Eight Directions Wellness

08/15/2025

These are two local clover honeys - but very different coloration! I'm going to use these for making some oxymels and syrups. Āyurveda values aged honey - but I know for a fact the jar on the left was extracted from the hive on Saturday. That's ok, because honey still has wonderful benefits (especially as an anupan to the lungs and for lekhana or scraping action for Kapha dosha) and makes lovely sweet medicine.

08/14/2025

Relaxing the mind - and with it the body-to increase the effectiveness of an herbal formula. With moral support from Bear.

08/14/2025

Tomorrow Bear and I will share a little video we made about formulation. Stay tuned!

08/13/2025

This is why one can't simply apply the logical rasa, vīrya, vipāk and guṇa formulas to herbs, as was the case with plants that are building despite being classified as having a pungent and catabolic post-digestive effect. 🔥

What's mind-bending about this statement is that it reflects how Ayurveda’s pharmacology isn't just theoretical ("this element = this effect") but grounded in repeatable, pattern-based knowledge that was field-tested long before the idea of “clinical trials” existed. It represents thousands of years of observation and memory.

08/10/2025

I'm back to working on new ways of exploring ancient concepts.

08/09/2025

In this intimate and sincere cover of the U2 classic from their indelible album ‘The Joshua Tree’, GuruGanesha Singh felt called to share this song as it inspired him to reflect on his life, love, the certainty he had as a young man, and the doubts he has gained with age. Accompanied by only acoustic guitars and pedal steel, GuruGanesha’s delivery is unguarded and honest about the hopes and dreams that fell flat and ran afoul, but there is a spark of hope in his voice, clearly asking himself to keep the faith and stay true to his heart.

I resonate deeply GuruGanesha. Thank you. 🙏🏼

In this intimate and sincere cover of the U2 classic from their indelible album ‘The Joshua Tree’, GuruGanesha Singh felt called to share this song as it ins...

08/07/2025

The cost of both spices AND Āyurvedic medicinals will rise, with a 50% tariff on India.

Many cooking spices are imported from India, and the 50 percent tariffs on the country’s imports could drive costs higher.

08/02/2025

A core truth in Āyurveda is that healing is relational and based on a particular situation. The effect of a single herb or formulation depends on the inherent intelligence (mahat) and nature (prakṛti) of the herb, combined with the constitution and condition of the person as well as the mysterious influence (prabhāva) of these substances beyond measurable properties - the plant spirit and intelligence.

This is the part of formulation that is more of an art than a science. I'm going to be sharing more about this shortly.

07/22/2025

If this doesn't help one to remember that Angelica archangelica is beneficial to the lungs when there's cough, cold and congestion, I don't know what would. ; )

The Fadno is made out of fresh stalks of Garden Angelica (angelica archangelica, angelica officinalis), a plant naturally growing in subpolar regions. It is ...

07/20/2025

As some of you know (because we connected about via zoom!) I briefly studied Joanna Macy's "Work that Reconnects." Her legacy lives on through her work, books, students and the many lives she touched. 🙏🏼

"The Work That Reconnects helps people around the world discover and experience their innate connections with each other and the self-healing powers of the web of life, transforming despair and overwhelm into inspired, collaborative action."
-Joanna Macy

A guide to the many works by, about, or inspired by the great teacher Joanna Macy published by Shambhala Publications.