"Nightcap" Organic Ginger Lemongrass Botanical Blend

A nightcap is a popular way to end a meal, sending your body a message that it's time to relax and digest your food before bedtime.  Organic Nepalese ginger root and lemongrass are natural digestifs, which makes them a great post-meal beverage.  

There are numerous benefits to both ginger and lemongrass.  It aids in digestion, piques the appetite, lowers hyperacidity, and prevents gas formation and bloating.  

In Ayurvedic medicine, a low digestive "fire" in a normally cool-natured Vata dosha causes an imbalance, resulting in excessive belly gases.  Lemongrass and ginger increase the warmth and bring balance to pacify the Vata dosha.  Lemongrass and ginger aid in sleep and insomnia by calming and balancing an aggravate Vata dosha.  An aggravated Vata dosha also impairs digestion and causes toxins (Ama) to accumulate in pancreatic cells, impairing insulin function in the body.**  Ginger balances Vata dosha, improving sexual function in men by increasing testosterone levels, has aphrodisiac (Vrihya) properties, manages menstrual pain and spasms.  Ginger reduces an aggravated Vata dosha, which can lead to pain and swelling associated with osteoarthritis (Sandhivata).  

Bloating is also caused when the naturally hot Pitta dosha is lower than usual, resulting in low digestive heat.  lemongrass and ginger increase the warmth to balance Pitta dosha.  However, over-consumption of lemongrass and ginger should be avoided in the Pitta dosha because we don't want to tip the scales into having too much heat.* 

Lemongrass and ginger balances Kapha dosha.  Because Kapha dosha is cool and slow in nature, it can become aggravated by additional cold.  Lemongrass and ginger warm Kapha dosha, managing it to maintain equilibrium and balance.  When Kapha is balanced, digestion in improved, urine (Mutrala) production is normalized, bowels are calmed and purged regularly (Rechana), and colds, coughs and body aches are reduced.  Because a weak digestive system stores excess fat, lemongrass aids in weight loss by helping the body digest excess fat properly and improve metabolism.  Lemongrass also releases mucus and clears air passages and opens breathing and ginger strengthens the lungs, resulting in a balanced Kapha dosha.   

*Beneficial if not in excessive amounts due to is Ayurvedic hot nature (ushna).  **Monitor blood sugar while ingesting ginger if you are on medication for diabetes.