Ayurveda for Hair Health

The rumors are true – hair health really and truly begins at the scalp. Ayurvedic herbs and foods have been used for centuries in holistic haircare, both topically and internally. These sacred ingredients hold within their cells the healing codes of nature – that conventional haircare is downright lacking.  

You will see that many of the Ayurvedic herbs known for hair health are also Pitta-pacifying herbs. This is because heat is a major cause of dry hair, thinning, and all sorts of other hair issues. People with high Pitta may experience hair thinning or premature greying – which makes sense, because heat leaves the body through the crown of the head. All in all, both the brain and scalp prefer to be cool, which is why Pitta is the important dosha to address for overall hair health.

For long-term healthy hair, it is best to avoid mass-market chemical haircare, as the chemicals ultimately devitalize the scalp (and aggravate Pitta). Instead, Ayurvedic haircare features healing herbs such as Neem, Brahmi, Bhringaraj, Amla (Amalaki), Triphala, and Curry Leaves.

Regular scalp massage is crucial if you are going to have a healthy head of hair. This stimulates circulation in the scalp, which promotes hair growth. When the scalp is tight and constricted (usually due to stress), it blocks the hair follicles from their fullest expression of growth.

How to do it: Take approximately 1 teaspoon of high-quality hair oil (we recommend our Brahmi Hair Oil which is packed with some of the herbs we discuss below). Beginning at the crown, massage scalp in circular motions with your fingertips, for a few minutes. Ideally do this once or twice weekly, before bed, and rinse oil out in the morning.

Here are 6 of the best topical herbal treatments for hair:

Neem is rich in antioxidants and fatty acids that condition the scalp and promote healthy hair growth.

Brahmi is truly one of the best herbs for total hair, brain, and nervous system health. It stimulates hair growth, promotes cognitive memory function, rejuvenates the nervous system, calms and centers the mind, activates the crown chakra, and helps with natural sleep.

Bhringaraj: known as the “king of hair,” bhringaraj pacifies Pitta, especially at the hair roots, where Pitta is known to “burn up” and weaken hair follicles.

Amla (Amalaki) is a rejuvenative with a high antioxidant content which repairs damaged hair and cells. It prevents hair loss, and cools Pitta.

Triphala prevents premature graying and strengthens the roots, minimizing hair loss. It increases hair volume, and is also known to reduce dandruff. It also cleanses the digestive system, which indirectly benefits all tissue systems of the body.

Curry leaves clear clogged hair follicles by removing the dead ones that are blocking new hair growth. They prevent premature hair loss and graying, and are rich in nourishing antioxidants.

All of these herbs can be found in one or both of our healing haircare products – our Brahmi Hair Oil and Sattvic Herbal Dry Shampoo.

Diet

A nutrient-dense diet of healthy fats and proteins, fiber from plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and using digestion-enhancing herbs in your diet is crucial. I advise my clients to cook whenever possible with these five spices in equal parts: turmeric, coriander, cumin, fennel, and cayenne. Melt the spices into your cooking oil before adding anything else to the pan. Additionally, for non-vegans, don’t neglect ojas-enhancing dairy such as raw or grass-fed whole milk, whole yogurts, and ghee.

10 Ayurvedic Herbs to Incorporate Into Your Daily Life - Right Now!

In the ancient science of Ayurveda, herbs are viewed as the spiritual essence - the Kundalini - of plants. Plants and herbs carry in their cells the wisdom of cosmic intelligence, and the healing vibrations of nature. Since ancient times, humans and plants have had a very spiritual connection - plants capture solar energy and convert it into nutrients that humans can digest. Plants do this by transforming sunlight into chlorophyll, which can then be assimilated by the human body. 

Ayurveda has the oldest, most developed herbal system in the world - it has been in continuous use for at least 5,000 years. The ancient Vedic seers in India compiled and classified the medicinal and healing properties of hundreds of herbs into an herbal healing system that can be accessed and utilized by anyone in our contemporary lives.

Each and every herb in Ayurvedic herbology has a multitude of benefits - for the mind, body, and spirit. Herbs can be used internally or externally (through the skin) - or even used as aromatherapy. From weight loss to beautiful skin to overall vitality, herbs can transform your health in so many ways! Here are some highlights of some of the Top 10 herbs in Ayurveda and easy ways to incorporate them into your routine.

1. Ajwain - WEIGHT LOSS Ajwain is a strong digestive and nerve stimulant. It functions as a weight loss herb by drawing out deep-seated toxins from the body.  Ajwain also heals painful joints - it is an excellent herb to address Vata issues. Ajwain can be taken as a tea to assist with weight loss: simply boil 1 tsp of ajwain seeds in 16 ounces of water.

2. Ashwagandha - VITALITY One of the best anti-aging herbs, Ashwagandha enhances vitality. This herb is crucial for people suffering from too much stress, or who are overworked. Take 1/2 teaspoon cooked in milk (sweeten with 1 tsp of raw honey). Note that Ayurvedic herbs are fat soluble, and are able to go deeper into the tissues and cells when taken with a healthy fat (such as ghee, butter, or raw whole milk).

3. Brahmi - BRAIN TONIC Brahmi is the #1 tonic for the brain and nervous system. Its leaves even look like the brain! Brahmi also balances the left and right hemispheres of the brain, and decalcifies the pineal gland. It is tridoshic, but is especially beneficial for balancing high Pitta conditions. Brahmi removes toxins and blockages from the nervous system. It helps with depression, enhances intelligence and improves memory and concentration. Brahmi enhances the overall cellular wisdom in the body. It also happens to be great for hair growth! Take Brahmi every morning to rejuvenate the body-mind. Ways to take it: boil in water (as a tea), boil it in milk, or make Brahmi ghee. It can also be used as a medicated oil for the hair, and the nutrients will seep into the brain cells via the crown chakra.

4. Cardamom - TRANQUILIZER Cardamom is a natural tranquilizer, bringing clarity and joy to the heart and mind. It neutralizes the acidity of coffee and caffeine - it also neutralizes the mucus-forming properties in milk. Cardamom removes excess Kapha from stomach and lungs. Add the pods or powder to coffee as you are brewing it, or boil cardamom in warm milk before bed.

5. Cumin - ASSIMILATION Cumin enhances the digestive system and metabolism. It helps the body with nutrient absorption. Cumin can be especially useful for new moms after giving birth, as it cleanses the reproductive organs and improves milk secretion. Use cumin while cooking to assist in the assimilation of micronutrients. 

6. Licorice - REJUVENATOR Licorice is a rejuvenating herb that is commonly used in both the East and West. It rejuvenates all systems of the body and reduces acidity. It calms the mind and nurtures the spirit. Add licorice root to hot tea as a sweetener, in the place of honey or sugar. Or, boil powdered licorice root in a milk decoction. 

7. Manjistha - PURIFYING Manjistha is probably the best blood purifying herb in Ayurvedic medicine. It is anti-inflammatory and clears acne. Manjistha cleans the blood and liver, lowering pitta disorders in the skin, and clearing acne. It cools and detoxifies the blood, and cleanses and regulates liver and kidney functions. Take this herb in capsule form (2 capsules in the morning, and 2 capsules at night) if you are suffering from any Pitta skin disorders. Or, take it with warm milk before bed.

8. Neem - DETOX Neem is one of the most powerful blood purifiers and detoxifiers in Ayurvedic herbology. Best for acne, skin diseases, wound healing, and skin damage (especially from the sun), neem is useful for all Pitta disorders (such as skin and eyes). It works wonders for eczema and psoriasis skin flare-ups. It is also useful for joint and muscle pain. Use neem on the skin in a medicated oil. 

9. Shatavari - FEMALE VITALITY Shatavari is the #1 Ayurvedic rejuvenative for women (as Ashwagandha is for men).  Shatavari even translates to "she who possesses a thousand husbands!" It nourishes and cleanses the blood and the female reproductive organs. Shatavari is readily available as a tea, in pill and powder form, or it can be taken in ghee or cooked in milk, which is the preferred form (all Ayurvedic herbs are best assimilated into the body's cells when taken with a fat).

10. Turmeric - THE SPICE OF LIFE Turmeric purifies the blood and the channels of the body. It improves the skin's complexion, bringing circulation and nutrition to the skin. Turmeric is anti-inflammatory and is a perfect remedy to treat acne-prone skin. Turmeric balances all the doshas, but it balances Pitta the most because of its blood-cleansing and liver-cleansing properties. Try to incorporate turmeric into your daily life in literally any way you can. Ideally use 1 tsp per day in some form: whether in capsule form, on the skin, or in the diet. Throw some in as you are sautéeing veggies in coconut oil to throw over quinoa. Boil some turmeric in goat milk with honey before bed. If you consume turmeric on a regular basis, you will notice your health improve in a multitude of areas. 

Ayurveda For Pregnancy

During pregnancy, Ayurveda can be a wonderful complement to the care you are receiving from your doctor or other medical practitioner.

In Ayurveda, pregnancy is viewed as a very special and spiritual time in a woman’s life. It is often reported that a pregnant woman’s aura is particularly luminous and golden — this is Ayurveda’s explanation for that intangible “pregnancy glow“that we hear about. This is a time when a woman’s intuitive abilities are particularly high, and meditation and other spiritual practices are highly recommended at this time.

Pregnancy is a time to bond with your child, and self-care is especially important. Many physical and emotional changes are occurring during these 9 months. According to Ayurveda, pregnancy is the time to balance the Vata dosha, which is the energy of air and space, which dominates the nervous system.

Here’s 3 Ayurvedic self-care tips to follow during pregnancy.

1. Incorporate Fats and Oils into Your Diet. We should always incorporate plenty of healthy fats into our diet, but especially during pregnancy. It is vital that a pregnant woman consumes enough fats and oils, not only to help her gain enough weight during pregnancy, but also to help the baby’s brain develop. Fats and oils also balance Vata, which is dominant. Healthy fats can include: organic whole milk, coconut oil, olive oil, nuts (almonds, walnuts, cashews, hazelnuts), seeds (sunflower, pumpkin) and avocado. Favor raw or grass-fed dairy, if possible. Cooking with ghee (clarified butter) helps promote digestion, which can be irregular during pregnancy, when the Vata dosha is dominant. All Ayurvedic herbs are fat-soluble — this means that their nutrients are more efficiently delivered to the cells and tissues when accompanied by a healthy fat.

A secret Ayurvedic tip to help your baby’s immunity and vitality is to take one spoonful daily of this golden elixir of life each day of pregnancy: add one teaspoon of warm milk with one teaspoon of grass-fed ghee.

Before bed, take a regular dose of warming turmeric milk to build vitality: Melt 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder with 1/2 teaspoon of cardamon powder in one cup of warm milk, on the stove. When the spices have assimilated into the milk, add 1 tsp of raw honey. This will aid digestion, calm the nerves and help with sound sleep.

2. Eat Sattvic. In Ayurveda, when a food is sattvic it means it is pure and fresh. This means: avoid leftovers. No processed foods. It is advised to buy organic and non-GMO produce. An expectant mother needs to consume pure and easily digestible foods that nourish the dhatus, or tissues of both her and her baby. Also, cooked food is better than raw during pregnancy, as raw foods tend to aggravate digestion.

A sattvic diet is said to increase the qualities of purity and clarity in the mind. Sattvic and grounding foods such as organic dairy, nuts, whole grains, beans, fruit, and fresh cooked vegetables deliver prana, or cosmic life force, to the body. They also help to build ojas, or vitality, for both you and your baby.

3. Nourish The Body and Mind through Oil Massage. Most importantly, nourish yourself. As traditional medicine teaches us, everything that you taste, see, touch, and feel during pregnancy, the baby experiences too. Give yourself a daily massage with warming and grounding Ayurvedic oils to nourish your mind, body and spirit as well as the baby’s.

In Sanskrit, the word sneha means both “oil” and “love.” This speaks volumes. Abhyanga, Sanskrit for “oil massage,” is a timeless Ayurvedic ritual. Applying oil to the body is grounding and relaxing, and provides stability and warmth. This ritual evaporates stress and fatigue. You are literally giving love to yourself and your baby, while also helping to diminish stretch marks, restore skin’s elasticity, and relieve that pregnant belly itching.

Ayurvedic Approach to Eczema + Psoriasis

Eczema and psoriasis are notoriously difficult to heal. Companies churn out eczema medications and treatments which promise to cure the condition. What are we doing wrong? The secret may lie in a holistic, multi-pronged approach to the condition.

According to Ayurveda, eczema and psoriasis are a result of too much fire, or Pitta, in the mind-body. The excess Pitta inside the body manifests toxins on the skin which result in the itchy flare-ups associated with eczema and psoriasis.

In order to get a handle on your condition, it is necessary to take a holistic approach – approaching your condition from the perspective of diet, plant-based skincare, and your mental state. This is the whole premise of Ayurveda as holistic, mind-body medicine. Take a moment to examine what in your life might be causing these flare-ups. Do you spend a lot of time in the hot sun? Are you exposed to industrial chemicals on a regular basis – whether it is due to environmental factors or taking in too many chemicals through the skin through chemical-based skincare? Or do you carry a lot of anger around with you?

Diet

In order to balance your high Pitta, eat cooling and anti-inflammatory foods like plenty of fresh greens and fruits, and healthy fats like avocados, and fish oil. Inflammatory foods aggravate Pitta the most. Be sure to avoid Pitta-aggravating pungent foods like raw onion, and acidic foods like coffee, alcohol and red meat.

Food allergies also come into play – when you consume foods that you are allergic to, it triggers the flare- ups. Consider a blood test to determine your food allergies, or simply try the elimination test to figure out which foods aggravate your condition.

Toxins accumulate in the blood, especially when Pitta is high. Be sure to consume blood cleansers in the form of herbs or foods. One of the best blood cleansers in Ayurveda is turmeric. Considered the spice of life in India, turmeric is not only a culinary spice – it is a powerful medicine. Juice with fresh turmeric root, sprinkle it daily into your cooking, or take it in through the skin.

Skincare

The irony is that eczema and psoriasis sufferers cannot use chemicals on the skin – but most conventional treatments are practically all chemicals. Avoid putting chemicals on the flare-ups at all costs. Use only nature-derived cooling, soothing ingredients on your skin. Our Eczema-Psoriasis Body Oil contains all-star Pitta-pacifying ingredients like turmeric, sandalwood, neem, coconut oil, lavender, and extra-virgin olive oil. These ingredients all work synergistically together to calm irritations on the skin, while treating the Pitta imbalance from the cellular level.

Mental State

Stress and anger are the two major ways that stress is expressed in high Pitta individuals. These two emotions also negatively impact eczema and psoriasis flare-ups. A regular meditation practice can balance the emotions, nervous system and hormones – and positively impact your skin.

A simple daily meditation that I was introduced to by Dr. Lad is the So Hum meditation: 

So Hum

The So Hum Meditation is an ancient Vedic mantra/meditation. It is there in the subtle sound of your breath. It refers to eternity, infinity, and universality. This meditation will help take your awareness from a state of constriction to a state of expansion.

To perform this meditation, turn your awareness to your third eye/pineal gland. Bring your tongue to touch the palate behind the front teeth. Bring awareness to the third eye and to the breath.

Inhale 'So' - STOP - exhale 'Hum" - STOP.

Repeat as many times as you would like.

While performing this meditation, you may eventually see a dazzling light coming from your pineal gland, called "jyothi linga". Jyothi = light and Linga = body. This is your pure, true existence of light. It is not a light that you can see with your two external eyes (only your internal, 'third' eye).

The idea that there is no cure to eczema is a myth. Any condition that manifests itself in the body or on the skin is indicative of an imbalance going on – whether it be in the mind, body, and spirit. With eczema and psoriasis, it is specifically indicative of Pitta being too high. It IS possible to heal yourself.

Ayurvedic Baby Massage: An Ancient Indian Ritual Arrives in the West

Sneha. This ancient Sanskrit word can be translated two ways in the English language: it means both “oil” and “love”. This speaks volumes to the nourishing effect that oil massage has on our bodies, minds, and spirits.

Daily oil massage is perhaps the simplest and most loving gift you can give your child. Baby massage, an ancient Ayurvedic custom still practiced to this day in India, has been finding its way into households here in the west. Many western parents are understanding that this massage sets the best foundation for your child’s lifelong health. Some tips: Ideally you will perform the baby massage right after bathing your infant. Wait until your baby is at least 1 month old to begin this wonderful ritual. This is when your baby’s body is strong enough for massage with the hands. FYI: in traditional Indian culture, the baby is massaged with a soft ball of dough dipped in a little oil and turmeric from infancy to 4 weeks.

THE OIL:

Our own BABY MASSAGE OIL covers all the bases. Be sure to use 100% organic oils to properly nourish your baby. Appropriate massage oils for baby massage include almond oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil, sesame oil, and extra virgin olive oil. Be sure that the oil you use is 100% plant-based and does not contain mineral oils or synthetic fragrances, as these are petroleum-based and contain toxic contaminants. 

THE MASSAGE:

1.       Warm the oil first in your hands or by placing the oil bottle in hot water for a few moments.

2.       Place your baby on a changing table or on your lap. Be sure to place a sheet or towel under your baby.

3.       Gently begin by applying oil to your baby’s scalp.

4.       Massage down the arms and then the legs. Use long strokes down the limbs, and circles around the joints.

5.       Massage your baby’s abdomen in a large clockwise motion.

6.       Optional: turn your baby onto its belly, and massage the back and buttocks – using long strokes down the back, and circular strokes on the buttocks.

7.       Wrap your baby in warm clothes or a warm blanket to settle down for a restful nap. Make sure the baby’s head is facing east, for the soundest sleep.

THE BENEFITS:

Baby massage has been practiced in India for centuries, and is an integral part of every family’s routine. Here are the benefits of the ritual, according to Ayurveda:

·         Activates important bonding hormones between mama and baby.

·         Promotes healthy and nourished skin.

·         Increases circulation of the blood and the lymphatic system.

·         Drains toxins from the baby’s body and strengthens the immune system.

·         Helps with baby’s digestion and bowel movements.

·         Helps with baby’s sound sleep.

As a parent, be sure not to neglect your own health – don't forget your own daily Abhyanga massage! ~ Kiera

Spring Cleaning: Detox Your Mind and Body This Kapha Season

It is important to regularly detoxify your body throughout the year, and Ayurveda traditionally recommends cleansing at natural transition points like the change of seasons. Springtime is the most important time of the year to do this - spring is nature's season of cleansing, detox, and rejuvenation. In Ayurveda, the human body is a microcosm of nature - and when you look around at your environment during springtime, you will notice that the earth is rejuvenating itself - and so is the body.

We know that the three doshas – Vata, Pitta, and Kapha – correspond to our minds and bodies. But did you know that they also correspond to the seasons?

Pitta season occurs during the hot, humid summer months. This makes sense, as Pitta essentially represents the fire element. Vata season begins as soon as you feel that first fall breeze, and Vata (represented by the air element) dominates all fall and winter long, during the driest and coldest months. Kapha season lasts from approximately mid-February to early May, when the body is transitioning out of a long winter - into the lightness of spring and eventually summer. It is the transition from heavy winter into spring - think of that sluggish, damp, cold time of slushy winter snows into spring showers. We often feel heavy physically, mentally and energetically, and have excess mucus at this time. If we don't take care to balance Kapha during Kapha season, we might end up depressed, congested, and lethargic.

Throughout the year but especially in the winter, toxic buildup accumulates from poorly digested food and exposure to toxins in our food, water, and environment. These toxins inhibit proper performance of the body's tissues and organs, right down to the cellular level – and need to be cleansed. Signs that toxic residue has accumulated in your system include a white, heavy coating on the tongue, sluggishness after eating, foggy thinking, joint and muscle aches. The ama, or toxins, that have accumulated all winter long in our system need to be flushed out. Here are some ways to cleanse both internally and externally during Kapha season:

·         Exercise at least 30 minutes daily to improve circulation in the lymphatic system.

·         Follow an anti-Kapha diet. Limit intake of sugar, dairy, cheese, butter, eggs, fatty meats, lard, and salt during this season.

·         Use a light and stimulating plant-based oil, such as grapeseed, mustard seed or almond on your skin daily, during an Abhyanga, or self-oil massage. Oils mobilize toxins from the tissues, helping with the body’s natural cleansing process. Take it a step further and try our Kapha - Detox Body Oil, specifically formulated for this.

·         Eat plenty of organic fruits and vegetables with warming and stimulating spices to detoxify the body from within.

·         For skincare during this time, you want to be thinking light and stimulating.  I would recommend a green clay mask. Green clay is one of the best detoxers for the skin, and has the ability to remove impurities from the basal layer of the skin.

DIY Purifying Face Mask

2 tsp green clay
1 tsp arrowroot powder
½ tsp honey powder
½ tsp castor oil
Blend with one egg white

Apply on face, keep on for ½ hour, and you will cleanse your skin from the inside, out.

Drink this Detox Tea daily, throughout Kapha season:

Detox Tea (Cumin Coriander Fennel -CCF)

Bring water to a boil. Add add a mixture of the below seeds in equal quantity to the water, bring to a simmer, let simmer on low for 10 minutes with the lid on the pot.

Whole cumin seeds
Whole coriander seeds
Whole fennel seeds

Strain out the seeds and pour the liquid into a thermos.

Proportion: use 1/2 teaspoon of the spice mix per every 12 oz of water. It is best to make 3-4 cups of the tea in the morning, take the tea in a thermos with you and drink throughout the day to flush toxins out of the body. Add a licorice tea bag to a cup of the hot tea mixture to add sweetness. Alternatively, add raw honey.

Because this tea detoxifies the entire system, it also can help with digestion, acne, weight loss, immunity and generally unclogs channels in the body. If you drink this tea regularly for at least 3 months, you will notice many benefits in your overall health.

Ayurveda Diet and Lifestyle Tips for Fall: Transitioning into Vata Season

It is officially fall, which means that Vata season is upon us! Ayurveda - yoga's sister science teaches us how to live within the laws and rhythms of nature. What we see happening around us in our environment is also happening inside our minds and bodies. Vata represents the elements of air and space, and is characterized by irregularity, motion, and restlessness - which we will soon notice in both the fall breeze as well as in our bodes. After all, we are a microcosm of nature!

How to cope? Number one rule of thumb: keep yourself grounded and keep a regular routine and schedule. Try not to skip meals or neglect breakfast. The key qualities to pacify Vata are warm, heavy, moistening, nourishing, and grounding. Fall aggravates Vata, so it is important to incorporate warming, nourishing foods and remedies. Vata aggravating foods, aka light, cold and dry, are to be avoided. Being mindful of this now will help us avoid illness and other issues as the fall progresses. Here are some more lifestyle tips and guidelines to ensure a smooth transition into fall.

Eat

1. Healthy fats. Ghee is every Vata's best friend, especially during windy and cool Vata season. Consume as many healthy fats as possible. This can include: raw milk, olive oil, nuts (almonds, walnuts, cashews, hazelnuts), seeds (sunflower, pumpkin), avocado, and of course the golden elixir of life, ghee.

2. Warm, cooked and heavy foods. Stick to warm and easily digestible meals such as stews, soups, basmati or brown or wild rice, dahl, and cooked root vegetables.

3. Hot, nourishing beverages. Spiced teas such as ginger, licorice, and cinnamon are balancing for light and airy Vata. To make a wonderful turmeric milk: melt 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder with 1/2 teaspoon of cardamon powder in one cup of warm milk, on the stove. When the spices have assimilated into the milk, add 1 tsp of raw honey. This delicious beverage helps with immunity and calms the nerves. It will also help with sound sleep.

4. Spices. These exotic Ayurvedic spices not only taste amazing, they are also energetically warming and grounding - and Vata-pacifying. Additionally, they help with digestion, which Vata may struggle with. Try: turmeric, cumin, coriander, ginger, black pepper, or saffron.

5. Broths. Sip on homemade vegetable broth, chicken broth, bone broth, as the weather cools. It is also a good idea to drink warm water throughout the day.

Avoid

1. Raw foods and salads. These are difficult to digest in Vata season, and will unbalance you during this time. Summer (Pitta season) is the best time to eat raw vegetables.

2. Bitter, astringent and pungent foods. Indulge instead in sweet, salty and sour tastes, which will balance Vata.

3. Leftovers, raw foods, canned foods, processed foods - these will aggravate Vata. Eating fresh, homemade, sattvic meals is best for Vata types.

4. Coffee and caffeinated tea. Especially for Vata-dominant types, these are too stimulating. Consume in moderation.

5. Dry snack foods. This includes chips, popcorn, crackers, and dry, cold cereal.

Nurture yourself

Above all, take some time for self-care this Vata season by anointing your body with oil. In Sanskrit, the word sneha means both "oil" and "love". This speaks volumes.  Applying oil to the body is grounding and relaxing, and provides stability and warmth. It is important to nourish yourself daily with oil, and it also serves a vital role in the cleansing process. Oil helps mobilize toxins from the tissues while also calming the nervous system so that the body can move from stress-fighting functions to rejuvenating functions. When the nervous system is at rest, the cells can repair themselves, bringing healing to the body and mind. Massage the body with organic oil after showering. During Vata season, choose organic mustard seed, sesame seed, castor, or avocado oil.

Skin Food: Ayurvedic Diet for Beautiful Skin

What does it mean to be beautiful? How does one achieve that aura of well-being, that radiant glow? We all want to possess these intangible qualities. The ancient tradition of Ayurveda teaches that inner and outer beauty are intertwined. In order to have beautiful skin, we must nurture the dhatus, or body tissues. Many of us are aware that proper diet is necessary for healthy tissues and beautiful skin. But an ancient Ayurvedic secret tells us that it is actually the strength of our digestive fire, or agni, which is the key to maintaining healthy, radiant skin. The purest and most nutrient-dense foods can do nothing for our bodies if our digestion, absorption and assimilation are not functioning optimally. Here are some key principles to keep in mind, to ensure that you are nurturing your body to maintain glowing, healthy and supple skin.

Agni: Kindling the digestive fire

How do you keep your body tissues healthy and your skin beautiful? Keep the colon clean and the digestion strong. Ama, or toxins, build up when agni is disturbed. It is crucial to maintain strong agni in order to fully access the nutrients in food, and also to keep the body channels free of toxins.

If there is indigestion, drink warm water. This practice will cleanse the body and increase the digestive fire. Cool water slows down the digestive fire, and ice cold water is poison to the system, almost putting a stop to digestion. Also, consuming too much water overall lowers the digestive fire, and may result in additional body weight.

While you are eating, sit straight and avoid distractions such as TV, conversation, or reading. Focus your mind upon the food, and become aware of the tastes. Chew with love and compassion. Each mouthful should ideally be chewed approximately 32 times before being swallowed. This allows the digestive enzymes in the mouth to do their work properly, and also gives the stomach time to prepare for the arrival of the food, thus maximizing digestive power. This is also why it is better to eat slowly, or at a moderate speed.

More tips to keep your digestive system running smoothly:

• Don't consume too many raw foods (particularly if you are Vata-dominant). Your digestive system has to work extra hard to break down raw foods.

• Use ginger and/or spices while cooking. These aid proper digestion.

• Eat your largest meal at lunchtime.

• The appropriate portion size for one meal is equivalent to two handfuls of food. Eating more than the body needs results in the creation of additional toxins in the digestive tract, which affects digestion and elimination.

Proper absorption and assimilation of nutrients is key, as well as proper elimination of energy. When metabolism is impaired due to low agni or improper diet, the body cannot properly break down or absorb the nutrients. What is improperly digested becomes ama, or toxins. Accumulation of ama is the root cause of ALL disease in the body. All skin problems are due in part to accumulated toxins in the digestive tract.

Eat Clean

Organic, clean, and local foods are richer in nutrients and free of chemicals and pesticides often found in processed foods or conventional, non-organic produce. These toxic chemicals block the channels of the body, and age tissues.

Avoid:

• Chemically-treated or GMO foods.

• Canned, frozen, or otherwise processed foods.

• Microwaves energetically warp the molecules of food into something the body cannot recognize and has trouble assimilating.

• Anything artificial.

• Anything "reduced" fat, "low-fat," or "non-fat" - these foods typically have chemical additives.

Not only are the above foods unhealthy for the body, they are also unhealthy energetically - they all are vibrating at a low frequency. According to Ayurveda, they are dead foods, and low in prana. Any foods that lack prana create toxins in the body.

Tips:

• Eat whole, real foods.

• Avoid anything that wouldn't have been recognized as food 100 years ago.

• Eat locally, seasonally, organic.

• Eat freshly prepared, or sattvic, foods.

Eat according to your mind-body type

Ayurveda is an individualized science, and there is no one correct diet for everyone. An Ayurvedic diet keeps the body beautiful by taking into account factors such as a person's constitution, imbalance, the season, the time of day. When choosing foods we should always be mindful of our dosha, or mind-body type, and eat a diet compatible with our constitution. If the doshas become imbalanced due to wrong diet, this leads to poor metabolism and toxic buildup in the body.

This means that for Vata-dominant people, choose grounding, warming foods. Avoid coffee and caffeinated tea, as they are too stimulating for Vata-dominant types. Consume plenty of healthy fats such as avocados, ghee, sesame seeds, and almonds. If you are Pitta-dominant, choose cooling foods. Consume plenty of coconut water, cook with coconut oil, and eat cooling foods such as avocados and bananas. Limit intake of alcohol, coffee, spicy, oily, and fried foods. For Kapha-dominant people, stick to light and heating foods and spices. Eat plenty of organic vegetables to keep your insides clean and light. Steer clear of too many sweet and salty tastes: instead, stick to bitter and pungent foods. The light and stimulating qualities of these tastes will increase the forces of prana in the body (movement and elimination), which naturally clears toxins from the body and keeps the digestive fire strong.

Bottom line: when the body is healthy and in balance, its innate wisdom will intuitively choose foods that are good. Keep your agni strong, keep your body channels clean, and your tissues and organs will work together to bring you great vitality and beauty, both inside and out.

Fundamentals of Ayurvedic Skincare: Ancient Beauty Wisdom

In India, ancient healers perfected the art and science of natural beauty millennia ago. Ayurveda is the oldest continually practiced form of medicine - holistic or otherwise - in the world, originating over 5,000 years ago. As we are exposed to seemingly endless stress, toxins and chemicals in our contemporary lives, many of us are looking to ancient beauty therapies and Ayurvedic remedies to cope.

Ayurveda sets the highest standards for the concept of "natural" skincare. In classical Ayurveda, only food-grade ingredients are used in Ayurvedic skincare. This is because the skin "eats" anything applied to the skin, which gets absorbed directly into the bloodstream in a matter of seconds.

As holistic knowledge spreads, conscious consumers are increasingly seeking out natural beauty and body care products. This is what inspired me to create Nao Ayurveda, a plant-based, non-toxic, Ayurvedic skincare line - a mission to spread this ancient wisdom in our contemporary age.

Mind, Body, and Skin Types

According to Ayurveda, the human body is a microcosm of the whole universe, or macrocosm. The 5 elements - Space, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth - are the building blocks of you, me, and everything else in the universe.

These 5 elements combine to form the 3 doshas in Ayurveda. Vata is composed of Air + Space; Pitta is Fire + Water; and Kapha represents Earth + Water. The 3 doshas (and 5 elements) are present in all of us - but we all have a unique combination or proportion of elements, known as our constitution, or Prakruti. This delicate balance can become disturbed because of a number of external influences: stress, diet, climate, seasons, pollution, energy vibrations. This imbalance is known at the Vikruti.

How do these doshas, or mind-body types, translate to skincare? Vata skin tends to be dry, rough and thin; Pitta skin is oily, warm and sensitive; and Kapha skin is typically thick, oily, and cool. It's as simple as that!

Using plant extracts, herbs, flowers, essential oils, and minerals, the goal of Ayurvedic skincare is to bring the skin back into harmony with nature and the Prakruti.

How to balance Vata (dry) skin:

Vata skin is dry, thin, rough, prone to aging. This skin type needs to be nurtured, and needs warming and grounding. For Vata skin to stay youthful, it must stay hydrated.

Lifestyle Tips:

• Drink at least 2 liters of water per day.

• Stick to a regular daily routine.

• Incorporate meditation and relaxation techniques into daily life.

• Apply warm oil to the body daily in a self-massage (use sesame, almond, or avocado oil). This daily ritual protects joints, lubricates dry skin, and grounds anxiety-prone Vata types.

• Consume plenty of healthy fats such as avocados, ghee, olive oil, sesame seeds, and almonds.

How to balance Pitta (sensitive) skin:

Pitta skin is sensitive and prone to inflammation, redness, acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis. To balance Pitta skin, use cooling and soothing products.

Lifestyle Tips:

• Consume plenty of coconut water, cook with coconut oil, and eat cooling foods such as avocados and bananas.

• Apply coconut oil to the skin daily, which calms and cools the skin, and quenches thirst.

• Limit sun exposure.

• Limit intake of alcohol, coffee, spicy, oily, and fried foods.

How to balance Kapha (oily) skin:

Kapha skin tends to be thick, oily, prone to cystic acne. Kapha skin needs regular detoxification, as it is the most prone to accumulating ama, or toxins, under the skin. Kapha needs skincare products that are light and stimulating.

Lifestyle Tips:

• Detoxify the body (internally + externally) on a regular basis.

• Perform weekly exfoliation with clay and mud masks.

• Perform regular self-massage to increase circulation and drain the lymphatic system. (Use light, heating, or warming oils such as mustard seed, grapeseed, or almond).

• Exercise daily.

• Eat plenty of organic vegetables and fruits to cleanse the body from the inside.

• Cook with warming spices such as ginger, cayenne, and black pepper, in order to stimulate the digestive fire, or agni, which cleanses ama, or toxins, from the digestive tract.

Beauty From The Inside Out: My Yogic Journey

As far back as I can remember, I've been in the pursuit of truth. From a very young age I had a funny feeling that ancient civilizations held the key to all kinds of innate wisdom that we, in our contemporary society, had somehow lost along the way. Ideas like living simply in the rhythms of nature, eating seasonally and locally, the wisdom of plants and herbs, intuitively listening to the body. The microcosm and the macrocosm. Outer beauty as a symptom of the beauty that comes from living a meaningful life with intent, daily self-care, and having a rich inner life. This all led me to the study of yoga, beginning at age 16, and attracted me to the study of Ayurveda, plant-based skincare, alternative medicine and energy medicine soon thereafter, in New York City and New Mexico.

NAO AYURVEDA, my Ayurvedic skincare line, is the fruit of my Ayurvedic training and my investigation into natural and food-grade skincare. In Ayurveda, inner and outer beauty are intertwined. In holistic medicine, we treat the root of the problem. Skin is an indicator of the health of the whole person. It is almost like holding a mirror up to what is going on inside the body.

Our skin has a dire need for natural fats and oils to keep the skin youthful and supple, calm the nerves, move the lymph nodes, detoxify the skin, and keep the electrical body in its optimal vibration. When we feed the skin what it wants, it breathes a sigh of relief, and skin is left with a glowing strength, immunity and vitality. Ayurvedic skincare is so transformative because it is healing and medicinal at the cellular level, as well as bringing radiance to the skin through its ingredients derived from nature. It is my wish to help elevate our Western understanding of beauty to new levels with deeper insights from the science of Ayurveda.

Transformative, healing skincare

I am so proud to introduce the NAO AYURVEDA skincare + self-care line. Our oils and ghee-based products are packed with ingredients that are alive, and derived from nature: vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fatty acids, all the best, most transformative and healing qualities that are found in plant-based ingredients. Chemicals found in commercial skincare products are dead and man-made. They are not found in nature, and they certainly have no place on the skin, the body's largest organ. There is simply no logical reason to put chemicals on the skin. And it is downright dangerous - what you put on the skin goes directly into your bloodstream (unlike what you eat or drink, which is filtered by the digestive system). Nature is plentiful and intelligent, and provides ingredients that work harmoniously with the body, allowing us to heal ourselves. 

Did you know that your skin cells regenerate EVERY 40 DAYS? That means that no matter what your skin condition is, or how many harsh chemicals your skin has endured, there is hope! Our skincare, using the wisdom of Ayurveda and nature can bring your skin back into balance and its natural constitution.

At NAO, we take healing seriously, and we always take it one step farther. Our skincare products are infused with ancient mantra and Reiki energy. Reiki is the universal life force energy that enhances the body's ability to self-heal. Mantra is a Sanskrit word that means sacred sound. Bija (seed) mantras each have a specific frequency, and are essentially vibrational formulas. They help us to open our chakras, align our energies, and enter into a state of oneness. By chanting mantras as we are making the skincare products, we are raising the vibrations of these natural, organic oils that are already vibrating at an exceptionally high frequency.

Two mantras that hold an especially sacred force that we love to infuse into our products are the following: 

Gayatri Mantra:

ॐ भूर्भुवः॒ स्वः॒
तत्स॑वितुर्वरे॑ण्यम्
भ॒र्गो॑ दे॒वस्य॑ धीमहि।
धियो॒ यो नः॑ प्रचो॒दया॑त्॥

Om bhur bhuvah svah
Tat-savitur varenyam
Bhargo devasya dhimahi
Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat

This loosely translates to:
"O Divine mother, our hearts are filled with darkness. Please make this darkness distant from us and promote illumination within us."

The Gayatri mantra appeals for peace and divine wisdom for us all. It is a heartfelt appeal to the Divine Mother for enlightenment, truthfulness, and peace of mind. It infuses our chakras with Divine love, light, and power. It aligns you with nature and divine power in the inner self. Chant this mantra at sunrise or sunset to reduce stress and anxiety, and to boost confidence. By incorporating the Gayatri mantra into your life, you may begin to notice moments of synchronicity, poignant coincidences, obstacles suddenly removed, glimpses of the divine. Pure magic! 

Click here to listen to the wonderful Anjula Prasad reciting the Gayatri Mantra 108 times. 

Om namah shivaya:

ॐ नमः शिवाय

The five sacred syllables are the seed (bija) sounds of the five elements of creation - fire, water, earth, air, and space. And Om is the sacred primordial sound which encompasses all. We personally hand-make, hand-mix, and hand-pour all of our products. Yes, we formulate our products with Reiki, ancient mantras, recipes formulated with the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda, and the best possible ingredients found in nature. We also put love, care and pride into each batch. We know you will love it, and your skin will too.

Namaste,
Kiera 

Welcome

Welcome to NAO AYURVEDA! I am beyond thrilled to be launching this healing company that has been many years in the making. Our mission is to spread the ancient knowledge and wisdom of Ayurveda to the community and to the world. I have been busy concocting and stirring up all kinds of organic, Ayurvedic goodness, and I am SO ready for you to fall in love with the products. 

I am eternally grateful to friends and family who believe in me and have shared their talents to help me get NAO off the ground. I am also grateful to my teachers Dr. Naina Marballi, and Dr. Vasant Lad, who inspired its creation, and who have opened my eyes and heart to the magic and wisdom of Ayurveda.

Namaste,
Kiera, Founder + Creator, NAO AYURVEDA