Hey friends! Check out the new quiz on www.doshacare.com under the heading of Ayurveda and Dosha Types to find out Your Primary and Secondary Dosha and Get Your Personalized Prescription! Find out how your sleep patterns, eating habits, and the way you deal with stress affect your skin. You’ll look at skincare in a whole new way.
Inner Peace. Outer Health. Ageless Living.
Archives for the month of: February, 2009
Renew Yourself This Spring
Source: www.ayurbalance.com
Ayurvedic healers highly recommend periodic internal cleansing as a way to maintain good health and prevent disorders from taking root in the physiology. Just like you regularly flush out the plumbing system in your home or change the oil in your automobile engine, periodically helping your body flush toxins out thoroughly is a good maintenance technique that will help organs and systems stay more efficient for a longer period of time. Especially after the age of 40, when your body’s own cleansing and rejuvenating capability starts slowing down, supporting it with a cleansing regime is important for ongoing health and vitality.
The Seed and Land Theory of Ayurveda
Proper digestion is crucial for health. When digestion is efficient and complete, all of the food you eat is either converted into nutrient fluids for absorption into the body, or flushed out as wastes. When the digestive process is incomplete or inefficient, partially digested food matter is left behind in the digestive system. This substance, called ama in ayurveda, becomes toxic to the physiology if allowed to stay in the body or build up over time. Ama is not only inherently toxic in itself, it also clogs the channels of the body, further disrupting the flow of digestion and leading to an escalating cycle of toxin build-up. Ama is fertile ground for infections and disorders to germinate, take root and flourish. Ama build-up is considered the first stage of imbalance in the physiology. If not addressed, disorders invariably follow.
The digestive process leaves behind toxins either when you eat foods that are not fresh, natural or suited to your constitution and digestive capability, or when you follow eating routines and practices that are not ideal. Eating processed or artificially flavored foods and foods that are grown with chemical pesticides and fertilizers can lead to toxin build-up. Drinking iced water or ice-cold beverages douses the digestive fire and causes ama to be generated. Eating heavier foods after sundown, eating a new meal before the previous one is digested, or eating when stressed or working also impact digestion. For help with choosing foods that are best for you and for ayurvedic digestion guidelines, read our “Eating for Balance” articles.
How to tell if you have ama build-up
It is best to visit an ayurvedic healer and have him or her assess your ama levels. The following are general indications that you may have an accumulation of toxins in your physiology:
1. Your tongue has a white coating in the morning when you wake up.
2. You yawn after a main meal and just want to curl up and snooze.
3. You feel tired and lethargic all day long, even though you eat well and sleep well.
4. Your appetite is poor or you crave junk foods.
5. You feel a general lack of motivation or zest for life.
6. You feel “spaced out” and your mind is cloudy.
7. You experience abdominal bloating and gas, especially after a main meal.
8. You feel heavy and congested or constipated.
9. You have a general sense of malaise, with vague aches and pains.
If you experience three or more of the above on a regular basis, your physiology would probably benefit from a cleansing regime.
Pick foods that are best for your constitution and needs for balance, as well as the strength of your digestive agni. Stick to lighter, easier-to-digest foods from the choices you do have.Our food recommendations for Vata, Pitta or Kapha balancing diets is a good starting point.Eat whole, fresh, natural foods, organic if you can get it. Buy your produce fresh, and consume it quickly.
Eat cooked foods, warm or at room temperature.
Drink lots of warm water through the day. Accompany meals with small sips of warm water as needed. A detoxifying “tea” is even better. Coriander, cumin, fennel and ajwain (carum copticum) are digestion-enhancing spices to choose from. Here are suggestions for detoxifying herbal waters for the three doshas:
Bring two quarts of pure water to a rolling boil. Add the herbs/spices listed below, turn off heat after a couple of minutes and let steep for about 15-20 minutes. Strain and pour the water into a thermos. Drink the tea through the day, especially 15 minutes after a meal. Throw out any that remains after 6.30 pm, and make a fresh batch the next morning.
Vata: 1/2 tsp cumin seed, 1/4 tsp ajwain seed, 1/2 tsp fennel seed
Pitta: 1/2 tsp cumin seed, 1/2 tsp coriander seed, 2 fresh mint leaves
Kapha: 1/2 tsp cumin seed, 1 clove, 1-2 slices fresh ginger root
If you can find fresh Tulsi (Holy Basil), add a leaf or two to the water for all doshas. Tulsi is known for its ability to cleanse the physiology of environmental toxins.
Include lots of cleansing fruits and vegetables in your diet. Barley water or rice kanjee, made by cooking a small amount of grain with a large quantity of water (1/2 cup to 10 cups) are also wonderful cleansers of the digestive system and the urinary tract. Greens, daikon radish, bitter gourd, cabbage and celery are examples of cleansing vegetables. Cooked apples and pears are a great way to get elimination going in the morning. Prunes, pineapple, papaya and pomegranate are other fruits that aid digestion and cleansing. Herbs such as cilantro, mint, fresh ginger and lemon are also helpful for cleansing and purifying the digestive system.
Cook with digestion-enhancing, detoxifying spices such as turmeric, cumin, coriander, clove, ajwain, fenugreek, dried ginger, Chinese cinnamon and fennel. Add the turmeric to foods as they are cooking, and sauté other spices in ghee or olive oil and pour over prepared dishes for the best therapeutic benefit. Digestion-enhancing lassi, made with some of the herbs and spices mentioned in this section, is an excellent choice for a lunchtime beverage.
Now in traditonal Ayurveda, they would tell you to avoid all junk food, caffeine, processed foods while undergoing a cleanse, but the reality is that that course of action isn’t always plausible. I try to adhere to many of these dictates, but when I feel that I’m not on my best behavior, I’ve found something that helps me out. It’s a product I found at Whole Foods called Michael Tierra’s Tri Cleanse by Planetary Herbals and it’s the only internal cleansing product that I’ve found with Triphala in it. Triphala is an ancient Ayurvedic formula consisting of Amalaki, Bibhitaki and Haritaki, and when combined are powerful warriors against toxins and disease.
Gotu Kola or Centella Asiatica
Gotu kola has been used as a medicinal herb for thousands of years in India, China and Indonesia. Its ability to heal wounds, improve mental clarity, and treat skin conditions such as leprosy and psoriasis were important reasons for its extensive use in these countries. It has also been called one of the “miracle elixirs of life” because legend has it that an ancient Chinese herbalist lived for more than 200 years as a result of using the herb.
Gotu kola has been used as a medicinal herb for thousands of years in India, China and Indonesia. Its ability to heal wounds, improve mental clarity, and treat skin conditions such as leprosy and psoriasis were important reasons for its extensive use in these countries. It has also been called one of the “miracle elixirs of life” because legend has it that an ancient Chinese herbalist lived for more than 200 years as a result of using the herb.Historically, gotu kola has also been used to treat syphilis, hepatitis, stomach ulcers, mental fatigue, epilepsy, diarrhea, fever, and asthma. Today, American and European herbalists use gotu kola for disorders that cause connective tissue swelling, such as scleroderma, psoriatic arthritis (arthritis occurring in conjunction with psoriasis), anklylosing spondylitis (arthritis of the spine), and rheumatoid arthritis. Recent studies confirm some of the traditional uses and also suggest possible new applications for gotu kola, such as lowering high blood pressure, treating venous insufficiency (pooling of blood in the veins, usually in the legs, boosting memory and intelligence, easing anxiety, and speeding wound healing.
Aside from its many internal medical benefits, Gotu Kola has a wide array of external healing properties. Gotu kola contains triterpenoids, compounds that have been shown to aid in wound healing. For example, animal studies indicate that triterpenoids strengthen the skin, increase the concentration of antioxidants in wounds, and restore inflamed tissues by increasing blood supply. Because of these properties, gotu kola has been used externally for burns, psoriasis, prevention of scar. In modern skincare, Gotu Kola is shown to increase collagen production while lifting away toxins that cause skin blemishes, helps to boost circulation, improve the collagen foundation of the skin, and fight oxidation – thereby making it a superb ingredient for anti-aging skin care products as well as improving skin firmness and elasticity. This powerful ingredient can be found in many DoshaCare products such as the Pitta Masque, Moisturizer and Elixir, the Kapha Masque, Moisturizer and Elixir, and the Sakala Exfoliant.
Rachel first became part of our team when DoshaCare debuted at the Spa and Resort Expo last September at the Jacob Javits Center in NYC. She came on board to perform facials on customers in the Show’s Spa Sanctuary, and quickly fell in love with the product.
“I was very impressed with the efficacy of the line, even when used in an environment such as a trade show. I performed facial services in a small area with limited supplies, but even in that setting, I was able to achieve impressive results. In approximately 15 minutes, my clients’ skin was so greatly improved that they even looked better without the makeup they had walked in wearing. Their skin was fresh, plump and glowing from a brief encounter with the products. I’d like to note that I used no steamer or machines during the facials, only two gently warmed towels. I also had no sink in the room in which I was working, which made me aware that many salons could perform comprehensive facials with DoshaCare without having the luxury of a sink.
The line was simplistic enough for me to breeze through each facial in a short time without having to decipher complex formulas or combinations of products. I have worked with customized formulas and facial products before, but the amount of work needed to achieve good results with those products was far more tedious than that of the straightforward application of DoshaCare. As each client left my room, I was continually surprised at the great results acquired with so little effort.”
Rachel Henry graduated from Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics in New
York City in 1997, where she graduated with honors, including Superlative Hands. In
1999 Henry was recruited by Barbara Salamone, founder of Bioelements, and
became a national educator. During her tenure with Bioelements, Henry gained
a wealth of product knowledge, earned respect as an educator and became a
role model to young professionals. In 2000 as microdermabrasion was
exploding in the spa industry, Henry became the East Coast sales
representation for Dermaglow, a manufacturer of microdermabrasion machines.
Additionally, she became spa director at Spa Harmony at the W.R. Cameron Wellness
Center in Washington, Pennsylvania. It was in this holistic environment that Henry
developed newskills in lymphatic drainage and began custom-blending essential oils and
herbs for use in her treatments. Subsequently she accepted a position as an
esthetician at an Aveda concept salon and spa in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Henry¹s mother, Marianne Dougherty, editor in chief of American Salon
magazine, introduced her to Patty Schmucker, founder of DoshaCare, in 2008.
Henry was so impressed with the line of customized Ayruvedic skin care
products that she has accepted a position as lead educator for the company.
She looks forward to sharing her years of experience and love for her
profession with estheticians around the country.
Rachel also worked with us as our head educator and esthetician at the International Salon and Spa Expo at the Long Beach Convention Center this past weekend, Jan. 31-Feb. 2nd, where she and founder, Patty Schmucker taught a class called Beyond Beauty, Offer Wellness. During this class, Rachel demonstrated a 55 minute Ayurvedic facial complete with marma point therapy and gemstone wand massage. We are so honored to have Rachel join our team and head up our developing education program. Look for a new segment on our blog called “Ask Rachel” every Friday. Please send any questions you might have about skincare, Ayurvedic facial treatments, problematic skin conditions, etc. to jessica.c@doshacare.com and then Rachel will post her answers here every Friday.
The eco gurus at LOHAS have praised the DoshaCare line for our attention to detail and true transparency when it comes to our environmentally conscious standards. Check it out and read about other Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability.
