The Medicine of Love: Heart-Opening Foods & Practices

​This week we celebrate love. The nourishment it delivers. The inspiration it incites. Love makes us more open to change. Love activates the brain to release chemicals like dopamine and oxytocin, creating feelings of happiness and well-being. That optimistic state makes us more receptive to new experiences and open to trying things differently. Love invites us to give and receive fully. It makes us more compassionate toward others. The medicine of love starts with the heart—not just in the emotional sense, but also mentally, physically, and energetically.

According to Ayurveda, the heart is at the root of many key systems in the body. It is the seat of the mind—the place where true wisdom resides. The heart governs prana, our life force, circulating vitality throughout the body. It is also the foundation for nutrient absorption, immunity, and overall well-being.
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Energetically, the heart is home to the heart chakra (Anahata), the center of love, connection, and compassion. On a spiritual level, it is said to be the home of the higher, infinite, “unstruck” self—the part of us that is whole and indestructible. The heart chakra is associated with the air element, which allows for movement, expansion, and the ability to give and receive love freely. When this energy is flowing, we experience peace, openness, and unconditional love. When blocked, we may feel disconnected, withdrawn, or weighed down by grief and resentment—both emotionally and physically. We may even experience tightness in the chest or poor circulation.

Love and digestion are deeply connected. What we take in—physically, mentally, and emotionally—must be digested, distributed, and absorbed. When digestion is sluggish or overwhelmed, it can impact circulation, mood, and energy. Likewise, when we hold on to stress, grief, or tension, circulation becomes obstructed, and the body often responds with indigestion, bloating, or fatigue.

Ojas: The Heart of Vitality

At the core of this connection between the heart and digestion is Ojas, the essence of vitality and resilience. Ayurveda teaches that Ojas is what gives us strength, radiance, and immunity—it’s the foundation of our ability to heal, recover, and thrive. Ojas is built as a result of good digestion. Strong Ojas makes us feel steady, energized, and full of life. When depleted, we may feel exhausted, overwhelmed, and more susceptible to stress and illness.

Everything that deeply nourishes us: healthy digestion, restful sleep, loving relationships, meaningful work, and even the small moments of joy that make life feel rich supports ojas. Love—whether in the form of self-care, nourishing meals, breathwork, or heartfelt connection—builds Ojas. Anything that brings warmth, connection, and deep nourishment strengthens both body and mind.
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Let's explore nourishing the heart in every sense—through movement, breath, touch, and food. Here’s how you can bring more love into your life, starting with your own well-being…

Heart-Opening Practices for Love & Vitality

1. Abhyanga: Oil Massage to Soothe & Strengthen

The simple act of warm oil massage can be a deeply grounding and heart-opening ritual, whether done alone or shared with a partner. In Ayurveda, regular oil massage (abhyanga) is known to nourish the tissues, support circulation, and calm the nervous system.
For heart health, nourishing oils like sesame or coconut oil are ideal. If you’d like to add a heart opening touch of floral warmth, you can infuse your oil with a few drops of rose essential oil.
How to practice:

• Warm about 1/4 cup of oil slightly.
• Lovingly massage it onto your skin, using long strokes on the limbs and circular strokes around the joints and heart center. Infuse every part of your body with appreciation and love as you apply the oil.
• Let it soak in for at least 10 minutes before a warm shower.

This simple practice can be a beautiful way to bring warmth and self-love into your day. It’s also a sweet ritual to use to connect with your partner. 

2. Heart-Opening Breathwork (Pranayama)

Breath is one of the most direct ways to shift energy and open the heart. Certain pranayama practices in Ayurveda help release tension, enhance circulation, and bring a sense of lightness.
Try these three heart-supporting breath practices:

• Alternate Nostril Breathing (Nadi Shodhana) – Balances the nervous system and promotes emotional clarity.
  
• Bellows Breath (Bhastrika) – Increases warmth and circulation, helping move stagnant energy.
  
• Bee’s Breath (Bhramari) – Calms the mind, softens stress, and supports deeper connection.
  

A simple way to begin: Try 5-10 minutes of Nadi Shodhana each morning or before bed.
Breathwork can also deepen connection. Try practicing alongside a partner, or simply sit facing each other and sync your breathing for a few minutes. This can be especially helpful in moments of tension as well as moments of intimacy.

3. Backbending Yoga Poses

Certain yoga poses are known for their ability to release tension in the chest and encourage a sense of openness and ease. Ayurveda recognizes the connection between posture, digestion, and emotions—when the chest is collapsed, the heart is constricted, digestion can slow, circulation is poor and stress can accumulate.
These gentle backbends are wonderful for inviting warmth into the heart space:

• Chair Pose with a Backbend (Utkatasana variation) – Strengthens and expands the chest.
  
• Locust Pose (Salabhasana) – Opens the front body and improves circulation.
  
• Bridge Pose (Setu Bandhasana) – Gently expands the heart and supports digestion.
  
• Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana) – Releases tension in the diaphragm and encourages deep breathing.
  

Try holding one of these poses for 5 deep breaths while focusing on expanding and opening the heart. Notice how your body responds.

The Medicine of Beets: A Nourishing Valentine's Dish

One of the best ways to support heart health and digestion is through warming, grounding foods. Beets, with their deep red color and earthy sweetness, have long been used in Ayurveda to support circulation, detoxification, and nourishment.

Why Beets Are an Ideal Love Medicine:

• They support heart health by improving circulation and blood flow.
  
• They nourish and cleanse the blood, making them unique in their ability to both build and detoxify.
  
• They help digestion by gently stimulating bile flow, supporting the liver, and keeping the gut moving.
  
• They offer an aphrodisiac effect, promoting warmth, stamina, and vitality.
  

And what better way to enjoy them than with a warming, comforting bowl of borscht?

My Gift to You: A Nourishing Borscht Recipe

This soup is rich, grounding, and perfect for the late winter season. It's a crowd favorite from my 7-Day Soup Fast.

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp ghee or olive oil
• 1 medium onion, peeled and chopped
• ½ cup chopped celery
• 1 medium carrot, peeled and chopped
• 2 medium potatoes or sweet potatoes, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
• 4 cups water, homemade vegetable broth or chicken broth
• 1 medium beet, peeled and grated
• ½ head green cabbage, very thinly sliced
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
• Small bunch fresh dill, chopped
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Sour cream (optional)

Instructions:

1. In a large saucepan, melt the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté for about five minutes until it starts to soften.
2. Add the celery and carrot and cook, stirring for about five minutes until softened.
3. Add the potatoes, garlic, broth, beet, and cabbage. Increase the heat to medium-high, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes, or until the potatoes are softened.
4. Add the vinegar, dill, 1 tsp salt, and pepper, adjusting to taste. Cook for another 5 minutes.
5. Serve warm. You can garnish with a dollop of good-quality sour cream if you like.

Enjoy this gut-friendly, heart-nourishing dish as a simple way to invite warmth and vitality.

A Soothing Aphrodisiac Tea

This Ayurvedic Aphrodisiac Tea supports circulation, energy, and relaxation, making it a wonderful evening ritual.
Ingredients:

• 1 tsp licorice (soothes the nervous system)
  
• 1 tsp shatavari (supports feminine vitality)
  
• 1 tsp ashwagandha (builds stamina and relieves stress)
  
• 1 tsp cinnamon (increases warmth and circulation)
  
• ½ cup of milk (optional)
  

Instructions:

1. Combine herbs in 6 cups of water.
   
2. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
   
3. If using milk, add it after 20 minutes, bring the tea to a boil again, and turn off right away (watch carefully to prevent overflow).
   
4. Strain and drink while hot.
   

This tea is a simple, soothing way to nourish the body and settle the mind—perfect for a cozy evening.

Love Wins

Is there anything more important that we’re here to do than love? 

Love feeds life. It inspires us to be the best version of ourselves. It fuels connection, compassion, creativity, and purpose. Ayurveda sees love—not just romantic love, but our connection to life itself—as a key ingredient for well-being. When we love what we do, when we feel in sync with ourselves and the world around us, our health flourishes.
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The whole purpose of Ayurveda is to help us live with clarity and alignment—to move through life with vitality, meaning, and connection. In Sanskrit, this is known as Purushartha—the four aims of life:

• Dharma (living with purpose)
• Artha (cultivating the resources we need to thrive)
• Kama (experiencing joy and fulfillment)
• Moksha (moving toward freedom and ease)

In simple terms? Ayurveda exists to help us live a life we love. One where we have the energy to show up fully, the clarity to make choices that support us, and the resilience to move through challenges with grace.

If you’re ready to explore Ayurveda more deeply—whether it’s through food, self-care, or daily rhythms—I’d love to support you. You can start by checking out my free resources or exploring ways to work with me one-on-one.