Wonderful Weekend Recipe: The Longevity Electuary for everyday health and wellbeing

For this week's Wonderful Weekend Recipe, I thought I'd continue the honey-based electuary theme from last week.  My imaginary monks will be pleased!

A delicious Ayurvedic recipe for long life

Ayurveda, which originates from India, is thought to be the oldest system of medicine in the world, dating back 5000 years ago or more.  In fact it's even more than that: the word Ayurveda means "science of life" in Sanskrit and represents a complete system of healthful living, encompassing everything from diet and nutrition, herbs, massage and detoxification to the mind, emotions, activity, rest, sleep and how to live according to the seasons.  Pretty much every aspect of life is covered in some way, and the key to it all is the concept of the three 'doshas': Vata, Pitta and Kapha.  Everyone is governed by these three aspects - which represent the elements of fire, earth, water air and aether - to different degrees.  Most people have one particular dosha that is predominant in their inbuilt constitution, and once one understands which dosha they are, they can start to live their life in a manner that will allow health, happiness and contentment to flow.  If you'd like to know what dosha you are, there's a great quiz at www.doshaguru.com (registration required).

But this isn't the place for a lengthy discourse on Ayurveda.  All you need to know for this recipe is that this Ayurvedic electuary will have numerous health benefits regardless of your dosha.  So, with the context firmly in place, on with the recipe!

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Get a daily health boost with the Longevity Electuary

Grab a 250 mL (8 oz) jar, and add the following:

• 3 tsp ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) and/or shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) powder (see below)
  
• 3 tsp spirulina or chlorella powder
• 3 tsp slippery elm (Ulmus fulva) or marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) powder
• 2 tsp Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) powder
• 1 tsp cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) powder
• 1 tsp elderberry (Sambucus nigra) powder or whole berries
• 1/2 tsp turmeric (Curcuma longa) powder

Finally, cover the mixture almost to the top of the jar with locally produced honey.  Stir slowly, to avoid a cloud of herb powder covering your kitchen, until the herbs are well mixed into the honey, put the lid on, label and store.  And that's it!  No need to refrigerate as honey is an excellent preservative.  The Longevity Electuary is meant as a daily health tonic, eaten directly from the spoon, on toast, dissolved in hot milk, almond milk, coconut milk or ghee - however you like, really!

A host of powerful ingredients

Ashwagandha, shatavari and Siberian ginseng are known as adaptogens, which help the body to resist stress of all sorts: a good brief definition is that adaptogens are non-toxic, produce a non-specific defensive response to stress and have a normalising influence on the body.  In my opinion, we all need adaptogens in our lives, and the Longevity Electuary is a delicious way to do it!

Slippery elm and marshmallow aid digestion and soothe the gastrointestinal tract, as well as being highly nutritious.

Elderberry is an excellent immune remedy, being rich in vitamin C and a powerful internal cleanser for conditions like flus and colds.

Turmeric has a wide spectrum of useful properties, including boosting the liver's detoxification pathways and aiding digestion.  One of its active constituents, curcumin, is a current hot property in cancer research.

And while not a herb, spirulina - a single-celled, blue-green algae - is highly nutritious and has a host of health-promoting properties of its own.  The same, if not more, can be said about the green algae chlorella.

The only potential problem with this amazing recipe might be getting hold of the Ayurvedic ingredients ashwagandha and shatavari.  The first place to try is your local independent health food store or herbalist if they also sell dried herbs; or failing that, have a look online.  Another alternative is to replace these Ayurvedic herbs with a homegrown adaptogen that will be easier to obtain, such as licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra).

Simple to make, with health benefits for everyone, the Longevity Electuary is one to treasure.  Let me know how you get on if you decide to make some!