Ayurvedic Skin Care

Kapha, EARTH type of Skin

People with Kapha type of skin are Earth predominant and also have a strong water element. The characteristics of Kapha are oily, cold, heavy, soft, slow, dense, dull and lubricating. The skin imbalances can be identified by the following characteristics, cool, fair, oily and thick skin, large pores with proneness to cystic acne, and deep wrinkles.

Vata, AIR type of skin

These people are born with predominantly Vata, air and ether elements. The charactersics of Vata are light, dry, cold, rough, and mobile. Vata type of skin imbalance is seen as thin, dry, rough and cold, prone to premature aging. A lack of sebum occurs because the sebaceous glands are low in number and are sluggish. The small pores charactersitc of this type of skin lose water quickly. The loss of water leads to tiny superficial wrinkles. Signs of aging, therefore appear much faster for Vata constitutions than with other types of skin.

Pitta, FIRE type of skin

People with Pitta type of skin are Fire predominant and also have a strong Water element. The characteristics of Pitta are slightly oily, hot, light, mobile, sour-smelling, sharp fluid, and pungent. Pitta skin imbalance is usually warm, reddish, sensitive, with blotchy red patches, medium pores with large pores in the T-zone, and proness to blackheads and allergic reactions.

Founding Principles of Ayurveda

Ayurveda (Ah-yur-vay-dah) literally means science of life. The ancient science of Ayurveda has been the traditional medicine of India for over 5000 years. The primary focus of Ayurveda is to ensure longevity (Ayur) by maintaining and promoting health.

Ayurveda asserts that we are all born into an unchanging constitution known as dosha. The main doshas are based on a combination of the five universal elements: ether, air, fire, water, and earth. These elements combine to form three basic constitutions or doshas: Vata (ether and air), Pitta (fire and water), Kapha (water and earth).

A person is characterized by his or her proportion of doshas present in the body. These doshas are influenced by diet, environment, state of mind, etc. Each dosha can go out of balance and Ayurveda states that by following a diet and lifestyle that corresponds to our body's inherent makeup, we can stave of illness. Restoring and maintaining a level of balance is the key to healing and managing health.

Ayurveda attempts to balance or restore these doshas through understanding each person's unique combination of elements (doshas). This is achieved through questioning, pulse and tongue diagnosis, and a physical exam. To restore balance, Ayurveda relies on dietary guidelines, herbal preparation, lifestyle, meditation and yoga.

Ayurveda is not viewed as an alternative to or substitute for western medicine. Ayurveda seeks to prevent disease by detecting the imbalances and correcting them. It can be used in combination with western medicine and western herbs. The role of Ayurveda is to rebuild tissues, strengthen the immune system and restore balance to the whole person.

As Pratima puts it: "When we follow the laws of nature, we have balance and harmony. Internal harmony brings happiness, and happiness brings health and beauty."