Acne may be a symptom of a poor diet.
According to the principles of Ayurvedic medicine, a surface health condition stems from an underlying root problem. A condition such as acne, which is known as yauvan pidika, or "the eruptions of youth" may be only a symptom of a poor diet or toxins that lie buried deep in the colon, liver or kidneys. Eliminating these toxins through an improved diet, cleansing or exercise can help to clear up acne.
Ayurveda and Acne
Ayurvedic texts state that each individual is controlled by three doshas or mind/body types. These are vata, pitta and kapha. Acne occurs when vata is impaired through an unhealthy diet and sedentary lifestyle, which aggravates kapha and pitta. Aggravated pitta affects the "rakta dhatu" or blood, which controls the production of the sebum glands. Kapha has a sticky characteristic, which also affects sebum. Acne occurs when sebum clogs pores, leading to infection. According to ayurvedic medicine you can control acne breakouts through regular care of your skin and rebalancing your doshas.
Skin Care
If you read a text on skin care in Ayurvedic medicine, you would think you were listening to a dermatologist. That's because basic skin care in Ayurvedic medicine and allopathic medicine are both aimed at controlling sebum production and bacterial infection. To do this, you should wash your skin twice daily, wear your hair away from your face and not use oil-based makeup or lotions. Women should never sleep in their makeup because it can lead to clogged pores.
Balancing Doshas
According to Ayurvedic texts, acne will be controlled long-term once the doshas have come back into balance. To do this, one must drink plenty of water (at least 15 glasses daily), exercise and control what the. Each dosha is strengthened by its own type of food. Spicy foods should be avoided, as they increase pitta and can cause acne to flare up. Water and exercise will nourish the skin and flush toxins from the body. In extreme cases, a full-body cleanse can help reboot the balancing process by removing stubborn toxins from the body's system.
Facial Treatments
Although a healthier lifestyle will balance the doshas and control long-term acne, immediate treatments can be applied to soothe flare-ups when they occur. One can try a face pack made of lodhra, dhania and vach. A paste of methi leaves or neem leaves with turmeric or besan flour and rose water can soothe inflammation caused by acne. Another option is to try a facial massage made of buttermilk, mango pulp, jamun seeds, orange peel. One recipe that requires aging is to mix a cup of lemon juice with a cup of milk in the morning. Allow the mixture to sit all day. Apply the mixture before going to bed and wash it the next morning. Ayurvedic herbs may be available at health food stores or specialty shops or at indiamart.com.
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