Newsletters Archives - Page 2 of 122 - Shaka Vansiya Ayurveda

At this time of year, many ancient cultures commemorate religious events that have historically defined their collective identity. These celebrations coincide with the arrival of Spring and the rebirth of Nature. But when we look beyond the details and the stories they depict, we can see recurring themes that coincide, patterns that repeat, and one “eternal truth” that underlies all: victory of renewed life through transformation….

Hanuman Jayanthi, or Raam Navami, or Holi – which all celebrate the triumph of good over evil and the beginning of new life; Easter – the ancient “pagan” festival that is now celebration with the resurrection of Christ as victory of everlasting life over death; Ramadan and the revelation of the Quran; Nowruz and the triumph of light over darkness; Passover; etc – these ALL celebrate victory and the persistence of life through the conquest of death and darkness. All these cultural events mark the beginning of new life, ushering in Spring.

When the sun crosses the celestial equator bringing about the vernal equinox, and Spring – we all, as humans on planet earth, witness the divine rebirth and continuation of life in Nature. We are part and parcel of that Nature, and her rebirth transforms our bodies as well. It is important to remind ourselves that the specific details of different traditional customs and celebrations are just that – beautiful ancient details and variations pertaining to time and space. But they all celebrate the victory of the eternal divine spark that animates us all as humans. When we remind ourselves of this bigger picture, perhaps then we will not allow differences to divide us, to lead us to hold grudges and harbor enmity towards one another, for any reason! May we not lose sight of our shared divine humanity in the name of historical and political differences… May the ever-lasting eternal impetus of life which moves us and moves within us, lead us into greater peace and harmony on planet earth for one and all, always….

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.

Explore our full line of SVA formulations. Visit www.chandika.com

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.

More SVA Knowledge for Self-Care or Advanced Professional Certification Click Here

a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips – thousands of articles and questions answered by Vaidya Mishra and his team of experts; and so much more…

home to Vaidya Mishra’s unique pranic exquisite formulations – with weekly specials and give-aways. Learn Ayurveda as you shop!

Filed Under: Newsletters

Ice Cold Plunge OR Warm Herbal Bath? with Dr Raskin – Your SV Ayurveda Newsletter March 26, 2026, #11, Vol 16

March 27, 2026 by Vaidya Mishra Leave a Comment

Ice cold baths – or cold-water immersions – are the latest fad. They are touted for offering significant benefits for overall health. How do they work? It is said that they reduce muscular pain and support muscle recovery by reducing inflammation and easing muscle soreness also increase mental health by boosting dopamine and circulation. How does cold water reduce inflammation? Cold water and cold temperatures, in general, restrict our physical channels. In ayurvedic terms, the shrotas. When the channels or shrotas are constricted, blood flow is decreased. This results in decreased inflammation and reduced swelling… At its best, this is a temporary “fix” because the root cause of inflammation is not addressed, but that’s another topic altogether.

In addition, it is said that cold plunges produce an overall feeling of well-being and alertness, and this is what people love about it. But do you know at what cost? An ice-cold plunge causes a strong stress response that can trigger a “fight-or-flight” response. It stimulates the nervous system abruptly resulting in higher levels of alertness and therefore an overall feeling of well-being or improved mood ensues… Specially after the plunge, when the muscles relax and circulation resumes its normal flow again.

Short-term cold exposure has been associated with reduced stress, anxiety, and depression… However, at what cost? Here are a few of the risks associated with this practice: cold/ice water immersion can cause a shock on the nervous system that can lead to uncontrolled breathing, dizziness, and increased heart rate – it is not recommended for sensitive individuals or for those with cardiovascular disease, hypertension, or cold sensitivity. In addition, some research has found that while an ice bath may help reduce soreness, it will also hinder long-term muscle growth by excessively reducing the inflammation needed for the body to help muscle repair and adaptation…

Did you know that Ayurveda recommends the opposite?! Scroll down to read more about hot baths versus cold plunges. But before that, Dr Lisa Raskin shares her own personal experience and input on cold baths below…

I don’t do cold plunges – you know, those ice baths or freezing water immersions everyone’s talking about!

And I believe some people do feel better from them.

But they’re not for me…

Not because I haven’t tried. Not because I’m avoiding something difficult. It’s because I’ve learnt to listen to what my body actually tells me. And my body is very clear: cold water makes me feel worse.

When I get into freezing water, I don’t feel invigorated. I feel like everything is shutting down. My nervous system goes into overwhelm. Everything in me says: “get out!”

And I’ve learned that’s not weakness. That’s information.

Vaidya Mishra taught me why this happens. Cold shrinks the channels. When you expose your body to extreme cold, your srotas – the physical channels like blood vessels and lymphatic pathways – contract. Blood vessels constrict. Circulation slows. The pathways that deliver nutrients and clear waste become restricted.

But it’s more than that. Cold constricts the flow of prana through the nadis, the subtle channels that carry life force. And it creates vata – dryness, coldness, and instability in the body.

For people who are already vata-imbalanced – and most sensitive systems are – this can be really vata aggravating.

So that overwhelming feeling I get? It makes complete sense. My already responsive nervous system can’t handle that level of contraction and stimulation.

Now, does this mean cold plunges are bad for everyone? Not at all.

Some people genuinely feel better after cold exposure. Cold stimulates the vagus nerve and creates a powerful response that can wake up sluggish nervous systems. Some people find cold exposure wakes up their nervous system in a helpful way,

But for those of us with already responsive, sensitive, reactive nervous systems, cold does something different. It can overstimulate. Create agitation. Sometimes even trigger histamine responses.

Same stimulus. Completely different response.

This is what I see over and over: what works brilliantly for one person can be completely wrong for another.

And when something doesn’t work for you – when everyone else is talking about how great they feel and you feel terrible – it’s easy to think something’s wrong with you…

But nothing is wrong with you.

Your body just needs different things.

This is why I always ask: at what cost?

Yes, cold plunges might help some people. But if they leave you feeling worse, they’re not the right tool for your system.

You don’t have to do what everyone else is doing.

The goal is to understand what your body actually needs. For some people, that’s cold exposure. For others, it’s warmth, gentleness, and practices that don’t stress an already sensitive system.

Both are valid. But they’re not interchangeable.

And knowing what works for YOU – that’s everything.

If you’re realizing you need help understanding what your body actually needs – not what wellness trends promise – I work with people to figure this out.

You can learn more about working with me here or go to https://somaradiantwellness.com

So What Does Ayurveda Say About Warm or Hot Baths?

Nowhere are the therapeutic health benefits of bathing better documented than in the ancient ayurvedic texts. Why to bathe, how to bathe, when to bathe, what materials to use in bathing, what temperature of water to be used for whom, even directions on when and why ‘not to bathe!’ Ayurveda talks about natural clay mixes for bathing and uses herbs and flower petals in the bath along with natural foaming and cleansing agents, like soap nuts – reetha. 100% natural cleansing materials are selected for their power to cleanse, nurture, soothe, and detox – ALL without synthetic scents, colors, binders, or emulsifying agents. Here is what Bhav Prakash, a SVA ancestor from Vaidya Mishra’s lineage, had to say about the health benefits of bathing:

Bathing in warm water is: deepanam – it resets metabolism by balancing and pacifying metabolic and digestive fires; vrishyam: nourishes and increases the seven tissues, especially the reproductive tissue, or shukra; ayushyam: increases longevity; snanamojo: bathing increases ojas; balapradam: increases stamina; kandumala: (takes away) itching and malas, toxic waste of the skin; shrama: removes fatigue; sweda: cleans sweat; tandra: removes drowsiness; tridda: makes strong; daha: takes away heat trapped in the blood/body giving burning sensations; and here is yet the best: it is papmanutam: cleanses physically and vibrationally, i.e. takes away bad karma!

So now you know: you have absolutely NO REASON NOT TO TAKE A HOT OR WARM BATH!

Instead of taking a dive into an ice-cold bath, run some hot water and add an ayurvedic bath pouch to feel better – physically and karmically….

Namaste!

Take Vaidya Mishra “With You” – Everywhere You Go!

Explore our full line of SVA formulations. Visit www.chandika.com

We want to help you protect your purchase – there’s been an increase in lost/stolen packages.

More SVA Knowledge for Self-Care or Advanced Professional Certification Click Here

a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips – thousands of articles and questions answered by Vaidya Mishra and his team of experts; and so much more…

home to Vaidya Mishra’s unique pranic exquisite formulations – with weekly specials and give-aways. Learn Ayurveda as you shop!

Filed Under: Newsletters

Spring Equinox: Sun, Moon, and Your Hormones! Your SV Ayurveda Newsletter March 19, 2026, #10, Vol 16

March 20, 2026 by Vaidya Mishra Leave a Comment

Spring Equinox

the Sun, the Moon,

Our Hormones

March 20th marks the Spring or Vernal Equinox. From the Latin, “equi” for equivalent, and “nox” for night. This is a major astronomical event when the Earth’s axis is not tilted either towards or away from the sun. Because of this, both hemispheres receive equal amounts of sunlight, making day and night lengths equal – 12-hour days and 12 hours nights. This is celebrated in many ancient cultures with great joy and pomp! For example in vedic culture, Springtime is called Vasant Ritu and marks important festivals, such as: Vasant Panchami, Holi or the Festival of Colors, Rama Navami or the birthday of Shri Raam, and Hanuman Jayanti – the birthday of the heroic Hanuman.

This celestial phenomenon that ushers in Spring counts as the actual beginning of a new year, a fresh start. Why a fresh start? The sun and the moon sharing equal parts of the day symbolizes a harmonious time when the masculine and the feminine cosmic energies do not have to vie with each other, each one is established in its reality fully and in harmony with the other. Both sun and moon – masculinity and femininity – are acknowledged for their perfection, and together create even more perfection! This harmonious relationship of equal authority creates a “perfect” world where Nature reawakens from her Winter slumber, and birds herald the spectacular return of life with scents and colorful blossoms. In the Spring, all is as perfect as it can be – for as long as it can last!

But, the equinox can have more personal significance in our lives as well.

Did you know that the sun and the moon influence human hormones by regulating our biological rhythms? The sun and the moon play a central role on the levels of melatonin, cortisol, and reproductive cycles. Sunlight controls the daily circadian rhythm (cortisol/melatonin), while the 29.5-day lunar cycle subtly influence sleep and the menstrual cycle. These celestial bodies act as a subtle natural clock that influence hormonal balance.

Sunlight and Hormones: one of the key recommendations of ayurveda is to not sleep beyond sunrise. While it gives us explanation through the dosha system, modern science now also confirms this golden ayurvedic rule scientifically. We now understand that Sunlight inhibits melatonin, the sleep hormone, and stimulates cortisol, the wakefulness hormone, in the morning, maintaining our body aligned with the circadian rhythm. Sleeping past sunrise confuses and de-regulates this natural cycle and can create physical as well as mental/emotional challenges.

In addition, sunlight exposure is essential for producing Vitamin D, which also supports reproductive health and immunity. While the lunar cycles are key for a woman’s physiology and hormonal balance, adequate daily sunlight is also key for strong and regular menstrual cycles.

Moonlight and Lunar Cycles are closely associated with our reproductive hormones in a different way.

Modern science is now catching up on the ayurvedic perspective that explains the close relationship between the moon and a woman’s body. Studies show a “subtle correlation” between the 29.5-day lunar cycle and menstruation, with some women having cycles that temporarily sync with lunar phases! In addition, research suggests a higher likelihood of menstruation occurring around the full moon, which is historically viewed as a peak fertility or emotional time. This is in fact what ayurveda recommends and offers balancing protocols for. The full moon is and should always be the time when a woman menstruates. If she does not, then measures are taken to correct the situation. Menstruating during the fall moon is ideal for maintaining total health – mental, emotional, physical – as well as optimal fertility.

Alas, we have strayed away from a balanced connection with Nature and its cycles. Our modern lifestyles impose harsh routines and habits upon us, resulting in a myriad of imbalances and ailments. Modern artificial lighting, such as LED screens and night-time lighting, in addition to has weakened the direct connection between human biology and the sun and moon. We need to re-align our bodies to Nature’s Circadian Rhythms, as well as the lunar cycles. The sun and the moon are the primary drivers of hormonal health.

Re-aligning might take time, but Ayurveda also gives us additional help and support through herbs. Vaidya Mishra made unique formulations that harness the cellular intelligence of plants and herbs in delivery methods that are safe and effective for hormonal modulation for her and for him. Discover the full range of his offerings here.

Questions? Email us at info@prana-center.com or call us: 1.888.3CHANDI. Namaste!

Take Vaidya Mishra “With You” – Everywhere You Go!

Explore our full line of SVA formulations. Visit www.chandika.com

We want to help you protect your purchase – there’s been an increase in lost/stolen packages.

More SVA Knowledge for Self-Care or Advanced Professional Certification Click Here

a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips – thousands of articles and questions answered by Vaidya Mishra and his team of experts; and so much more…

home to Vaidya Mishra’s unique pranic exquisite formulations – with weekly specials and give-aways. Learn Ayurveda as you shop!

Filed Under: Newsletters

Curry Leaves: Benefits plus Flavor! – with Dr. Teitelbaum; your SV Ayurveda Newsletter March 12, 2026, #9, Vol 16

March 13, 2026 by Vaidya Mishra Leave a Comment

turmericSpices and herbs are Nature’s gift to man! And through Ayurveda, we not only learn how to use them for daily balance, but also how to maintain and nourish the physiology long-term through the balance of the body’s doshas – Vata, Pitta, Kapha. Your “dosha” is your body’s propensity to go off – the term “dosh” means imbalance or error. You can help keep your doshas in balance through the use of different spices on a daily basis. In addition to supporting digestion and elimination – a key central element of health, spices also help boost immunity, in addition to other key actions. For example, as we know, turmeric is the best safest most potent anti inflammatory); cumin supports digestion and therefore helps with detox by minimizing toxic bi-product; fennel is balancing and soothing to the stomach and digestive tract; ginger boosts digestion metabolism; cardamom helps break down proteins and also aids the stomach environments maintain its doshic balance; and coriander is a wondrous aromatic spice that neutralizes acids but also binds and helps flush out toxic inflammatory waste (scroll down to learn more with Dr Teitelbaum on the health benefits of the “curry leaf.”)

Using these key spices daily in your diet, in cooking, or as tea, can help you maximize nutrient absorption, digestion and elimination, and maintain full functioning of all the tissues and organs. Plus: it makes everything taste so SO much better! You don’t have to re-invent the wheel for recipes – Vaidya Mishra gave us delicious ready-to-use spice blends depending on so many factors – seasonal, detox properties, as well as age!

Curry Leaves

Benefits

Beyond Flavor!

With 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.

Thank you,

Dr. Marianne Teitelbaum

856-786-3330

www.drmteitelbaum.com

Did you know that in the ancient vedic tradition, celebrations for a newborn child are not just for its birth, but many festive rituals continue marking the different stages of its development? For example, the first time the child is given solid food is matter of great celebration, as well as the first time it is fed turmeric. Spices are of great importance at all stages of life, but specially for children, as they set the tone for the full enlivening of the biological physiology. Many infants and children came to see Vaidya for many reasons, and he was always very lovingly attentive to their needs. That’s one of the reason he created special spice blends for children. One very important detail: these are for the little ones, but also the “bigger little ones” – if you feel like you can do with something soft and sweet (with zero sugar) to pacify and balance your adult physiology, try any of the Mom’s Kid Super Spices – we promise your “inner child” will love them!

Why do sweet dishes need spice?! Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, a pinch of turmeric, even black pepper. While not all of these have a pungent taste, they all have channel-opening properties that support your body not feel stiff and you not feel overall tired from having consumed “somagenic” food – sweet dishes. Adding spices to your sweet dishes will not only help your digestion but it will allow you to enjoy your dessert even more! The spices will not only enhance the sweet taste, but will break down the sugar and fat molecules and you will get more energy out of your dessert.

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!

Take Vaidya Mishra “With You” – Everywhere You Go!

Explore our full line of SVA formulations. Visit www.chandika.com

We want to help you protect your purchase – there’s been an increase in lost/stolen packages.

More SVA Knowledge for Self-Care or Advanced Professional Certification Click Here

a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips – thousands of articles and questions answered by Vaidya Mishra and his team of experts; and so much more…

home to Vaidya Mishra’s unique pranic exquisite formulations – with weekly specials and give-aways. Learn Ayurveda as you shop!

Filed Under: Newsletters

Turmeric Toxicity: PART TWO! – with Dr Lisa Raskin; your SV Ayurveda Newsletter March 5, 2026, #8, Vol 16

March 6, 2026 by Vaidya Mishra Leave a Comment

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

Dr. Lisa Raskin, DC

Soma Radiant Wellness

Personalized, Root-Cause Care for Women

somaradiantwellness.com

More Info Here

A testimonial from Ken G. (March 3, 2026)

“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

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.

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!

Lisa Raskin (D.C.)

www.somaradiantwellness.com

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!

Explore our full line of SVA formulations. Visit www.chandika.com

We want to help you protect your purchase – there’s been an increase in lost/stolen packages.

More SVA Knowledge for Self-Care or Advanced Professional Certification Click Here

a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips – thousands of articles and questions answered by Vaidya Mishra and his team of experts; and so much more…

home to Vaidya Mishra’s unique pranic exquisite formulations – with weekly specials and give-aways. Learn Ayurveda as you shop!

Filed Under: Newsletters

Turmeric Toxicity: Truth or Hype? – with Dr Lisa Raskin; your SV Ayurveda Newsletter Feb 26, 2026, #7, Vol 16

February 27, 2026 by Vaidya Mishra Leave a Comment

Turmeric Toxicity

Truth

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.

The patterns are consistent:

• elevated liver enzymes

• hepato-cellular injury

• onset weeks to months after starting supplements

• improvement after stopping

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.

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.

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.

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!

Lisa Raskin (D.C.)

somaradiantwellness.com

Take Vaidya Mishra “With You” – Everywhere You Go!

Explore our full line of SVA formulations. Visit www.chandika.com

We want to help you protect your purchase – there’s been an increase in lost/stolen packages.

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a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips – thousands of articles and questions answered by Vaidya Mishra and his team of experts; and so much more…

home to Vaidya Mishra’s unique pranic exquisite formulations – with weekly specials and give-aways. Learn Ayurveda as you shop!

Filed Under: Newsletters

Valentine’s Day OR MahaShivaRatri? – your SV Ayurveda Newsletter Feb 13, 2026, #5, Vol 16

February 13, 2026 by Vaidya Mishra Leave a Comment

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!

Explore our full line of SVA formulations. Visit www.chandika.com

We want to help you protect your purchase – there’s been an increase in lost/stolen packages.

More SVA Knowledge for Self-Care or Advanced Professional Certification Click Here

a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips – thousands of articles and questions answered by Vaidya Mishra and his team of experts; and so much more…

home to Vaidya Mishra’s unique pranic exquisite formulations – with weekly specials and give-aways. Learn Ayurveda as you shop!

Filed Under: Newsletters

“I Did Everything Right & I Still Got Sick!” – with Dr Lisa; Plus: PK Certification with Maharani – your SV Ayurveda Newsletter Feb 5, 2026, #5, Vol 16

February 6, 2026 by Vaidya Mishra Leave a Comment

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.

Warmly,

Dr. Lisa

SOMARadiantWellness.com

Sensitivity-Informed Care · Natural Healing · Virtual Global Consults

Interested in a

New Vocation

in Ayurveda?

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.

Warmly,

Corinna Maharani

www.maharaniacademy.com | (805) 452-2526

Take Vaidya Mishra “With You” – Everywhere You Go!

Explore our full line of SVA formulations. Visit www.chandika.com

We want to help you protect your purchase – there’s been an increase in lost/stolen packages.

More SVA Knowledge for Self-Care or Advanced Professional Certification Click Here

a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips – thousands of articles and questions answered by Vaidya Mishra and his team of experts; and so much more…

home to Vaidya Mishra’s unique pranic exquisite formulations – with weekly specials and give-aways. Learn Ayurveda as you shop!

Filed Under: Newsletters

Tridoshic and Delicious Vrikshamla; Plus: PK Certification with Maharani – your SV Ayurveda Newsletter Jan 29, 2026, #3, Vol 16

January 30, 2026 by Vaidya Mishra Leave a Comment

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!

Interested in a

New Vocation

in Ayurveda?

Join us! The world needs healers and we love to have you join our family of healers and SVA practitioners.

Warmly,

Corinna Maharani

www.maharaniacademy.com | (805) 452-2526

Take Vaidya Mishra “With You” – Everywhere You Go!

Explore our full line of SVA formulations. Visit www.chandika.com

We want to help you protect your purchase – there’s been an increase in lost/stolen packages.

More SVA Knowledge for Self-Care or Advanced Professional Certification Click Here

a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips – thousands of articles and questions answered by Vaidya Mishra and his team of experts; and so much more…

home to Vaidya Mishra’s unique pranic exquisite formulations – with weekly specials and give-aways. Learn Ayurveda as you shop!

Filed Under: Newsletters

Curry Leaves: Flavor Or Medicine, Or Both? – With Dr Teitelbaum; PLUS: PK Certified Education with Maharani – your SV Ayurveda Newsletter Jan 17, 2026, #1, Vol 16or or

January 23, 2026 by Vaidya Mishra Leave a Comment

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

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.

Thank you,

Dr. Marianne Teitelbaum

856-786-3330

drmteitelbaum.com

Launch Your New Year

with a

New Vocation in Ayurveda

Join us! The world needs healers and we love to have you join our family of healers and SVA practitioners.

Warmly,

Corinna Maharani

www.maharaniacademy.com | (805) 452-2526

Take Vaidya Mishra “With You” – Everywhere You Go!

Explore our full line of SVA formulations. Visit www.chandika.com

We want to help you protect your purchase – there’s been an increase in lost/stolen packages.

More SVA Knowledge for Self-Care or Advanced Professional Certification Click Here

a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips – thousands of articles and questions answered by Vaidya Mishra and his team of experts; and so much more…

home to Vaidya Mishra’s unique pranic exquisite formulations – with weekly specials and give-aways. Learn Ayurveda as you shop!

Recent & Past SVA Newsletters

A Prayer… for the Holiest of ALL Seasons! – Your SV Ayurveda Newsletter April 3, 2026, #12, Vol 16

Ice Cold Plunge OR Warm Herbal Bath? with Dr Raskin – Your SV Ayurveda Newsletter March 26, 2026, #11, Vol 16

Spring Equinox: Sun, Moon, and Your Hormones! Your SV Ayurveda Newsletter March 19, 2026, #10, Vol 16

Curry Leaves: Benefits plus Flavor! – with Dr. Teitelbaum; your SV Ayurveda Newsletter March 12, 2026, #9, Vol 16

Turmeric Toxicity: PART TWO! – with Dr Lisa Raskin; your SV Ayurveda Newsletter March 5, 2026, #8, Vol 16

Turmeric Toxicity: Truth or Hype? – with Dr Lisa Raskin; your SV Ayurveda Newsletter Feb 26, 2026, #7, Vol 16

Valentine’s Day OR MahaShivaRatri? – your SV Ayurveda Newsletter Feb 13, 2026, #5, Vol 16

“I Did Everything Right & I Still Got Sick!” – with Dr Lisa; Plus: PK Certification with Maharani – your SV Ayurveda Newsletter Feb 5, 2026, #5, Vol 16

Tridoshic and Delicious Vrikshamla; Plus: PK Certification with Maharani – your SV Ayurveda Newsletter Jan 29, 2026, #3, Vol 16

Curry Leaves: Flavor Or Medicine, Or Both? – With Dr Teitelbaum; PLUS: PK Certified Education with Maharani – your SV Ayurveda Newsletter Jan 17, 2026, #1, Vol 16or or

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