Ayurvedic Skin Secrets
Ayurveda, the ancient and natural, form of healing, focuses extensively on healing the body by using natural remedies and cures. However, this practice is not limited only to the physical body, but also helps with our outer appearances.
For many individuals, dry, flaky, and rough skin is a daily problem. Weather that is too hot or cold can cause imbalances and irritation in the skin. Often this can occur just by traveling to a different climate during the change of seasons. Fortunately, Ayurvedic medicine covers this problem extensively. Ayurveda not only tackles the symptoms of dry skin, but also remedies the cause as well.
In Ayurvedic theory there are three principle energies, one being vata or “wind” in Sanskrit. The qualities associated with vata are coolness, dryness, and roughness, which are similar to qualities that ironically enough, the wind possess. As fall approaches and the air becomes cool and crisp, we are more susceptible to these changes which causes an imbalance in our vata. When our vata is not aligned, the reactions in our body come out in the form of dry and cracked feet, peeling skin, and cold hands and feet.
However, do not be discouraged because where there is an Ayurvedic explanation there is also a cure! To remedy such problems as dry skin, many practitioners suggest warm oil. This simple cure is great for skin because it heals dry skin naturally and without artificial additives. However, the benefits of warm oil go a bit more than just skin deep. The word in Sanskrit for oil is snehana or� “affection”. This can be literally taken as how oil really helps to “affectionately” heal us in the rejuvenation process. It can purify and calm the mind, keep your energy up, and also improve sleeping patterns.
Another way to cure dry skin is by focusing on what you are ingesting. More often than not, coffee is a lead cause of dry skin. Coffee, as we all know is a diuretic and helps to flush out water from the body which we need to stay hydrated. It may be a bit much to ask java lovers to give up their caffeine, but doctors recommend supplementing a few cups of coffee a day for some warm spiced milk. Although this might not give you the “perk” you’re used to, your skin with greatly thank you for this small sacrifice.
These remedies for dry skin not only help with that particular problem, but also cleanse the mind. The body must work internally to remedy an external problem, thus cleansing itself in the process. Next time you feel dry skin coming make sure you remedy the problem both internally and externally.