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NATURAL DETOX FORMULA FOR OPTIMAL HEALTH

Table of Contents
Understanding Ayurveda .. 5

The Doshas: Vita, Pita, Kapha ... 6 Toxins and Diseases .... 7 Your Bodys Toxin Overload ...... 9 Ayurvedic Detoxification . 14 Ayurvedic Fasting ... 15 Rejuvenation from Fasting ... 17 Sample Detox Recipes . 18 The Six Tastes ...... 20 Additional Resources ...... 26

India Herbs - Ancient Remedies 2012, Affluent Trade Management. All rights reserved.

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Disclaimer The information in this book is intended to be used for educational purposes only. This book is published with the understanding that authors and publisher are not providing medical advice of any kind, nor is this book intended to replace medical advice, nor to diagnose, prescribe or treat any disease, condition, illness or injury.

Before beginning any diet or exercise program, including any aspect of the guidance in this book, it is advised that you seek full medical consultation from your physician about your medical condition. Author and publisher claim no responsibility to any person or entity for any liability, loss, or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly as a result of the use, application or interpretation of the material in this book.

Understanding Ayurveda
"Ayurveda" means the science of life. It originated in India 5,000 years ago. The term Ayurveda came from two Sanskrit words: ayur, which means life, and veda, which means science. The most significant revision of the old Ayurvedic texts came between the 8th and 10th century. The principles of Ayurveda are held together by its core value: balance. Ayurveda believes that health is achieved when there is balance in all areas of your being: body, mind, and soul. The key to health is gaining balance in everything.

The Doshas - Vata, Pitta, Kapha Ayurveda perceives the body as made up of energies: Vata, which comprises ether and air; Pitta, which comprises fire and water; and Kapha, which comprises water and earth. These are known as the Doshas. The three Doshas encompass movement, transformation, and stability in your body. Any imbalance in their creation results in illness.

Ayurvedic Diagnosis Unlike Western Medicine, which quickly acts on the symptoms of a disease, Ayurveda goes deep down to treating the underlying causes of disease and to restore balance into your being.
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In Ayurvedic diagnosis, the positive signs are the first ones to look for. Your tissues are well nourished if you have bright complexion, good flesh and fat, solid bones, strong nervous system, and eyes full of luster. The next stage is to check the bowel movement and urine. This is followed by an examination of pulse, tongue, and face. Excess of Kapha causes mucus, indigestion, lethargy, cough, and nausea. Insufficient Kapha leads to weakness, dryness of skin and mouth, body aches, palpitations, and insomnia. Too much Pitta causes excess bile, creating anger, acidity, body heat, burning sensations, lack of sleep, and excessive hunger and thirst. Insufficient Pitta causes coldness, lack of vigour and joy, stiffness, and weakened digestion. Excess Vata results in weakness, emaciation, dryness, flatulence, constipation, pain, insomnia, tremors, giddiness, and impairment of sensory and motor functions. Insufficient Vata causes reduced metabolism and disturbed digestion. To know your dosha and better understand your body constitution, take this simple quiz.

Ayurvedic Treatment Ayurveda treats a disease by restoring balance amongst the Doshas. Treatment of disease for Ayurveda also covers the soul, mind, and body. Meditation is for the soul, mind control is for consciousness, while diet, activity, purification, and palliation are for the body. This ancient medicine utilizes nature very well. It uses variety of potent herbs that exert different activities inside the body to help gain the balance back. Other techniques like yoga and massage are also applied in Ayurveda. A major area in Ayurveda is detoxification. Toxins destroy the balance of the body and bring forth diseases.

Toxins and Diseases

Imbalance of the three doshas caused by tension, unstable emotions, poor diet, and toxic environment results in disease. When one of the doshas experiences imbalance, toxins start to accumulate and this begins the disease process. Six Stages of the Disease Process Each of the doshas is said to live in different parts of the body. Vata lives in the large intestine, Pitta in the small intestine, and Kapha in the stomach. Ayurveda states that Vata imbalance is the primary cause of disease. When Vata aggravates, it disrupts the other two doshas and leads to total imbalance in your system. Mental stress largely contributes in triggering Vata imbalance, thus, also in starting the disease process. It aggravates your emotional and psychological state. When your mind is disturbed, your Vata is immediately affected. Your mind has a special relation with your Vata as they both direct your bodys responses and relay movements to the other two doshas.

The 6 steps in the disease process are: 1) 2) 3) 4) Accumulation Disturbed Flood Movement
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5) Manifestation 6) Chronic disease The imbalanced Vata will accumulate toxins (accumulation) in its home, the large intestine. When it becomes aggravated (disturbed), it fills its home (flood) and moves to a home of another dosha (movement). The manifestation of disease starts at this point. When the aggravation lasts for a long time, toxins accumulate in your intestinal and lymphatic systems, in your organs of purification (liver, spleen, and kidney), and in your tissues. The chronic imbalance among the doshas, as the movement is passed, brings forth disease.

Poor Digestion and Toxins The importance of having a healthy gut and good digestion to overall health is often underestimated. The truth is health begins with a sound gastrointestinal tract. The functions of your GI tract include breaking down food to nutrients, facilitating nutrient absorption by the blood through intestinal walls, and preventing foreign and toxic molecules from entering the bloodstream. Poor digestion results in ama (undigested food residue, also referred to as toxins). While ama lodges itself in your colon, you continue to eat and eat. The amount of the undigested food slowly accumulates on the walls of your intestines and leaks into your blood stream. This disrupts your vata and begins the disease process, as mentioned earlier in this chapter. The ama that leaked from your intestines is carried by your bloodstream throughout the body. When this happens, your immune system has to work double time to fight off toxins. Your liver and kidneys have to filter out increasing level of toxins. When your intestinal walls are coated with ama, the good bacteria are also overpowered. This destroys your bodys ability to assimilate nutrients and synthesize vitamins. Your body is then robbed off the basic nutrients it needs. Any poorly-digested food molecule that leaks through inflamed intestinal walls also feeds harmful bacteria and causes formation of antibodies. These antibodies mistakenly attack your immune system, body organs, and tissues
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leading to auto-immune diseases like arthritis, lupus, and myocarditis. Your intestinal tract is the starting place of the majority of diseases. Ayurveda identifies numerous ways to prevent ama overload. These include balanced diet, lifestyle, and exercise routine. Exercise releases ama from the tissues through sweat. Meditation helps expel negative thoughts from your mind. Drinking cleansing teas and fasting effectively support your bodys toxin elimination channels. We will discuss more about ayurvedic detox in the next chapters.

Your Bodys Toxin Overload As stated, poor digestion leads to toxin accumulation which leads to disease. Our Environment Studies show that since the 1940s approximately 87,000 synthetic new chemicals have been produced in the United States alone. At most about 3% of these chemicals have been tested for cancer-causing properties, and even fewer have been tested for hormone disrupting properties. Over 3,000 of these chemicals have been added to our food supply and more than 10,000 chemical solvents, emulsifiers, and preservatives are being used for food processing. We ingest hundreds of pounds of food annually that are contaminated by these chemicals. In our lifetime through food we ingest, water we drink and bathe in, and air we breathe, each of us will consume 100 times the amount of pesticides, chemicals, life stock hormones, and preservatives than our grandparents did. This will inevitably disrupt the natural harmony and balance of our bodies. In addition, much of today's foods are genetically modified. The term genetically modified means the genetic blueprints of living organisms such as plants, animals, and microorganisms are unnaturally altered or disrupted. The "hidden menu" of these unlabeled genetically engineered foods and food ingredients in the United States now includes soybeans, soy oil, corn, potatoes, squash, canola oil, cotton seed oil, papaya, tomatoes, and dairy products. Over 70 million acres of genetically engineered crops are presently under cultivation in the United States. Up to 500,000 dairy cows
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are being injected regularly with Monsanto's recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH). And genetically modified bacteria and fungi are used in the production of enzymes, vitamins, food additives, flavorings, and processing agents in thousands of foods on grocery shelves. According to the biotechnology industry, 100% of food in the United States will be genetically engineered within the next 5 to 10 years! Consuming these genetically modified foods presents a constant and unknown hazard to the very essence of our well being.

Your Detoxification System A toxin is defined as any compound that has a detrimental effect on cell function or structure; some toxins cause minimal negative effects while others can be fatal. Toxins damage the body in an insidious and cumulative manner. The body naturally processes toxins through the liver, kidneys, and lower intestines. These organs must function optimally for toxins to be adequately removed from the body before they damage tissue. If your detoxification system becomes overtaxed, toxic metabolites (by-products of metabolism) gradually accumulate and wreak havoc on normal body processes. Since all of your organs and functions are intimately connected, when basic body processes breakdown, your entire body deteriorates. For example, the human body is composed of about 60 trillion cells of various shapes and functions. Every cell and tissue in the body is nourished by nutrients in the blood stream which are supplied through the intestines. The digestive tract converts food into valuable nutrients which are subsequently absorbed by the body. During this process, the digestive system produces a mucous substance which is normally excreted together with other waste matter. However, diets rich in processed foods and poor in fiber prevent proper elimination of this substance. As small amounts accumulate along the walls of the digestive tract, sluggish bowel movement and constipation occurs. As colon walls cake up and passages of the colon get narrower and narrower, the digestive process of toxin extraction from food and elimination from the body becomes ineffective leading to a toxic colon condition. Undigested fecal matter in the body is one of the leading causes of diseases.
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According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the average American male aged 50 has between 5 and 22 pounds of compacted fecal matter stuck in his digestive system. The subsequent contamination of the intestines leads to toxins entering the blood, tissues, and organs, and contaminating them as well. The largest internal organ in the body is the liver. The liver works by both filtering toxins directly and by altering toxins so that they can be removed during other stages of detoxification. The liver filters toxins from about one liter of blood every minute. Some of these toxins are endotoxins (produced in the body) and exotoxins (from outside the body). These wastes are eliminated by the kidneys or the colon. Other toxins, composed of compounds that are difficult for the liver to filter, must be broken down with enzymes so that they can be removed. A properly functioning liver is vital to your health. Serious toxin overload of the liver can easily occur. Toxins released from the liver must leave the body through the colon and kidneys. If a person is constipated, the toxins are not eliminated and are instead reabsorbed back into the liver. This occurs while new exotoxins are continually introduced into the body through medication, pesticides, cigarette smoke, pollution, impurities in food, bacteria, and other problematic substances in the environment; and concurrently new endotoxins are created in the body due to stress and lack of exercise. The resulting blood pollution puts tremendous strain on the kidneys which normally process 200 quarts of blood daily to sift out waste products to keep blood clean and chemically balanced. The road to disease is soon paved with an improperly functioning liver, gummed up excretory system, strained kidneys, and a slew of toxins that bind to enzymes at the cellular level and neutralize them causing cells to stop functioning properly. This toxin buildup initially expresses itself through minor symptoms like sluggishness, headaches, and acne, but later leads to life-threatening ailments like cancer, organ failure, and hormonal imbalances which cause obesity and diabetes. A study by the Columbia University School of Public Health estimates that 95 percent of cancer is caused by diet and environmental toxicity. Most Americans have between 400 and 800 chemicals stored in their bodies typically in fat cells.
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Your Detoxification System

Healthy Colon

Unhealthy Colon

Healthy Colon Lining

Toxin Damaged Colon Lining

Healthy Liver

Diseased Liver

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Healthy Kidney

Failed Kidney

Resulting Health Problems Digestive clogging, liver overload, failing kidneys, and toxin buildup are known to cause the following health problems: Acne Allergies Altered Metabolism Bad Breath Blotting Body Odor Colon Cancer Confusion Constipation Depression Diarrhea Itching Kidney Failure Loss of Appetite Migraines & Headaches Mood Swings Muscle Cramps Nausea & Vomiting Neurological Disorders Nutritional Deficiencies Obesity Poor Appetite
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Dry skin Ear Aches Endocrine Disorders Enzyme Dysfunction Fatigue Flatulence Frequent Colds Hemorrhoids Halitosis Hormonal Imbalances

Poor Memory and Concentration Pre-mature Aging Reproductive Disorders Sinus Problems Skin Blemishes Skin Rashes Stiff Joints Weakened Immune System Weight Gain

Ayurvedic Detoxification Ayurveda offers many herbs that have been used for thousands of years to support the body's detoxification system: the liver, kidneys, and colon. Our company India Herbs has taken concentrated extracts from the most effective herbs to develop Ayurtox - a herbal supplement protocol that will help eliminate toxins from your body over a period of 3 to 6 months and help support liver, kidney, and colon functions. Within the first week of taking Ayurtox, you will experience improved bowel movements. Other benefits (better sleep, healthier skin, decreased frequency of headaches) will become apparent over subsequent weeks as toxins are removed from your body. Here is our guide for Ayurtox. You can learn more on the Ayurtox website:

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Ayurtox
Supports Healthy Liver, Kidney, and Colon Functions
Benefited Health Profile Recommended For

Irregular bowel movements Skin problems Frequent headaches Allergic reactions Weakened immune system

Liver Support Kidney Support Colon Support Nutrient Absorption Daily Bowel Movements

Ayurtox supports your detox system by eliminating toxins to increase the effectiveness of all other supplements.

100% Herbal Extracts Formulation Common Name

Amla Indian Madder Licorice Andrographis Cabbage Rose Chebulic Myrobalan Chicory Ginger Gotu Kola Indian Jalap Shatavari Neem Phyllanthus Amarus Tribulus Turmeric Picrorhiza

Botanical Name
Phyllanthus Emblica Rubia Cordifolia Glycyrrhiza Glabra Andrographis Paniculata Rosa Centifolia Terminalia Chebula Cichorium Intybus Zingiber Officinale Centalla Asiatica Operculina Turpethum Asparagus Racemosus Azadirachta Indica Phyllanthus Amarus Tribulus Terrestris Curcuma Longa Picrorhiza Kurrooa

Primary Benefits
Supplies antioxidants for detoxification Supports blood purification Promotes healthy liver function Promotes healthy inflammation response Maintains normal hormonal balance Supports healthy digestion Supports liver and gallbladder functions Fosters gastrointestinal tract detoxification Nurtures healthy cell rejuvenation Sustains healthy immune system response Sustains healthy immune system response Promotes healthy liver function Supports healthy digestion Supports healthy kidney function Supplies antioxidants for detoxification Sustains healthy immune system response

Ayurtox's proprietary formulation contains 421 phytonutrients that exert 611 synergistic activities on your body. Many of these phytonutrients are widely recognized for their contribution to Liver, Kidney, and Colon Health. For example:

Arginine - Regulates kidney function Curcumin - Supports healthy digestion and detoxification enzymes while protecting cells from oxidative stress as a result of toxin exposure Gallic-Acid - Protects liver from toxin damage For more information: www.ayurtox.com

Ayurvedic Detox Fasting

Ayurvedic Fasting Fasting is the principal method of detoxification in Ayurveda. It helps to stimulate the digestive fire to burn away accumulated toxins from the body and mind. It eliminates gas, engenders mental clarity, and restores overall health. Ayurveda prefers regular, short-term fasting over occasional longterm one. Abstaining from food or water for extended period may deplete bodily tissues and lead to doshic imbalance. Fasting on a same day every week gives a good dose of regular detox already. You can also set a few days each month to fast. The frequency and type of fasting will depend on your body constitution and toxin level. Types of Ayurvedic Fasting:
Light Foods Fasting - consuming light foods only like Kitchari and Kanjee Green Fasting - consuming fruits, vegetables, or juices only Liquid Fasting - abstaining from solid foods while drinking water or herbal teas Dry Fasting - abstaining from both food and liquids including water

Consider your body constitution, digestive power, level of ama, and overall health condition in determining the type and length of fast suitable for you. If you have a chronic illness, it is best to consult an Ayurvedic practitioner before going on any fast. Your Fasting is Effective if you Experience:
Lightness in the body Mental clarity Increased energy Regular bowel movements No gas accumulation or bloating Having a clean tongue and fresh breath

Your fast should engender a peaceful feeling for you. It should not be a stressful routine or a forced obligation. Breaking your fasts properly is also important. You have to take in light foods and gradually make your way to solid foods.

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Panchakarma Panchakarma is a Sanskrit word which refers to five detoxification processes. It is a 5-action rejuvenation program for the body, mind, and consciousness. In Ayurveda, a healthy state is characterized by having a
body clear of toxins, a mind filled with peace, and emotions which are calm and happy. Panchakarma rids the body of toxic materials caused by disease and

poor nutrition. It expels excess doshas from the body. When waste is
efficiently eliminated, the body organs function at their best

Panchakarma therapies are also customized for every individual. These safe therapeutic methods deeply purify tissues, supply energy to all body channels, increase vitality, and promote inner peace. Panchakarma starts with light fasting, steam therapy, oil massage, and herbal decoctions intake to prepare your body for an intense detoxification process. These loosen the accumulated toxins and drive them to the main channels of your body for elimination.

The five primary treatments of Panchakarma are:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Herb-induced emesis or vomiting (vamana) Herb-induced purgation (virechana) Herbal decoction enema (asthapana basti) Medicated oil enema (anuvasana basti) Nasal administration of medication (nasya)

Panchakarma should be done with an initial consultation with a qualified health professional. The individuals prakruti (birth constitution) and the nature of his or her health problem must be identified first. Based on these two, the appropriate therapies are recommended. Ayurveda also recommends Panchakarma as a preventive measure for those who do not have any health condition.
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Simple Detox Recipes

Honey Lemon Diet Honey and lemon diet helps to detoxify and relieve weight problem. Obesity is characterized by excessive deposits of fat in tissues, which strains your heart, kidneys, liver and joints. Obesity is linked to several diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, liver and gall bladder disorders.

Honey lowers cholesterol levels and stimulates usage of fat in the body as energy, resulting in purification of blood. Fasting on honey and lemon-juice helps treat obesity without energy depletion or experiencing fatigue. Mix one teaspoon of raw honey (unheated) with the two teaspoons of lime juice or lemon juice in a glass of room temperature or lukewarm water. Take it in the morning on an empty stomach. You can also take this after a meal. It serves as a digestive and effective tonic.

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Detoxifying Tea Warm teas are also effective to flush out accumulated toxins from the body.

Simply mix the following ingredients in a medium saucepan with 4 cups filtered water. Let it boil for 5 minutes and then steep for 2 to 5 minutes. Add lemon while the tea is steeping. 1 teaspoon cumin seeds teaspoon coriander seeds 1 cinnamon or licorice stick 10 fresh basil leaves Squeeze lemon juice

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The Six Tastes for Optimal Nutrition

Ayurveda believes that your body has an innate wisdom regarding food and nutrition. Ayurvedic nutrition begins with your sense of taste. Your tongue is your real guide towards proper nutrition. You can determine whether a food is healthy or toxic through its taste. Your taste buds do not only identify tastes, they also unleash the nutritive value of foods and start the digestive process. There are 6 tastes in Ayurveda: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent, and astringent. The first four tastes are familiar. The other two are less known. Pungent taste is hot and spicy like chili pepper. Astringent taste is dry and light like popcorn.

TASTE

ACTION

SOURCES

Sweet

Builds tissues, calms nerves

Fruit, grains, natural sugars, milk

Sour

Cleanses tissues, increases absorption of minerals

Sour fruits, yogurt, fermented foods

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Salty

Improves taste to food, lubricates tissues, stimulates digestion

Natural salts, sea vegetables

Bitter

Detoxifies and lightens tissues

Dark leafy greens, herbs and spices

Pungent

Stimulates digestion and metabolism

Chili peppers, garlic, herbs and spices

Astringent

Absorbs water, tightens tissues, dries fats

Legumes, raw fruits and vegetables, herbs

1) Include all 6 Tastes in each meal The 6 tastes naturally guide us towards our bodys nutritional needs. Each taste feeds our mind, body, senses, and spirit in its own unique way. They satisfy each of our dietary need. Sweet foods supplement our need for fats, proteins, carbohydrates, and water. Bitter and Astringent foods give us our supply of vitamins and minerals. The brain tells the body when it requires energy from food. Having all 6 tastes in every meal, you meet these brain signals while avoiding cravings or over consumption.

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2) Understand your body constitution to determine the proportion of tastes you should eat Your body naturally wants tastes that balance its doshic constitution. When you follow your natural inclinations, you are led to the proper foods for your body type. Vata individuals naturally desire moist, grounding foods. Kapha individuals like light, drying foods. Pitta individuals favor cooling foods and spices. Ayurveda recommends all 6 tastes to be included in your every meal. You can prefer the tastes that give balance to your particular constitution.

3) Balancing the Doshas through Taste

DOSHA

MOST BALANCING

MOST AGGRAVATING

Vata

Sweet, Sour, Salty

Bitter, Pungent, Astringent

Pitta

Sweet, Bitter, Astringent

Sour, Salty, Pungent

Kapha

Pungent, Bitter, Astringent

Sweet, Sour, Salty

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Sweet taste is composed of Water and Earth. It is heavy, moist, and cooling by nature. Sweet taste is found in milk and milk products; grains like wheat, rice, and barley; legumes like beans and lentils; sweet fruits such as bananas and mangos; and certain cooked vegetables.

Sweet taste increases bulk, moisture, and weight in the body. It is excellent for building the bodys seven vital tissues (dhatus) of plasma, blood, fat, muscles, bones, marrow, and reproductive fluids. Sweet taste also increases saliva, soothes mucous membranes and burning sensations, relieves thirst, and nourishes the skin, hair, and voice.

Sour Taste is composed of Earth and Fire. It is hot, light, and moist by nature. It is commonly found in citrus fruits such as lemon and limes; sour milk products like yogurt, cheese, and sour cream; and fermented substances like wine, vinegar, pickles, sauerkraut, and soy sauce.

Sour taste stimulates digestion, helps circulation and elimination, energizes the body, strengthens the heart, and fortifies the senses.
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Salty taste is composed of Fire and Water. It is hot, heavy, and moist by nature. It is found in nuts, chips, pickles and in sea vegetables like seaweed and kelp. Like sweet taste, salty taste also stimulates water retention and weight gain in the body.

Salty taste improves digestion, lubricates tissues, liquefies mucous, maintains mineral balance, aids in the elimination of wastes, and promotes radiant skin.

Pungent taste is composed of the elements of Fire and Air. It is the hottest of all the 6 tastes and is light and dry. It is found in chili peppers, garlic, onions, and in spices such as black pepper, ginger, and cayenne.

Pungent taste helps clear sinuses, promotes digestion and detoxification, regulates circulation, and improves metabolism.

Bitter taste is composed of Air and Ether. It is light, cooling, and dry by nature and is found in green leafy vegetables, herbs, and spices like turmeric and fenugreek.
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Bitter taste has powerful antibiotic, anti-parasitic, and antiseptic qualities. It is a good detoxifying agent and is helpful in reducing weight and water retention.

Astringent taste is composed of Air and Earth. It is the least common of all the 6 tastes and is dry, cooling, and heavy in nature. It is found in fruits such as cranberries, pomegranates, and pears; and in vegetables such as, broccoli, cauliflower, artichoke, asparagus, and turnips.

Astringent taste creates a dry, chalky sensation in the mouth. Dry foods like crackers and fruit skins have astringent qualities.

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Additional Resources

More information on body detoxification and other health topics can be found on the Ayurtox website:
http://www.ayurtox.com/

And in our Newsletter archives:

http://www.india-herbs.com/monthly_newsletter.php

To know your dosha, take this simple quiz:

http://www.india-herbs.com/doshatest.htm

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