Ayurvedic Anti-Ageing Secrets: Slow Down Wrinkles & Pigmentation Naturally
Ayurveda is one of the holistic medicines, which helps to promote and provide the health of an individual. skin is a tissue which is controlled by the pitta dosha, but both kapha and vata is associated within it. the skin of different person is unique, due to the predominant of doshas, produce different texture and function. A skin is said to be healthy when all the dosha will be in equilibrium state. Ageing is not a disease it is a natural phenomenon that happens in the body. Any imbalance can accelerate the aging process in an individual. Ageing can be slow down by some of the ayurvedic therapies which includes, panchakarma, rasayana treatment and by the intake of healthy diet panchakarma, Rasayana.
“Jara” is the word in ayurveda which denotes ageing. Acoording to ayurveda ageing is a process where all the 7dhathus, basic tissue elements get depleted by the catabolic metabolism in the body. And it is the period after 60yrs. degeneration happens in the body.
Factors Influence ageing are:
• Stress
• Unhealthy food habits, excessive intake of sugar, fats.
• Metabolism
• Reduced water intake
• Sedentary lifestyle
Management of anti-ageing
The anti-ageing ayurvedic treatment includes correction of diet, lifestyle modification, herbal remedies and rasayana and panchakarma therapies. Anti-ageing can be managed by following a certain daily routine, according to ayurveda Dinacharya, must be followed by an individual to improve the regulates the circadian rhythm.
Rasayana therapy is one of the branches of ayurveda which is the rejuvenation therapy its nourishing the dhathus, thus empowers the youthfulness, body strength and sense organs. Some of the rasayna herbs are ashwagandha, shatawari, amalaka.
Panchakarma -detoxifying therapies, which helps to regulate the metabolism.
• Abhyanga – the oil massage which pacifies the vata, there by reduces the ageing process. Daily abhyangan enhances the completion and delays the ageing.
• Nasya- Nasal administration of medicine,its also a procedure that can done every day, which act as rejuvenating.
• Njavarakizhi- it’s the therapy where the rice bolus bag is being rubbed over the body, its strengthens the mamsa dhathu, and enhances the complexion and rejuvenates the body.
All the above treatments remove the toxins and improves the circulation. which slow down the aging process.
Diet
• Include oxidant rich foods, nutrient rich diet.
• Food rich in omega 3 fatty acids, vitamins E and collagens.
• Intake of leafy, green vegetables which is rich in folic acid and antioxidants.
• Legumes, sea fishes
• Vit C rich fruits.
• Gooseberry, Amalaki -a drug advised as a daily food, which is rich in antioxidant property and will remain youthfulness.
Lifestyle modification
• Sleep, is one among the 3 pillars in ayurveda, if the sleep is not adequate it accelerates the ageing process., the sleep quality regulates the metabolism. The sleep deprivation causes your body to release cortisol; thus, too much cortisol breaks the collagen in the skin.
• Meditation, pranayama -it helps to regulates the mind ,calm and reduces stress.
• Daily skin care based on the specific dosha predominant.
Yoga
By keeping the energy balanced and mind focused, we can reduce the ageing. Some of yoga asana such as
• Sarvang asana
• Paschimottanasana
• Trikonasana
• Hastapadasana
• Adho mukha shwanasana
• Chakrasana
• Face yoga.
Wrinkles
The wrinkles are the fine lines that come to the skin, as a physical indicator of ageing. This happens when the skin gets thinner, and dries and become less elastic, in ayurveda, the three dosha predominantly vata is aggravated here, and dhatus affected in this are rasa, mamsa and Medha., where the muscle and fat tissue contributes the elasticity and moistness or unctuousness of the skin, and contributes health and immunity.
Other than vata, the factors that influence the wrinkles are;
• Exposure to sunlight which imbalances the vata-pitta dosha.
• Dehydration
• Smoking
• Environmental factors
• Genetic factors.
Ageing or old age cannot be avoided, but we can reduce the acceleration of ageing by managing the skin health. Regular oleation, panchakarma procedures, rasayana can reduce the wrinkles development in early ages.
Management
• Balancing the vata pitta , Snehapradhana chikista, which include application of medicated oils, and ghee both externally and internally. such as Abhyanga, sarvanga taila Dhara, avagaha. Snehapana. Nasya- nasal administration of the medicines acts as rejuvenating also.
• Seasonal cleansing – administration of virechana, seasonally, give elasticity, health and prevent the wrinkling.
• Kavala and gandusha- both are the treatment where medicated oils/liquid is taken inside the oral cavity, as oil pulling with. It enhances the facial muscles and prevents the premature wrinkles.
• Face yoga – by doing the exercise, it prevents the nasolabial fold, and the reduces the facial wrinkles.
Freckles
These are the small spots that occur due to the exposure of sun, which is commonly seen in fair skin. It can also occur due to the familial, and is common in pitta dominant prakrithi. In ayurveda it is the “vyanga” that occur over the face due to vitiation of vata and pitta, tiny small dots which are blueish and blackish in colour. Depending upon the dosha, it can be coppery reddish, blackish patch.
Causative factors
• Excess exposure to sunlight
• Endocrinal disorders such as Cushing syndrome, Addison’s disease
• Application of toxic cosmetics
• Chronic liver disorders.
Management
Minimal usage of cosmetics, avoid exposure of sunlight .and some of the external and internal medicines can prevent and fades the mark.
Siravyadha -Bloodletting treatment, where the site can be punctured and the vitiated blood can be removed.
Lepana-herbal ointments, paste application by using dry herbs such manjista, sariva, turmeric, Chandana, Lodhra, amla, Daruharidra. Kumkuma.
Nasya – nasal administration of the medicines Kumkumadi taila.
Abhyanga- olation with Kumkumadi taila, Nalpamaradi taila.
Oral intake- blood purifiers such as Mahamanjishtadi Kashaya, Chandanasava, Kumaryasava.
Pigmentation
Melasma, in ayurveda its coming under kshudra Roga, which are bluish-black patches present on the face occur dur to vitiation of vata pitta and raktha, can be correlated to facial melanosis. Age is one of the common factors which influence the vyanga.
Managements-
• Application of herbal pastes, Arjunatwak choorna with Madhu.
• Massage with Kumkumadi oil.
• Internal administration of the drugs which are blood purifiers ie; Rakthashodaka such as Panchanimba choorna, Panchanimbadi gutika, Yashtimadhu,Manjishta,Turmeric.