Just like the gut is teeming with beneficial bacteria, our skin is also home to essential microorganisms. Learn how using oil can support the skin's microbiome.

Mahanarayan Oil acts as a powerful ally to support the health and longevity of the joints and muscles so that we can enjoy a long, full, and active life. 

Nasya, the practice of lubricating the nasal cavities and sinuses with herbal oil, can help ease mental and emotional stress and tension, among other benefits.

Banyan's Ear Oil is specially formulated with Ayurvedic ingredients to support vibrant ear health. Find out how to use it to massage your ears as part of a healthy daily routine.

People often wonder why Ayurveda holds oil in such high esteem. In this entry in our Ask Banyan series, we discuss what makes oil the perfect choice for self-massage and self-love. 

You might be surprised and delighted to learn that, while we do use some machines to expedite the process, our method of preparing herbal oils is still an Ayurvedic tradition at heart.

Oil is a close match to the skin’s outer layer and complements our natural oiliness. It helps draw out impurities and balances our skin’s hydration—even overly oily skin can come back to balance by using oil. The result? Beautiful, balanced, hydrated skin.

Oil is more skilled at cleansing and balancing the hydration of your skin than water, and it is a closer match to your skin’s natural outer layer. It has a soft quality that can help to draw out impurities, making it much easier to unclog pores, leaving clean, soft, hydrated skin.

Finding beauty products that are natural and chemical-free, yet effective, can be quite a challenge. But one of the most effective, most natural, beauty products is as simple as one ingredient—the oil from Ricinis communis (castor oil).

Diet, lifestyle, sleep, and energy. These are the four pillars of Ayurveda. When we neglect them, we inhibit the proper flow of prana, which gives rise to the possibility of dis-ease. For women, this can be reflected in the menstrual cycle, and later, in the transition through menopause.

Shirodhara as a treatment consists of a stream of warm oil run continuously on the forehead. The purpose of shirodhara is to calm the nervous system. Inherent in this process is choosing an oil that has qualities which support the mind and body to come back to balance.

One of the most important qualities of self-massage is using warm oil. It’s not just about moisturizing—it’s about getting the vata-balancing qualities of oily and warm into your life, and onto your skin. Here are four ways to warm your oil, guaranteeing a perfectly warm, but not-too-hot oil, that can be easily and quickly incorporated into your daily routine.

Abhyanga, or self-oil massage, has many health benefits. Overall it protects and nourishes the skin, but it has a bonus effect as the oil absorbs into our deepest tissues to keep them supple, strong, and toned, and enhances their quality.

Wonderful Ayurvedic treatments like abhyana or shirodhara leave oil in your hair. Try these three tips for getting the oil out of your hair.

Find out why Daily Massage Oil is the go to for a great tridoshic abhyanga. Featuring high-quality Ayurvedic herbs, this oil is good for any Ayurvedic body type.

Ashwagandha Bala Oil is one of Ayurveda's most beloved oil blends for the muscles and is especially helpful in supporting developing muscle tone in children. 

Winter has settled its blanket of arctic air on the northern hemisphere. You can feel the pervasive cold and dryness at a deep level. The days are short. Nature is quiet, resting in the long frozen nights. The animals and the trees are in hibernation, adapting with the seasonal shifts. Can we do less?

Castor Oil has quickly become one of my very favorite beauty routines. It’s warm, oily, and heavy qualities do wonders for my eyes and lips.

Using castor oil on the eyes has been said to reduce puffy inflammation, promote eyelash and eyebrow growth, and soothe irritation.

Thankfully, Ayurveda equips us with many helpful tools to help access feelings of contentment—including the practice of abhyanga, or self-massage with oil.