16 September 2010- With the advent of globalization, there has been a great drive towards the use of alternative medicine. Among the several options that are available in the market, there is ayurvedic skin care products. These natural skin cleaning products are native to India, a land where civilization has survived for thousands of years. However, how ayurvedic skin care products function and what is the relation between ayurveda and skin discoloration is still a mystery for may. Lets understand how ayurvedic or herbal skin care products preserve skin.
The first step in understanding the relation between ayurveda and skin is to know what this domain of alternative medicine is about the various possible natural treatments- using herbs and other natural extracts- that exist for skin according to the personal built up of body or skin type of each individual.
Also known as Ayurveda, this alternative form of medicine was developed and discovered in India. Though there is no evidence of when did this branch of medicine appeared, however most practitioners claim that the science of ayurveda is at least 5000 years old.
A Sanskrit word, ayurveda is a combination of two words, "ayur" means lifespan and "ved" means knowledge, or science, so ayurveda can be literally described as the science of life and longevity. Life span can be defined as the balanced union of body, mind, senses and consciousness. Ayurveda is a "consciousness-based" holistic approach, which focuses on these four components of life. Therefore, when talking about ayurvedic skin care, then also we refer to a balance in all these components.
Ayurveda is a holistic approach that perceived body as a whole. This holistic view can be combined with the precept that determined vegetables, animals and minerals have medicinal properties, which can be applied to human body. The medicinal values of these ingredients have been carefully recorded by hundreds of practitioners for centuries.
There are various examples of how these ingredients and mixtures can benefit body in the treatment or recovery of different kinds of diseases including skin problems. For example, there is 'Shirodhara', the principle of which is that the pouring of liquids in the forehead, the place were, supposedly, out third eye is situated. The procedure is also used by spas as a relaxing technique.
Similarly, one of the natural therapies having curative effects is the 'Mud Therapy'. Those suffering from diseases and skin problems are benefited by the goodness of mud. In recent times mud therapy is used as a beauty treatment as well. For skin related issues, wet clay is used to absorb the toxins from the skin and after the absorption process is completed, the clay is discarded. As clay or mud has high water retention capacity, it helps to moisturize and rejuvenate the skin. It gets rid of dead skin and nourishes the skin surface. Prevention and removal of acne, allergy cure are just some of the other functions that this therapy achieves. Therefore, ayurvedic medicine for skin is not only limited to some herbal dry skin soap or sensitive skin soap but to a whole therapy for treating skin disorders.
Alternative medicine hasn't been popular in western countries untill a few years ago. Decades ago, it was perceived as a type of medicine which had no scientific value and, most probably, no actual benefits for the patients. This appreciation may have had its origins with questionable treatment measures, like those taken during the black plague and the ill-remembered bloodletting.
So, after the scientific methods and techniques were implemented in western countries, there was little or nor room for esoteric medicine and principles, which had an origin based in mystical concepts than the trial and proof of western system of treatment. However, now the scene has changed and everyone world over has recognized the importance of natural ingredients in keeping oneself healthy. Now everyone looks forward to using organic skin care products.
In the case of India, ayurvedic treatment procedures were not in great demand, until its independence from the British Empire (in 1947), that they begin to push the use and application of ayurvedic medicine. Research centers like the National Institute of Ayurvedic Medicine are working to increase awareness about its benefits and advantages and have succeeded to a great extent in the recent years.
The first thing, which you need to know in your ayurvedic skin care, is to determine the kind of skin that you have. According to the ayurvedic medicine, there are three types of skin, viz. vata, pitta and kapha.
According to ayurveda, the best results for healthy skin are obtained by having a holistic approach that combines topical care with supplementation from the inside out. Ayurvedic skin rasayanas or extracts like Amla (gooseberry), Neem (margosa leaves), and Tulsi (basil leaves) can be taken internally to support the health and appearance of skin.
Vata skin is dry and very sensitive to climate changes. The skin type gets easily dehydrated and may lead to "wrinkles"and premature aging of skin. Ayurveda recommends Amala (goose berry) and the herb 'Ashwagandha,' both of which provide nourishment to dry skin. Additionally, people with dry skin must use natural moisturizers like ghee (clarified butter), almond oil or coconut oil that can be rubbed on skin before going to bed. They can also use some dry skin soap which contain such oils as coconut or olive oil soaps.
Pitta skin is soft and prone to freckles and moles because of its low tolerance to sunrays. If the pitta skin goes out of balance, it may react in different ways, like acne, sunspots or even rashes. Amala is soothing and nourishing for sensitive skin. The herb 'Triphala' can also be used for such skin type as it is excellent for all types of skin. Imbalance of Bhrajaka Pitta that colors the skin and can be compared to melanin causes blackening, pigmentation and discoloration of skin. Therefore, excessive exposure to sun, irregular eating, sleeping habits and consumption of foods and drinks that aggravate pitta must be avoided as they are responsible for the aggravation of bhrajka pitta also.
Kapha skin is quite tolerant to the sun because of its oily consistency and thickness. A kapha skin ages sloer than other skin types and does not wrinkle. Unfortunately, this skin type causes some inconvenience like water retention and pimples due to the excessive oil and eczema. Neem (margosa) and Tulsi (basil) help purify and clarify oily skin so one must use them directly on skin or in form of oily skin soap containing these ingredients.
It is important to note that the combinations between these different skin types also exist, so its is important to determine what kind of skin a person is having before applying a proper skin treatment. A normal skin soap can not always prove the best for these skin types. The ideal way to do it is through an ayurvedic skin care specialist.
An important thing is to combat stress. Stress is one of the main factors behind several ailments and skin is no stranger to it. In order to combat stress, a person needs to sleep well, do some kind of physical activity (for example, yoga), which relaxes mind and body, eat healthy food and visit once in a while, a spa in order to receive an ayurvedic skin treatment.
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