The holistic approach of Ayurveda suggests that a healthy mind and body are the key to long-term wellness. This ancient healing system is an alternative medicine that focuses on maintaining balance in your life. In its simplest form, Ayurveda teaches you how to be happy by balancing work with play and sleep with exercise—which helps prevent stress-related illness like acne or heart disease.
A holistic approach leads to healthy, whole-body wellness.
Ayurveda is a holistic approach to health that treats the body as a whole rather than focusing on one part. This philosophy is based on the belief that everything in nature is interconnected, and therefore affects all aspects of life, including skin. Ayurvedic practices are often referred to as “the medicine of life” because it aims to heal both mind and body from within through diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes.
Ayurveda focuses on long-term wellness by encouraging those who practice it to make healthy changes in their lives for years rather than days or months at a time. The goal is not just how your skin looks today but how it will look 10 years from now—and maybe even 50!
Ayurveda teaches that lifestyle choices create doshas and imbalance in the body.
While the Western world has been in the dark about Ayurveda, it has been practiced in India for thousands of years. It teaches that there are three fundamental forces, or doshas, governing our bodies. These are Vata (air and space), Pitta (fire) and Kapha (water). These doshas govern the nervous system and metabolic process respectively.
When these forces are balanced, you have a healthy mind and body; when they’re imbalanced, you develop disease or illness as a result. Ayurveda teaches that lifestyle choices create doshas and imbalance in the body. For example: if you eat foods that increase Vata dosha like potato chips or dry toast then this can increase your Vata levels causing stress on your digestion system which will make acne worse over time.
A diet high in quick-burning carbohydrates and low in healthy fats is connected to imbalances that affect the skin.
Ayurveda places an emphasis on a healthy diet, which can be helpful in many ways. For instance, eating foods that are good for you helps your body's systems stay in balance. It also helps you feel energetic and less stressed out during the day, both of which contribute to clear skin and other health benefits.
A diet high in quick-burning carbohydrates and low in healthy fats is connected to imbalances that affect the skin. This type of diet includes processed foods like cookies or chips, white breads and pastas (even whole wheat versions), sugary cereals, sugar-laden sodas, packaged snacks such as chips or crackers (even if they're labeled "healthier" options) and so much more that’s become so common to the average diet.
A balanced diet can help the body function more efficiently. Ayurvedic practitioners believe that eating too many carbohydrates leads to imbalance, which can cause skin problems like acne. Instead of focusing on eliminating carbohydrates entirely, they suggest the body needs healthy fats in order to function properly. The main goal is to be mindful of your intake and work with a dietitian or nutritionist. Also be sure to discuss any major changes to your diet with your doctor.
Irritating chemicals create more acne, not less.
A lot of the chemicals in cosmetics cause irritation, which can lead to acne. Some examples of these irritating substances are alcohol, menthol, and fragrance. When we use products on our skin that have these chemicals, it may feel like they're helping at first because they cool down or soothe your skin's surface. But if you keep using them over time (especially if you apply them right after being exposed to harsh elements like wind and sun), eventually the irritation caused by these irritants will trigger inflammation and breakouts below the surface of your skin. This can also happen if a chemical product clogs pores instead of cleaning them out—even though such products might not be irritating initially, they can still cause breakouts later on down the road due to their inability to remove buildup from pores as promised.
Herbs for glowing skin are the foundation of many Ayurvedic treatments for skin.
Ayurveda's skin-care treatments draw on herbs to help treat acne and rosacea as well as other conditions. Herbs are used both topically and internally, depending on the desired outcome, and are chosen based on each individual's dosha type (vata, pitta or kapha). Herbs have been used for thousands of years by Ayurvedic practitioners to help maintain balance in the body.
Herbal remedies can be ingested, applied topically to the skin or taken through steam inhalation. But remember that when using an ayurvedic approach, it is important that you address the underlying causes of issues such as diet issues or imbalances in your doshas (body types).
Ayurveda can help prevent signs of aging, such as wrinkles or brown spots, or supplement treatment of acne or other skin conditions
You may be surprised to know that Ayurveda can help prevent signs of aging, such as wrinkles or brown spots, or supplement treatment for skin conditions like acne and eczema. The ancient practice teaches that lifestyle choices create doshas—imbalances in the body—and that diet is connected to skin health.
In addition to herbs used to treat acne and other skin conditions, there are many Ayurvedic treatments that offer protection against harmful UV rays. These include:
- Neem (Azadirachta indica)—this tree native to India has been used by Ayurvedic practitioners for thousands of years as a natural insect repellent; its extracts can be found in shampoos and moisturizers designed specifically for people with sensitive skin
- Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum)—an herb indigenous to Nepal and India; it’s known for its ability to provide relief from inflammation due to injury or infection
The Ayurvedic practice of cleansing the body is a holistic approach that works to purify the body and mind. It can be used to treat acne or other skin conditions, but more importantly, it’s an opportunity for self-exploration and reflection.