The Ayurvedic Way to Perfect Skin
by Shreelata Suresh
Ayurveda, the 5000-year-old science of healing from India, advocates
the use of natural skin care products that feature potent herbs,
fruits and spices to keep your skin and hair looking healthy and
radiant in every season and at every age
Want healthy beautiful skin? Think farmers' markets brimming with
Nature's bountiful produce, not sterile labs and "dead" chemicals
with polysyllabic names.
"According to the ayurvedic texts, fresh vegetables and fruits,
grains, nuts, honey, milk, coconut milk and cream are excellent
sources of nutrients for your skin and hair," says renowned
ayurvedic dermatologist Rama Kant Mishra. "Extracts, powders and
pastes made from these natural materials, topically applied, deliver
their healing benefits from the outside to all the layers of the
skin. Add therapeutic herbs, fragrant flowers and skin-friendly
spices such as saffron and turmeric, and you have all the
ingredients you need for healthy glowing skin and strong lustrous
hair."
Phytochemicalsùchemicals occurring naturally in plantsùhave been
shown to have potent antioxidant power. Research has also shown
that your skin can benefit from topically applied antioxidants just
as it does from the antioxidants in the foods you eat. Carrot oil,
for example, which is included in many natural sun protection
formulations, contains carotenoids that enhance your skin's ability
to resist damage caused by the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays.
Ayurvedic herbs such as Gotu Kola have been shown in research
studies to support collagen synthesis and heal skin conditions such
as varicose veins when taken internally and applied topically.
"Herbs work their magic both from the inside out and the outside
in," says Mishra. "It is a truly holistic approach to beautiful skin
and hair, with beautiful appearance a result of perfect health, not
artifices that are temporary and may actually do more harm than good
in the long term."
How herbs work from the inside out
According to ayurveda, perfect skin and healthy hair are the result
of good digestion that leads to proper absorption of nutrients by
the body and efficient elimination of wastes.
"Both absorption of nutrients and elimination of toxins are equally
important," says Mishra.
"Your skin needs lots of nourishment on an ongoing basis. Good
digestion creates good rasa, the nutrient fluid that is the basis of
healthy body tissue. Rasa is responsible for skin moisture level and
plumpness. Good digestion also creates good rakta dhatu, pure blood.
Rakta governs skin clarity, color and glow. So when the nutrients
from the foods you eat are properly absorbed by the body, your skin
shows the results in glowing healthy color, vibrant good health and
clear tone."
Efficient elimination of wastes is equally crucial for skin and hair
health. When toxins build up in the body, your skin and hair look
dull, lifeless and unhealthy. "Skin eruptions and lack of clarity
often stem from toxin build-up either inside the body or on the
skin," says Mishra.
Classical ayurvedic herbs and fruits such as Amla and Triphala are
skin rasayanasùherbs that have an overall positive effect on skin
and hair health and appearance. "Amla or Amalaki (Indian Gooseberry)
is very nourishing for the skin and hair," says Mishra. "It has
powerful antioxidant properties, enhances the digestion, and
supports all the layers of the skin." Triphala is a traditional
internal cleanser that helps cleanse the physiology of toxins.
That's a boon especially for persons with oily skin, because oily
skin needs stringent cleansing to stay clear and healthy. Tulsi
(Holy Basil) is another well-known ayurvedic skin rasayana. "Tulsi's
special quality is that it helps boost the body's ability to
withstand the effects of environmental pollution," says
Mishra. "When buying any herbs, make sure you invest in quality
herbs that have been processed carefully and are potent and pure."
These herbal rasayanas, when made correctly from whole, mature herbs
without using chemical solvents or preservatives, act just like
whole foods in delivering healing benefits to your skin and hair,
according to Mishra.
"There is no doubt that you have to maintain a proper daily routine
of caring for your skin and hair," says Mishra. "When you combine a
regular regimen of cleansing and nourishing externally using
natural, botanicals-rich topical products with whole herbs that
offer support from within, your skin and hair will look their very
best, no matter what your age."
Note: This material is educational, and is not intended to diagnose,
treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you have a medical concern,
please consult your physician.
Copyright AyurBalance, Inc. 2003
About the Author:
Shreelata Suresh is a yoga instructor and writer from the Bay Area.
She writes for various publications on yoga and ayurveda. For more
articles on ayurveda, to buy premier ayurvedic products or to
subscribe to free e-newsletters, please visit
http://www.ayurbalance.com.
