This Immunity Spice Mix is warming and purifying, with primarily the pungent, astringent and bitter tastes, considered so medicinal in Ayurveda. Try to have a teaspoon, as tea or cooked into your foods, every day.

The spices can be sautéed with ghee or coconut oil before cooking in vegetables, rice, or grains. You could also add it to boiling water to make a tea ~ As a morning tea, it will rev up your system, encouraging circulation. As a tea to accompany meals, add a splash of lemon juice and a touch of honey and sip warm to strengthen digestion.

You can also make it into a golden milk, with boiled coconut milk, or your favorite, plus a dash of cardamom, maybe a spot of honey. You could even add it to your smoothies with a date or two.

Remember: The sweet taste lubricates and tonifies which is important to balance Winter’s Vata. It also helps your body absorb the nutrients of the other tastes, so ghee, milk, dates are all part of the medicine.

A note of caution – this can be stimulative. It’s best to avoid taking near bedtime.

Immunity Spice Mix

• 6 parts ground turmeric
• 3 parts ground cumin
• 3 parts ground coriander
• 6 parts ground fennel
• 1 part powdered, dry ginger
• 1 part ground black pepper
• 1/2 part ground cinnamon

Mix spices together thoroughly. Store in an airtight container. Use within one month.

For Vata Dosha, add a dash of Himalayan pink salt, and a sprinkle of sesame seed.
For Pitta Dosha, replace the cumin with mint or cilantro. Optionally, use cardamom powder instead of black pepper.
For Kapha Dosha, it is perfect all year round. You could even add 1/4 part clove or cayenne.

In addition to this immunity spice, you might benefit from one of these make-it-yourself Ayurvedic healing recipes, like the ginger lemon honey cold remedy, pictured here.

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Please take care. Mother Nature can be an overwhelming power, demanding our respect.

I wish you strong inner fires to can stay warm and healthy in this new year!