In the age of trying to look youthful and beautiful, we tend to do many things that are artificial and use a lot of chemicals through our cosmetics, etc, which harm us in the long run. Aging is natural and we cannot hold it back. We can at the most delay it by certain natural ways.

While we cannot stop aging, we can decide how we choose to age. Ayurveda guides us to be stronger, confident, and powerful as we age and teach us how to make aging natural and easy with balance and grace.

According to Ayurveda, the three doshas—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha—that represent five elements of nature—ether, air, fire, water, and earth, make our body. The negative side effects of aging are due to imbalances in these doshas. To prevent these negative side effects, we need to find balance. But with age, practicing balance becomes difficult. We have to understand the qualities of old age and need to create a balance with the three constitutions in our body. When we learn to live life in rhythm with nature, we remain in optimum health and have peace of mind.

Ayurvedic ways to age gracefully 

Ayurveda respects aging and suggests ways to age gracefully.

Lifestyle management: Ayurveda suggests planning your diet keeping in mind the foods that will create a balance between the doshas, and help in the growth of new cells. Building new and healthy cells while replacing the old and dying cells will keep us youthful for long. If the old cells are not replaced with new cells, the skin becomes wrinkled and the body loses its strength and shape. You should also add foods that will create the least amount of toxins in the body. Your diet should be according to the season and more plant-based diet.

Ayurveda does not advocate for temporary relief of aches and pains while we age. It addresses the underlying causes of pain, which is often linked to poor digestion, wrong nutrition, and accumulation of toxins in the body. Toxins may lead to undigested food deposited in our joints and open spaces throughout the body. Detoxifying the body regularly on a monthly or weekly basis is essential as these toxins can create illnesses.

As we age, our body loses muscle mass and get replaced with fat. We need to slow down the rate of muscle mass conversion to fat mass and retain as much muscle mass for a longer time.

Yoga: While aging, it is essential to stay active and balanced. Ayurveda suggests doing yoga on a regular basis along with other exercises and activities that can help retain muscle mass, reduce fat build-up, and keep us active and flexible. Yogasanas should be personalized with the help of a trainer.

Meditation: Balancing of mind and body is important for good health. It is important to be aware of stressful thoughts and emotions and throw them out from your system, as stress can cause cell inflammation, which in turn can cause many diseases. Regular meditation on a daily basis will clear your mind, calm you down, keeps you away from anger, bitterness, complaining, fear, and negative thoughts.

Herbs: Ayurveda suggests herbs that can delay the symptoms of aging by regenerating new body cells. These herbs have antioxidants that control the growth of free radicals that damage cells in the body. You can include some of these herbs in your diet.

Guduchi is known to revive skin tissues and resolve inflamed skin conditions by its anti-inflammatory properties. It can also enhance the immune system and provide mental clarity.

Guggulu helps in combating various diseases and control the growth of free radicals in the body.

Brahmi enhances the memory. During the process of aging, memory loss is a major problem. This herb is useful for those who suffer from age-related memory loss.

Amalaki or amla, is a good source of Vitamin-C and antioxidants that increase immunity and help our body to fight diseases. This herb helps cure age-related macular degeneration and cataract.

Ashwagandha helps in the process of cell regeneration. In turn, it helps in delaying the signs of aging like wrinkles.

Gotu kola is rich in flavonoids that help to protect the skin while we age.

Ginseng contains phytochemicals that help to get rid of free radicals and protect the skin from exposure to pollution and sunlight

The vegan diet is becoming quite popular due to environmental and health reasons, besides the weight loss angle. When done in the right way, a vegan diet will lead to various health benefits, including improved blood sugar control and creating a balance in your doshas.

A major reason for going vegan is to exclude all forms of animal exploitation and cruelty—food, clothing or for any other purpose. Hence, the vegan diet is devoid of all animal products, including meat, eggs, and dairy.

Ayurvedic approach to a vegan diet 

While a vegan diet excludes dairy products, Ayurveda recommends certain types of dairy as it considers dairy products like ghee, warm milk, fresh paneer, and lassi to be sattvic (pure). As vegans tend to go more for raw food, Ayurveda believes that raw foods are not good for Vata types because raw and cold foods don’t suit them. However, it suits the Pitta and Kapha types.

If you have decided to go vegan, you may consider applying the Ayurvedic principles to your diet for better health and proper balance.

Ayurveda looks at each individual in a unique way. Hence, each individual needs different nutrients. Here are some Ayurvedic tips to help vegans balance their unique constitutions.

You can replace items such as butter, ghee, yogurt, cheese, and milk with equally nourishing vegan alternatives such as coconut oil, avocados, raw tahini, and raw almonds.

Know your Ayurvedic constitution and choose foods accordingly 

According to Ayurveda, each individual has a particular pattern of energy that is unique and different from others. Each individual has three doshas of subtle energies working within. These are Vata (air and ether), Pitta (fire and water), and Kapha (water and earth). Every one of us has some of each dosha in our constitution, but one dosha is more dominant.

Once you have identified your dosha, you should also know the foods that will balance your constitution and the ones that can cause imbalances such as bloating, gas, or congestion.

If you are a Vata type, take more nuts, seeds, avocados, and other healthy plant sources of fats and oils. Soak the nuts to make them easier to digest. Incorporate white basmati rice, mung beans, or lentils in your diet to get proteins. Uses spices like cumin, coriander, fennel, fresh ginger, cardamom, and asafoetida (hing) in your food. These help in digestion.

If you are a Pitta type, your digestive fire is the strongest of all of the doshas and you can afford heavier foods. But you are prone to imbalances caused by excess heat like acne, acid reflux, or inflammation. So you should not eat hot, spicy foods, which make you overheated. Instead, you should incorporate cooling foods like coconut and cucumber into your diet. You should consume beans, legumes, and root veggies, and grains—their sweetness is good for pacifying Pitta. Use flax, sunflower, and pumpkin seeds in your food, but refrain from eating an abundance of nuts as they have heating energy that is not good for you.

For the Kapha types, a vegan diet is perfect. Eat more of whole, fresh food and avoid foods that are mimicking meat or other animal products. Such foods may be processed and contain sodium that can make you feel lethargic.

Eat plant-based foods 

Vegan diet can also be unhealthy. So you need to choose your food with care. Avoid processed, packaged vegan foods, which contain preservatives, excess sugar or salt and unnatural sources of protein. These are difficult to digest. Instead, choose plant-based foods. Ayurveda recommends eating foods that are ripened by the sun. Such food will be full of prana (life force), which is capable of providing energy and nourishment. Seasonal and organic foods are the best. You can choose natural sources of protein like beans, lentils, nuts and seeds, and naturally fermented soy products like tofu.

Eat a variety of foods

You should have a balanced diet and consume all nutrients. Don’t overdo by eating only greens to get enough iron or nuts and seeds to get proteins. According to Ayurveda, overeating even a healthy type of food can cause imbalance. So you need to add a variety of foods to get all nutrients. You have to be careful that you don’t increase the risk of nutrient deficiencies.

Study the food that affects you

Observe and analyse the food you eat. Observe which foods make you feel healthy and energetic, and which affect your energy and makes you feel undernourished or bloated

Anxiety is a common mental disorder. Ayurveda believes anxiety is an imbalance in the Vata dosha. An imbalance of Vata is a condition when there is too much energy in the mind and not enough at the feet. This condition is associated with an overabundance of lightness when a person gets erratic thoughts, worries, obsession, confusion, and difficulty in focusing. Vata imbalance is also associated with the nervous system and sleeping disorder. When Vata is disturbed, we feel disconnected from the earth.

Symptoms of anxiety 

Anxiety disorders have a number of manifestations and symptoms. It can be both psychological and physical. Some of the common symptoms are: 

• Constant worry
• Fear
• Obsession
• Stress
• Muscle tension and body pain
• Difficulty in concentrating and disturbed attention
• Low tolerance power
• Obsessive and negative thoughts
• Intense emotions that are hard to control
• Sleep problems
• Stomach upset
• Fatigue
• Palpitations
• Tremor
• Sweating
• Dryness in the mouth
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Cold and hot flushes
• Weakness
• Irritability

According to Ayurveda, anxiety or Vata imbalance can be treated by stabilising the energy, calming the nervous system, relaxing the mind, releasing obsessive thoughts, and connecting these with our body and to the earth. These can be done by making changes in your lifestyle and adopting Ayurvedic lifestyle.

Meditation: It is a magical tool for healing anxiety. Regular practice of meditation helps to release negative thoughts, regulate the breath, and keep us grounded and connected to the earth. Gradually, you will learn to control your mind and, in turn, will be able to manage anxiety. Meditation taps into the channels of the mind and helps to re-pattern our thoughts.

Pranayama: It stimulates the breath and infuses prana in every cell and tissue throughout the body. Disturbances in prana usually lead to fear and feelings of anxiousness.

Foods: Ayurvedic approach to treat anxiety is holistic. For the treatment of the imbalanced Vata, a proper diet is recommended that includes fatty foods, but not heavy foods. Fats that are found in avocado, salmon, olive oil, nuts, coconut, and whole milk help to calm Vata. It is very beneficial to eat zucchini, rice, quinoa and red beets. Fruits like plums, melons, red grapes are suggested. You should avoid raw foods. Your food should always be warm. Have spices that boost Pitta like ginger, cumin, nutmeg, cinnamon, coriander and cardamom. You can have warm beverages with honey to balance Vata.

Routine lifestyle: Follow a daily routine and avoid erratic lifestyle. This means your sleep hours, meals, work time, etc should be timely. Daily exercise, outdoor walks, and yoga are must. Routine helps to stabilize Vata and calms the chaotic mind.

Ginger-baking soda bath: A warm bath relaxes the nervous system, and makes the mind calm. A ginger and baking soda bath helps to reduce feelings of anxiousness by pacifying Vata. Take a warm water bath at night before going to bed with baking soda and ginger powder mixed in it. The ginger and baking soda bath will make you feel soothing and warm. You can also drink ginger tea. Ginger is warm and good for the cold Vata.

Herbs: Ayurveda recommends a variety of herbs to handle anxiety. These herbs are warm and help to rejuvenate the nervous system. Most of these herbs have grounding effect on our energetic body. Some of these herbs are green tea, ashwagandha, shankhpushpi, brahmi, jatamansi and tulsi. These herbs help to balance Vata dosha.

Tulsi or basil protects against chemical, emotional, and physical stress. You can sip on tulsi tea throughout the day. Ashwagandha is a great herb in Vata balancing. It is soothing and warm. Jatamansi, a strong antioxidant, helps to calm Vata and treat anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Gotu Kola is a magic herb to treat anxiety, depression and stress. Bacopa or brahmi is beneficial in treating anxiety.

Oils are extremely effective in the treatment of imbalanced Vata. Oil massages with ayurvedic oils or essential oils are recommended before going to bed, particularly, massage your feet with these oils. It not only helps to give you good sleep but also makes you calm and relaxed, which are essential for treating anxiety.

In Ayurveda, emotional imbalances take place when we fail to process our emotions at the right time. Our low moods are of many forms—anxiousness, emptiness, loss of interest in activities, fatigue, irritability, social withdrawal, sadness, feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, etc. These lead to difficulty in sleeping, loss of appetite, weight gain or loss, declining performance, and poor concentration. If we fail to process these emotions on time, they may lead to depression of the worst kind.

Ayurvedic approach to emotional balance

According to Ayurveda, our emotions get imbalanced due to many reasons. This ancient science says lack of coordination between our senses, emotions and thoughts lead to emotional imbalance. As per Ayurveda, our heart, which is the seat of consciousness, is connected with our mind. When this connection gets weak, problems start arising. Ayurvedic text, the Charaka Samhita, described the heart as the indispensable for our mental and physical activities. Ayurveda considers the heart as the main support system of our body.

According to Ayurveda, some people who can process their emotions quickly can move on with their lives happily. But people whose processing of thoughts is slow, the negative impressions remain with them for a very long time and affect their thoughts and emotions, leading to depression.

Sadhaka Pitta, which is a type of Pitta, is known to be located in the heart and the helps processing of emotions. The digestive fire, or agni, which is responsible for digesting our food, is actually in every cell of our body, and is also associated with each subdosha. The agni that is associated with Sadhaka Pitta is responsible for processing emotions. This agni is called Sadhaka Agni, which is related to neurohormones located in the brain and all over our body, including the heart. The neurohormones in the heart send signals to the brain stating it as depression or happiness, depending on how we process an incident or experience. So a person with low Sadhaka Agni will often face sadness or depression.

Solutions according to Ayurveda

Ayurveda offers a number of remedies to keep emotions in balance. To restore balance one can adopt an Ayurvedic diet, use Ayurvedic herbal formulas, practice meditation, and make lifestyle changes.

Ayurveda recommends practicing meditation to relieve emotional, physical, mental and environmental stress and achieve a stress-free life.

It is always advised to go to bed before 10 pm (Kapha time of night is from 6- 10 pm) as getting enough sleep is essential for emotional health. Falling asleep during the Kapha time gives you deep sleep and you wake up with refreshed mind and body. If we stay up beyond 10 pm, which is Pitta time of night, we will have difficulty in falling asleep. This can lead us to do unhealthy things like watching TV or snacking, leading to many other problems.

Wake up with sun rise because sleeping late into the morning, which is Kapha time (6 am-10 am), causes the build-up of ama or toxins in the body, leading to the channels of communication in the body to be clogged with impurities. This, in turn, leads to dullness of mind and depressed moods.

Walking outdoors when the sun is rising and breathing deeply is essential for your mental and physical health. Daily exercise is also essential to combat unhappiness as exercise helps to move blocked emotions and hormones out of the body.

Eat unprocessed, organic foods that are rich in nutritive values. They are digested quickly by the body and helps in formation of healthy Ojas, which according to Ayurveda, is the most essential energy of the body. Ojas is created by good digestion and leads to stable emotions and good healthy mind and body. Also avoid eating junk food, canned, frozen or packaged foods, as they promote the creation of ama.

A daily oil massage or Abhyanga increases circulation, allows toxins to be cleared from the tissues, calms the mind and soothes the emotions. The sense of touch is associated with emotions. Massaging gives your skin the stimulation needed to balance Vata dosha and calms anxious feelings and stress.

Consider doing yoga daily. Yoga stimulates the Sadhaka Agni, clears the toxins and improves overall balance of emotions.

Also include breathing exercises such as Pranayama, which opens the mental channels that take oxygen to the brain. Pranayama clears out impurities and create balanced emotions.

Noni juice is a healthy drink derived from the fruit of the Morinda citrifolia tree. Mainly found in Southeast Asia, especially in Polynesia, this tree grows among lava flows. Noni fruit, popularly known as Indian Mulberry, is a yellow mango-sized fruit, which is bitter in taste and has a foul odour. In ancient times, Polynesian people used noni in medicines due to its medicinal properties, which boosts the immune system and helps in detoxification. This magical drink is known for its health benefits, especially for treating infections, pain, arthritis, and constipation.

Nutritional content of noni juice

Nutritional content of noni juice vary from brand to brand. According to a study that analyzed 177 brands that manufactured noni juice, every brand differed in their nutritional contents. Many brands use fruit juices and added sweeteners with noni juice to cover up its bitter taste and foul odour.

Health benefits

Noni juice, a wonder food, is packed with potent antioxidants and provides several health benefits. Noni fruit is known to be rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin B3, vitamin A and iron.

Helps to lower risk of heart diseases and diabetes: Noni juice contains powerful antioxidants. As a result, it can prevent cellular damage caused by molecules called free radicals. Our body requires a healthy balance of antioxidants and free radicals to maintain good health. Noni juice contains antioxidants such as beta carotene, iridoids, and vitamins C and E. Studies suggest that the antioxidants found in noni juice helps to lower the risk of chronic conditions like heart diseases and diabetes.

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Reduces damage from tobacco smoke: Noni juice is said to reduce cellular damage caused by tobacco smoking. When we are exposed to tobacco smoke, it generates dangerous amounts of free radicals. Excessive amount of free radicals cause cellular damage and lead to oxidative stress, which may even cause cancer. Consuming noni juice rich in antioxidants may reduce oxidative stress. Noni juice also reduces levels of cancer-causing chemicals, which we get from tobacco smokers. However, noni juice does not get rid of all the negative effects of tobacco.

Improves immune system: Studies have found that noni juice may support immune health. It is rich in vitamin C, which helps us build our immune system by protecting our cells from damages caused by free radicals and environmental toxins. Other antioxidants present in noni juice like beta carotene is also know to improve immune health. Its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and anti-histamine properties also help to boost immunity.

Improves endurance during exercise: It is said that Noni juice may improve physical endurance. Studies indicate positive effects of drinking noni juice during exercise. It can also help in fighting fatigue due to the presence of antioxidants, which reduces the damage to muscle tissue that occurs during exercise.

Relieves arthritis pain: Noni fruit has been used in medicines for its pain-relieving effects. Studies have supported this benefit. It relieves pain, particularly severe arthritis pain, which is caused due to increased inflammation and oxidative stress. Studies have indicated that noni juice reduces inflammation and combats free radicals.

Lowers risk of gout: Studies have found that noni juice can reduce uric acid in the blood, thus it can lower the risk of gout. Gout is a kind of arthritis that leads to acute pain in joints. It is caused by building-up of uric acid crystals in the joint.

Treats fever:  Due to its antiviral properties, noni juice was used in traditional medicines. It is known to treat cold, cough, fever and body ache.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS

Despite having several major health benefits, there is some debate regarding the safety of noni juice for medical uses. While it is safe when consumed as a beverage, there are some concerns that overuse of noni juice or its extract may cause harm to the liver. Noni plant is found to contain anthraquinones—compounds found to be toxic to the liver. There are confirmed reports of liver illness including hepatitis and liver failure that have been attributed to consumption of noni fruit.

Women reaching menopause may notice that their libido, or sex drive, is changing. Low sex drive in women after menopause is common and has many potential causes including decreased hormone levels, medical conditions, emotional or psychological problems, stress, and anxiety, etc. Menopause symptoms like depression, mood swings, weight gain, and hot flashes also make you less interested in sex. During menopause, the decreasing level of testosterone and estrogen levels may make you disinterested in sex.

However, if the root cause of low libido can be identified, it can lead to effective treatment options. If you are experiencing a loss of libido during menopause, you can try to increase your sex drive with lifestyle changes.

Sex can deplete your ojas or vigour—the vital essence that gives you strength and immunity. Strong ojas help to make bodily tissues stable and also supports a strong mind, clear consciousness, and better stress resilience. So, to treat loss of libido during menopause, you will need to have a nourishing, ojas-building lifestyle.

Home remedies for loss of libido 

Many women find that simple home remedies help them to regain lost libido after they have reached menopause.

Regular aerobic exercise: Do more physical activities like morning and evening walks, exercises, including aerobic exercise (brisk walking, jogging), and strength training. They help to increase stamina and strength. Regular aerobic exercise will make you feel better, boost your self-esteem and in turn, boost your libido.

Relieve stress: Stress and anxiety play a negative impact on libido, particularly during menopause. If you feel stressed out find the root cause of the problem, tackling this will increase your libido levels. Relieving stress will definitely help. For this, Ayurveda suggests yoga and meditation. High levels of cortisol suppress sex hormones, which can lead to low libido. Restorative practices like meditation and yoga help in reducing cortisol levels that may ultimately help increase your libido.

Get enough sleep:  With menopause, you tend to get less sleep. But the right amount of sleep is essential. This is important for maintaining health. Less sleep also makes you irritated and short-tempered.

Diet: One of the biggest factors that might be affecting your sex hormones is your dietary intake. Ayurveda suggests certain foods that are said to increase libido in women during menopause. Foods containing magnesium are good for this condition. Figs, bananas, and avocados are considered libido-boosting foods, known as aphrodisiacs. Foods rich in omega-3 fats help to support nerve and neurotransmitter actions that help in sexual function while foods rich in zinc such as pumpkin seeds, chickpeas, spinach, and eggs support proper and speedy blood flow. However, a diet that lacks essential vitamins and minerals and is filled with chemical preservatives and sweeteners will definitely have the opposite effect on your sex hormones.

Intimacy with your partner: Emotional intimacy and mutual understanding between the partners lead to balanced and healthy sex lives. If you do not have intimacy with your partner, your sexual desire will naturally reduce. It is important that you communicate well with your partner to increase your emotional bond.

Herbal remedies: If your loss of libido is associated with other symptoms of the menopause such as tiredness or memory lapses, you can use a supplement containing isoflavones. Soya beans are rich in this substance and the best supplements are made from fermented soy. Isoflavones are known as phytoestrogens as they mimic the action of estrogens produced by the body.

Add basil and garlic to your food. The smell of basil stimulates the senses. Garlic, on the other hand, contains high levels of allicin that increases blood flow. Ginkgo biloba, an extract derived from the leaf of the ginkgo tree, is a herb found to treat anti-depressant-induced sexual dysfunction.

There is some evidence that Maca (Lepidium meyenii) plant extract taken about 3 mg per day improves sexual desire. It also acts as an anti-depressant. It also enhances the energy and quality of life.

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) seeds are known for anti-inflammatory and libido-boosting effects. Some studies show the herb positively influences sex hormones. It is important to note that fenugreek may interfere with certain medications.

Many women get unwanted facial hair, which is medically called Hirsutism. This condition is common among teenage girls after puberty or in women of reproductive age.

There are several causes of women’s facial hair. Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome is a common cause for hirsutism. Hormonal imbalance is another common cause of this condition. Some medications can cause hirsutism such as danazol, which is used to treat women with endometriosis. Another medicine, systemic corticosteroids and fluoxetine (Prozac) that treats depression give rise to facial hair in women.

Ayurvedic ways to get rid of facial hair

Women try various ways to get rid of facial hair, which are usually temporary. On the other hand, Ayurvedic remedies are said to be painless, natural and provide permanent results. Here are a few effective Ayurvedic remedies to get rid of facial hair at home.

Turmeric and herbal leaves: Grind dry turmeric, Acalypha indica leaves and neem leaves, and make a smooth paste. Apply the paste on your face at night and leave it overnight. In the morning, peel off the dried face mask and wash your face. For desired results, repeat this at least thrice a week.

Raw papaya and turmeric: Peel a raw papaya and grind it. Add turmeric powder to it and mix well. Apply this on your face and massage for about 15 minutes. Wash your face with cool water. Repeat this at least once or twice a week. The bio-active enzyme found in papaya called papain enlarges the hair follicle. Papaya also helps naturally exfoliating the skin by removing the dead cells.

Turmeric and milk: You can make a paste with turmeric and milk. Apply this like a facemask. Wait till it is dries, mildly scrub and remove. Wash your face with water.

Lemon scrub: Make a scrub by mixing 2 tablespoons of sugar, 1 tablespoon of organic honey, and 2 teaspoons of lemon juice. Heat the mixture until it becomes a smooth paste. You can add some water to make the paste a little thinner. Cool the mixture and apply it on the affected areas. Leave it for 30 minutes and rinse with water. Try to do it at least thrice a week. This also improves the skin as honey has moisturising properties.

Barley peel: Add barley powder to milk and mix to make a thick paste. Add lemon juice to it and mix well. Apply the paste on your face and leave it for 30 minutes. Repeat this twice or thrice a week.

Egg white mask: Take the egg white of an egg and mix it with a tablespoon of cornstarch and sugar. Beat the mixture to a smooth paste, and apply it on your face. Let it dry for 15 to 20 minutes. Now peel it off and rinse your face with cold water. Follow the regime at least twice a week. Excessive facial hair growth can be controlled by this egg mask. The mask also nourishes your skin as eggs are full of protein, which infuses collagen booster to your skin.

Potato and lentil:  Soak some yellow lentil overnight. Grate a potato and take out its juice. You also need a teaspoon of honey and a teaspoon of lime juice. Now grind the lentil and add the potato juice, honey and lime juice. Apply the mixture on the affected areas and let it sit for 15-20 minutes until it dries. Rub the dried paste and remove it. Now wash your face with cold water. Repeat twice or thrice a week. 

Oil remedy: Add Kusuma oil with thanaka powder (Burmese Thanaka Tree). Massage it on the affected areas until it gets absorbed into the skin. Leave it overnight. Wash off the paste in the morning. Use this treatment regularly till you see effective results.

Onion remedy: Grind one onion along with basil leaves. Apply the paste on your face and leave it for 30 minutes. After it dries out, remove it and wash with water. Regular usage will show effective results.

Flour face mask: Take half a cup of chickpea flour, add one teaspoon turmeric powder and one tablespoon fresh yogurt to it and mix well. Massage the mixture on your face and leave for 20-30 minutes. After it dries, rub it off in the opposite direction of the hair growth.

There’s a famous quote,” The hair is the richest ornament of women”. Truly, having a thick, quality, healthy hair is like a cherry on the cake, not just for women, but for men too! Good volume and texture of the hair add on to the beauty of a person. However, it’s difficult to maintain due to the pollution in the outside world. Proper caring by applying hair oil on a regular basis is required for healthy and shinier hair. Among several kinds of oil available in the market, ayurvedic hair oil is considered to be the best due to its natural ingredients and also chemical-free nature.

How and when to use ayurvedic hair oil?

Herbal hair oil isn’t just used for hair strengthening and other hair improving qualities such as eradication of dandruff, prevention of hair fall, split hairs, early grey (white) hairs, etc. Rather, it’s also used for health benefits like sleep improvement, peaceful mind, to get over the headache, stimulation of sensory receptors (sense organs), reduction of wrinkles on face, etc. According to Ayurveda, different ways of applying hair oil to the scalp and hair is termed “Murdha Taila.” Since ayurvedic hair oil is used for various purposes, the application method differs based on the required result.

For quality hair:

One’s hair is said to be of good quality when there’s good hair growth, minimal split ends, no premature grey (white) hairs, also having smoother and shinier hair. To obtain this, the oil needs to be gently applied to the scalp and hair during the night (before sleep time), should be washed on the next morning with hot water. This needs to be done once a week. However, if the hair is too dry or said to have more dandruff, oiling hair twice in a week is suggestible.

The best method to apply hair oil is by making a center partition on the head, later using the fingertips to apply oil to the scalp starting from forehead to the backside of the neck. Apply oil to the entire scalp by making adjacent partitions. It’s recommended not to massage more oil along the hair length as the hair might get accumulated with dirt or dust. At last, gently massage the scalp with tiny circular motions so that blood circulation gets stimulated and also favors the oil absorption. Mildly heated hair oil in double boiling method is known to be more beneficial as it accommodates easy absorption and is pleasant on scalp. One can apply a teaspoon of oil on the same day after a shower provided person is staying at home. However, not advisable while going out, since oil attracts the dust over hairs when being exposed to the external environment.

For dandruff removal:

The presence of dandruff makes the hair to lose its beauty. Not only that it’s a kind of annoying feeling to experience an itchy and dry scalp! Dry skin, sensitive scalp, skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis, stress, alkaline shampoo, air pollution, and not shampooing hair enough are few of the reasons which cause dandruff (white skin flakes). Applying the oil containing Neem, a one-hour prior head bath, later washing with hot water helps in dandruff removal. The oil could be directly applied to the entire scalp and the hair roots.

For headache and good sleep:

According to ayurvedic texts, humans said to possess three doshas namely Vata, Kapha, and Pitta. For proper functioning of the human body, all 3 doshas (energies) must be in balance and harmony. In case, if any of the doshas is imbalanced, then its effects are mainly noticed on the hair. It’s believed that headache is usually associated with Vata Dosha which gets dominant during the evening time. Thus, ayurvedic doctors suggest applying the oil around 5-6 PM. For a night of good sleep, it’s advisable to gently massage the oil overhead, after food before going to sleep.

Advantages of ayurvedic hair oil:

Hair problems like premature greying, coarse hair, dandruff, and hair fall get automatically resolved on nullifying the effects of excess doshas.

Neem is one of the most common herbs used in almost all ayurvedic hair oils. Its immunity-boosting, anti-microbial, and regenerative properties help in preventing baldness, enhancing hair growth, and boosting scalp health. It also helps fight lice!!

Sesame oil aids in dandruff removal, smoothens, and revitalizes hair. It also protects hair from harmful UV rays.

Pure coconut oil acts as an effective conditioner. Promotes healthier, shinier, thicker, and longer hair.

Have you heard about Ayurvedic teas? They are traditional teas made with different herbs that have immense health benefits. If you sip these herbal teas, they will help you attain health, wellness, and vitality. The right kind of Ayurvedic tea can help balance the doshas in your body. These teas are supposed to detoxify and purify the body.

HERBS TO USE IN YOUR TEA

If you are predominant Vata person, you should use herbs such as fennel, cloves, ginger, cinnamon, liquorice, and stevia in your tea.

A Pitta predominant person should add ginger, cardamom, fennel, roses, liquorice, and stevia to make tea.

A Kapha predominant person should add ingredients like cloves, cinnamon, liquorice, ginger, cardamom, and black pepper.

Health benefits of drinking Ayurvedic tea

Digestion: If you suffer from indigestion, bloating, constipation or diarrhoea, Ayurveda teas are very helpful for you. If you make a drink with ghee, salt, and hot water, it can solve your constipation problems by lubricating the insides of your stomach and by removing bacteria. Fennel seeds or ginger added to warm water helps during bloating. Ginger stimulates overall digestion. If black pepper is mixed with the tea it boosts healthy bacteria in the gut.

Weight loss: Ayurvedic teas can help in weight loss. Ginger tea with clove and liquorice is good for weight loss. Lemongrass, basil, and star anise also help in weight loss.

Skin care: Turmeric tea is good for a glowing skin. It acts as an antioxidant and has purifying properties. Cumin, fenugreek, black pepper also purify the blood and dissolve excess fat from the tissue.

Immunity: If you are prone to illness, it means you have a weak immune system. Ayurvedic immune-boosting drink called kadha is quite effective. It includes a number of herbs and spices boiled in water. Kadha can also fight allergies.

Body detox: Ayurvedic tea made with herbs like cumin, fennel, star anise, lemongrass, and coriander have powerful detoxifying properties and good for the liver. This tea also helps in digestion.

Mental health: If you do a lot of mental work, Ayurvedic tea made with fennel, coriander, and licorice will be effective for you. This tea acts as a memory-booster and stress-buster.

HERE ARE THE RECIPES FOR MAKING FIVE TYPES OF AYURVEDIC TEAS.

Detox tea

• Water
• ¼ teaspoon whole cumin
• ½ teaspoon whole coriander
• ½ teaspoon whole fennel

Boil two quarts of water and add these spices. Let it boil for 10 minutes. Strain it and sip throughout the day.

Kadha

• 1 teaspoon cardamom
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon dried ginger
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 3 cups of water
• Honey–optional to taste

Boil cardamom, cinnamon, dried ginger and black pepper in water. Boil till it reduces to 1 cup of solution. If you add honey, add before consuming it.

Weight loss tea

• Ginger
• Liquorice
• Clove
• 250 ml water

Boil the water. To it add a small piece of ginger, a small stick of liquorice and all 3-4 cloves. Let it brew for 10 minutes. Strain it and sip.

Turmeric tea

• 4 cups of water
• 1 to 2 teaspoons of ground or powdered turmeric
• Honey—optional for taste
• Almond milk—optional for taste
• Black pepper—optional
• Lemon, ginger—optional

Boil the water. Add the turmeric. Boil for 10 minutes and strain. If you choose to add honey to sweeten the tea you can add it when you consume. At this stage, you can also add the optional ingredients.

Tulsi tea

• 1 quart of water
• 4 teaspoon tulsi leaf or 1 ½ tablespoon powder
• 2 teaspoon lemon grass
• 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
• 1 teaspoon anise seeds
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla powder or vanilla stevia
• ½ teaspoon dried ginger root pieces or 1 tablespoon fresh
• 1 teaspoon honey

Ayurveda promotes a balanced and healthy lifestyle that results in a healthy and disease-free body. The best lifestyle we can choose is to live in harmony with nature, which means balancing the inner nature and adapting to the changing environment.

Ayurvedic lifestyle is a holistic one. It talks about developing healthy eating habits and some daily good habits. Following a daily regimen is essential for maintaining good health and creating a balance between the mind, body and consciousness.

According to Ayurveda, we should perform daily rituals at the same time every day. This not only creates a balance in the constitution but also regulates the biological clock, leads to efficient digestion process, thereby increasing self-confidence, peacefulness, and happiness.

Wake up early

Ayurveda suggests waking up before sunrise. At sunrise, the atmosphere is laden with sattvic (pure) qualities in nature that bring peace of mind and freshness to our senses. While Vata people should wake at 6 am, Pitta people should rise at 5:30 am, and Kapha by 4:30 am. After waking up, look at your palms for a few seconds then gently move them over your face and chest, till your waist. This cleans the aura.

Start the day with a prayer

Before leaving the bed, say a little prayer or meditate for a little while. This will help you to meet the challenges of the day without any stress or tension.

Clean your face, mouth, and eyes

Wash your face and eyes with cold water and rinse your mouth. Do a little eye exercise—it will take a couple of minutes. Massage the eyelids gently and blink your eyes a few times. Rotate your eyeballs in clockwise and anti-clockwise. You can use eyewash too.

Clean your tongue

Cleaning your tongue is an important part of your daily hygiene. A clean tongue helps you to be healthy. To clean the tongue you need a special device, but you can also do it with a spoon. You can also clean your teeth and mouth with warm sesame oil twice a day.

Drink water

Now is the time to drink a glass of room temperature water. If you keep water at night in a pure copper cup and drink this water in the morning, it has immense health benefits. It washes the gastrointestinal tract, flushes the kidneys, and stimulates peristalsis. Avoid having tea or coffee in the morning. It drains the energy out from your kidney and stresses the adrenals, causing constipation.

Nasal drops (nasya)

If you put 3 to 5 drops of warm ghee or oil into each nostril in the morning, it helps to lubricate the nose, clean the sinuses, and clear the throat and vision. Since our nose is the door to the brain, nose drops nourish prana and bring clarity to our mind.

Oil your head and body (abhyanga)

Massage a little warm oil on your head and body before taking shower. Daily oil massage of the scalp makes you stress free. It prevents headache, baldness, greying, and receding hairline. Oiling your body before bedtime will help induce sound sleep. Vata people can use warm sesame oil. Pitta can use warm coconut oil, and Kapha can use warm mustard or sesame oil.

Take a morning shower

Taking shower in the morning not only cleanse your body but refreshes you. It removes fatigue and induces energy to the body, mind, and soul.

Yoga and meditation

Regular habit of yoga improves blood circulation and gives energy. It will make you relaxed and induce sound sleep. Besides many health benefits, yoga improves digestion and elimination. Every day do Pranayama as well. Meditation brings balance and peace in your life.

Breakfast

Your breakfast should be light, which should be nutritious and warm.

Lunch

Take out more time for lunch and eat slowly. Your lunch should be the biggest meal. Choose your food as per your dosha and don‘t drink water during meals.

Dinner

Your last meal should be before sunset. Don‘t watch TV, read book, or talk on phone while eating. You will not be able to draw nourishment from the food.

Bedtime