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SECRETS OF AYURVEDA TREATMENTS FOR SKIN DISORDERS Dr Deepika Rodrigo B.A.M.S. Disclaimer The Publisher and Author of this e-book do not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of the information provided here. This book is not a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist or health care provider before taking any home remedies or supplements or following any treatment suggested in this e-book. Only your health care provider, physician or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history. www.dermaved.com 1 Table of contents 1. Ayurveda – Ancient Remedies for Modern Life 3 2. What is Ayurveda? 3 3. Effective Skin Treatment – Inside Out & Outside In 4 4. What Causes Skin Disease? 4 5. Eat What You Are 5 6. What is Your Dosha? 6 7. Vata Pitta Kapha Common Skin Disorders 6 8. Supporting the Body to Eliminate Skin Disorders 8 9. Advice for Vata Pitta Kapha Skin Disorders 9 10. Eczema – Vata-type Eczema 10 11. Treating Vata-type Eczema 11 12. Eczema – Pitta-type Eczema 12 13. Treating Pitta-type Eczema 13 14. Eczema – Kapha-type Eczema 14 15. Treating Kapha-type Eczema 15 16. Psoriasis 17 17. Ayurvedic Approach to Psoriasis 17 18. Vata Pitta Kapha type Psoriasis 18 19. Ending the War Within – Treating Psoriasis 19 20. Ayurvedic Treatment for Psoriasis 19 21. Ayurvedic Advice for Vata Pitta Kapha Psoriasis 21 22. Dermaved Cream – Ayurveda Skin Care 22 23. Dr. Deepika Rodrigo B.A.M.S. 22 www.dermaved.com 2 Ayurveda - Ancient Remedies for Modern Life Ancient and timeless, Ayurveda offers us the secrets to attaining and maintaining optimal health and wellbeing. Its benefits have been proven over thousands of years and its methodologies continue to help millions of people across the world live a balanced and vital life in the 21st century. Ayurveda recognises that each person is unique and offers a highly customised approach to health and wellbeing. This e-book outlines the basics of Ayurveda and explains how you can begin using the secrets of this science to heal skin disorders. Skin disorders can range from mild irritation and inflammation to chronic and long term conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, dermatitis, acne and other inflammatory skin disorders. Perhaps you have always had sensitive skin that burns easily in the sun or breaks out in hives when it has contact with “foreign” objects. What is Ayurveda? Thousands of years before modern medicine provided scientific evidence for the mind-body connection, Ayurveda was developed in the Indian subcontinent. It is the world’s oldest and most sophisticated health system. More than merely a means of treating physical illness, Ayurveda literally means ‘the science of life’ (“Ayu” in Sanskrit meaning life and “Veda” meaning science or knowledge). It is an ancient and dynamic body of wisdom which can help people live at their optimum best, vibrant and happy. www.dermaved.com 3 Effective skin treatment – Inside Out & Outside In Ayurveda offers the perspective that while all skin conditions can seem superficial in nature, our skin, the largest organ of the body, is a reflection of the hidden realities within our bodies. Skin conditions are rarely caused exclusively by an external factor; they are far more likely to be the result of a deeper imbalance. A disorder is like a weed. What we see on the surface of the skin are just the leaves. Treating the leaves alone doesn’t eliminate the weed. We also have to go to the root and treat the disorder from there. Skin care from an Ayurvedic approach aims to identify and treat the underlying causes of skin imbalances as well as alleviating the discomfort of the superficial symptoms – both from the inside out and from the outside in. The benefits of this deeper and more conscious approach are real and sustained results which increase your overall wellbeing in the process. The best part of Ayurveda is that the improvements you will notice on the surface of your skin are usually the result of a more significant transformation which improves your life and overall wellbeing in ways you may never have imagined skin care could. What causes skin disease? According to this ancient knowledge the cause of all skin disorders is impaired digestive fire (known as “Vishama Agni” in Sanskrit), which in turn is caused by incorrect diet and lifestyle. When the digestive fire is imbalanced, either too high or too low, it causes some food to convert to toxins (known as “Ama” in Sanskrit). These toxins or Ama then circulate throughout the body, and are deposited on the superficial fascia, which can leave the skin feeling and looking dry, causing irritation, www.dermaved.com 4 scaling or inflammation and infection. Like a blocked and overflowing drain, the body finds the point of least resistance to deposit toxins. Even though skin disorders are influenced by genetics, according to Ayurveda, they can be eliminated or significantly reduced by using the right combination of topical preparations to help heal and repair the skin, diet and lifestyle choices, in accordance with your constitution (known as “Dosha”). Eat What You Are Today we are bombarded with information about nutrition and what to eat. Researchers, doctors and nutritionists are providing us with rules about how many portions of fruit and vegetables to eat; what the latest super-food can do for us; how much water to drink; which foods are now deemed to be harmful; what to cut out of our diets … and the lists go on. We are often left in a state of confusion. According to Ayurveda, even if you followed all this advice to the letter (which would be impossible anyway as so much is contradictory), you may still be eating the wrong foods to attain your optimal health and wellbeing. This is not because these foods are bad or good. Breaking down our diets in this way is oversimplified. In Ayurveda, each of us is recognised to be as unique as our DNA codes and so any principle that suggests everyone should eat in the same way is bound to fail. We are unique in our physical build, our metabolism, our energy levels, our genetics, our ethnicity, our environment, our work, our feelings, our relationships, our tastes … ever wondered why some people have acne and others don’t? We are individuals with unique needs that must be satisfied in order to enjoy optimal health and wellbeing. It is also why some people can eat chilli with no side effect while others break out in a rash and feel terrible the next day. It is why some of us cannot tolerate certain www.dermaved.com 5 foods such dairy products while others have no problem tucking in. One woman’s medicine can be another woman’s poison. Depending on who you are, the same food can either harm you or help you. It comes down to constitution, connection and consciousness, not nutrition. What is Your Dosha? According to Ayurveda’s fundamental principles each person is a combination of the three Doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Doshas or constitutions are the physical or biological and spiritual threshold to sustain your health and wellbeing. Each Dosha has specific qualities and it is the combination of these qualities, which make us each as unique as our DNA or genetic code. Each of the Doshas is a combination of two of the five elements – space, air, fire, water and earth. Vata has the light and mobile qualities of air and space; pitta is passionate and energetic like fire; and kapha is steady and reliable like earth. Once a person understands their own constitution (particularly with the help of an Ayurvedic doctor) and re-orders any imbalance through the use of diet, lifestyle, medicinal herbs, and detox treatments such as Panchakarma, they can expect to live unhindered by skin disorders. Take our dosha quiz at the end of this e-book. Vata, Pitta, Kapha Common Skin Disorders Long before the existence of microscopic technology, Ayurveda recognised that the skin was made up of three main layers. The superficial fascia (known as “Apicharma”) is in constant contact with the outside world and so it constantly repairs itself to adjust to the outside atmosphere. As a www.dermaved.com 6 result it tends to get dry, flaky and irritable frequently. People who are predominantly Vata (made up of the qualities of air and ether) are more likely to suffer with irritable skin disorders at the most superficial layer of skin. Hence Vata people have a greater tendency to dry skin, dry eczema, irritable skin, and dandruff. Damp weather, dry, cold and raw food and stress tend to aggravate and increase Vata dosha. Reducing exposure to these aggravators can help to eliminate this disorder, as well as applying the right moisturiser and making simple adjustments to life style and diet. Just like vata people, vata type eczema is ‘easy come, easy go’. The second layer of skin (known as “charma”) consists of more connective tissue, blood vessels and plasma. It tends to be more moist and warm. When toxins or Ama circulate in this layer, skin tends to get irritable, hot and red. Hot blooded ‘Pitta’ people (made up of the qualities of fire and water) are more prone to a type of eczema which is inflammatory, hot and red as well as rosacea, dermatitis and other types of inflammatory skin conditions. Stress and anger can further aggravate these types of skin disorders. The application of suitable moisturisers, following a Pitta reducing diet and stress reducing adjustments to lifestyle can help to significantly heal these types of disorder. Pitta people are characterised by their dominant qualities and so pitta skin disorders take some effort to overcome. Third layer (known as “addhus charma”) is made up of connective tissue, fat and blood. It tends to be the moistest layer of the skin and has a greater tolerance for toxicity. However, when toxins build up to saturation point, disorders begin to appear slowly. When this third layer gets affected it is much harder to cure. Normally people with Kapha constitutions (made up of the qualities of earth) are more prone to disorders of third layer, such as Psoriasis, the most common disorder in this layer, infected boils and wet eczema. With effort and a longer term approach, through application of the correct moisturisers, herbs, and adjustments to life style and diet as well as deep cleansing programmes like “Panchakarma”, Kapha skin disorders can be cured. www.dermaved.com 7 Just like Kapha people, it takes a long time to come, a longer time to eliminate but once gone it may never return. Supporting the Body to Eliminate Skin Disorders As we are all as unique as our DNA code, specific diagnosis along with highly individualised advice to identify the cause of the disorder, eliminate toxicity built up in the body and to heal, repair and maintain healthy skin can be provided by a qualified Ayurvedic Physician. This foundational advice will significantly support the body in eliminating any type of skin disorder: Daily moisturising of the skin with a suitable, healing cream such as Dermaved Protecting the skin from extreme weather conditions, whether cold or hot Improving circulation by staying properly hydrated and taking regular exercise, especially stretching, yoga or walking Gentle regular sweating to excrete toxins from the system Following a diet which allows proper, regular bowel movements Avoiding acidity, red meat, red fish, tropical fruit, red wine, tomatoes, cold raw salads, oily nuts and seeds Passing urine regularly throughout the day whenever the body requires Reducing stress levels through meditation or other leisure activities www.dermaved.com 8 Advice for Vata, Pitta, Kapha Skin Disorders Foods to avoid Lifestyle essentials Mealtimes Physical activity Vata Pitta Dry, cold, raw Acidic, raw, spicy Good night’s sleep; maintaining routine in lifestyle Regular meal times Gentle yoga, walking, swimming Stress reduction; meditation Avoid frequent meals Regular relaxing exercise such as yoga www.dermaved.com Kapha Dairy, starchy, creamy, sugary Regular vigorous exercise; regular meals Moderate food intake in long intervals Regular, vigorous, aerobic exercise 9 Eczema – Vata-type Eczema If you’re Vata predominant, your eczema is likely to look like dry, irritable and flaky skin and feel itchy. You may also have dandruff. The good news for Vata constitutions is that they tend to experience eczema in the uppermost layer of the skin, which means it is ‘easy come, easy go’. Using the right topical cream to help soothe and heal the skin and a few simple adjustments in diet and lifestyle you can see off eczema easily. For Vata eczema, moisturising is key to counteract the lack of moisture in the skin. Apply moisturiser that deeply nourishes dry skin and draws out heat to reduce irritability and itchiness. Stress, damp weather and dry, cold or raw food and act as aggravators to Vata. So stay warm, calm and eat nourishing warm food too, especially during the winter months. Vata – is this you? To know more about whether you’re predominantly Vata, read our quick guide below: Vata has the light and mobile qualities of air and space. If Vata dosha predominates in you, movement and change are characteristic of your nature. You’re always on the go, with an energetic and creative mind. In balance, you are lively and enthusiastic and tend to have a thin, light frame with excellent agility. Your energy comes in bursts, as does do your bouts of fatigue. You tend to have dry skin and hair and cold hands and feet. Your sleep is generally light and your digestion sensitive. When Vata is imbalanced, it manifests in the body typically as weight loss, constipation, hypertension, arthritis, weakness, restlessness and digestive disorders. www.dermaved.com 10 You love excitement and new experiences. You don’t hesitate to take initiative. You love to talk and you are a lively conversationalist. Balanced, you are creative, energetic and flexible. Unbalanced you are prone to anxiety, worrying, insomnia and often feel overwhelmed or stressed. You tend to blame yourself when things go wrong. Treating Vata-type Eczema Foods to avoid: Dry, cold or raw food Lifestyle essentials: A good night’s sleep; maintaining routine in lifestyle and regular mealtimes Optimum physical activity: Gentle yoga, walking, swimming and gentle, constant moving activity This basic advice will significantly support the body in eliminating any type of skin disorder: Daily moisturising of the skin with a suitable, healing cream such as Dermaved. Protecting the skin from extreme weather conditions Improving circulation by staying properly hydrated and taking regular exercise, especially stretching, yoga or walking Gentle regular sweating to excrete toxins from the system Following a diet which allows proper regular bowel movements www.dermaved.com 11 Avoid acidity, red meat, red fish, tropical fruit, red wine, tomatoes, cold raw salads, nuts and seeds Passing urine regularly throughout the day whenever the body requires Reducing stress levels through meditation or leisure activity At least 8 hours sleep Eczema – Pitta-type Eczema Pitta people are more prone to the type of eczema that is inflammatory, hot and red as well as rosacea, dermatitis and other forms of inflammatory skin conditions. It is accompanied by a burning sensation, swelling and even infection. Pitta eczema is characterised by its dominant qualities and in this way penetrates to the second layer of skin where it affects the connective tissues, blood vessels and plasma. This means it can take a little effort to overcome. Using the right topical cream to draw out the heat created by pitta will significantly help to reduce inflammation, soothe and heal the skin. Specific changes in diet and lifestyle can overcome pitta eczema completely. Stress and excessive bouts of anger can aggravate this eczema, as well as heat producing foods which are sour, salty and spicy. Pitta – is this you? To know more about whether you’re predominantly Pitta, read our quick guide below: Pitta is passionate and energetic like fire and water. www.dermaved.com 12 If pitta predominates in you, you tend to have a fiery nature and are of medium weight and size. You are more likely than other doshas to be a red head. You may suffer baldness or thinning hair eventually. Everything about pitta is strong and fiery. You have a strong appetite for food and for life. You have a strong sex drive, and sleep soundly too. Out of balance, Pitta predominance manifests in skin rashes, excessive body heat, heartburn and indigestion. If you are pitta predominant, you are blessed with a strong intellect and ability to focus. You like precision and structure and you can also be sharp witted and often outspoken. This means you make a good teacher, leader or decision maker. You also make a good public speaker. Out of balance, you are short-tempered and can be aggressive. You tend to blame others when things go wrong. Treating Pitta-type Eczema Foods to avoid: Acidic, salty, spicy foods Lifestyle essentials: Stress reduction, anger management. Meditation can be of great help for pitta disorders. Best physical activity: Regular relaxing exercise such as yoga This basic advice will significantly support the body in eliminating any type of skin disorder: www.dermaved.com 13 Daily moisturising of the skin with a suitable, healing cream such as Dermaved. Protecting the skin from extreme weather conditions Improving circulation by staying properly hydrated and taking regular exercise, especially stretching, yoga or walking and oil massages Gentle regular sweating to excrete toxins from the system Following a diet which allows proper regular bowel movements Avoid acidity, red meat, red fish, tropical fruit, red wine, tomatoes, cold raw salads, nuts and seeds Passing urine regularly throughout the day whenever the body requires and drinking water when thirsty Reducing stress levels through meditation or leisure activity Eczema – Kapha-type Eczema Kapha people are more prone to the type of eczema that is wet, inflamed with infected boils or water blisters. The skin tends to be cold, clammy, sticky, oozing, swollen and itchy. Kapha predominant people suffer psoriasis. Kapha type eczema penetrates slowly over time down to the third layer of skin, which is made up of connective tissue, fat and blood. It is the moistest layer of skin and so has the greatest tolerance for toxicity. It is harder to eliminate toxicity from the third layer of skin and thus harder to cure these types of skin disorders. The good news however is that once cured, it may never return. Using the right topical applications regularly for a period of time to help draw out infection, clean and soothe inflamed skin will aid the elimination of the disorder. www.dermaved.com 14 Combined with specific dietary advice, and deep cleansing Ayurvedic treatments to clear the toxicity in the deeper levels, such disorders can be entirely eliminated. Kapha – is this you? To know more about whether you’re predominantly Kapha, read our quick guide below: Kapha types have a strong build and excellent stamina. They tend to have large, soft eyes, smooth, radiant skin and thick, lustrous hair. They benefit from sound sleep and regular digestion. Out of balance, Kapha predominant people can gain excessive weight easily, retain fluids, sleep excessively and are prone to asthma, diabetes and depression. Kapha types are naturally calm, thoughtful and loving. They have an inherent ability to enjoy life and in balance are strong, loyal, patient, steady and supportive people. Out of balance, they have emotional issues with letting go of things and people. Kapha types are resistant to change and can be stubborn. In adversity, they are likely to avoid dealing with difficult situations. Treating Kapha-type Eczema Foods to avoid Dairy, starchy, creamy, sugary foods Lifestyle essentials Having a moderate intake of foods at mealtimes and avoiding excessive sleep Best physical activity www.dermaved.com 15 Regular vigorous, aerobic exercise This basic advice will significantly support the body in eliminating any type of skin disorder: Daily moisturising of the skin with a suitable, healing cream such as Dermaved. Protecting the skin from extreme weather conditions Improving circulation by staying properly hydrated and taking regular exercise, especially stretching, yoga or walking Gentle regular sweating to excrete toxins from the system Following a diet which allows proper regular bowel movements Avoid acidity, red meat, red fish, tropical fruit, red wine, tomatoes, cold raw salads, nuts and seeds Passing urine regularly throughout the day whenever the body requires Reducing stress levels through meditation or leisure activity www.dermaved.com 16 Psoriasis Psoriasis is a common skin condition affecting 2-3% of the UK population (an estimated 1.8 million people). It is a non-infectious, auto-immune disorder that affects the skin and sometimes the joints. The immune system turns on the very thing it is designed to protect, the body. It sends out white blood cells to attack, where there is no enemy and leads to inflammation in the skin and sometimes joints. There are several types of Psoriasis of which two most well known in conventional medicine are Plaque Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis. Psoriasis is caused by new cells of skin being produced faster than normal and before dead cells are shed. This results in excess thickened skin. It can also cause inflammation of the joints, known as psoriatic arthritis. Psoriasis can vary in severity ranging from a disorder that is a nuisance to one that is physically and emotionally debilitating for sufferers. Ayurvedic Approach to Psoriasis According to Ayurveda, the cause of all skin disorders is impaired digestive fire (known as “Vishama Agni” in Sanskrit), which in turn is caused by incorrect diet and lifestyle. When the digestive fire is imbalanced, either too high or too low, it causes some food to convert to toxins (known as “Ama” in Sanskrit). These toxins or Ama then circulate throughout the body, and are deposited on the superficial, medial or third layer fascia, which can leave the skin with symptoms ranging from feeling and looking dry, causing irritation, scaling to inflammation and infection. Like a blocked and overflowing drain, the body finds the point of least resistance to deposit toxins. www.dermaved.com 17 Depending on the individual constitution of the person or “dosha”, the Ama will deposit itself in the different layers of the skin. This means that from an Ayurvedic approach there are three (main) types of Psoriasis. Vata-Pitta-Kapha type Psoriasis Vata type Psoriasis Vata type Psoriasis manifests in the superficial fascia. It is characterised by silvery scaling skin, dryness and itchiness. It can be seen mainly on the skin around joints in the body. Vata type Psoriasis doesn’t cause pain or discomfort over and above the itchiness. Pitta type Psoriasis Pitta type Psoriasis manifests in the medial tissues of the skin or the second main layer. It appears all over the body and can be identified by the coin-sized, elevated red patches on the skin, which are weeping, irritated and painful. Pitta type Psoriasis is characterised by inflammation. Kapha type Psoriasis Kapha type Psoriasis occurs when the Ama has travelled deep into the third layer of skin. Here the disorder is well rooted and harder to cure. It is identifiable by the large red patches of excess skin on the body often accompanied by a lot silvery scaling skin and can even be pus producing. This type of Psoriasis can appear and feel like wounds and be painful for the individual. The depth to which the Ama travels into the skin means that it is the type Psoriasis which can become Psoriatic arthritis by moving into the joints of the body. Whilst conventional medicine claims that Psoriasis cannot be cured, in Ayurveda, the disorder can be fully eliminated from the body. Using Ayurvedic methods, as the body is cleansed of excess Ama, www.dermaved.com 18 Psoriasis can leave the joints and re-appear on the skin in its journey to be fully eliminated from the body. Ending the War Within – Treating Psoriasis Even though skin disorders are influenced by genetics, according to Ayurveda, they can be eliminated or significantly reduced by understanding your body’s needs. This means using the right combination of topical preparations to help heal and repair the skin, intelligent diet and lifestyle choices, in accordance with your constitution (known as “Dosha”) and sometimes detoxification treatments to cleanse and support the body in its work. From an Ayurvedic approach, you can learn to be your body’s best friend and put a stop to the war within by caring for your body with some simple adjustments to your routine. These can bring about significant changes within just days or weeks. Ayurvedic Treatment for Psoriasis Superficially the elimination of toxins can be assisted by Moisturising the skin daily with a suitable, healing cream such as Dermaved Oleation or regular massage of the skin using suitable oil Internally, to assist in proper elimination of toxins, the most important advice is to restore the digestive fire to its optimum level. To do this, simple adjustments to eating habits will make an enormous difference: www.dermaved.com 19 Eat plenty of cooked, leafy, green vegetables Eat cooked, warm food Eat only when hungry Avoid eating frequent, small meals or snacks Drink water when you are thirsty and avoid flooding the body Avoid acidic foods, red meat, red fish, tropical fruit, red wine, tomatoes, cold raw salads, nuts and seeds Avoid sour foods such as yoghurt, diary products In addition, consciously incorporating these habits into your regular routine will have enormous benefits for your well-being and keep psoriasis away long term: Passing urine regularly whenever the body requires Maintaining a diet which promotes regular, healthy bowel movements Reducing stress levels through meditation or leisure activity Exposing the skin to sunlight for 30 minutes a day if possible Gentle regular sweating to excrete toxins from the system If you choose to consult an Ayurvedic practitioner, some of the methods which can catalyse the detoxification process to eliminate Psoriasis include: Purgation or the use of specific herbal laxatives Enemas using herbal medicated oil Panchakarma therapy which is a last resort and deep, powerful detoxification www.dermaved.com 20 Ayurvedic Advice for Vata-Pitta-Kapha Psoriasis Vata Foods to avoid Lifestyle essentials Dry, cold, raw Good night’s sleep; maintaining routine in lifestyle Pitta Kapha Acidic, raw, spicy Acidic, raw, spicy and diary/sour and diary/sour foods foods Regular vigourous Stress reduction; exercise; regular meditation meals eaten only when hungry Moderate food Mealtimes Regular meal times 3 times a day Avoid frequent intake; have a long meals; only eat gap between when hungry meals and avoid snacking Physical activity Yoga, walking, swimming Regular relaxing exercise such as yoga www.dermaved.com Regular, vigorous, aerobic exercise 21 Dermaved cream – Ayurveda Skin Care 100% pure & natural. Dermaved is a unique preparation of 25 naturally active herbs with Acacia, Venivel and Coral Tree seed plant extracts blended with Shea Butter to instantly relieve itchiness, discomfort and inflammation and help heal and repair the skin. Dermaved is made from sustainably wildcrafted herbs according to a trusted Ayurvedic formula. Formulated with pure, natural ingredients, it is ideal for all skin types and even infants. It is prepared to the highest standard and each ingredient is laboratory tested for purity and potency. It is free from artificial colours, perfumes and parabens. For more information visit www.dermaved.com Dr Deepika Rodrigo B.A.M.S. From exploring the medicinal plants in the rainforests of her native Sri Lanka as a child, Dr Deepika’s journey has led her to become the most highly sought after Ayurvedic skin specialist in Europe. She is widely recognised as a principal driving force behind the growing awareness of Ayurveda in Europe and has trained many of today’s leading Ayurvedic specialists and many health care professionals. She practices from her London based clinic, established in 1997. For more information visit www.theayurvedicclinic.com or call us on +44 208 405 4407. Consultations are offered in person or via Skype for both domestic and overseas patients. www.dermaved.com 22