Hair Care
The structure of hair is like the scales on the skin of a fish that has overlapping scales around a central core
called the cortical. Smoother overlapping more shiny and smooth the hair looks. This also leads to easy
combing while a tangled or roughed-up structure makes the hair look rough and dull.
Diet and lifestyle are two major factors that influence the health of the hair. Poor diet, illness and deficiencies
of any particular vitamin and mineral affects the quality of hair and problems like dandruff, thinning hair,
balding, premature graying etc. spoil the hair.
In an individual the condition of the hair is a reflection of the complete constitution of him. If the person is not
healthy then the health of the hair will be deplorable.
Example: If a person has vata constitution, the hairs are dark, dry, coarse, wiry or frizzy and tend to tangle
easily, are prone to dullness, split ends and dandruff. The constitution comprising of Pitta has hair that is
light brown, blonde or red and tend to grow gray or thin prematurely and are fine and silky with a tendency to
become oily. Hairs are thick, wavy and shiny if the composition is of kapha.
Regularly cleaning and brushing the hair is very important. When the hairs are brushed, oil-producing glands
in the scalp get stimulated. This natural oil makes the hair glossy and healthy. To give extra shine to the
hair, after washing rinse the hair with some lemon juice mixed in a cup of warm water.
Skin Care
Being the mirror, the barometer of an individual's health, skin is the clue to one's Ayurvedic constitution. This
can be understood by the types of skin that one has. Example: If vata is predominant the skin of a person is
dry, rough, cold, thin with fine pores and wrinkled. In case of pitta constitution, the skin is delicate, fair and
red toned with freckles, moles or acne and burns easily. If the constitution is of kapha dosha the skin of a
person is oily, smooth, moist and thick with a tendency towards large pores.
If the skin is not cared properly and neglected it suffers from premature aging, becomes dull and blemished.
Regular consumption of milk, honey and yogurt are good nourishment for skin and prevents premature
aging.
Nail Care
The condition of nails reflect the quality of tissue production in the body as nails are considered to be the
waste product of bones (asthi dhatu) Healthy nails are pink, smooth and evenly shaped.
The root cause of nail disorders like splitting and flaky nails, white spots, vertical ridges or discoloration of
the nail bed is an improper diet. Vata type nails are irregular in shape, pale, rough and brittle and bitten. A
person with Pitta as the predominant dosha has oval, soft, strong and flexible nails while Kapha type nails
are square, thick, large and very white.
Sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, dairy products, nuts, dried fruit and dark green leafy vegetables encourage
healthy nail growth. To make the hands soft and nourish the nails, prepare a cream of almond oil and honey
and leave it on overnight.
Foot Care
• In the complete human body feet are the mist strained and worked out part, but inspite of this are
the most neglected one also. Lack of proper care for feet result in many problems like corns and
bunions, cracks, infections and ingrown nails.
Massaging the feet each night with oil is relaxing and keeps them soft and supple. In winter warm
oil can be used with sesame or mustard oil. In summer coconut oil provides a cooling effect.
Corns
If the shoes are to tight, pinch or do not fit properly corns appear due to the pressure put on the
bony areas of the foot and also interfere with the circulation of blood ultimately leading to corns.
Cracks on heels
Walking barefoot on rough surfaces or excessive exposure of bare feet to the sun, wind or water causes
cracks on the heels and soles apart form the aggravation of Pitta and Vata doshas, which cause dryness
and roughness of the feet.
Eye Care
Among the five sensory organs, eyes are the most beautiful expressive organs we have that also have the
capability of vision. Kapha eyes are usually large and clear with thick lashes. Pitta eyes are sharp,
penetrating and sensitive and are prone to itchiness or redness. Vata eyes are small, nervous and dry.
To prevent eye form damage its care is very necessary. It is best to avoid poor light when reading or using
computers or watching television for long hours. Very intense light or using very hot or very cold water on
the face and head is also not healthy for the eyes. Applying few drops of almond, coconut or sesame oil
around the eyes prevents dark circles.
Mouth Care
It is said that a clean mouth is a healthy mouth. Pleasant breath, clean teeth and healthy gums all contribute
to a beautiful smile. Bad breath is usually a sign of poor digestion, which is why cleaning the teeth or using
mouth gargles only relieves the problem temporarily. To permanently eliminate bad breath the eating habits
or diet should be monitored. Fasting for a day, and then adopting a light, easily digestible diet can eliminate
this problem.
Consuming aloe Vera gel, or ginger and lemon juice, also helps improve digestion. Rinsing the mouth with a
decoction of mint, or chewing parsley or basil leaves can improve breath.
Teeth
Healthy teeth are white, evenly spaced, level and clean. Unhealthy teeth are discolored, uneven, and are
present in greater or less than the normal number.
Teeth problems occur due to poor diet or bad eating habits, tobacco, tea, coffee, sweet and sticky foods
(sweets, chocolates, raisins) and very cold or hot food can lead to discoloration or decay. Ayurveda
emphasizes on cleaning the teeth twice daily, in the morning and evening.
After eating it is necessary to rinse and gargle to remove food particles that may be stuck between teeth.
Eating hard, crunchy fruits and vegetables (Apples, carrots) is good for the teeth. For discolored teeth salt
mixed with lime or lemon juice to brush the teeth. To ease toothache, apply a couple of drops of cinnamon
or clove oil to the base of the aching tooth.
Gums
Healthy gums are red, regular, compact and hard while unhealthy gums are spongy, dark red or very pale
and may bleed.
Citrus fruits (oranges, grapefruit, lemon, lime), guavas or pomegranates should be included in the diet to
ensure healthy gums as these fruits contain large quantities of vitamin C. Massaging the gums daily with a
mixture of salt, black pepper, turmeric and sesame oil is also beneficial.
Tongue
The internal conditions of the digestive system is reflected by the tongue. According to ayurveda the
condition of coating on the tongue determines physical disorders that may be present while a mucus like
coating on the tongue demonstrates the presence of Ama (a toxic byproduct of poor digestion or improper
eating habits).
Ayurvedic oral hygiene includes:
Cleaning the teeth and tongue daily with specially designed metal tongue scraper and gentle use of
toothbrush.
Reduce Weight Naturally
In ayurveda, Charak Samhita describes eight different types of bodies that are disease prone. Out of these,
the obese body is described as the one afflicted with the most diseases and troubles. Obesity is the
condition or physical state of the body when excessive deposition of fat takes place in the adipose tissue.
Extra fat puts a strain on the heart, kidneys, liver and the joints such as the hips, knees and ankles and thus,
overweight people are susceptible to several diseases like coronary thrombosis, high blood pressure,
diabetes, arthritis, gout, liver and gall bladder disorders. Chief cause of obesity is overeating, irregular eating
habits and not following the rules of eating or mixing non-compatible food items in one meal.
To decrease weight and get rid of obesity three things must be kept in mind:
• Controlling eating habits.
• Regular exercise.
• Avoiding the causes of weight gain
Diet recommended to lose weight
• Early morning
Juice of half a lemon mixed in a glass of warm water and a teaspoon of honey.
• Breakfast
Wheat or Mung bean sprouts and a cup of skimmed milk.
• Midmorning
A glass of orange, pineapple or carrot juice.
• Lunch
o Salad of raw vegetables such as carrot, beet, cucumber, cabbage, tomatoes. Steamed or
boiled vegetables
o Whole grain bread or whole wheat chapatis (Indian bread) and a glass of buttermilk.
o Roasted cumin seeds, green coriander leaves, a little salt and some grated ginger mixed
in the buttermilk.
• Mid-afternoon
o Coconut water
o Dry fruits
o Lemon tea
o Fresh vegetable soup
• Dinner
o Whole grain bread or chapatis
o Steamed vegetables
o Seasonal fruits except banana and apple.
Home Remedies for Losing Weight
• Increase the quantity of fruits and vegetables and low calorie foods.
• Avoid intake of too much salt as it may be a factor for increasing body weight.
• Milk products like cheese, butter etc. and non-vegetarian foods should be avoided as they are rich
in fat.
• Mint is very beneficial in losing weight. A chutney of green mint with some simple spices can be
taken with meals. Mint tea also helps.
• Spices like dry ginger, cinnamon, black pepper etc. are good for loosing weight and can be used in
a number of ways.
• Regular intake of carrot juice.
• Avoid rice and potato, which contain a lot of carbohydrates. Among cereals wheat is good.
• Vegetables like bitter gourd (Karela), and bitter variety of drumstick are useful in loosing weight.
• Honey is an excellent home remedy for obesity. It mobilizes the extra deposited fat in the body
allowing it to be utilized as energy for normal functions.
Dosage: One should start with small quantity of about 10 grams or a tablespoon, taken with hot
water early in the morning. A teaspoonful of fresh lemon juice may also be added.
• Fasting on honey and lime- juice is highly beneficial in the treatment of obesity without the loss of
energy and appetite. For this, mix one teaspoon of fresh honey with the juice of half a lime in a
glass of lukewarm water.
Dosage: Take several times a day at regular intervals.
• Raw or cooked cabbage inhibits the conversion of sugar and other carbohydrates into fat. Hence, it
is of great value in weight reduction.
• Exercise is an important part of any weight reduction plan. It helps to use up calories stored in body
as fat.
• Walking is the best exercise to begin with and may be followed by running, swimming or rowing.
• The gum of Commiphora Mukul called 'guggulu' is the drug of choice for the treatment of obesity.
Preparation of Home Remedies
According to ayurveda home remedies are prepared in the same way and with the same purpose as other
ayurvedic medicines. The main aim is to obtain the maximum therapeutic benefit while making it palatable.
Some common methods of preparing home remedies are:
• Juice
The juice may be taken from the fresh leaves, flowers or stems of the herb. The part of the herb
used should be crushed or ground in a mortar and pestle, to make a paste. This paste should be
put in a piece of cloth and squeezed to take out the juice.
Dosage: One to two tablespoons twice a day.
• Powder
Dried herbs are used for powders. The herbs are usually dried in a cool, shady and well-ventilated
place, although some herbs are dried in direct sunlight. The herbs are then ground into a fine
powder and stored in a dry, airtight bottle. The powder may be taken with water, or if specified, with
milk or honey.
Dosage: Half to one teaspoon twice a day
• Decoction
A decoction is prepared by boiling the herb in water (ratio: 1 part herb to 16 parts water). The herbs
are broken into pieces and soaked in water overnight. This mixture is then boiled until it reduces to
one quarter of the original volume. It is then filtered and stored in a glass bottle.
Dosage: One to two tablespoons twice a day.
• Infusion
Herbs are soaked in water to make an infusion (ratio: 1 part herb to 8 parts water). Hot infusions
result from adding herbs to hot water, or gently heating but not boiling the mixture. This is strained
and taken internally. Herbal teas are forms of hot infusions. Cold infusions are made from soaking
the herb overnight. Honey can be added.
Dosage: half to one cup once or twice day.
• Paste
A paste can be made from either fresh or dried herbs. The flowers, roots, stems, leaves or bark are
ground and mixed with water. Pastes are mainly used for external application, in cases of cuts,
burns and swellings. The paste should be thick enough to be applied in a layer to the skin.
• Tablets
The herbs should be first dried separately and then mixed together in a powder form, in fixed
proportions. Water or herbal juice can be added to this powder to make a paste, from which tablets
of a specific size or weight are made. Tablets remain potent longer than juices, powders, pastes or
decoctions.
Dosage: 1 or 2 tablets twice a day.
• Medicated ghee and oil
Ghee is cooked with herbal juices, decoctions or pastes. The ghee should be heated with the
herbal mixture at a moderate, controlled temperature. High temperatures can easily burn the ghee
or oil, destroying its effectiveness. Medicated ghee and oils are either used internally or massaged
externally.
Dosage: Half to one tablespoon.