Beauty is Skin deep

[Guest guest]

When a large number of people are dying from Cancer, CAD etc. why

discuss beauty? The answer will be clear at the end of post. On this

message board, there is a ongoing discussion is on whether to boil

water and whether to take sea salt or iodized. Do not get confused.

Experiment yourself. Just one month use of sea salt will tell you

which salt is better, if you have been using iodized one so far. Your

body will tell you, if you listen to it. Scientific Test for foods,

which any body can perform without any equipment were also given by

this author in earlier posts. You can start the experiment of boiling

water out by just 25% and keep drinking it luke warm. Several earlier

posts have discussed Ushnodaka, water as elixir, medicinal waters etc.

 

Sept-Oct are months in which Pitta problems increase. Nose bleed,

vertigo, nausea, vomits, loose motions, fever, rashes, menorrhagia

are frequently experienced by sensitive people. These are ideal

months for detoxification of the body. Perhaps body tries Rakta

Vimochana by itself. In todays post we will discuss two simple herbs

available throughout world, which can be used to obtain beautiful

smooth skin and also to keep pitta dosha under control.

 

Ayurveda offers several receipes to keep both mind and body healthy.

Every herb helps humans in some form or other. All that we need is

some knowledge about how to use it. Many a time, person is healthy in

mind, but some unbalalnce exists in physical body. Herbs become very

useful to restore balance. Two herbs which are available widely are

Amalki and Turmeric. While turmeric has recently gained wide

acknowledgement as anti-cancer herb, in this post, we will address

only its properties useful for restoring or increasing skin beauty.

Turmeric is also available in slightly different variety, termed Amba

Haldi in India. This variety has less fibre, slightly less bitter,

lighter in color and is more used in beauty formulations.

 

When blood is pure, skin becomes smooth and silky. On the other hand,

the impurities in blood, which ayurveda terms as Pitta, cause skin to

become rough, constant itching and blemishes/spots of darker color to

appear. The first spot on body where such blemishes may develop is

the skin on ankle bone. Ayurveda comes to help readily in such

circumstances.

 

The beauty of the body is mainly dependent on nutrition in food and

its proper digestion/metabolism. To realize the truth in this

statement, just eat various fruits and vegetable soups for one week

(Juice fasting) and check the glow on skin. Our body knows only

health, when fed by proper nutrition and thoughts. The effects of

illness on body are always seen on skin. That is the reason, Vaidyas

use Darshan (Face) as first way of diagnosis. If there exists any

herb which can stop further unbalance of doshas, can increase memory,

make heart more healthy, the first choice is Aamalki. The reason

author has chosen this time of the year to write this post is that,

fresh crop of Aamalaki has started arriving in some cities of India,

and soon you will get it at inexpensive rates in Indian markets.

Amalki is `Grahi'. It means it enhances medicinal properties of any

other herb, when taken along with that herb. No wonder that Amala or

Amalki powder is a frequently found ingredient in many ayurvedic

medicines. Amala has property of stopping the vomits, quenching

thirst, increasing the libido and giving stronger erection. One fruit

of Amalki contains C vitamin, equivalent to the contents of C Vitamin

in ten lemon fruits. This contributes to anti-oxidant quality of

Amalki. Amalki is appetizer (deepana property), makes intestines and

ligaments stronger. Helpful in the fever caused by piles, bleeding

from chest, as cooler for heat in blood, for increasing the sharpness

of vision. The powder of Amalki (1/2-1 tsp) when mixed with honey (1

tsp) and given to Paralysis, Parkinson patients, it helps rebuilding

blood vessel network in brain. They regain motor function earlier, if

age is not beyond say 55.

 

Fresh Amla fruits, when ground coarsely, the juice is available.

This juice, when put in eyes few drops, eyes become glistening. For

places where fresh amala fruits not available, soak amala powder in

water (1 tsp for 100 ml water) and use this water to put soaked cloth

on forehead to stop nose bleed. Or carry out Lepan (paste) on

forehead. For loose motions, dyscentry, make a tea of coarsely

ground coriander seeds and amala powder ( 1 tsp each powder in 200 ml

water boiled for 10 minutes) and take three times a day. This tea

also helps to reduce and eliminate inflammation in urination which

occurs during urine infection(UTI). Ladies suffer more from this

condition, especially after pregnancy, C-section etc.

 

Amalki powder, Gokharu powder and sugar powder, when taken in equal

proportion, mixed and 1 tsp with water, reduced urine inflmation

occurring during Proteinuria. Youth oftens suffers by loss of semen

in urine. This simple remedy helps. In India, women use Amalki powder

tea along with Mehendi (Henna) to make hair smooth, silky and black.

Amalki oil helps make hair silky and lengthy.

 

Amalki is pitta pacifier, cool, Rakta shodhak and best Rasayana

(hence used in Chyvanprasha). As a beauty herb, we can use amalaki

powder as soap. Rub the powder on body, which will open skin pores.

Skin will become soft and start breathing. The glow on the face will

return. Amalki is a special herb amongst those used in Vajikarana

(Rejuvenation of body). It gives good strength. Both men and women

can take amalaki. One special property is that amalki powder is also

equally effective as fresh amala fruit. After taking amala in any

form, even water tastes sweet. Even Vipaka of amalki is sweet. If one

sweats heavily as a result of excess pitta, sweat having bad odour,

amalki is the right choice. Bath with amalki powder will clean pores,

but reduce sweating. Taking fresh amalki juice (2 fruits only) daily

morning empty stomach, takes care of obesity to some extent.

Premature ejaculation is the state where more than 50% men may be

suffering all over the world these days. This amla juice is the

right answet for this. The heat in the semen and vagina (itch, pain

etc) will be taken care by this juice. This property is used by

author to start fertility medicines for couples in Sept-Oct, so that

proble of sperms getting killed due to Vaginal acidity can be solved

by Amala juice.

 

Those suffering from Diabetes can add juice of fresh Turmeric (1

inch long piece) juice to Amla juice, this will reduce insulin

resistance. When fresh Amalki is not available, you can take 1 tsp

amala powder and ¼ tsp turmeric powder along with water.

 

Amalki is `Raktastambhak' meaning, it reduces blood flow in case of

bleeding. Thus, nose bleed, bleeding piles, blood in urine (UTI or

renal failure), stomach ulcer, peptic ulcer or duodenal ulcer, the

amalki juice helps reduce the blood loss. Amalki gives healthy and

deep sleep also, Amalki is an important herb in treatment of

Jaundice. Acne, hair-loss, are also conditions where Amalki finds

major herb in formulations.

 

Turmeric is the first herb of choice, when blood purification is

thought of. Several Chinese herbs (Say Chopchini, China fruit) have

also entered in Indian ayurveda as a result of visits by chinese

scholars to India. Turmeric is also useful in beauty treatment of

skin. Several MNCs in India now sell beauty cream made from

Sandalwood and Turmeric. Turmeric cleans any blemish on skin. In

Indian kitchesn you will always find turmeric powder. Moment children

get injured due to any reason, Indian mothers first apply turmeric on

the wound as anti-septic. The use of turmeric as kitchen spice must

have been encouraged in ancient days to achieve both taste and blood

purification. Today, most of anti-cancer drugs contain most Rakta-

shodhak herbs. Turmeric improves complexion of the skin. The

impurities of melanin, the skin pigment, are removed by turmeric, a

strong anti-cancer property herb. Turmeric is generally essential

ingredient in formulations used to treat itching (e.g. Haridrakhand).

People suffering from frequent cough, cold, asthma often have itching

also, especially during night. Such patients get benefits by taking ½

cup milk, boiled with turmeric, and ½ tsp cow ghee added at the time

of taking. Some add a speck of sea salt to this milk. This

combination melts the phlegm, allowing it to exit. Turmeric reduces

vitiation of Kapha, Vata. Helps in boils, vitiligo, worms, eczema,

anorexia, raktadosha, prameha, swellings.

 

Amba Haldi and a little Calcium Hydroxide (Chuna used in Pan/Tambul

in India), when mixed together and applied on parts of body damaged

due to fall, fracture, pressure, swelling etc helps quick healing. A

home made poultice can also be used. Take a cup of rice floor, add ¼

cup Turmeric powder and a little milk to make a thin paste. Heat

paste on low heat. Soon paste will become cooked and some

transparency will develop. Apply this paste in hot condition on

swollen body part. Swelling and pain will disappear in just 3-4 days.

Turmeric. Ganesh festival is just over. Several suffer by hoarse

voice these days, since festivals in India are very noisy. By takina

a cup of milk boiled with a pinch of turmeric powder, this hoarse

voice problem can be tackled.

 

While suffering from Cough/Cold, if head starts aching, just put a

tsp of turmeric and 21 leaves of Tulsi in a cup of water, and let

water boil. The steam can be inhaled and also taken on forehead. The

headache goes away in just five minutes!

 

If you have dry cough and have tried every other medicine, one more

remains to be tried. Aloe Vera pulp 1 tsp, cow ghee 1 tsp and ¼ tsp

turmeric powder, mix everything and take twice a day.

Thus Amalaki and Turmeric are important herbs in Ayurveda. In India,

best quality turmeric is available from Maharashtra (Sangli district)

and Tamilnadu (Erode district).

 

Dr Bhate