Did you know that you would have to drink three cups of chai tea to achieve the same amount of caffeine you get in a single cup of coffee? That means switching to chai will cut your caffeine intake dramatically, even if you have an extra cup. Chai is an easy and enjoyable way to get off the stimulant/fatigue treadmill and enjoy something that is actually good for you!
Unlike coffee, chai has many inherently beneficial properties. The black tea in chai is rich in antioxidants and the spices in chai have been used for thousands of years to promote general health and well-being, as well as to treat various ailments.
According to Ayurvedic medicine, these spices are considered to be “sattvic,” or calming, vitalizing and mentally clarifying – The perfect antidote to the stresses of modern life! Let’s take a look at these traditional uses:
Cinnamon is thought to increase circulation and open breathing, increase awareness and vitality, and reduce fatigue. It is also reputed to be an aphrodisiac! (We won’t comment on this one.)
Cardamom
A popular spice in both the Indian and Chinese preparations, cardamom is said to benefit the lungs, kidneys, and heart. It is also a mood elevator.
Cloves
Native to the spice islands of Indonesia, cloves have been used by the Chinese since 300 BC, and came to Europe in the 4th and 5th Centuries AD. Cloves have pain-relieving and antiseptic attributes. Like pepper and ginger, clove is also used to synergistically increase the potency of other herbal blends.
Black Pepper
Widely used to support circulation and metabolism, black pepper can help to alleviate chronic coldness. (We can use more of that here, in the winter!) Attila the Hun demanded this spice as a ransom during the siege of Rome in 408 AD.
Nutmeg
Nutmeg has been used for centuries to ease sciatica and promote the digestion of heavy foods. It was also used by ancient Arab physicians to treat kidney and lymph problems.
Chinese Star Anise
Traditional Asian herbalists credit star anise with a variety of properties. It’s used frequently as a cough remedy and to freshen the breath.
Ginger
Long valued as a stimulant for the circulatory and the immune systems, ginger has been used to treat a variety of conditions from impotence to motion sickness.
Fennel
An important medicinal plant in the royal herb gardens of medieval France and Germany, fennel is still widely used to treat both kidney and eye problems, as well as laryngitis.
Boil 5 minutes, then steep 10 minutes:
Add, bring to a boil, and simmer 5 minutes:
Add:
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The Holistic HIghway integrates traditional Western medical practices with Ayurveda medicine, creating a focus on prevention through nutrition, diet, and exercise; use of the latest genetic testing and other diagnostic techniques; and prescribed combinations of botanical medicines, supplements, therapeutic diets, detoxification programs, or stress-management techniques.
Integrative Health Expert | Ayurveda Practitioner | Author | Speaker
Kerry is a globally recognized leader in integrative medicine and the science of health known as Ayurveda. She is passionate about raising awareness of the need for a change in contemporary medicine that focuses on patient empowerment and a health-based (rather than disease-based) medical system.
Kerry is connected with The University of Pittsburgh Center for Integrative Medicine and remains a pioneer in the field of integrative medicine where she has developed a personalized system to manage chronic disorders by incorporating fundamental changes in diet, behavior, and stress while focusing on genetics.
This individualized program is so successful that many of her clients have achieved maximum healing and vitality after years of chronic problems!
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The sole purpose of all the website content is to educate and provide information about Integrative Health, Genetics and Ayurveda.This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure. or prevention of any disease.
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