One truly curious quality of the supremely sweet licorice root is that its plant belongs to the same family as peas and beans! What a surprise it must have been for someone to discover, many millennia ago, that beneath this leguminous tree spread layers of a sweet, stick-like root.
Did you know that the licorice plant itself bears fruits resembling a pea-pod? But often, plants, like people, hold fascinating and beautiful secrets just beneath the surface.
And Ayurvedic wisdom teaches us that licorice has the power to do far more than simply satisfying our craving for something sugary-sweet.
Perhaps you’ve heard the word 'Ayurveda' but you’re unsure of its precise meaning. Essentially, Ayurveda is a traditional system of medicine that originated in India. The central philosophies of Ayurvedic wisdom promote holistic health through herbal treatment, clean diet, and the yogic way of living. By emphasizing these practices, Ayurveda seeks to achieve balance of body, mind, and spirit.
As you can probably imagine, there are numerous life-giving herbs at the heart of Ayurvedic recipes. But did you know that some Ayurvedic tonics contain more than 40 unique herbs and botanical ingredients?
And as a potent ingredient, Licorice finds special significance in the Ayurvedic parlance for its ability to enhance the powerful properties of other herbs.
Licorice is treasured for its
sweet, cooling, calming properties. In Ayurveda, there are three body types, or doshas -
Pitta, Vata, and Kapha. Herbs like licorice root have fascinating effects on the three distinct biological energies. In a beautiful display of synchronicity,
Licorice helps restore balance to all three types.
In Sanskrit, licorice is known as
Yashtimadhu. Not surprisingly, this word translates to
sweet stick.
But what unique sweetness does licorice gift to the three doshas?
Vata Dosha:
This body type consists of
air and ether elements. Ether is defined as the space in between things. Therefore, Vata type is an expression of these two elements in mind, body, and spirit. Licorice is known to moisten and balance Vata.
Pitta Dosha:
Pitta dosha is
fire plus water.
Individuals with this body type are described with words such as hot, sharp, and oily. It makes sense then that cooling
Licorice would have a divine balancing effect on Pitta dosha.
Kapha Dosha:
Earth and water combine in the Kapha dosha which unites properties like heavy, dense, and cold. In small quantities,
Licorice promotes proper balance in the Kapha dosha much as it does with the Pitta and Vata.
In recent years, Yoga has gained immense devotion in the West. But did you know that the Yogic practice began over 5 thousand years ago in Northern India?
In fact, the very first mention of Yoga was within the
ancient texts of the Rig Veda - one of the four sacred canonical texts (śruti) of Hinduism.
The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit root
Yuj - to unite.
Just like the holistic approach of Ayurveda, the Yogic practice seeks to balance body, mind, and spirit in divine harmony.
But you’re probably wondering what Licorice has to do with Yoga?
When you incorporate luxurious Licorice-infused body oils into your Yoga routine, you can
awaken sore muscles, warm tired tendons, and invigorate both body and mind. A massage oil brimming with wonder-herbs supports
optimal focus, relaxation, and an energized mind.
Picture with us, if you will, a vivacious, spirited woman who has embraced the warm essence of herbal oils into her daily morning routine and before she goes to bed. Applying these oils has become as second nature to her as washing her face and preparing her morning tea.
Before engaging in her morning Yoga, the woman applies a full-body oil brimming with life-giving herbs like Licorice, Rosemary, and Lavender. As she massages the oil into her tired muscles and tendons, she can feel her body awakening - tingling with warm, stimulating sensations.
As she enters into her Yogic practice, the woman feels activated and alive. Her muscles glisten in the orange morning sunlight as she sets her intentions on peace, self-support, and loving kindness toward her body.
She feels alignment between her mind, her spirit, and the whole earth, blossoming all around her.
And as the hustle and bustle of the day finally comes to an end, the woman reaches for a second oil - this one in a beautiful glass bottle that evokes a sense of peace and groundedness. She lovingly applies the elixir to her scalp in a
gentle massage. And in doing so, she experiences an unwinding of her tension as a feeling of bliss slowly creeps into her stress-riddled mind.
While her maturing hair is quenched for hydration, this luxuriant oil helps enwrap her nights in a blissful calm, sweeten her slumber, and
soften and rejuvenate her hair to health and luster, naturally!
And as the hustle and bustle of the day finally comes to an end, the woman reaches for a second oil - this one in a beautiful glass bottle that evokes a sense of peace and groundedness. She lovingly applies the elixir to her scalp in a gentle massage. And in doing so, she experiences an unwinding of her tension as a feeling of bliss slowly creeps into her stress-riddled mind.
While her maturing hair is quenched for hydration, this luxuriant oil helps enwrap her nights in a blissful calm, sweeten her slumber, and soften and rejuvenate her hair to health and luster, naturally!
Not at all!
In fact, the two oils the woman used are thoughtfully crafted elixirs that The Ayurveda Experience offers in their line of iYURA Oils. These delightful recipes combine time-honored herbs like Licorice to restore, rejuvenate, and promote a blessed balance.
In the West, there tends to be a strong emphasis on “the latest, greatest fad”. But ancient tradition and time-honored wisdom tells us that everything we need to attain revitalization comes to us from the
generous, all-natural cornucopia of the Earth.
iYURA Oils are pure, all-natural, and cruelty-free. They do not contain toxins, chemicals, binders, or additives. Through our line of clean massage oils, iYURA seeks to bring the wisdom and healing of ancient Ayurveda to the modern Western seeker.
One of the many nutritive oils that contain the cooling Licorice is
iYURA’s Vyam Yoga Oil. By integrating this oil into your Yoga practice, you can
elevate the entire experience and maximize the healing, restorative qualities
of the session.
Your skin glistening, your muscles primed, a full-body massage with nourishing oils is a
supreme act of nurture and self-care.
Vyam Yoga Oil is wonderful for:
Another oil that incorporates calming Licorice in its recipe is the Nidradi Oil. Other key ingredients include:
Tender Coconut Water, Chamomile, and Blue Water Lily. In addition to
moisturizing and hydrating your scalp and nourishing your hair, this soothing tonic will relax and calm you.
As we mature, our skin (and scalp) naturally produces less oil. Although we don’t want excess oil on the scalp, we do want enough to prevent dryness, itching, and flakes. A pre-sleep oil, the silky, smooth Nidradi oil massaged thoughtfully into the scalp can do wonders for your scalp, hair, and mind!
Nidradi Slumber-Time Head Massage Oil is wonderful for:
Whether you’re new to the Ayurveda Experience or well-versed in all things Ayurvedic, it is our distinct pleasure to present all-natural iYURA Oils. This collection of tonics is created with harmonizing, balancing agents like cold-pressed Sesame Oil, Licorice, Sandalwood, Chamomile, and dozens of other clean, trusted ingredients.
Whether you’re looking for face, hair, or full-body oils, iYURA has a naturally-sourced, beautifully-packaged gift for you! And speaking of gifts, our oils make thoughtful, memorable gifts for your wellness-minded family and friends.
Whether you’re new to The Ayurveda Experience or well-versed in all things Ayurveda, it is our distinct pleasure to present the all-natural iYURA Oils. This collection of pure, premium oils is created with harmonizing, balancing agents like Sesame Oil, Licorice, Sandalwood, Chamomile, and dozens of other clean, trusted ingredients.
Whether you’re looking for face, hair, or full-body oils, iYURA has a naturally sourced, beautifully packaged gift for you! And speaking of gifts, our oils make for thoughtful, memorable gifts for your wellness-minded family and friends.
‘I love the Nidradi Oil. I place the oil on my scalp then run my fingers through my hair. The oil is not greasy at all. I have noticed a considerable difference in my hair.
My scalp feels soooooo exhilarated when using this product.”
- Kathy B.
“Divine energy! I Love it! Vyam Oil is now a part of my morning routine. This ritual vitalizes me spiritually, mentally, and physically.
There is a noticeable increase in my energy levels and my state of mind is more positive. I feel alive, nurtured, and nourished!”
- Jacqueline W.
“Warming... This oil is great for after Yoga, especially when those muscles have been stretched to their max!”
- Debra N.