I was at the Indian grocers’ this week, and he turned me on to Chyawanprash (sometimes also called Chyavanaprasha, Chyavanaprash, Chyavanaprasam, Chyawanaprash, or Chyawanprash - none of which trip off the Western tongue lightly).

Now, before I go any further, I should explain that our Indian grocer isn’t just any Indian grocer. He is a classically trained Ayurvedic practitioner - his grandfather and his grandfather’s father passed down the Ayurvedic traditions to him. In fact, he is now in medical school here, so that he can practice here, blending his skills and knowledge. So when he recommends something as being Very Good for you, I tend to give it some credence.

In this case he not only recommended it - highly - but he suggested I Google it, which of course I did.

Wow.

Chyawanprash is a blend of more than 40 herb- and plant-based extracts. The brand that Raj carries is Dabur Chyawanprash, which he says is the best, and Google seems to bear that out.

The recipe is said to be more than 2000 years old. Legend has it that it was developed by a monk who was very old, and was then put in a position of having to marry a sweet young thing, and asked for a week to get ready. It is said that he then developed the Chyawanprash, and when they came back for him a week later, he was a much younger man.

Now, I don’t know that Chyawanprash is actually a fountain of youth, but I do know that it is chock full of some amazing things, with even more amazing properties.

According to the description from Dabur, “Dabur Chyawanprash is a powerful combination of over 40 herbs and plant extracts in a base of Amla (Indian Gooseberry fruit pulp). Dabur Chawanprash is derived from a 2500 year old ayurvedic formula. It is completely chemical-free, natural and safe. The first historically documented formula for Chyawanprash is found in the Charak Samhita, the ancient Ayurvedic treatise written by sage Charak in the 4th century BC. Prepared from more than 40 plants, fruits, roots, herbs and minerals in a base of amla fruit pulp, it works on the vital internal defense mechanism and increases body immunity.”

Chyawanprash is said to excel at helping one to build up immunity. Raj said this as well. In addition, it can boost energy, and aid in convalescence. And it’s extremely high in antioxidants.

Some of the ingredients include:

Amla - this is the Indian gooseberry, and is very rich in Vitamin C, pectin, and tannins. It is said to stop premature graying, encourage nail and hair growth, improves vision, nourish teeth and bones, cleanse the digestive system, and regulate blood sugar.

Ashwagandha - this is said to regulate body functions to aid in controlling stress and regulating immunity.

Pippali - said to aid, assist, and strengthen respitory functions.

Kesar - boosts energy and improves the skin.

Guduchi - provides mental and physical strength, and boosts the immune system.

Karkatsringi - aids in warding off coughs and colds.

Satavari - said to promote overall health and stamina, to improve mental function, and improve eyesight.

Bala / Vidarikand - said to boost strength and stamina.

These and 30 to 40 more herb and plant extracts make up Chyawanprash.

So let me tell you the two most surprising things I found out about Chyawanprash:

1. It tastes really good (Raj said that some people don’t like it). I found that it tasted kind of like a fruity cinnamon-y paste. It’s very thick - about as thick as organic peanut butter.

2. You can buy the very same thing from Amazon! As I said of the Lampe Berger - is there anything they don’t sell?? And the price is almost the same as I paid at my Indian grocers. So, you can check out Chyawanprash for yourself there, if you want!

Meanwhile, I’m taking mine every day!

Check out Chyawanprash at Amazon

I’m very excited - I just ordered a Lampe Berger (a/k/a Lamp Berger, Lampe Bergere, or Lamp Bergere), and have high hopes for it helping to remove the cat scent - you know, that distinct cat smell deposited by any unhappy cat - from the air in our house! For those of you wondering “What is a Lampe Berger?”, a Lampe Berger is a sort of an oil lamp with a unique distinction - it has a cataltic burner that is said to actually destroy odor, and purify the air, before dispensing the scent of the scented oil which it burns.

The Lampe Berger was developed more than 100 years ago by a French pharmaceutical chemist, Maurice Berger. Fans of the Lampe Berger, and the manufacturer itself, claims that it will remove and destroy many offensive odors, including pet odors, cigarette smoke, paint fumes, and many others.

After destroying the offensive odor (in this case offensive cat odor) it will put out the scent of whichever Lampe Berger scent oil you filled it with. Lampe Berger makes dozens of Lampe Berger oil scents - I ordered the “Atlantic Tide” which has notes of sandalwood, cedar and patchouli (doesn’t that sound yummy?!), but there are also such scents as Cinnamon Rolls, Ocean Breeze, and even Neutral (”for times when you want to lessen the impact of a scent or have no scent at all”).

I searched high and low to find this information and to find a place to order my Lampe Berger and some of the special Lampe Berger oil - had I only thought to look on Amazon first (is there anything that they don’t carry?!)

So check these out!

Lampe Berger lamp
Wave style, Blue

Lampe Berger lamp
Ondine

Lampe Berger lamp
Wave style, Frosted

Lampe Berger oil
Atlantic Tide

Lampe Berger oil
Cinnamon Rolls

Lampe Berger oil
Ocean Breeze

Lampe Berger oil
Neutral

You can check out all of the Lampe Berger Products at Amazon here.

Our dog loves and is fascinated by our goats. Unfortunately, they don’t share the love, and when he’s outside with them, Momma Goat tries to smash him to bits, in an effort to protect Baby Goat. Dog thinks it’s a big game and doesn’t realize the peril he’s in, so inside he stays when they are out, and vice versa (no, the goats don’t go in the house, although they do try at every opportunity! They go into their pen, which you see behind them.)