| * Juicy fresh fruits are excellent for all
skin types; they act as cleansers and re-hydrate the skin from within.
* Roses are considered cooling. People with
Pitta skin can eat rose petal jam on its own or mixed into warm milk.
* Spices recommended for each skin type should
be incorporated into the daily diet. In addition to having therapeutic properties
of their own, some spices act as "carriers" of the benefits of other foods,
especially when sautéed in a small amount of Ghee. Cumin and coriander
are considered good for all skin types; they enhance digestion and cumin
is also effective as a toxin hunter. Generally, people with Vata skin can
add moderate amounts of black pepper, ginger and turmeric. Pitta skin benefits
from cooling spices such as fennel and licorice, and Kapha skin from pungent
spices such as pepper, ginger, cloves and turmeric. Spices should be cooked,
not eaten raw. Herbal teas that incorporate spices are a quick, simple way
of including them in your diet.
* In general, weight your diet with fresh, light,
nutritious foods - vegetables, grains, lentils and legumes - and go easy
on heavy, deep-fried foods. For more detailed information on eating for personal
balance, visit http://www.mapi.com and click on the links for Vata, Pitta
and Kapha.
Water is considered a life-giving force in ayurveda,
very important in maintaining skin health as well as overall health. Says
Mishra, "It's not always enough to just drink eight glasses of water everyday.
For the body, and the skin, to realize fully the life-giving properties of
water, people with different types of skin need to consume it
differently."
Ayurveda is very firm on one aspect of drinking
water, and, indeed, all beverages. Ice-cold drinks are not recommended because
they inhibit the digestive fire and lead to imperfect digestion of food,
which can show up on the skin.
One internal water therapy recommended by Mishra
is drinking 6-8 glasses of boiled water everyday. Use pure drinking water,
and boil it for five minutes. People with Vata type skin should drink the
water warm, Kapha skin types can sip it hot, and Pitta skin types should
cool it to room temperature before drinking. The water should be boiled fresh
each day, and should not be ingested on a completely empty stomach. This
therapy helps the water flush toxins from the body and moisturize the skin
from within, keeping it hydrated and lustrous.
Combining boiled water with herbs suitable for
the skin type enhances the benefits. Mishra suggests the following procedure
-
Boil one liter of water for five minutes, then
pour it into a thermos or other type of heat-retentive container. Add the
recommended herbs and spices and steep. Keep the container closed. Strain
and use the spice-infused water as needed. Drink at the temperature recommended
above for each skin type.
Basic combination of recommended herbs and
spices:
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
1/2 teaspoon coriander seeds
2 pinches of ground licorice root
Vata skin types can add 1/4 teaspoon cardamom
seeds, Pitta skin types 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds and Kapha skin types a
one-inch slice of peeled fresh ginger root.
Note - Information presented 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 a qualified health professional.
~~~~
Bath Salts Guide:
Our guide will teach you how to make your own bath salts at
home.
~~~~
You might also
enjoy reading Simple
Soapmaking: Make your own fragrant handmade soap the simple
way!
~~~~~
Also see
Conquer Your
Cellulite: An easy to understand, step-by-step cellulite reduction plan
that really works.
~~~~~
(C)Vasu Nargundkar, 2001
Vasu Nargundkar is the editor of several
ayurvedic newsletters published by Maharishi Ayurveda at
http://www.mapi.com. For more information
on ayurvedic skin care, or to subscribe to a free monthly newsletter on the
ayurvedic approach to skin care and beauty, please visit
http://www.mspa.com.
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