Ayurveda Article - All-Natural Skin Care

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Seven Suggestions for All-Natural Winter Skin Care

 

Ayurveda, the 5,000-year-old holistic healing system from India, has

a lot to say about looking, and feeling, beautiful. Vaidya Rama Kant

Mishra is a world-renowned Ayurvedic dermatologist and has formulated

dozens of all-natural, botanical-rich skin care products. "Beauty

begins with common sense," he says. "It can be as simple as eating

right, getting your beauty sleep and managing stress."

 

According to Vaidya Mishra, what you put on your skin is absorbed by

your skin. If you use heavily synthetic, chemical-laden products on

delicate facial skin, be prepared for long-term damage. This doesn't

mean you have to do without cosmetics. Look for natural products, and

read those ingredients with a magnifying glass. Many products that

claim to be herbal or botanical can contain artificial ingredients.

 

Protect your skin. Winter winds can be very harsh and drying on some

types of skin. Natural fibers such as wool, silk or thick cotton are

recommended. Wear protective moisturizer, and remember that extended

periods of exposure to winter sun can be very harmful. Don't forget

that sunscreen on your skiing trip!

 

"Winter skin is very receptive to deep nourishment," says Vaidya

Mishra. "This is the season to pamper your skin with rich nourishment

routines, morning and evening." The Ayurvedic herb Gotu kola, for

example, is a collagen enhancer and can help your skin look and feel

younger. "Make sure you use an herbal product that is balanced," says

Mishra. Balance is key in Ayurveda, with different herbs in a

formulation working synergistically to magnify one another's benefits

and counteract possible side-effects from any particular herb.

 

"Diet is important," emphasizes Mishra. Balance tastes at every

meal. Include all six tastes - salty, sweet, sour, bitter, pungent

and astringent at every meal, with more of the three `s' tastes -

sweet, salty and sour especially recommended for this season.

Surprise - Ayurveda says bread, rice and milk are actually sweet

foods, so you can get the sweet taste without resorting to calorie-

adding heavy confections.

 

Beauty begins from within. More diet tips! Include lots of leafy

green vegetables in your diet. Eat plenty of sweet, juicy fruits.

Drink lots of water through the day. Don't skip meals. Eat pure,

fresh foods - stay away from canned or processed foods that contain

additives and chemical preservatives. Cook with spices - they're not

only great flavor enhancers, they can help you stay healthy and

beautiful. Cumin, for example, helps flush your body of toxins, and

this, in turn, can mean a glowing, radiant complexion.

 

Get your beauty sleep. "Early to bed and early to rise still holds

good," says Mishra, "if you want to look beautiful everyday." Sleep

deprivation levels tend to be high in our 24/7 society. Lack of sleep

does not just put dark circles under your eyes and rob the luster

from your skin. Sleep deprivation has been linked in recent research

to long-term health problems, including obesity. "Manage your time,

plan ahead, get family members to share tasks," advises Mishra. A

soothing cup of herbal tea, a warm scented bath, or a settling aroma

diffusing in your bedroom can all help you get those zzzs.

 

Stress is dangerous to your health - and it can show. "Whether it's

time pressure, or your stress stems from the heart - old painful

memories, family conflict - you need to learn to manage it," counsels

Mishra. Music, aromatherapy, laughter with family and friends, a

quiet evening stroll - take a few minutes several times a day to

consciously relax. A luxurious full-body massage before your morning

bath or shower can get you set for a hectic day. Try this quick

recharger any time of day - lie down for 10 minutes with rose-water

scented cotton-wool over your eyes in a quiet room and feel the

tension dissolve.

 

"This advice may seem simple, basic," says Vaidya Mishra, "but if you

follow these suggestions, you'll be surprised how good you look and

feel. True beauty comes from within - from good health and a happy

soul. Pay attention to the health of your mind and body, and your

friends will say `You look fabulous! What's your secret?'"

 

 

Note - Information given in this article is solely for the purpose of

imparting education on Ayurveda, and is not intended to diagnose,

treat, cure or mitigate any disease. If you have a medical

condition, please consult your physician.

 

Note : This ayurvedic information is educational and is not intended

to replace standard medical care or advice.

Copyright MAPI, 2002.

 

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