The benefits of a bath - excellent article by Dr Bhate.

[Guest guest]

Bath is another worship for Health

 

Ayurveda, being a health philosophy rather than herbal " pathy " ,

concerns itself with whole lifestyle. In India day starts with

bath. It appears that desire to take bath is generated in healthy

body itself. Can we use bathing desire as an indicator of health?

Bath not only supports healing of several skin diseases, but when

taken in the morning, invigorates, increases digestive agni and

douses drowsiness, perspiration, thirst and inflammation too. Hence,

it should be counted as a tonic.

 

Most of the advertisements for toilet soaps and cosmetics show a

beautiful model bathing and using the product. And Bollywood romantic

movie remains incomplete without the actor or actresses seen drenched

in rain or bathing in swimming pool! Bathing charges body with both

vitaligty and vigor, cleansing both body and mind. The most enjoyable

time for a baby when she is given a warm oil bath. Many elders in

India take oil bath to beautify and shape body. Other than making

skin silky smooth, the oil massage increases blood and lymph

circulation too! If one takes an oil massage, follows it with

exercise and then takes hot water bath, it makes whole day happy.

Many in coastal cities need to take bath in evening too, to cleanse

the perspiration and its odor of the whole day. If one is cursed to

travel in suburban train of Metros, free steam sauna is a bonus. The

perspiration odor, if suppressed by deodorants or antiperspirants,

the penalty was discussed in a recent post on ayurvedaonine. Best way

is to take an evening bath. Though hot water bath takes care of

fatigue, ayurveda recommends cold water bath, which gives several

health benefits. Even if you use hot water for bathing as it suits

your constitution better, do not pour it over head, as it causes hair

loss, reduces glow in the eyes. Glow in the eyes represents strength

of all dhatus. And all the lifestyle factors which raise pitta (hot,

spicy and salty foods, excess sex, sleeping late, moving in hot

sunlight etc) cause eye glow to reduce. Cold water bath kills

shivering and body becomes warm after sometime.

 

There are instances where bath should not be taken. For instance,

when suffering from fever, diaorrhea, indigestion, cold, gas in the

stomach, tinnitus, blocked ear etc, it is better not to take bath.

Bath after meals can affect digestion hence better avoided. The sick

can be sponged instead, but it is essential to keep the skin clean so

that pores remain open and skin is able to breath.

 

Blinded by high pitch advertising in media, you may be tempted to use

commercial soaps. The discussion on essences, cosmetic cleansing

chemicals and moisturizers in soaps can be carried out separately.

The best ayurvedic soap is the powder of amalki. The Bengal gram

floor can also be used to increase the beauty of the skin. A mixture

of Bengal gram floor, green gram floor, honey, lemon, amalki powder,

turmeric (special variety termed aamba haldi in India). Sandal powder

and lastly milk or cream separated from milk all are the ingredients

of a soap/paste. If oil is used for massage previous to bath, use

buttermilk instead of milk. This ayurvedic paste is very useful for

babies. The lingering smell of sandalwood makes mind very calm. Use

of hot water in which amalaki powder is boiled earlier is a special

medicated water to wash hair. It stops hair loss, increases hair

length and makes them smooth, silky and retains the black color for a

long time. Longevity is bonus in addition.

 

Another receipe is taking Vacha, Coriander seed, turmeric, rose

petals, Daru Haridra, Amalki, Lodhar and Sarasau (an oilseed consumed

in U.P.) all items equal in weight in powder form, say 10 grams, and

add 100 grams green gram floor. Mix everything and keep in an

airtight box. At bath time, take a little powder, add a little water

and make a paste. Apply the paste on body with little friction and

wait 5-10 minutes. Wash with cold or look warm water afterwards. Use

a cotton towel or cloth to rub and dry the body. If you use this

regularly, within six to eight weeks you will start noticing skin

becoming silky and smooth. A new glow will start appearing. The

problems such as itching, excess perspiration will reduce

significantly.

 

Whereas cold water bath in winter season can increase Kapha and Vata,

while hot water bath in summer can vitiate Pitta disturbing

equilibrium and pH of blood. Conversely, taking cold water bath in

summer will pacify Raktapitta and hot water bath in winter will

reduce Vata and Kapha. Those suffering from joint pains and

stiffnesses please note.

 

Taking bath in open is more beneficial. In India only you will notice

masses bathing together in holy rivers. Lakes, rivers or just flowing

water is considered more healthy for bathing. Since water is returned

to source, environment is also preserved. Bathing is sea is believed

to be taking care of allergies, skin diseases, mainly due to minerals

in sea water. Bathing in hot water springs was already discussed in

Iron rules series.

 

Regular bathing increases health of mind too. This will be explained

further in Iron rules series. Better chracter will be moulded by

regular bathing. Water gives us generousness of heart. Hence in

India, bathing is considered essential before most of religious

ceremonies such as Puja, marriage etc. Arrange picnics where natural

streams, waterfalls, river or beach is located and see how successful

it turns out. If you choose full moon day, the success is assured.

 

Dr Bhate

 

 

 

 

, " Krishna Gopal Misra "

<kg wrote:

>

> 'Wholism' is best illustrated by a typical Indian practice of

bathing in

> scared rivers. Rivers are natural formation such as ocean, clouds,

> mountains, wind, sun and plants. These carry billions on tons of

water

> across the planet without charging any price or humiliating its

> consumers. This principle made every river in India scared. Those

who

> bathe in rivers is called 'religious'. Water of rivers and purchased

> water is not different in quality but, the consequences of using

have

> huge impact on sustainability of planet and its life cycles. Bath

room

> is unwholistic, and it is ownership. Rivers are useful and mother

to all

> and none owns it.

 

Developed people are although not

> prosperous but can remain free of worries of accounting, price,

> government regulation, fee of hospitals. They are bathers of

rivers, and

> river is their true mother.