
To protect your shipment – in case your shipping address is not secure – we have now added the “signature delivery” option upon check-out on www.chandika.com and we highly recommend you select it to ensure your package is guaranteed to reach you after it leaves our warehouse. Kindly note we are unable to replace stolen/misplaced packages once they are confirmed delivered by the carrier of your choice.
Each one of our gift bags contains samples of Gymnema Brew, Vaidya’s Cup, Rose Preserve, Chyawanprash, Vit D Deodorant, Lipbalm, Turmeric Soap, Ashwagandha, and Neem, plus 2 flavors of SVAdanta toothpaste! A perfect gift for yourself during your holiday travels or for your loved ones…
(Gift bag comes with minimum purchase of $301)
How to Use your Roll-on Or Oil:
For Sleep/Relaxation: Apply to feet, legs, shoulders, and lower back, 20 minutes before sleep.
For Muscle Recovery: Massage onto sore areas after or before exercise.
For Skin: Use as a daily moisturizer to hydrate and soothe – specially on feet and legs. Do not use on the face. May use on neck and shoulder areas.
For Digestion: Apply to the abdomen with circular motions to encourage bowel movement
Transdermal SVA Magnesium is a natural muscle relaxant, will help with cramps, spasms, tension, and post-workout soreness; it will Calms your nervous system, reduce stress, lower cortisol, and promote better sleep by easing tense muscles. It will also improve your overall circulation and enhance skin vitality in your extremetieis – hands and feet where circulation tends to be slow.
How much Magnesium do we need?
Roll-on: you will get around 180mg of magnesium per 5ml - this translates into applying the roll-on back and forth 2-3 times.
Transdermal cream or Massage oils: A deodorant roll-on might have 280mg of magnesium (as hydroxide/chloride) per 1ml application – about 1 tsp.
There are many brands of topical Magnesium lotions on the market. But the SVA brand stands apart as it combines ayurvedic pranic wisdom with modern scientific know-how. Don’t take our word for it, see what our patrons are saying about it below…
Take Vaidya Mishra “With You” – Everywhere You Go!
if you ever had the opportunity to meet Vaidya Mishra in person, or have encountered him via his many youtube videos or online courses, then you know what we mean! We all want to have him travel with us in this earthly journey, to help us in our decisions along the way, through the timeless wisdom and knowledge of SV Ayurved. And now we can! If you have not discovered our podcast channel yet, we invite you to look it up and explore the timeless teachings of SVAyurveda, as well as fabulous talks by other SVAyurveda doctors and educators.
We want to help you protect your purchase – there’s been an increase in lost/stolen packages.
To protect your shipment – in case your shipping address is not secure – we have now added the “signature delivery” option upon check-out on www.chandika.com and we highly recommend you select it to ensure your package is guaranteed to reach you after it leaves our warehouse. Kindly note we are unable to replace stolen/misplaced packages once they are confirmed delivered by the carrier of your choice.
