Some Ayurvedic Beauty Tips

Ayurveda herbs can give you an excellent complexion. Regular usage along with with adaption of ayurvedic lifestyle can help remove skin blemishes.

Given below are some ayurvedic beauty tips.

Basil (Ocimum sanctum) is an excellent antiseptic.

One can make an excellent face pack using juice of basil leaves, lemon juiceand honey. This works effectively for oily skin.

For pimples, blend crushed basil with mint juice and lemon juice. This combination applied regularly on pimples can work wonders.

Indian gooseberry (Emblica officinalis) is an excellent source of Vitamin C. It strengthens your hair, thickens and darkens it. It is also a good tonic for the eyes.

For hair care mix henna powder, gooseberry, curd and lemon juice. Apply this to your hair and leave it for an hour. Then wash your hair with a mild shampoo. (People with sinus problems should consult their physicians before attempting this).

Indian pennywort (Bacopa monnieri ) is an excellent relaxant. It also improves your memory power. It effectively cures nervous disorders.

For an excellent memory, crush a few tender leaves of Indian pennywort and take out the juice by filtering with a clean cloth. Take two teaspoonful Brahmi juice before meal.

Henna (Lawsonia albla) is an excellent hair conditioner and tonic.

Make a blend of cucumber, orange and lemon juice with henna and apply.

Indian Aloe Vera (Aloe vera) is used as an eye pack. It is also used in treating liver spleen disorders. It also promotes and regulates menstrual period. It is also an excellent hair vitalizer.
For dark rings around eyes and for itchy eyes the pitch of Aloe vera is cut into small pieces and placed on the eyelids. After 20 minutes, wash the face with clean water. Regular usage brings changes.

To arrest hair loss mix Aloe Vera gel with, castor oil, olive oil and apply.

Aloe vera is an excellent skin nourisher. Massage a blend of castor and mustard oil with aloe vera gel into your skin.

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodara) is an excellent remedy for acne and boils.

For acne andboils mix eucalyptus oil with mustard oil and apply on the affected spots.

Sandalwood (Santalum album) is a skin freshener.

For glowing skin make a paste of sandalwood with Fuller's earth, besan, barley flour and wheat flour and apply.

For stubborn acnes and pimples use sandalwood with neem and basil powder.

More Ayurvedic beauty tips to follow.

Ayurveda for Dark Circles around Eyes

Reading books for a long time in a dimly lit place, straining the eyes to read books, reading without spectacles when necessary, sleeping in a seated position frequently, bathing using very hot water, watching telly in a dark room, lying down and watching television, not exercising the eyes, daytime sleep, frequent eating of foods that are too salty or sour, using of cosmetics which may be allergic, not wearing necessary eye protection equipments when working near hot places like furnaces, hot stoves etc….so on goes the reasons for dark circles around the eyes.

The first step to cure the dark circles is to avoid such situations.

Ayurveda suggests that cow’s milk, goat’s milk, yoghurt, butter, fenugreek are added to the diet. These strengthen the eyes and the muscles around them. Fish oil also serves the purpose.

The diet should also consist the following.

A paste (thuvayal) made of coriander leaves and mint leaves induces appetite. This paste can be mixed with rice and taken as the first course. This should be followed by rice with buttermilk and curry leaf paste as the second course. Similarly greens like drumstick leaves, agathi leaves, mulai keerai, arai keerai, tender neem leaves, fenugreek leaves etc which contain vitamin A in plenty should be part of the diet.

A good night’s sleep will go a long way in restoring the lost sheen. 6 – 8 hours of sleep is recommended. (One simple remedy for insomnia, grind poppy seeds to a paste and add a marble sized paste to a glass of warm milk. Take this before going to bed for good sleep, but do not make it a habit.)

Cover your eyes with your palm for 10 minutes after a strenuous day’s work. This would relax your eyes and lessen the strain. Gently massage around the eyes with your fingertips after this.
Collect the thin layer that forms on top of milk when heated. This is applied to the face before going to bed. On getting up the next day morning, clean the face by splashing hot and cold water alternatively. Make a paste by rubbing turmeric against stone. Add a few drops of linseed oil to the paste and apply the mixture to the dark circles around the eyes. After half an hour wash it away using greengram powder. This helps to clear black rings and provide a bright countenance.

Ayurveda for Acne and Pimples

The areas surrounding the pimples have a sense of discomfort. If you have enough will power not to press the pimples and keep your hands away from expelling the contents inside them you are half way through on your battle against pimples. You can find people of the older generation advise the younger ones not to press the pimples. When you eject out the pus like substance from the pimples, the area blackens and looks scarred. If you refrain from expelling the content, the pimples will subside in time.

Contrary to popular conception, it is not the oil on the face that leads to pimples. Ayurveda recommends proper application of oil like chandnadhi thailam, kumkumaadhi lepam, etc. Similarly application of sandalwood paste on pimples and blackheads is found to be beneficial. It would be ideal to apply sandalwood paste immediately on preparation. Avoid using readymade sandalwood paste tablets for this purpose.

Do not use soap to clean your face frequently. Frequent cleaning can lead to dry skin. According to Ayurveda “heat” is considered to be the cause of pimples and acne. In my earlier articles on 'beauty tips' and ‘dark circles around the eyes’, I had mentioned about the ‘heat’. It is not the increase in body temperature. Lack of sleep, stress, frequent intake of non-vegetarian food, excessive sexual indulgence all can lead to a build up of ‘heat’. To bring down the ‘heat’ bathing after application of coconut or linseed oil on head is recommended. Also cleansing of stomach by way of taking natural purgatives once in a month is recommended (only in case of unrelenting 'heat'). Eat plenty of fiber to avoid constipation. Fruits and vegetables should be used in plenty to maintain a ‘cool’ body.

Drink a glass of water on getting up in the morning. This helps to cleanse the intestines. Use lemon instead of tamarind while preparing eatables. Drinking of tender coconut water is also beneficial. Wheat porridge at night is advised.

Before going to bed apply a thin layer of cream of milk to cover the face. On waking up clean the face with cold water. Scrape a piece of turmeric on a rough surface using a few drops of water. Take out the ensuing paste and add a drop of linseed oil to it. Apply a thin layer of the paste to cover the entire face. After 30 minutes, clean the face using green gram powder.

To complement the external treatment heat mahathiktha girutham and take 10 ml both in the morning and evening on empty stomach. This two pronged approach is found to be very effective in treating pimples, blackhead and acne.

About Kirutham or Girutham

'Kirutham' is a form of medicine with ghee as its base, mostly taken internally.Mahathiktha kirutham mentioned in the previous post is used extensively to reduce the acidity level of blood and maintain its alkalinity. Some components of the mahathikthaka kirutham are 'nilavembu', 'vetpalai', sandal paste, bark of neem etc. This mahathiktha kirutham is available readymade at IMPCOPS stores. Their website calls it 'mahathikthaka ghritham'. 

Thank you Jennifer for that question.

I am spending more of my time learning the ropes of camtasia software, equipping myself to do some videos on certain simple ayurveda herbs and remedies. I am planning to start with neem, 'a tree for solving global problems' according to National Research Council (USA). The first video will be uploaded next week. So please stay subscribed.

Ayurvedic Ways to Cure Dandruff

The oil on scalp gets drastically reduced when the hair root gets dried due to body ‘heat’. When you comb such a scalp the outer layer comes off in scales. We call this dandruff. Excessive use of soap, soap nut powder etc can lead to such a situation. So lessening their usage should benefit you. Instead you can use rice congee, Bengal gram powder, green gram powder etc. These are to be mixed with water and made to a ‘not so watery’ paste and applied on scalp while bathing, instead of the usual soap or shampoo. These will help preserve the ‘dampness’ of the scalp preventing it from getting dried up.

A kashayam made of arugampul (cynodon dactylon) and coconut oil are mixed together along with certain herbs and boiled to obtain ‘doorvathi kera thailam’. This oil can be obtained from ayurveda medical shops. Apply this oil to scalp instead of ordinary coconut oil. This helps in controlling dandruff to a large extent. Females can soak this oil on their scalp for 30-45 minutes before bathing, on Tuesdays and Fridays. This procedure can be adopted by males, on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

If the dandruff is due to fungal infection, it can lead to itching and ringing sound in the ears, pus in the ears etc. It can spread onto other parts of body and cause itching. In such situations, ‘eladhi kera thailam’ can be applied to the scalp. Adapt the same procedure mentioned above for males and females. Also paste made of milk and pepper can be applied to scalp before bathing. This is also found to be effective in controlling dandruff.

Some Tips for Hair Removal

A couple of my female readers had queried on removal of unwanted facial hair.

As men grow up they have mustache and hairgrowth on chest, forehand, legs etc. Women usually do not have any growth of hair in these areas.

Each sex will have some characteristics of the other sex to a small extent.

Some Ayurveda experts advise people to involve themselves in activities specific to their gender and not to mimic the opposite gender's activities.

Following tips are recommended.

1. Increase the intake of blackgram in diet.
2. Reduce intake of hot and sour foods.
3. Apply turmeric paste to face and areas of hair growth while bathing.
4. Asoka gritham 2 spoonful morning and evening on empty stomach.
5. Asokarishtam 25 ml after food at bedtime.

Application of blackgram powder mixed with turmeric powder on face removes oil from face. It does not dry up the skin but arrests unwanted hair growth.

A Simple Ayurvedic Hair Oil for Hair Care

One formula for hair growth used from time immemorial is given below. It has both external and internal components.

The four main ingredients needed to prepare this concoction are

1. Juice of henna leaves 200 ml
2. Juice of karisalankanni leaves (false daisy or swamp daisy) 200 ml
3. Juice of adukku chembaruthi (hibiscus flower and buds) 200 ml
4. Juice of kariveppilai (curry leaves) 200 ml.

Add all the juices to 800 ml of coconut oil and heat the combination.

Anjana kal is a sort of black stone available in local herbal stores in South India. 40 gm of this is ground to a fine powder and sieved using a fine piece of cloth. Also 40 gm of ashes of coconut shell is sieved and stored.

The oil is heated to the required level (one way to test this is to see whether a grain of paddy when dropped into the oil turns to a puffed one).

Place the anjana kall powder and coconut shell powder in a wide mouthed steel vessel. Cover the mouth with a cotton cloth to filter. Pour the hot oil into the vessel and let it cool. Store it in a cool dry place.

Regular application of this oil helps in hair growth. It can be used by people of all ages.

To further strengthen hair growth, ‘lohasavam’ 15 ml can be taken twice a day (morning and before bed).
‘Narasimha Rasayanam’ 1 teaspoon twice a day also helps.

Natural Skin Care Tips

Herbs are useful in nurturing skin and bringing back the lost lustre. I will explain below some simple beauty tips using herbs commonly found around the household.

The skin has a surface area of approximately 2 sq m. and is the largest organ. It comes in direct contact with the environment and bears the brunt of environmental pollution and UV radiation. Skin is also the largest organ of elimination.

A healthy body should have a healthy skin. Most of the skin problems are due to digestive disorders like a sluggish bowel or constipation. Also predominance of bad bacteria in gut over good bacteria leads to skin conditions like psoriasis, rosacea, acne etc. Adequate water intake helps elimination of toxins. Increase of fibrous diet helps overcome constipation. Colon cleansing is recommended in case of chronic skin afflictions.

Ayurvedic Skin Care
A comprehensive Ayurvedic skin care starts inside out. By cleansing the system of accumulated toxins and adapting a healthy lifestyle one can get back a radiant and glowing skin in a matter of months. And there is no risk of side effects.

One of my earlier posts ‘Ayurvedic tenets for a long and healthy life’ describes the basics of an Ayurvedic lifestyle. Adapting this way of life results in re-establishing the lost harmony. You will experience an all round growth in body, mind and spirit. For ayurvedic beauty tips to be effective, a personality based on this lifestyle would be ideal.

To start with, some herbal preparations for beautiful skin are given below.

Arugampul or Cynodon Dactylon also known as Bermuda grass is well known for its action on skin. Collect a handful of this grass and grind it to paste along with a finger of turmeric. Apply the paste on your body in a thin layer and bathe after an hour. This is effective in clearing most of the skin diseases, blemishes, boils, itching etc.

Aavaarai or Cassia auriculata (Tanner's Cassia) flowers can get you a radiant and glowing skin. The decoction of the fresh flowers, or powder of the dried flowers or the fresh flowers themselves when taken regularly cures body heat, body odour, salt deposits on body.

More skin care tips to follow.

Home Remedies For Acne

Home remedies for acne work wonderfully well on skin. With proper supervision, you can get back the natural sheen and color of your skin with no side effects. With a two pronged approach of treating the problem internally as well as complementing it with external herbal application you can cure almost all of the skin afflictions that trouble mankind. This inside out approach cures the system of the basic defect that has caused this manifestation in the first place. In this article I will share with you some home remedies for acne.

Acne affects most of the population at least once in their lifetime. Teenagers are particularly prone to this problem due to the sudden spurt of hormonal activities in their bodies. There is a tempting desire to pop the acne cysts in spite of the eventual pain and infection. There is an unbearable itching sensation around the cysts.

An Ayurveda expert would advise you not to scratch the area or pop the cysts. If the white pus is expressed out by pressing the acne, it could lead to formation of black spots in those areas. These marks thus formed may remain stubborn in some cases and would worsen the appearance. If the cysts are left alone, they would gradually subside with appropriate care. It goes without saying that one needs to practice adequate self-discipline for an effective cure.

Regular application of Ayurvedic products like ‘kumkumadi lepam’, ‘chandanadi thailam’ etc on acne boils help in their subsidence. The skin will regain its lost luster over time. Also application of sandalwood paste is a good alternative. In this case, the paste is to be applied immediately on preparation. Tablets of sandalwood paste available readymade in shops will not suit this purpose.

Reduce the frequency of using soap to clean your face. Soap can remove the oil from the surface of skin. This would result in dry skin and can aggravate the acne boils. Instead just wash the face with plain cold water. Limit usage of soap on your face to twice or thrice a day.

Neelibringadhi oil can be gently massaged onto the hair roots once in two or three days. This will help in hair growth as well as clearing of dark rings around the eyes. This oil also helps in clearing up dark spots and blackheads. A warm water bath an hour after this application is found to yield good results.

Taking natural laxatives once a month for elimination of toxins is a very good practice which should be observed for at least three months. Kashayam made of tender kadukkai or chebulic myrobalan, curry leaves and grapes is a good laxative for this purpose.

Drink one or two glasses of water first thing in the morning. This helps in proper bowel movement and elimination of waste matter. Add more of greens and coconut to your regular diet. Avoid oily food substances. Tender coconut water and bananas in the mornings and wheat kanji in the evenings would be ideal.

Apply skin of milk on affected areas before going to bed. Splash cold water and wash the area off the next day morning. Rub a turmeric finger on rough surface and obtain a fine paste by adding a drop or two of linseed oil to it. Apply this paste to the pimples and leave it dry for 30 minutes. Clean off the area using green gram powder.

Mahathiktha gritham is taken 10 mg everyday morning on empty stomach. This helps in curing blackheads or comedones.

In the coming days I would share with you some time tested home remedies for acne.

Ayurvedic Hair Care Tips - Part 1

Human hair grows to half an inch per month. The hair can be divided into three parts, the bulb, the root and shaft. The bulb is the swelling at the base below the root that comes up from the dermis, the root is the portion of hair beneath skin surface and shaft is the hair above skin surface. Life span of a human hair is said to be between two to three years. It is normal to shed 50 to 70 strands per day.

Excessive hair loss can be attributed to weak hair roots. Some of the reasons for hair loss include heredity, infection of scalp, certain drugs, stress, environmental pollution, chlorine in water, hormonal imbalances, menopause, pregnancy, diseases like typhoid, flu etc.

Some more reasons for hair loss include

• lack of essential nutrients in body

• dust that is not cleaned off from scalp

• cleaning hair with excessive hot or excessive cold water

• scalp not patted dry after a bath

• application of oil on scalp after a bath without proper drying

Some precautions to be observed:

• Do not allow others to use your comb, keep it to yourselves.

• Avoid combs with very sharp teeth.

• Never use a dirty comb

• Change your comb after a month.

• Do not use combs of others.

• Do not comb in a hurry. Take your own time to comb your hair.

• Run your comb gently through your hair. Never test your strength with your hair.

Coconut oil has been used from time immemorial for luscious hair growth. Application of coconut oil on scalp nourishes the hair roots and strengthens hair follicles.

One inexpensive way to have a soft and shiny hair is to apply not so sour curd obtained from cow’s milk onto to your hair. After about fifteen minutes you can clean off the hair with lukewarm water.

Records show that our ancestors cared for their long hair with the help of herbs and oils. They took time to dry their hair and expose it to scented fumes. They prepared herbal oils that nourished the hair roots and hair follicles. Above all they led a stress free life which should have been the primary reason for their healthy hair.

Ayurveda Hair Care - Part 2

A healthy body begets a healthy mind. I would like to add healthy hair. A comprehensive hair care in Ayurveda starts inside out. Hair weakens with deficiency of vitamins or minerals in the body, or changes in food habits. Some common hair problems are hair fall, inadequate and lackluster growth, change of color, gradual receding of hairline leading to baldness, alopecia or round shaped small bald patches on scalp, dandruff and head lice, graying of hair.

Though many reasons could be attributed to the cause of the above mentioned conditions, the basic one according to Ayurveda is the body ‘heat’. A ‘heat body’ is somewhat akin to an acidic body, and this body ‘heat’ increases with anger, anxiety, confusion, jealousy, depression and such emotions. Some physical reasons could be constipation, walking barefoot in hot sun for long, etc.

Leading a stress free life is essential for good hair growth. Meditation or other such practices can help in managing stress in your life. Also you should start eating more fibrous foods and drinking more water. This alone can take care of constipation most of the time. Stubborn cases of constipation can be treated with some Ayurvedic laxatives. For people who walk too much in hot sun, one way to reduce their body ‘heat’ is the application of sesame oil on the soles of their feet. For this purpose they should clean their feet before going to bed and pat them dry with a towel. Sesame oil is then applied to the soles of both feet and rubbed vigorously for a minute or two. This is said to have a soporific effect and can induce a good night sleep. In addition, it reduces the body ‘heat’ too.

Is it necessary to apply oil to hair? While there is an ongoing debate on whether you need oil for hair growth, Ayurveda does suggest application of oil to help healthy hair growth. One of the famous hair oils that aids in hair growth is the neelibringadhi oil. This can be applied to the scalp after a bath. This oil is found to help arrest hair fall and activate luscious hair growth.

Application of oil to your hair helps in reducing the body ‘heat’. It keeps the hair fresh. The hair would not get tangled. The color of hair improves with regular application of oil. Since the oil strengthens the hair root, there is a reduction in hair loss.

Ayurvedic Hair Care - Part 3

For healthy hair growth you should adopt certain healthy practices. The most important one is to apply oil to the scalp before bathing. Oil should be applied at least 15 minutes before a bath. Similarly the hair should be patted dry thoroughly after a bath. After this you can apply hair oil. You should ensure that the scalp does not remain dry for quite too long. The scalp and hair should have oil always.

Cleaning your hair is very essential to keep it healthy. Since India is a hot country, and more so the southern part, people sweat a lot and the dust gets settled on skin and scalp very quickly. Bathing twice a day would be ideal. One thing you need to keep in mind is that you should not bathe immediately after some strenuous work which had involved physical exertion. Do not bathe when you are dripping with sweat. Rest for a few minutes to let the body come back to the normal temperature and then have your bath. Also do not bathe immediately after a full meal.

After bathing use a towel to pat your hair and scalp dry. Ensure that the scalp is thoroughly dry. Do not use a hair dryer for this purpose. The hot air can damage the hair roots. Apply oil only after the scalp is patted dry.

Given below is a method to prepare the oil that is applied to scalp before bathing.

The ingredients are dried Indian gooseberry, fenugreek, and dried lemon peel. 50 gm of each of these are powdered and added to a liter of sesame oil. This oil is then applied to the scalp and allowed to stay for some 30 minutes and then washed off.

Another way is to apply sesame oil to hair. Now add soapnut powder, green gram powder, bengal gram powder, and powdered rice to rice congee. Make a thick paste of good consistency and apply the paste onto your hair and scalp. Wash it off after 30 minutes.

Another alternative is to apply sesame oil to hair. Then collect henna leaves, sesame, athimathuram, Indian gooseberries, and make a fine paste of these with cow's milk. Heat this fine paste a little and once it reaches a bearable level of heat apply it on the hair and scalp. Leave it for 10-15 minutes and then wash it off.

Another herbal preparation found to be very effective is to make a paste of karisalankanni leaves, nelli mulli and anthimathuram and applying it on the hair after the usual application of oil. This is then washed off after 10-15 minutes. This helps in luscious hair growth. The hair will have a nice fragrance and it will keep away diseases that affect your hair.

You can try a simple preparation to stop hair loss. For this you need to make a paste of split red gram (thuvaram paruppu in Tamil). Red gram is soaked in water the previous night. The next day morning it is ground to a fine paste and applied to scalp and washed off after 10 or 15 minutes. If you do this frequently, it will help in arresting hair loss and also aid in hair regrowth.

Ayurveda Hair Care - Part 4

There is a saying in Tamil ‘sani neeradu’ which means ‘bathe on Saturdays’. Some conveniently take it to mean to bathe only on Saturdays, while others see this as a way to conserve water during the dry summer season. But the saying lays emphasis on a complete bathing after application of oil on scalp and the whole body. And it is an experience in itself. This Saturday bathing is meant for men, and women are supposed to have this bath on Fridays, I do not know why this is so.

Apart from the regular bathing on all the other days, this Friday or Saturday special bathing is still followed in many households in Tamil Nadu, India. It is followed as a ritual and when combined with other useful practices recommended by the Siddha system, this is found to re-establish a sort of harmony in the human system. The whole process takes at least 3-4 hours. It is a wonderful relaxing experience.

Proper and regular ‘Saturday bath’ strengthens your body. The mouth and jaws are strengthened. The eyesight gets sharper. The respiratory system improves. The hearing capacity improves. It helps hair growth. It is an excellent hair loss treatment.

With this bath, dry skin problems become a thing of past. You can prevent eczema, scabies and other such skin diseases. You won’t suffer from itchy skin. The body becomes clean and fresh. There is reduction in stress. It cools the brain.

Some things to keep in mind before taking bath

• The oil has to be bearably warm

• Place a bit more oil on the crown

• Also apply some oil to the soles of your feet

• If herbal oil you can instill two to three drops in your nostrils

• Also instill two to three drops in your ears

Similarly use warm water for this bathing.

Herbal oil can work wonders on proper application. When applied on the soles of your feet it cures diseases of the eyes. It improves the eyesight. When a few drops of this oil are instilled into the eyes it cures problems of the ears. A few drops to the ears cure ailments that afflict the head and scalp. It gives you a clear mind. When the oil is applied on head, it cures most of the diseases that affect the whole human body.

Sesame oil and coconut oil are the best ones for application on hair and scalp. Neem oil is also a good alternative except for the smell, which some may not like. Pure cow ghee can also be used as an alternative.

Pancha karpa oil is a Siddha preparation that can be safely used on hair that can benefit you in many ways. With regular usage it is found to strengthen the hair.

Ingredients:

Kasthuri manjal (turmeric)

Pepper

Neem seeds

Kadukkai (chebulic myrobalan)

Kernel of Indian gooseberry seeds

The above items are taken in equal quantity by weight. Cow’s milk equal to the total weight of the five ingredients is taken. All the five ingredients are ground to a fine powder. This powder is dropped into the milk and allowed to boil. This is allowed to reduce to two-thirds of the original quantity. This would have reached an oily consistency by this time. Now it is removed from stove and allowed to cool and then stored in a bottle. This is applied on hair and scalp. Regular application benefits the scalp and hair immensely. This helps to stop hair loss.

My next post will elaborate on the diet and other things to be observed after this special bath.

P.S: I had erroneously mentioned ‘linseed oil’ in some previous posts where it is supposed to be ‘sesame oil’. I have corrected the mistake.

Ayurvedic Hair Care - Part 5

If there are cuts or grazes on skin you can use usilam powder obtained from usilam tree leaves. This powder can be used instead of soap during the Friday/Saturday bath.

In case of skin conditions like scabies or eczema, iluppai oil cake obtained from Indian Butter tree can be an alternative for the usual soap.

Shikkakai powder or boondhi kottai powder can be used for cleaning if you are using herbal oil.

For those using cow’s ghee, green gram powder can be used for cleaning.

The Don’ts

On the day of this special weekly bath you have to observe the following dietary restrictions. You should not have vegetables like ash gourd, snake gourd, bottle gourd and milk. Salt, sour and pungent tasting foods should be reduced to the minimum. No daytime nap and no sex on those days.

The vegetables to be avoided are

• Ash gourd

• Brinjal or eggplant

• Pumpkin

• Cluster beans

• Mango

• Coconut

• Bottle gourd

• Bitter gourd

Onions should not be taken. Green gram, mustard, fennel seeds, sesame, groundnut, palm candy, milk, curds, tobacco, crab, fish, chicken, mutton, pork etc should be avoided.

Avoid alcohol and all other such products that induce an altered state of mind. You should not loiter around in hot sun after this bath.

The Do’s

You can have

• Tender broad beans

• Tender drumstick

• Tender brinjal

• Tender mango

• Indian gooseberries

• Sundakkai (Devil’s fig)

• Manathakkali (Black Nightshade)

• Pepper

• Cumin seeds

• Fenugreek

• Cardamom

• Asafetida

• Fried salt

• Cow’s ghee

As for non-vegetarian stuff you can take quail or iguana in moderation.

Adopting these dietary restrictions on Friday/Saturday bath can help fast and natural hair growth. Some more hair growth products will be detailed in my subsequent posts.

Ayurvedic Hair Care - Part 6

Home remedy for dark and thick black hair

Ingredients

Hibiscus (Shoe flower) the dark red ones 20 nos

Coconut oil 200 ml

Method

Heat the coconut oil and when it nears the boiling point, drop the shoe flowers with the stalk into the oil. As soon as the flowers are dropped remove the coconut oil from heat and allow it to cool. Strain out the flowers and store the oil in a bottle in a cool place. Apply this oil to your hair everyday for healthy hair growth.

Fenugreek remedy for arresting hair loss

Method

A handful of fenugreek seeds are soaked in water the previous night. The fenugreek is ground to a fine paste the next day morning. This paste is then applied to the hair roots. Allow the paste to stay for 5-10 minutes and then wash it off. Regular application will stop hair loss and will help healthy hair growth.

Home remedy for premature grey hair

Ingredients

White karisalankanni plant

Coconut oil or sesame oil

Method

Take a small whole white karisalankanni plant and pound it thoroughly. Make a fine paste of the pounded plant using a mixer. Make dime-sized tablets out of the paste and dry them in shade for a couple days. Once thoroughly dried, store these tablets in a bottle. Soak a couple of these tablets for two days in either coconut oil or sesame oil 50 ml as and when needed. This oil is applied on hair to treat premature greying of hair. For good results regular application for at least 2-3 months is recommended.

Benefits of Oil Massage and Oil Treatment

It has been age old practice in South India to apply oil to the whole body with a gentle massage followed by warm water bath. For women, this is to be observed on Fridays and for men Saturdays.

A recent study by Dr K. N. Agarwal of Delhi has shown the health benefits of oil massage on 6 week old infants. The study concluded that sesame oil as the most beneficial of all other oils. Oil massage also helps in increased secretion of thyroid and insulin.

South India is a hot region with very high temperatures during the summer. Rapid deforestation, depletion of underground water, environmental pollution etc add to the woe. The Siddha saints regard human body as a microcosm that reflects the larger Universe. When the earth gets polluted due to the reasons mentioned above, a corresponding disharmony sets in, in the human body too. This is there for all of us to see. The nature strikes back with vengeance; natural calamities and epidemics like H1N1 are on the rise. The three doshas, vata, pitta and kapha get vitiated. Oil massage and bath once a week will help pacify the vitiated doshas to a large extent.

This way of bathing benefits human body and mind immensely. The skin is able to maintain its sheen and luster. The muscles get strengthened. There is improved blood circulation. Oil massage relaxes the body and energizes it. There is a sense of complete relaxation. When the muscles and joints are massaged, the body fluids stagnant at these points move on and toxins if any get eliminated. A relaxing oil massage and bath once a week will keep you energized and alert throughout the week.

Sesame oil, coconut oil and castor oil can be used for this purpose. Take sesame oil and coconut oil in equal quantities. Castor oil of one third volume is added to this mixture. Drop a few pepper corns, betel leaves, a pinch of camphor to this mixture and heat it to a bearable level.

Apply this warm oil all over the body. This should be done ideally in the mornings. Allow this oil to soak into your body for 20 to 30 minutes. Use warm water for bathing. You can add a few drops of eucalyptus oil, or eucalyptus leaves to the warm water meant for bathing.

You can also use massage oils available in the market. These oils are made by adding basil leaves, clove, jasmine, sandalwood etc. They give out a very nice, relaxing aroma.

Abhyanga snan is observed on Deepavali day. It is a full body massage with oil followed by a ritual bathing.

You can wash away this oil using soap nut powder or handmade soaps.Handmade soaps do not contain chemicals that could harm the skin in the long run. They retain skin moisture. I will share some more benefits and tips on oil massage in subsequent posts.

A Simple Ayurvedic Hair Oil for Hair Care

One formula for hair growth used from time immemorial is given below. It has both external and internal components.

The four main ingredients needed to prepare this concoction are

1. Juice of henna leaves 200 ml
2. Juice of karisalankanni leaves (false daisy or swamp daisy) 200 ml
3. Juice of adukku chembaruthi (hibiscus flower and buds) 200 ml
4. Juice of kariveppilai (curry leaves) 200 ml.

Add all the juices to 800 ml of coconut oil and heat the combination.

Anjana kal is a sort of black stone available in local herbal stores in South India. 40 gm of this is ground to a fine powder and sieved using a fine piece of cloth. Also 40 gm of ashes of coconut shell is sieved and stored.

The oil is heated to the required level (one way to test this is to see whether a grain of paddy when dropped into the oil turns to a puffed one).

Place the anjana kall powder and coconut shell powder in a wide mouthed steel vessel. Cover the mouth with a cotton cloth to filter. Pour the hot oil into the vessel and let it cool. Store it in a cool dry place.

Regular application of this oil helps in hair growth. It can be used by people of all ages.

To further strengthen hair growth, ‘lohasavam’ 15 ml can be taken twice a day (morning and before bed).
‘Narasimha Rasayanam’ 1 teaspoon twice a day also helps.

Ayurvedic Hair Care Tips - Part 1

Human hair grows to half an inch per month. The hair can be divided into three parts, the bulb, the root and shaft. The bulb is the swelling at the base below the root that comes up from the dermis, the root is the portion of hair beneath skin surface and shaft is the hair above skin surface. Life span of a human hair is said to be between two to three years. It is normal to shed 50 to 70 strands per day.

Excessive hair loss can be attributed to weak hair roots. Some of the reasons for hair loss include heredity, infection of scalp, certain drugs, stress, environmental pollution, chlorine in water, hormonal imbalances, menopause, pregnancy, diseases like typhoid, flu etc.

Some more reasons for hair loss include

• lack of essential nutrients in body

• dust that is not cleaned off from scalp

• cleaning hair with excessive hot or excessive cold water

• scalp not patted dry after a bath

• application of oil on scalp after a bath without proper drying

Some precautions to be observed:

• Do not allow others to use your comb, keep it to yourselves.

• Avoid combs with very sharp teeth.

• Never use a dirty comb

• Change your comb after a month.

• Do not use combs of others.

• Do not comb in a hurry. Take your own time to comb your hair.

• Run your comb gently through your hair. Never test your strength with your hair.

Coconut oil has been used from time immemorial for luscious hair growth. Application of coconut oil on scalp nourishes the hair roots and strengthens hair follicles.

One inexpensive way to have a soft and shiny hair is to apply not so sour curd obtained from cow’s milk onto to your hair. After about fifteen minutes you can clean off the hair with lukewarm water.

Records show that our ancestors cared for their long hair with the help of herbs and oils. They took time to dry their hair and expose it to scented fumes. They prepared herbal oils that nourished the hair roots and hair follicles. Above all they led a stress free life which should have been the primary reason for their healthy hair.

Ayurveda Hair Care - Part 2

A healthy body begets a healthy mind. I would like to add healthy hair. A comprehensive hair care in Ayurveda starts inside out. Hair weakens with deficiency of vitamins or minerals in the body, or changes in food habits. Some common hair problems are hair fall, inadequate and lackluster growth, change of color, gradual receding of hairline leading to baldness, alopecia or round shaped small bald patches on scalp, dandruff and head lice, graying of hair.

Though many reasons could be attributed to the cause of the above mentioned conditions, the basic one according to Ayurveda is the body ‘heat’. A ‘heat body’ is somewhat akin to an acidic body, and this body ‘heat’ increases with anger, anxiety, confusion, jealousy, depression and such emotions. Some physical reasons could be constipation, walking barefoot in hot sun for long, etc.

Leading a stress free life is essential for good hair growth. Meditation or other such practices can help in managing stress in your life. Also you should start eating more fibrous foods and drinking more water. This alone can take care of constipation most of the time. Stubborn cases of constipation can be treated with some Ayurvedic laxatives. For people who walk too much in hot sun, one way to reduce their body ‘heat’ is the application of sesame oil on the soles of their feet. For this purpose they should clean their feet before going to bed and pat them dry with a towel. Sesame oil is then applied to the soles of both feet and rubbed vigorously for a minute or two. This is said to have a soporific effect and can induce a good night sleep. In addition, it reduces the body ‘heat’ too.

Is it necessary to apply oil to hair? While there is an ongoing debate on whether you need oil for hair growth, Ayurveda does suggest application of oil to help healthy hair growth. One of the famous hair oils that aids in hair growth is the neelibringadhi oil. This can be applied to the scalp after a bath. This oil is found to help arrest hair fall and activate luscious hair growth.

Application of oil to your hair helps in reducing the body ‘heat’. It keeps the hair fresh. The hair would not get tangled. The color of hair improves with regular application of oil. Since the oil strengthens the hair root, there is a reduction in hair loss.

Ayurvedic Hair Care - Part 3

For healthy hair growth you should adopt certain healthy practices. The most important one is to apply oil to the scalp before bathing. Oil should be applied at least 15 minutes before a bath. Similarly the hair should be patted dry thoroughly after a bath. After this you can apply hair oil. You should ensure that the scalp does not remain dry for quite too long. The scalp and hair should have oil always.

Cleaning your hair is very essential to keep it healthy. Since India is a hot country, and more so the southern part, people sweat a lot and the dust gets settled on skin and scalp very quickly. Bathing twice a day would be ideal. One thing you need to keep in mind is that you should not bathe immediately after some strenuous work which had involved physical exertion. Do not bathe when you are dripping with sweat. Rest for a few minutes to let the body come back to the normal temperature and then have your bath. Also do not bathe immediately after a full meal.

After bathing use a towel to pat your hair and scalp dry. Ensure that the scalp is thoroughly dry. Do not use a hair dryer for this purpose. The hot air can damage the hair roots. Apply oil only after the scalp is patted dry.

Given below is a method to prepare the oil that is applied to scalp before bathing.

The ingredients are dried Indian gooseberry, fenugreek, and dried lemon peel. 50 gm of each of these are powdered and added to a liter of sesame oil. This oil is then applied to the scalp and allowed to stay for some 30 minutes and then washed off.

Another way is to apply sesame oil to hair. Now add soapnut powder, green gram powder, bengal gram powder, and powdered rice to rice congee. Make a thick paste of good consistency and apply the paste onto your hair and scalp. Wash it off after 30 minutes.

Another alternative is to apply sesame oil to hair. Then collect henna leaves, sesame, athimathuram, Indian gooseberries, and make a fine paste of these with cow's milk. Heat this fine paste a little and once it reaches a bearable level of heat apply it on the hair and scalp. Leave it for 10-15 minutes and then wash it off.

Another herbal preparation found to be very effective is to make a paste of karisalankanni leaves, nelli mulli and anthimathuram and applying it on the hair after the usual application of oil. This is then washed off after 10-15 minutes. This helps in luscious hair growth. The hair will have a nice fragrance and it will keep away diseases that affect your hair.

You can try a simple preparation to stop hair loss. For this you need to make a paste of split red gram (thuvaram paruppu in Tamil). Red gram is soaked in water the previous night. The next day morning it is ground to a fine paste and applied to scalp and washed off after 10 or 15 minutes. If you do this frequently, it will help in arresting hair loss and also aid in hair regrowth.