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Ayurvedic Insight
Issue #32, June 2004
In This Issue
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.
Recipe reprinted with permission from Ayurvedic Cooking for
Westerners by Amadea Morningstar, Lotus Press, P.O. Box 325,
Twin Lakes, WI 53181.©1995 All Rights Reserved.
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