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Ayurvedic Insight

Issue #32, June 2004

In This Issue

“Pitta Season Skin Care” by Nicole Hinterstocker
Recipe: Poor Woman's Creamy Asparagus Soup

Pitta Season Skin Care
by Nicole Hinterstocker

As spring comes to a close and the sun melts kapha away, trying to keep pitta in balance quickly becomes an issue. With the summer season, skin will often react by becoming irritated with dryness or excessive oiliness, rashes, insect bites, and of course, sunburn. Ayurveda has solutions to each of these problems using all natural remedies.

Follow these easy tips to keep pitta in check all summer long:

Keep cool - Wear loose fitting cotton and silk clothing made of light or cool colors like white, blue, green or purple. These colors do not absorb heat as easily as black or red.
Prevent overexposure - Always protect the skin with a natural sunscreen. Avoid prolonged sunbathing, and never lie out during the sun’s hottest time, from 10:00am to 2:30pm. If you must be outside during these times, wear a wide brimmed hat and a good pair of sunglasses.
Treat sunburn - If sunburn does occur, add 10 drops of sandalwood, khus, or rose essential oil to a cool bath and soak for 20 minutes. After patting the skin dry, apply cooling oil such as coconut or sunflower. For added benefit, put a few drops of raw honey into the oil before rubbing it into your skin. Honey has natural humectants to draw in moisture and healing enzymes that are great for any type of burn.
Easy on the soap - At any time of year, soap’s foaming action lifts up and carries away the oils necessary to lubricate the skin. This can cause the skin to become dry, or can lead to overproduction of oil, either of which is bothersome. Therefore, it is only necessary to use soap on the underarms and private areas, or if one's skin is really dirty from work or play.
For rashes, hives, and bites - The best way to calm any of these pitta reactions is with fresh cilantro. First wash a handful of cilantro and put it in a blender. Add one half cup of water and blend to a watery pulp. Strain the liquid into a cup, drink the juice and apply the pulp to the affected area. The problem will begin to subside within minutes. Repeat this procedure as often as necessary.

For great skin year round:

A healthy diet - In order for the skin to be healthy the inside of the body must be healthy as well. Always follow a seasonal diet and include many fresh fruits and vegetables. Bright colored foods contain more vitamins, which are the best bet for you and your skin.
A clean inside - Ama, or toxins, on the inside means problem skin on the outside. Prevent this problem by taking Triphala to help regulate digestive function and to clean the small intestine and colon. To help alleviate allergies (skin or otherwise), purify the blood with herbs like manjistha, burdock, and aloe vera or simply by taking Banyan Botanicals Blood Cleanse formula.
A sound skincare routine - All the skin asks is to be clean and nourished. Wash your face and body every day with a natural commercial cleanser or make your own using the recipe below. After washing, gently massage the face in an upward direction with Brahmi oil. For problem skin, add some neem oil. For the body, use Banyan's dosha specific massage oil (vata, pitta, kapha) or, sesame oil for vata, sunflower or coconut for pitta, and sesame for kapha.
One special herb - Ayurvedic texts say that turmeric taken daily will give you beautiful skin, and if taken during pregnancy, will give your child a perfect complexion. Use it liberally for cooking or take 1/4 teaspoon every morning.

Great skin is possible with Ayurveda. Above all, take care of yourself by reducing stress in your life, getting enough sleep, drinking clean water, and exercising properly. Do these things and your skin will thank you!

Recipe: Natural Skin Cleanser

Everyday when you wake up and before you go to bed, it is essential to wash your face. Do it naturally with these five ingredients:

¼ tsp sandalwood powder
½ tsp colloidal oatmeal (or finely ground oats)
A small pinch of turmeric powder
Two drops of honey
Enough milk to make a creamy paste

Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl and apply to wet skin. Wait a minute or two before rinsing thoroughly with warm water. To use this recipe for cleansing the body, quadruple it and add enough milk for a thinner paste.

Nicole is the owner of Ajara Ayurvedic Beauty, a company that provides all natural skin care products. She is also an Ayurvedic Practitioner in the Pancha Karma department at the Ayurvedic Institute. For more information on Ajara skin care products, visit http://www.ajaraskincare.com or email ajara_ayurveda@yahoo.com, and for information on the Ayurvedic Institute’s Pancha Karma program visit http://www.ayurveda.com.

Recipe: Poor Woman's Creamy Asparagus Soup

Sattvic, - Vata, -Pitta, -Kapha

1 small onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups asparagus, 1 inch pieces
1-2 T. olive oil
4 c. water
½ c. raw sunflower seeds, hulled
1 t. salt
Freshly ground pepper to taste
¼ t. freshly ground nutmeg

In a large, heavy bottomed skillet, warm olive oil. Braise onion, garlic, and asparagus for a couple minutes.

Add water. Cover and simmer for about an hour.

In blender, grind sunflower seeds into a fine powder.

Gradually pour the broth and vegetables into the blender with the ground seeds, blending a little at a time. Blend well. Put the soup through a food mill or a coarse stainless steel strainer, stirring it through the mesh with a wooden spoon.

Add salt, pepper and nutmeg.

Serve. Good warm or cool.