We already talked about changing your lifestyle slowly in a natural way. Now, it is important to know the basics of the method we call Ayurveda Skin Care.
According to a study, there is an association between Ayurveda, anti-aging and cosmeceuticals are gaining importance in the beauty, health, and wellness sector.
Ayurvedic skincare is based on ancient and natural, Indian medicine. The practice includes Ayurvedic facials, treatments for skin diseases, and herbal formulations for the skin.
The term Ayurveda means “knowledge of life,” so Ayurvedic practice is used to restore life and balance. The system is based on the idea that there are 5 elements that make up 3 key doshas, or life forces of the body. Each person has a dominant dosha that shapes their physical constitution and personality.
Understanding skin types
It is known and said that disease occurs when there’s an imbalance in the doshas. This imbalance is caused by lifestyle, diet, stress, exercise, and pollution, which affect the body’s activities and lead to disease.
Ayurveda treatments help your body by:
- Properly remove toxins, waste, and impurities
- Lower stress
- Build resistance to disease
- Restore balance and harmony
There are 3 general doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. You have a dominant, underlying dosha that stays the same throughout your life, but the lifestyle, diet, and pollution can lead to a surge in other doshas. This can lead to skin conditions.
Vata
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4719489/According to a study, Vata dosha includes processes responsible for cell division and cell signaling, movement at all levels of the physiology, excretion of wastes, and also cognition.
A Vata dominant person has dry and rough skin that tends to wrinkle if not moisturized regularly.
This is the energy of movement. This energy is responsible for cell division, cell signaling, excreting waste, and thought processes. Characteristics of people with predominant Vata dosha include:
- Lean or thin body type
- Dry skin
- Fine hair
- An energetic and vibrant expression
- Quick to speak
- Light of heart
- Very creative
- Mood changes frequently
- Flexible thinking and decision-making
I recommend using oil-based moisturizers on the skin and consuming warm spices like ginger.
Pitta
According to a study, Pitta Dosha includes processes responsible for metabolism, thermoregulation, energy homeostasis, pigmentation, vision, and attentional processes.
Long story short, their skin is fair, thin, and sensitive, with a tendency toward acne, moles, and freckles, ages moderately fast.
People with high pitta tend to have oily skin that’s prone to acne and rosacea. It needs more cooling elements like aloe vera, turmeric (which is anti-inflammatory), and sandalwood (which reduces pimples and redness).
It also controls pigmentation, vision, and attention processes. Those people with predominant Pitta Dosha include:
- Medium or muscular build
- A good friend and fierce enemy
- Passionate, strong-willed leaders
- Direct, take-charge personality
Kapha
Kapha skin tends to be cold and oily, and it may be prone to pimples, whiteheads, and water retention. It is recommended to do dry brushing to remove obstructions, stimulate the lymphatic system, and exfoliate.
We have a dry brush available and of course, we teach you how to do it. It is important not to be aggressive on your skin when doing this. You can directly contact me here for orders.
Study shows that Kapha dosha includes processes responsible for anabolism, growth, and maintenance of structure, storage, and stability. This is the energy that is based on earth and water. It’s the energy of structure, storage, and stability. People with Kapha predominant dosha includes:
- Solid frame and thick bones
- Slow to act and react
- Calm
- Easy personality
- Caring and loving
- Moves slowly and purposefully
- Usually conservative
The Ayurvedic Diet to Balance Your Dosha
Having a balanced diet is establishing one’s self or own natural state. It is optimal health according to Ayurveda. According to research, proper metabolism is key to good health.
The energy that drives metabolic processes in the body is called Agni, which also has an important effect on health.
For example, grains, pulses, processed foods, meat and products, leafy vegetables, fruits, salts, supplements, various forms of water, milk and milk products, oils, and alcoholic drinks have been elaborated based on their effect on the body.
In this way of skincare, the properties of raw, dried, smoked, grilled, pickled, steamed foods, various additives, and adjuvants are dealt with in detail.
For example, puffed rice is light on the system as compared to flaked or cooked rice that is heavy to digest.
Curd, which is unwholesome in most situations, becomes a healthy drink when churned and the butter is removed. This sweet tasting buttermilk kept in an earthen vessel for 2 days develops astringent taste and becomes a wholesome food for the gastrointestinal system especially in conditions such as hyperacidity, irritable bowel syndrome, fissures, hemorrhoids, and certain types of diarrhea and dysentery.
In Ayurveda, staying in good health depends on keeping your doshas in balance. Each type of dosha needs to be balanced differently based on the natural tendencies of that dosha. Before you make any big changes, talk to an expert about this.
Vata. The Vata dosha easily falls out of balance because it’s the energy of movement. You should:
- Have a daily routine
- Avoid raw, undercooked, and dry foods
- Get plenty of sleep
- Use warming spices such as cinnamon, cumin, and cloves in your cooking
- Practice self-massage, particularly on your feet
- Eat meals at the same time every day
- Make time for meditation, stillness, and reflection every day
- Avoid extreme cold
Pitta. Pitta types have many qualities of fire. If you have this type of dosha, you may become short-tempered and agitated when you fall out of balance. Tips for balancing pitta include:
- Limit your salt
- Avoid coffee, alcohol, and tobacco
- Avoid pungent and sour foods
- Avoid hot spices
- Avoid highly processed foods
- Eat cooling, non-spicy foods
- Eat your meals in a peaceful environment
- Avoid excessive oil
Kapha. This dosha is marked by stability and endurance. You’re not likely to be bothered by much, but Kapha types tend to gain weight easily. Here are some tips for balancing Kapha:
- Eat foods that are light, dry, warm, or bitter
- Get plenty of exercise
- Avoid heavy foods
- Avoid frozen foods and drinks
- Don’t nap during the day
- Avoid oily foods
- Don’t eat sweeteners other than small amounts of raw honey
- Change up your routine
Summary
Ayurveda is an ancient system that bases treatment on balancing the three doshas. Ayurvedic skincare can include facials, face masks, and herbal formulations.
Some of these remedies may help in the treatment of skin issues, like acne, eczema, dryness, redness, and rosacea. However, more scientific research is needed to confirm Ayurveda’s role in the treatment of skin disease.
Ayurvedic interventions should be used alongside medical treatment, especially for serious conditions. That is where skincare products are complimenting this another method of addressing our skin.
You can take advantage of both traditional approaches and modern medical breakthroughs to achieve your best skin and best health.
Natural and modern. How’s that? What’s your dosha?