You are what you eat. And your skin is the reflection of the state your body is in. The glow or radiance on your skin defines your mental and physical well-being.
A tired, dull, wrinkled skin reflects how age is setting in the body. And pimples, blemishes, scars and spots are a clear indication of the toxins present in the body and the body's inability to cope with them. The process of ageing and its effects on the skin as well as remedies have been detailed at length in my book 'Sanatan Kriya The Ageless Dimension'. In this article, I detail certain techniques for specific skin condition called 'acne'.
Primarily the dhatus which affect the skin are rasa dhatu and rakta dhatu, the lymphatic system and blood. Apart from them, medas or the fat/oil content in the body in a state of imbalance blocks the pores and causes the skin to show signs of severe congestion. In this matter the digestive system is also responsible for not being able to expel the waste and toxins from the body properly.
To enable your digestive system to function with efficiency and throw the toxins away, switch to organic. Most of the time our body is struggling to fight the effects of toxins present in the foods that we eat and what we put on our skin and is hardly able to function in a state of normalcy because of these reasons, with environmental pollution adding to the misery.
Drinking warm water with honey and lemon juice regularly in the morning flushes the system of pollutants and are effective in removing excess fat/medas internally and from the skin as well.
A very effective way of cleansing the blood/rakta dhatu is consumption of fresh organic juices, besides good amounts of pure clean water. Orange, beetroot, carrot and amla juice is extremely nourishing to the skin and improves the quality of blood which also reflects on your skin. A concoction made with Amaltas (Cassia Senna) pulp and tamarind pulp also purifies blood and improves the skin’s health.
Methi (fenugreek) is very effective in cleansing the lymphatic system, or the rasa dhatu, which is the drainage system of your body. Soak a tsp of fenugreek seeds overnight in a glass of mineral water. Next morning drink the water and chew the seeds. You will notice glossy hair and glowing skin with receding fat or excess sebum in a few weeks of this treatment.
Topically, the best quality organic raw honey is an excellent treatment for acne, pimples and blemishes. Add a pinch of organic turmeric and lemon juice and apply this paste everyday and you will notice a healthy, glowing skin free of signs of ageing in just a couple of days.
Since time immemorial volcanic clays with their naturally occurring mineral content were used as excellent remedies for all skin ailments. Combination of aromatic essential oils are highly effective in ridding skin of acne and other problems. Use of floral and herbal extracts and sprays has helped millions who have resorted to natural alternatives to help them get off their medications and bulking up the body with neuro and hormonal toxins to fight conditions of acne effectively without the side effects.
Foods to avoid - Milk and milk products - they contain traces of antibiotics and steroids fed to cows to yield more milk. Anything fried, refined sugar, peanuts and peanut butter, red meat.
Foods to include - Strawberries, grapes, oats, whole grains, lemons, honey, green tea and Rooibos tea, yoghurt. Everything organic.
In addition to these remedies, it is extremely important to harmonise the body and its various layers through yogic kriyas like Sanatan Kriya for maximum benefits.
Yogi Ashwini is the Guiding Light of Dhyan Foundation and an authority on the Vedic Sciences. His book, 'Sanatan Kriya, The Ageless Dimension' is an acclaimed thesis on anti-ageing.