Page 18 - November 2020
P. 18
Connections, Ayurveda
& Doggie Toothbrushing
By Uma Hingorani, Ayurvedic Practitioner
Recently, I had the experience of a simple and The veterinarian was young and spoke in a
powerful connection when I took our dogs to friendly manner. The conversation started by
the vets for a dental checkup. I arrived a few her asking me how I was doing. I told her I was
minutes early and called in to the front desk. trying to meditate, but my mind was racing
Everything takes a little longer nowadays, as usual. She laughed heartily and told me
because of the safety precautions for covid. her mind does the same thing. Then she told
After about ten minutes, someone came to me that she had news that she rarely gets to
our car and took my two dogs inside while give. Our dogs’ teeth looked so good that she
I waited. I decided to go for a walk in the recommended skipping the yearly anesthetic
beautiful park nearby. It was a lovely fall teeth cleaning! I was thrilled to hear this. I
day. I couldn’t remember the last time I was asked her if I could share my secret with her
alone and relaxed like this. I breathed deeply if she had a minute, which she did. A little
amongst the trees, sitting on a bench, and over a year ago, I began brushing their teeth
listened to the sounds of nature. Birds chirped, with a mix of powders of turmeric (3 parts) +
a friendly squirrel came close by to say neem (1 part) + a pinch of Himalayan pink sea
‘hello’, and a blue jay flew onto a tree branch salt.2 The antimicrobial effect seemed to work
overhead. I felt at peace and lingered in the wonderfully with daily brushing. A few years
moment. It didn’t take long before my mind back, before starting Ayurveda School, I had
darted into its usually array of thoughts and to- the terrible experience of taking our dogs in for
do lists. And then the vet called. a teeth cleaning and ended up spending $1500
18 myindigosun.com
