Ayurvedic Essential Oils For Eczema

Atopic dermatitis, commonly known as Eczema is the most predominant skin problems in the world. The term ‘Eczema’ is extracted from the Greek word ‘ekzein’, which means ‘to boil out’.  Eczema is a chronic skin disorder that makes the skin dry, itchy, cracked, scaly and reddened.

It is an auto-immune disease that affects people of both the gender and many of the General Practitioners say that the number of persons diagnosed for eczema is gradually increasing every year especially in North America, Western Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia. Ayurveda, the ancient healing system considers eczema as a symbol of imbalance in the human body for which it suggests the use of enriching Ayurvedic essential oils along with herbs, yoga, meditation and following an Ayurvedic routine.

Causes of Eczema: Thousands of reasons can be attributed to this auto-immune disease but eczema is said to worsen due to mental stress. Research studies also say that Eczema is common in children and numerous children who are affected by Atopic eczema also have the chances of developing asthma.

The exact reason for eczema is still not known yet the major causes of eczema are hereditary reasons, environmental factors, food and other dietary concerns, agents that cause dermatitis or eczema also known as allergens, the effect of chemical substances present in skin care products, detergents and toiletries, pet fur and much more. A reliable research done by a group of allergy experts reveal that eczema is on the rise especially in children between 6 and 7 years old in developing countries.

Symptoms of eczema: Eczema is a long-term disease that requires intense treatment. When left unnoticed, eczema gets aggravated and may lead to other serious conditions. The most prevalent symptoms of Atopic dermatitis are:

  • Dry, broken and cracked skin on the body mainly legs, arms, neck, back of the ears, hands, kneels, face, wrist, upper chest and eyelids.
  • Itchy, reddened, swollen and inflamed skin on the affected areas. This gets worsened in the night time and prolonged itching might end up in thickened and raw-looking skin.
  • Reddish or pale brown color patches appear on the skin and may develop small bumps and blisters.
  • In the extreme cases skin becomes hot, scaly, extremely dry, and sensitive. It starts oozing liquid and will attract other infections due to bacteria and other harmful foreign bodies.

Ayurveda and eczema: Eczema is termed as Vicharchika in Ayurveda. It is said that the imbalance of all the three doshas namely vata, pitta and kapha cause eczema. This skin disorder due to vata imbalance causes extreme dryness and induces severe pain and itching on the affected part. Eczema due to pitta vitiation causes burning sensation and induces oozing from the bumps whereas Kapha predominant eczema makes the skin thick along with oozing and swelling. Ayurveda is a holistic healing science that considers every individual unique with a unique constitution. Though eczema is a universal disease, Ayurvedic treatments for this disorder is specific to an individual’s physical, mental, social, environmental and spiritual set up.

Ayurvedic remedies for Eczema: Ayurvedic experts state that ‘Vicharchika’ occurs mainly due to the human body’s incapability to generate enough moisture in the skin and the abridged functioning of the immune system and the imbalance of the doshas. Ayurvedic treatments recommend keeping yourself away from those food items that are sour or salty as these can intensify your eczema. Adding turmeric, coconut, avocado, yogurt, ghee, butter to your diet has the potential to improve your skin by reducing inflammation and increasing the moisture in the skin. Ayurvedic herbs like licorice and valerian root soothes the nerves and promotes the physical balance of your body.

Turmeric is an excellent antiseptic and a renowned Nutritionist and Chinese Herbalist Daniel C. Luthi in his extensive research on Atopic Dermatitis says that the yellow pigment known as Curcumin present in Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties and is an excellent remedy to inhibit the release and production of leukotrienes and other mediators that are inflammatory and helps in removing the toxins from the body that cause eczema and other skin disorders.

Ayurvedic oils for Eczema: Essential oils are the purest form of oils and are perfect in healing numerous skin disorders including eczema. The best recommended Ayurvedic essential oils for eczema are Lavender essential oil, Patchouli essential oil, Rosemary oil, Tea tree oil, Cypress oil, Thyme oil, Cedarwood oil, Chamomile oil and Palmarosa oil.

Physicians from the Pacific Institute of Aromatherapy in California suggest the use of a natural blend of essential oils for eczema. This blend contains 1 ml of Lavender oil and Palmarosa oil along with 10 ml of calophyllum diluted in Rose Hip Seed oil (6 teaspoons). Topical application of this blend on the affected areas will stimulate repair of cells and gradually reduce itching.

Adding few drops of Evening primrose oil to your bath tub or when used as medicated oil increases the level of omega fatty acids lacking in people affected by eczema. This oil contains gamma-linolenic acid known as GLA, which is frequently used to treat people with such skin conditions as it checks skin inflammation and allergy while evading the conversion process.

In the popular book named ‘Aromatherapy Workbook’, Shirley Price suggests the use of Frankincense essential oil, Myrrh essential oil, Hyssop essential oil for weeping eczema and Juniper essential oil and Geranium essential oil for normal eczema. Carrier oils like Borage oil, Almond oil, Calendula oil are also recommended for treating eczema.

Along with these Ayurvedic treatments, practicing simple Yoga and meditation can calm your senses, soothes your nerves and brings in tranquility to your mind thus lessening the severity of eczema.

Thought for the day:

Glamour is about feeling good in your own skin.   -Zoe Saldana

Suggested reading:

  1. Absolute Beauty: Radiant Skin and Inner Harmony Through the Ancient Secrets of Ayurveda By Pratima Raichur, Mariam Cohn
  2. Aromatherapy for Eczema By Miriam Kinai
  3. New Choices in Natural Healing: Over 1,800 of the Best Self-Help Remedies from the World of Alternative Medicine By Doug Dollemore

Reference links:

  1. Eczema: Treatment, causes, symptoms, types and diagnosis by MedicineNet.Com
  2. Childhood Eczema Still On The Increase In Developing Countries by Medical News Today
  3. Eczema or Atopic Dermatitis by Nutritional and Herbal Solutions

Ayurveda Treatment – The Must Know Essentials

Ayurveda merges with nature and instills a positive energy within us by promoting a healthy lifestyle for harmonious living. While giving total importance to curative as well as preventative health measures, this noble science detects numerous diseases at a very early stage where even the contemporary medical practices fail to establish their stand. Ayurveda unmistakably depicts and understands that good health is a reflection or a symbol that an individual is living in harmony with nature.

It often views diseases as a clear signal indicating that a human’s body is ‘out of harmony’ with the phases of nature, the ideal gift of the Creator. This superior curing system treats human beings as individuals and not just as ‘Cases’ or ‘Patients’, the way in which people are addressed in modern medical system. Ayurveda treatment is a comprehensive structure that follows innumerable techniques to heal humanity. The most popular and the must know essentials of Ayurveda treatment are:

  1. Herbs or plant-based medications: As Ayurveda insists on natural cure for illness and wellness, the primary things that it focuses on is the use of herbs and other plant-based medications. According to Ayurveda ‘Nature is a Rescuer’ and herbs that are part of nature are really special in curing innumerable diseases. Ayurveda either uses these herbs directly or in the form of powder, decoction, tinctures, pills, syrups, ointments, herbal teas, and infusions. Herbs were also used as a poultice, in steam inhalation, natural baths and much more.
  2. Essential oils: Essential oils are highly concentrated oils extracted from plants. Ayurveda uses aroma as a trusted methodology for treating various kinds of illnesses. This ancient healing science suggests the use of oils either as part of the diet, suggested applications to the affected areas, in systematic massage therapy, smearing, as air freshener to kill the germs in the environment and to treat numerous illness especially related with the mind like depression, insomnia, stress, fear, anxiety etc as the aroma has the power to control the human system by the positive effects transformed through the limbic system.
  3. Animal-based products: Ayurvedic treatment also involves the use of certain animal products like bones, milk, gallstones, and animal fats for external use as well as for ingestion at times based upon the nature of the sickness.
  4. Physical and mental fitness: Ayurveda does not stop with prescribing herbs and essential oils for well-being but recommends the regular practice of physical exercises, yoga and meditation as per the corresponding Ayurvedic body types for gaining insight and the physical power to be resistant to diseases and stay hale and hearty. Thus the Ayurvedic theory states that ‘from physical exercise one obtains lightness, capacity to work, elimination of impurities from the body, firmness of the body, efficiency of digestion, and balance of metabolism’.
  5. Mineral treatments: According to Ayurveda, the principle of using minerals and metals along with herbal medicine is known as Rasa Shastra, which is similar to the celebrated Alchemy treatment used in Western Europe and Mediterranean countries.
  6. Surgical healing: The most inspiring part of the Ayurvedic treatment is the surgical healing technique, popularly known as Shalyaroga chikitsa or the surgical science. This was initially introduced to treat the warriors during the wars when they were attacked by sharp weapons, swords, arrows etc, Ayurvedic experts also recommend surgery for complicated health conditions like cataract, piles, fistula, urinary stones, accidents and more.
  7. Hygienic and balanced living: ‘Purity of mind and body will help human beings live in peace’ is what Ayurveda strongly believes. For which it recommends hygienic habits like taking bath regularly, keeping the vital parts of the body like skin and sense organs clean. For a calm and tranquil mind, this spiritual science suggests habitual prayers and meditation. Taking in a balanced diet with essential nutrients at the right time also contributes to a happy life in the pink according to Ayurveda.

All the possible and potential diseases of this present-day chaos living can be covered under one protective roof, rightly named as Ayurveda.

Thought for the day:

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

-World Health Organization

Suggested Reading:

  1. Ayurveda & Aromatherapy: The Earth Essential Guide to Ancient Wisdom and Modern Healing by Dr. Light Miller, Dr. Bryan Miller.
  2. The Ayurveda Encyclopedia: Natural Secrets To Healing, Prevention & Longevity by Swami Sadashiva Tirtha
  3. Yoga For Your Type: An Ayurvedic Approach to Your Asana Practice by Dr. David Frawley, Sandra Summerfield Kozak

Reference Links:

  1. Ayurveda by Wikipedia
  2. Herbal Medicine by University of Maryland Medical Center
  3. Exercise by ND Ayurveda & Panchkarma Centre

Pranayama: The Ayurvedic Health Benefits Of Balanced Breathing

Have you ever thought about the way you breathe or the real magic behind your breathing? What will happen if your breath stops for a minute or two? Unimaginable and sounds pathetic, right? Pranayama can be called as the art of breathing for healthy living. This Sanskrit word means ‘extension of the life force’ in which ‘Prana’ means ‘breath or life force’ and ‘ayama’ means ‘expansion or to extend’. Ancient Ayurvedic texts like Charaka Samhita have explained in detail about ‘Prana’ and its role in health and ailments. According to Ayurveda, Pranayama is a respiratory exercise and an exemplary technique to maintain physical health and augment mental health through spiritual values while harmonizing with the universal prana.

What is Pranayama? Pranayama is a vital part of the Yogic science, which is the sister science of Ayurveda. With the clear definition derived from the above para, all I have to explain about this spiritual healing technique is that it is the ‘control of breathing in a learned style’. This ideal breathing practice helps the body to meet its necessary oxygen requirements and release carbon-di-oxide and other toxins from the body. Pranayama should be done only after getting a proper training from an expert in Yoga. If done incorrectly, this exercise might increase the imbalances in the doshas, consequently ending up with diseases.

The three simple steps of Pranayama include Puraka (Inhalation), Kumbhaka (Retention) and Recaka (Exhalation). Slow and deep inhalation helps in the intake of enough oxygen for the body followed by total retention of the inhaled oxygen, which enables the system to acquire it. At the time of retaining the breath within, attention is focused on any particular part of the body like the forehead or the heart for gaining inner light. The final step is exhalation that is done through lungs or abdomen, where the impurities from your body are exhaled out.

Ayurvedic health benefits of Pranayama: Ayurveda is a holistic healing methodology that considers an individual as a universe in the universe based upon the solid principle that universe is also made up of the 5 vital elements and human body is also made up of the same 5 elements. Ayurveda considers ‘Pranayama’ as a juncture at which an individual’s own consciousness attains oneness with the universal consciousness. This paves way for realizing the immortal spirit vested within our body. The most significant health benefits of Pranayama according to Ayurveda are:

1. Enhances the quality of life: Pranayama or Yogic breathing helps you learn the art of deep and slow breathing, which aids in reduced rate of breathing. The normal respiratory rate in adults is about 12 breaths per minute at the time of rest. Increased respiratory rate like 20 or 30 breaths per minute are seen only in sick people, especially who are diagnosed with cancer, cystic fibrosis, HIV/AIDS and few other chronic conditions. Dr AC Guyton has said in The Textbook of Medical Physiology that “All chronic pain, suffering and diseases are caused from a lack of oxygen at the cell level”. Ayurveda recommends the practice of Pranayama to acquire enough oxygen to all the cells of the body and for reduced rate of breathing say about 5 to 6 breaths per minute. This helps in relaxation of nerves and muscles while lessening the wear and tear of internal organs.

2. Longevity or Increased life span: Increased life span or longevity is based upon an individual’s rate of breathing, according to Yoga, the sister science of Ayurveda. Pranayama teaches one to lower the rate of breathing and directly contributes to increased life span. As most of us know, one of the predominant living organisms on earth that has the highest life span is Tortoise and the major reason being its reduced rate of breathing that is only 4 to 5 breaths per minute.

3. Contributes to a healthy heart: A healthy heart is an incredible treasure supporting your welfare. This is an active organ of the body that works 24/7 in all the 365 days in a year. Practicing Pranayama regularly helps in the circulation of more oxygen to the blood and consequently supplies more oxygen to the heart and its muscles. This supports better functioning of your heart and effectively removes the toxins from the body.

4. Improves mental health: Inculcating regular practice of Pranayama strengthens your mind and grants you ultimate solace. A disturbed mind and a stressful life demands most of our time and steals our joy and serenity. Pranayama can also be called as positive breathing as it sows positive thoughts in our mind and emancipates the negative feelings like materialism, anger, depression, jealousy, stinginess, sluggishness, egotism and many other. This healing exercise improves the concentration power and paves way for better memory, enhanced spiritual skills and the eternal feeling of inner peace and harmony.

5. Healthy aging: Pranayama is the perfect way of treating the imbalances of all the three doshas namely vata, pitta and kapha. Vata aggravation leads to ill-health especially when a person turns older. Practicing Pranayama on a regular basis helps in keeping the mind and body in control. The sufficient amount of oxygen taken in by the body assists in treating Vata imbalances where Air is the predominant energy. This helps in protecting the health of the heart and lungs while preventing the negative symptoms of aging like rheumatism, backache, loss of vitality, solidifying arteries, improper blood circulation, dry and wrinkled skin, listless diaphragm and much more.

Start practicing Pranayama in a clean, bug-free environment especially in the early hours of the day when the energy levels of your body and the nature are at its best. Using aromatic Ayurvedic essential oils with therapeutic values while doing Pranayama can help you serve your health conditions better as it instills a positive sensation while fostering your body to accept the inner power granted by the natural fragrance of these oils. I can sense a ray of hope everyday when I practice Pranayama with the everlasting company of my favorite spiritual oils for fragrance, yes Frankincense essential oil along with Bergamot essential oil. It’s your turn now.

Thought for the day:

Inhale and God approaches you.  Hold the inhalation, and God remains with you.  Exhale, and you approach God.  Hold the exhalation, and surrender to God.                                -Krishnamacharya

Suggested Reading:

  1. Light on Pranayama: The Yogic Art of Breathing By B. K. S. Iyengar
  2. Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha/2008 Fourth Revised Edition by Swami Satyananda Saraswati
  3. Moola Bandha: The Master Key by Swami Buddhananda
  4. Yoga & Ayurveda: Self-Healing and Self-Realization by Dr. David Frawley

Reference Links:

  1. Pranayama by Wikipedia
  2. Pranayama, Yoga, and Ayurveda by California College of Ayurveda
  3. Normal Respiratory Rate and Ideal Breathing by NormalBreathing.com