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Acne, as every woman knows, is programmed with spot -
on precision (no pun intended!) to stage a loud appearance
(in bright red, no less..) whenever we have:
A) A wedding to attend.
B) An Important Job Interview.
C) A big date.
D) All of the above.
If you, like many of us, worry about using chemical
creams and harsh treatments on your delicate skin, we
have just the solution. This is a comprehensive guide
on any skin problem you may have - with its answers
rooted in the ancient wisdom of AYURVEDA. Try these
gentle yet effective treatments, and you will wonder
no longer how our grandmothers have such beautiful complexions,
when all their beauty aids were simply natural ingredients...
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| CAUSES
Acne is the result of over-activity in the skin, usually
because of increased hormonal activity in adolsescence,
between 14 to 19 years. It appears on your face shoulders,
upper back and chest and is more severe in males than
in females. Adulthood acne is usually due to hormonal
imbalance or drug toxicity (usually from steroids.)
Get a medical check-up done to rule out these possibilities.
Acne pimples, pistules boils, blackheads, whiteheads
- all begin when hair follicles become plugged or blocked
with oils and secretions. As the follicles fill up with
bacteria, blackheads, whiteheads, lesions form on the
surface of the skin ( called non- inflammatory acne).
Acne develops when the follicle wall ruptures and leaks
(under pressure and sebum excreted by sebaceous glands)
forming a pustule in the tissues, These, when infected,
become cysts, which rupture to leave temporary (or permanent)
scars. This is due to itching and scratching.
DIET is not the major factor of acne but it is important
to avoid high-fat foods and iodine (found in shell-fish,
iodised salt, palak, chullai, paneer, cheeses, singara,
spirulina, etc)
Clean your skin regularly with mild soap & water.
Do not use any skin products containing oils or dyes.
Since its cause is not infection, antibiotics should
be avoided.
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TREATMENTS
Treatments vary from a tablet of Dispirin in a glass
of water ( used as a face-wash), benzoyl peroxide applications,
to certain vegetables, fruits, herbs etc which contain
sufficient amount of various acids and chemicals in
natural form. Hot wet towel compresses are the best
treatment for localized infections, as heat dilates
blood vessels, followed by a cold compress, which has
the opposite effect.
Our body has its own self cleansing, self-purifying
systems: keeping these systems working in perfect order
is the best way of protecting yourself from toxicity.
You can look after your kidneys by drinking lots of
pure water or herbal water which can be made at home
( this herbal water is made by boiling hair of 1 corn,
with 1 to 2 methi seeds in a glass full of water.)
Avoid dietary stresses like coffee, alcohol & excessive
protein - rely on your body's own mechanism for de-toxifying,
aided by the right intake/ help of certain fruits, vegetables
& their juices and certain herbs as detailed below.
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VEGETABLES & FRUITS WHICH
ARE GOOD FOR OUR COMPLEXION
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ALMOND
OIL
is good for dryness & inflammation of the skin.
The outer cover (endocarp) of 2-3 can be ground
with water & applied over the face daily. This
is good for removing scars of old pimples. |
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APPLES & PINEAPPLES
Juice of green apples & pineapples, applied
daily is excellent for fine wrinkles, cracked
skin, itching and inflammations. The juice of
pineapple applied and/or drunk (contains barlain
enzyme) which is good for body and facial pains. The
core of pineapple, rubbed on the face for a few
minutes and left for 10-15 minutes is an excellent
therapy for fine wrinkles.
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APRICOTS
:
Fresh juice of apricots applied on your face is
very good for sunburn, itching, exzema and scabies.
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BENGAL
GRAM POWDER:
Application of Bengal Gram Powder (flour) mixed
with curds is also a very effective treatment for
pimples & other skin infections & allergies.
Green Gram powder flour, mixed in water or
glycerin
is an excellent face wash in place of soap to remove
dirt without skin irritation, and also a very effective
bleach for a good complexion. |
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CUCUMBER
JUICE :
alone or mixed with juices of carrot, lettuce or
alfalfa when applied over the face is excellent
for skin eruptions. Grated cucumber can also serve
the same purpose. |
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CURD
:
as buttermilk is good for skin irritation. Curds
along with wheat flour or bran is a good cleanser
and beneficial for dry skin. |
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DRUMSTICKS
- POD & LEAVES :
ground and mixed with fresh lime are excellent for
pimples, blackheads & dark spots. |
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FENUGREEK
- METHI LEAVES :
A paste of fresh leaves applied over the face every
night and washed with warm water prevents pimples,
blackheads, whiteheads, dryness, wrinkles etc. |
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FENUGREEK
(METHI) SEEDS:
A decoction made of 1 tsp. Methi seeds boiled in
1 ltr. of water for a couple of minutes and applied
on the face is an ideal prevention for formation
of blackheads, whiteheads, pimples etc. It also
helps in dryness, wrinkles & is an excellent
face wash & cleanser. |
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FRESH
LIME JUICE :
The juice of one fresh lime added to a glass of
boiled whole milk (a tsp. of glycerin may be added
for dry skin) is excellent as a face wash for pimples
blackheads, and the like, and for cracked skin.
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GARLIC
JUICE:
with 3 parts water is an excellent cleansing
agent. Raw garlic applied ( rubbed) on the face
can make persistent pimples/acne even in adults
disappear without a trace/scar with repeated applications.
The external use of garlic helps to clear the skin
of spots, pimples & boils. Taking 3-4 pods of
raw, skinned garlic, finely cut, combined with puffed
rice and swallowed with water helps to clear skin
infections quickly. The raw smell of garlic can
be avoided by first soaking the skinned pods for
a half an hour in milk. |
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GROUNDNUT
OIL:
1 tsp. Groundnut oil mixed with an equal amt. of
lime juice may be applied daily to prevent formation
of blackheads, pimples etc.( Lime juice will break
the moleculecular structure of groundnut oil into
amino acids so that the skin does not absorb the
oil.) |
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HONEY:
1 tsp. Honey mixed with water is good for all
skin blemishes, and leaves the skin youthful &
glowing. Honey mixed with milk, curds and ground
sesame seeds in equal proportions is a sure formula
for fair and lovely skin. |
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HALDI
/TURMERIC :
paste mixed with chana dal powder or whole wheat
flour is very effective for all minor skin blemishes.
Haldi powder mixed with sugarcane juice helps to
remove wrinkles & is good as an anti-ageing
remedy. Haldi mixed with pineapple juice is very
effective on dark circles under the eyes. |
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RAW
MANGOES :
It's leaves and skin - boiled together or soaked
overnight in water (in mild cases) makes an excellent
astringent - good for epithelium (the tissue that
covers the external surface of the body) infection.
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MINT
LEAVES - PUDINA :
Fresh mint juice applied over the face every night
cures pimples and prevents dryness of the skin.
It is also useful for insect stings, eczema, scabies,
contact (contagious) dermatitis & other skin
infections. |
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NEEM
LEAVES :
7 to 10 fresh neem leaves crushed or ground - and
then swallowed with water will invariably clear
the skin. If it is chewed and then swallowed with
water it will also remove bad odour from the mouth,
and cleanse the teeth. ( purchase - mantra pure
capsules) |
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ORANGE
PEEL (DRIED):
ground (on the household grinding stone) mixed with
pure water or distilled water or boiled and cooled
water, or rain water,- should be applied on the
face for acne, especially. Fresh orange peel, rubbed
on the face directly will also serve the same purpose
to a degree. |
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PAPAYA
:
The juice of green/raw papaya (including the skin
and seed) is extremely beneficial on swelling pimples,
acne, or any abnormal growth of the skin. It prevents
pus formation, removes whiteheads, boils, freckles,
and brown spots due to exposure to sunlight &
most other skin diseases. Papaya is also good to
achieve a smooth & delicately glowing skin (contains
papain, alkalide carpain in leaves, and cericin
in its seeds) Ripe papaya, rubbed on on your face
will also serve the same purpose to a degree. |
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POMEGRANATE
:
Anar skin roasted and powdered & mixed with
fresh lime - applied over boils, pistules, pimple,
blackheads and whiteheads prevents itching &
infections. |
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RAW
POTATOES :
contain potassium, sulphur, phosphorus & protein.
The enzymes in raw potato pulp combined with its
Vitamin C content & natural starch are a natural
skin food. The alkaline nature of the juices is
an antiseptic. The acid portion of the pulp helps
remove decaying or dead skin. Applications of its
juicy pulp (grated or shredded) as poultice, clears
skin blemishes, melts away wrinkles, banishes age
spots, helps prevents boils, pimples, blackheads,
whiteheads & gives a glowing & youthful
look to the skin. |
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RADISH
:
Radish seeds contain a bleaching agent and its emulsion
prepared with water applied over the face will remove
blackheads & freckles. Radish leaves crushed
& applied as a poultice also help in the process.
Grated white radish & its water makes an excellent
astringent and bleaching agent for a fairer complexion.
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RICE
:
Fine powder of rice, ground at home and mixed with
water acts as a poultice for soothing /cooling bleeding
pimples & other skin inflammations. |
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TOMATOES
:
Ripe Tomatoes pulp should be applied liberally on
your face for treatment of pimples and kept upto
1 hour, then washed thoroughly. Chandan (sandalwood)
powder with masoor dal can be applied thereafter
for a glowing skin. This also helps shrink large
pores. (buy mantra charm powder) |
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SESAME
SEEDS :
ground and mixed with water makes a very effective
poultice for inflammation of the skin due to allergies,
skin rashes, scratched pimples and acne. (buy mantra
charm) |
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WHOLE
WHEAT FLOUR:
Whole wheat flour mixed with vinegar, & applied
on the surface of the skin removes freckles &
dark spots. Wheat grass juice poultice is applied
for sterilizing the infected area before this treatment.
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