Home Remedies with Almonds
/Known in Sanskrit as vatāda and in Hindi as badam, almonds are a source of antioxidant flavonoids and phenolics and are revered in Ayurveda for their building, strengthening, nervine and intelligence promoting properties. Here are a few home remedies to make use of this great super-food.
While enjoying almonds, remember that we depend upon bees to pollinate them. So eat your almonds and speak out for honeybees!
Remedies
Asthma, pertussis, bronchitis: mix 10 drops of ginger juice, 10 drops of lemon juice and 1teaspoon of almond oil; take this 1 or 2 times a day.
Constipation: chew some almonds with rosewater.
To support digestion: eat 2 teaspoons of almond oil daily for 10 days.
Sprains and muscle strains: Gently cook a clove of garlic in almond oil. Strain the oil and apply on the painful area.
Chest pain: combine 2 teaspoons of almond oil and 1 teaspoon of rose oil and rub gently on the chest. (Chest pain should be evaluated by a doctor).
Anemia: soak 10 almonds in water for overnight. Remove the skin and grind them to a paste. Eat this paste daily for about 3 months.
For anxiety: soak 10 almonds in water overnight. Remove the skin and grind them to paste. Add 1 teaspoon of nutmeg and a pinch of dry ginger powder and eat daily.
For improved concentration, soak a handful of almonds in in water overnight, next morning peel and and eat on an empty stomach.
Dark circles: massage the area under the eyes with almond oil daily for at least 2 weeks.
Hair health: massage the scalp with almond oil.
Eye health: Take equal parts of almond, fennel seeds and tubinado sugar and grind to a fine powder in spice grinder or Vitamix. Store the mixture in a screw top glass jar. Take two tablespoons each night with a cup of warm milk, spiced with cardamom.
Ojas Drink: Used for low ojas, pregnancy, low libido, debility and premature ejaculation. See recipes below.
Ojas Almond Restorative Drink
Serves 1, Sattvic, V-P-K+
Ingredients
10 raw almonds
1 cup pure water
1 cup milk (unhomogenized if possible) (milk is highly rejuvenative when digested)
1 Tablespoon organic rose petals (optional - rejuvenative)
1 tsp ghee (rejuvenative)
1/32 tsp saffron (increases digestion & rejuvenative)
1/8 tsp ground cardamom (increases digestion)
pinch of black pepper (helps control the K)
½ tsp of sweetener (increases lactose digestion)
Directions
Soak almonds and water together overnight
In the morning, drain off the water and rub the skins off the almonds.
Bring the milk to a boil
Pour the milk in the blender with the peeled almonds
Add rose petals, ghee, saffron, cardamom, black pepper, and sweetener
Blend until smooth.
Drink 3-4 times a week as directed. Best done after Pancha Karma as part of rejuvenation.
Watch if any signs of excess mucous/kapha, consult if so.
Non Dairy Almond Ojas Drink
Ingredients
10 raw almonds
2 cups pure water
20 raisins
1 Tablespoon organic rose petals (optional - rejuvenative)
1 tsp ghee (rejuvenative)
1/32 tsp saffron (increases digestion & rejuvenative)
1/8 tsp ground cardamom (increases digestion)
pinch of black pepper (helps control the K)
Directions
Soak almonds in 1 cup of water overnight, and soak raisins in 1 cup of water either overnight or for several hours
In the morning, drain off the almond water and rub the skins off the almonds
In a blender, add the raisins AND their soaking water with the drained and peeled almonds
Add rose petals, ghee, saffron, cardamom, black pepper
Blend until smooth
Drink 3-4 times a week as directed. Best done after Pancha Karma as part of rejuvenation.
Watch if any signs of excess mucus/kapha, consult if so.
For more nurturing and rejuvenating almond recipes see: Almond Pudding, Almond and Rice Dessert, Soma Horchata.
Alakananda Ma M.B., B.S. (Lond.) is an Ayurvedic Doctor (NAMA) and graduate of a top London medical school. She is co-founder of Alandi Ayurveda Clinic and Alandi Ayurveda Gurukula in Boulder Colorado, as well as a spiritual mother, teacher, flower essence maker and storyteller. Alakananda is a well known and highly respected practitioner in the Ayurveda community both nationally and internationally.
Enliven your holistic health! Visit Alakananda Ma in Alandi Ashram’s ayurvedic clinic to support the overall rejuvenation of your body, mind, and spirit. In-person and virtual appointments available. Book now!