Vesta

19/10/2022

19/10/2022

When I arrived to India over three weeks ago I immediately thought about cutting my trip short a week. I looked at the cost of rebooking my flight. This place is too intense for me. Two weeks is perfect, not three. My dog and my partner need me. What was I thinking coming so far!

Ay, so many thoughts.

I spoke to a friend who said to wait for the magic. And that when it was time for me to leave I would end up missing the place I first struggled with upon landing. Dude knows his stuff.

I'm a day back from India and having major India withdrawal lol.

I will need a few months to digest and share how life-changing this trip was for me and my 18 Ayurveda colleagues.

I will miss:

The warmth, kindness and honesty of literally all the people I met in India, especially the two doctors who hosted us like they were our parents.

The comradery of our very diverse group. (For the record, I had so much initial resistance to traveling with a large group of people and this trip showed me once again that if you want to go fast go alone and if you want to go far surrender and enjoy working with a group you love and trust.)

Endless colors and variety of sarees women wear!! So much glamour and grace.

The chaotic streets and deep quiet just a block away from the crazy streets.

Tuk toks all dolled up with fun decor.

Ayurvedic pharmacies!! Imagine rolling up to a pharmacy and easily stocking up on herbal remedies and medicated oils!

The daily Ayurvedic treatments I was getting either before or after classes 🤤

Thank you India 🇮🇳 ❤️

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13/09/2022

WHY AYURVEDA IS OBSESSED WITH OIL

Well, I don't have a complete answer to the subject line, but I think I'll have a better idea once I come back from India (omg!!) where I'll be for over three weeks starting next Friday studying Ayurveda.

Ayurveda is obsessed with oil.

Oil in Sanskrit is snehana which also means “love” or “affection.” The essence of a plant is its oil, just as the essence of who we are is love. As one of my mentors, Katie Silcox shares, “If we keep extracting something down to its purest essence, what remains is love.”

Massage is a central feature in Ayurvedic medicine and daily habits. When we massage our body with oil, we are literally coating it with a layer of our affection, as well as healing touch. A simple form or self-massage is called abhyanga.

As we age we begin to lose some of the natural suppleness of youth. Our body shrinks, the joints dry and the mind loses sharpness. To counteract aging, we “juice up” our body with herb-infused oils. Oil is what keeps the skin young, taut, and supple.

The simple practice of oiling our physical body is quite possibly the best thing we can do for the body and the nervous system on a daily basis. In fact, there is a phrase in traditional Indian healthcare that says, “Either pay the oil man today, or you will be paying the doctor tomorrow.”

With love,

Sabrina Dora Lopez

08/09/2022

Dear Sabrina,

The skin is the largest organ of the body (it weighs anywhere from 6 to 10 pounds), so it makes sense to care for this large, biologically active organ, no?

When we self-massage, we release a cascade of feel-good growth factor hormones into our bloodstream.

Research shows that massage can decrease cortisol (a stress hormone that can be degenerative when too much of it’s flowing in your body).

Massage can also increase dopamine, oxytocin, ACTH (adrenocorticotropic) and norepinephrine, all known mood boosters that reduce anxiety and increase relaxation and pleasure.

I've been wondering why we are blissed out after massages and I finally found the research to back it up!

Massage is a central feature in Ayurvedic medicine and daily habits. Ayurveda adds oil to most of its massage therapies. Why? Will get into it next next.

Sources: V. Morhenn, L.E. Beavin, and P.J. Zak, “Massage Increases Oxytocin and Reduces Adrenocorticotropin Hormone in Humans,” Journal of Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine 18, no.6 (November-December 2012): 11-18, http:ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23251939

01/08/2022

Ayurveda is obsessed with sesame oil up your butt. And for good reason.

Sesame oil is warming and nourishing to the colon. It’s high in minerals, like calcium. It is anti-inflammatory.

Sesame oil implants/e***as (the terms are used interchangeabley) are called "bastis" in Sanskrit.

Everyone will be familiar with the term e***a; it is the introduction of liquid medicines through the a**s.

Ayurvedic therapeutic e***as are the prime and most important treatment to balance Vata (the air factor).

In Ayurvedic medicine, specific herbal preparations are administered through the a**s for different disorders, including:

Anxiety
Candidiasis
IBS
Post-partum
Hemorrhoids
Constipation
Osteoporosis

I recommend working with a trained practitioner if trying this protocol.

If you are interested in learning how therapeutic e***as may help you, reply back.

With Love,
Sabrina

20/07/2022

Aloe Vera for Reflux

Many peole will take medication for reflux, known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), for long periods of time without understanding or learning the risks.

Yet, official advice is that with PPIs no more than three 14-day treatment courses should be used in one year.

One alternative for relief from reflux symptoms is using aloe vera. Keep a plant at home or grow one outside if you live in a warm climate.

Aloe Vera
It is claimed that Aloe Vera can decrease inflammation and stimulate production of hydrochloric acid, pancreatic enzymes and bile.

Aloe Vera preparations are often promoted for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders and to aid digestion.

Does it Work?

Most of the evidence on Aloe Vera is based on anecdotal, rather than scientific evidence.

That said, in 2015, a study investigated the use of Aloe Vera for the treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms – heartburn, food regurgitation, flatulence, belching, dysphagia, nausea, vomiting and acid regurgitation – and compared its effects with those of omeprazole and ranitidine.

It found that Aloe Vera syrup was “safe and well tolerated and reduced the frequencies of all the assessed GERD symptoms, with no adverse events requiring withdrawal”.

And personally, I don't need scientific studies to validate that a plant or remedy "works". I prefer personal experience and feedback from clients, but no doubt showing a study backing a plant up helps its street cred 😉.

Next up, I'll share a recipe on how to use aloe at home for when the reflux is active.

With Love,

Sabrina

07/04/2022

The essential ritual for women’s health?

Is to ......

Drink a minimum of 3 liters of water every day without exception.

It's interesting to note how many women I see who are chronically dehydrated and don't even realize it.

We talk a lot about processed foods, but what about processed waters? Bottled teas, energy drinks, flavored waters are often some peoples main soure of hydration.

Plain old fresh water is where it's at and plain old fresh water is a cleanser. If you look at a river flowing across rock, you wil see the rock is perfectly clean, as is the water.

If the water stops flowing then stuff builds up in the water and the rock will start to have algae growing on it.

When you don't drink enough water, that's what happens inside your body. The flow of fluids slows down and your cells start to accumulate toxins.

Those toxins put an ENORMOUS amount of stress on your cells, but the stress they put on your eggs is even more significant.

04/04/2022

Knowing your Ayurvedic metabolic type helps you know how to deal with your moods and emotions.

(vestaveda.com/quiz if you haven’t taken my quiz yet to find out)

These slides are specifically for the post-partum period but can apply for anyone anytime.

04/04/2022

Mental/emotional states for each Ayurvedic body type.

29/03/2022

Never thought i’d love a cat like you, Lu ❤️

The international diva. Lucy la gata. Who keeps life and business in perspective. Always.

I can’t not not share these super pro shots taken by the one and only .valencia for full day shoot yesterday on all things post-partum, food, and farm-fresh nourishment.

25/03/2022

Why Water is Crucial for Fertility (and Women’s Health in General)

I def drank more water while writing this article. And had fun distilling ’s no-nonsense approach to boosting fertility thru natural simple approaches.

The focus is all on what’s already in front of you. Water. Water is Life. (You don’t have to be a woman or want to get pregnant to benefit from this article.)

Link in Bio

08/03/2022

Here are five facts amazing facts about women and women's history:

1. Dr. Beverly Whipple, a neurophysiologist, helped coin the term Grafenberg spot, which was later shortened to G-**ot in 1982. Mendelson & Conejo, Pussypedia, 2021.

2. As of March 2022, if you search PubMed for "p***s," you get 52,901 results. If you search for "cl****is," you get 2,545.

3. Authoritative records show that between two hundred thousand to nine million women were burned for being "witches" during the 15th to 16th century. Jeanne Achterberg, Woman as Healer, 1990.

4. Cervical mucus keep s***m alive for 5 days, but it carefully filters out defective s***m, and rapidly transports the best s***m directly into your fallopian tubes. Hendrickson-Jack, The Fifth Vital Sign, 2019.

5. Stress has a direct impact on the menstrual cycle by delaying ovulation in the preovulatory phase or shortening the luteal phase. Hendrickson-Jack, The Fifth Vital Sign, 2019.

01/03/2022

Step-by-Step Recovery Plan for Long Covid (full article link in bio)

I. Balance Your Dosha

VATA
Some people have a natural tendency toward anxiety during times of stress. These people are Vata types. Vatas are particularly susceptible to imbalance if their routines are disrupted. During your recovery period, make sure you establish a regular daily routine. For example, try to wake up at the same time every day, eat regular healthy meals, and go to bed by 10 p.m. Try adding a warm oil massage before bed. It will soothe your nerves and help you sleep better.

PITTA
Some people are solution-oriented and “go-getters.” These are Pitta types. When Pittas are balanced, you come up with solutions and rise to the occasion, but if out of balance and sick, you feel irritated and are super cranky. You may be feeling especially frustrated that you can’t engage with your regular physical and mental fervor. This is an especially important time for you to do less and reconnect with self-care. If you tend to short-change on sleep, be sure to get 7-8 hours of natural, restful sleep to stay balanced and healthy and keep your immune system strong by incorporating the top ten antiviral spices in your daily cooking.

KAPHA
Some people may be more relaxed about what is going on and have a tendency to withdraw during times of stress. These are Kapha types. When in balance, Kaphas do not feel the panic as some may be feeling, as they are quite grounded and calm at baseline. Pull up some online yoga classes or quick fitness apps.

22/02/2022

Cinnamon is one of my favorite spices. No need to order the latest greatest fancy superfood or adaptogenic. We've all got cinnamon in our cupboards and we can rely on it for it's delicious and therapeutic properties.

Derived from the inner bark of a small evergreen tree, the bark is peeled and laid in the sun to dry, where it curls into rolls known as cinnamon sticks. Cinnamon is also available in powdered form. Ayurveda has a ton to say about cinnamon, but I will save that for another message.

Three Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Cinnamon

Cinnamon has been used as a popular spice by different countries around the world for thousands of years. It is obtained from the bark of its young branches.

1. Anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal

Cinnamon is thought to have many medicinal and soothing properties, and is used frequently in Chinese herbal medicine. The distinctive smell and flavor of cinnamon derives from the essential oils contained in the bark, called cinnamaldehyde. Cinnamaldehyde displays anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.

2. May support gut health

Some spices, including cinnamon, have prebiotic properties. These bacteria may help restore the balance of bacteria in your gut, support digestive health and alleviate any digestive issues.

3. May help manage blood pressure

There is some evidence to suggest that the consumption of cinnamon is associated with a short-term reduction in blood pressure. Although the evidence is hopeful, it is early days and more long-term random controlled trials are needed.

Sources:
​Cinnamon: A Multi-Faceted Medicinal Plant​
​Prebiotic Potential and Chemical Composition of Seven Culinary Spices​
​Cinnamon extract inhibits tau aggregation associated with Alzheimer's disease in vitro​
​Effects of Cinnamon Consumption on Glycemic Status, Lipid Profile and Body Composition in Type 2 Diabetic Patients​

Via Pubmed

11/02/2022

Post-Covid Ayurveda Support
The symptoms that can remain after covid are many, but the most common ones are persistent cough, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, cognitive problems and general body pain.

Depending on the duration of symptoms, post COVID or Long COVID can be divided into two stages — post acute COVID where symptoms extend beyond three weeks, but less than 12 weeks, and chronic COVID where symptoms extend beyond 12 weeks.

An Ayurvedic post-COVID recovery plan focuses on building back agni or digestive fire. Ayurveda is obsessed with keeping a healthy agni because health=agni in Ayurveda. Healthy agni (digestive power) determines the health of vital organs (lungs, liver etc), psychological health and neurological health. When agni is good, health is strong and when it is weak/poor, illness results.

Tips to Increase Agni Post-COVID:

1. Take 1 tsp of ginger, freshly grated first thing in the morning with a spoonful of honey. If you have hypertension, use 1 tsp of ground coriander instead. Take for 30 days. (Start this protocol while you have covid or during recovery period and continue taking until symptoms subside. Don’t worry if you see changes in your sweat, urine or evacuation as these spices will absolutely be improving your detoxification pathways.)

2. Focus on anti-inflammatory foods that fortify agni like cooked vegetables, whole grains like basmati and quinoa, and any of the following spices: coriander, fennel, cumin, cinnamon, turmeric, cardamom.

3. Improve the body's organs and tissues (which weaken with Covid) with ghee. Add up to 1 tbsp of ghee with each meal.
Prioritize rest.

4. Pulse in relationship to nature’s rhythms of light and dark. Go to sleep as early as possible and wake up once the body is revitalized.

5. Oxygenate your tissues with gentle yoga. 20-30 mins in the am 10 mins in the eve …. This is going to prevent vata from taking control and stiffening your body …. and feels so good.

If you are going through long-COVID symptoms and are looking for support, reply back and we can discuss if Ayurveda may be supportive.

With love,

Sabrina Dora López, A.P.
www.vestaveda.com
Ayurveda for Women
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11/02/2022

The symptoms that can remain after covid are many, but the most common ones are persistent cough, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, cognitive problems and general body pain.

Depending on the duration of symptoms, post COVID or Long COVID can be divided into two stages — post acute COVID where symptoms extend beyond three weeks, but less than 12 weeks, and chronic COVID where symptoms extend beyond 12 weeks.

An Ayurvedic post-COVID recovery plan focuses on building back agni or digestive fire. Ayurveda is obsessed with keeping a healthy agni because health=agni in Ayurveda.

Healthy agni (digestive power) determines the health of vital organs (lungs, liver etc), psychological health and neurological health. When agni is good, health is strong and when it is weak/poor, illness results.

Tips to Increase Agni Post-COVID:

1. Take 1 tsp of ginger, freshly grated first thing in the morning with a spoonful of honey. If you have hypertension, use 1 tsp of ground coriander instead. Take for 30 days. (Start this protocol while you have covid or during recovery period and continue taking until symptoms subside. Don’t worry if you see changes in your sweat, urine or evacuation as these spices will absolutely be improving your detoxification pathways.)

2. Focus on anti-inflammatory foods that fortify agni like cooked vegetables, whole grains like basmati and quinoa, and any of the following spices: coriander, fennel, cumin, cinnamon, turmeric, cardamom.
Improve the body's organs and tissues (which weaken with Covid) with ghee.

3. Add up to 1 tbsp of ghee with each meal.

4. Prioritize rest. Pulse in relationship to nature’s rhythms of light and dark. Go to sleep as early as possible and wake up once the body is revitalized.

5. Oxygenate your tissues with gentle yoga. 20-30 mins in the am 10 mins in the eve …. This is going to prevent vata from taking control and stiffening your body.

If you are going through long-COVID symptoms and are looking for support, DM me and we can discuss if Ayurveda may be supportive.

Sabrina Dora López, A.P.
www.vestaveda.com
Ayurveda for Women
facebook
linkedin
instagram