As a 5000 year old eastern science model, originating in India, Ayurveda is a way of understanding life, and it is this way of life that is used for daily health maintenance as well as prevention of (and in some cases, the reversal of) certain diseases. This science of life philosophy and practice specifically takes into account an individual’s constitution (“prakruti”), which is determined by personality, outward appearance, and inner wiring. Once your prakruti is established, you can assess what kind of foods you should eat, what types of exercise are appropriate for your body, how much sleep is recommended, etc. depending on your dosha. Because this is a tried and true method of living one’s best life, it is important to understand the many aspects of Ayurveda.
Ayurveda In a Nutshell
Ayurveda offers recipes and use of herbs, plants, and spices, nature’s own medicine, to achieve optimal health. However, Ayurveda, is more than just for physical health, it also encompasses an emotional, mental and spiritual dimension. The overarching goal is to live in harmony with your true nature or prakruti, which can be adapted by purifying your body, energy, and thoughts. A huge component of this requires practicing good nutrition, since it affects all of us on a cellular level, which in turn affects our vibrational energy.
Beautifying the Skin
Ayurveda is one of the most ancient medical traditions. Atharvaveda, Charak Samhita and Sushruta Samhita are its main classics, giving detailed descriptions of over 700 herbs for overall medicinal uses. Ayurveda sets forth a plan for management and formulas of aging and related conditions. Its literature describes over 200 herbs, minerals and fats to maintain and enhance the health and beauty of the skin. This includes herbal, fruit extracts and essential oils. While one can protect every other part of the skin by covering it with clothing, facial skin is always exposed. Ayurveda provides us with a good plan.
Many of the Ayurvedic beautifying/ cosmetic practices were interwoven with the seasons (Rutus) and the normal daily rituals of life (Dinacharya). For instance, the practice of Ambhyanga, a self-massage technique with warm oil, is often infused with herbs to enhance the skin, blood circulation and the lymph nodes. Different masks or applications were recommended for different seasons for body/ skin beautification. The ingredients used during the cold seasons were quite different from those used in warm seasons. In fact in the Ashtanga Hridaya (a 1500 year old book of Ayurveda) offers six different formulations to be used for the six seasons of the year. Special cosmetic Tailams (oils) and Ghritas (clarified butter or ghee) were used for facial beautification.
The whole range of cosmetic usage and its practice as conceived by the ancient Indians was based on natural resources.
Skin care, as a part of forming the daily routine described in Ayurvedic literature consists of
numerous formulas involving herbs and other natural ingredients. They are used as external applications in the form of packs, oils, herbal waters, powders etc.
Ayurvedic cosmeceuticals are regarded as safe and holistic. The association between Ayurveda, anti-aging and cosmeceuticals is gaining importance in the beauty, health and wellness sector. The aging process is a challenging human experience common to everyone, and the desire to look young prevails in the majority of us. Ayurveda offers vast amounts of information in principles of anti-aging activity, skin care and anti-aging herbs. Ranges of Ayurvedic cosmeceuticals are now available for ageless skin, toning it, smoothing its imperfections, and increasing its hydration level, thus restoring a radiant and healthy look. Such preparations can actively protect the skin and prevent premature aging.