Sleep...more than just for Beauty

Sleep: An Ayurvedic Perspective

by Shazia and Prana


“About 42 million sleeping pill prescriptions were filled last year, according to the research company IMS Health, up nearly 60 percent since 2000.” — The New York Times, February 7, 2006

There is a reason that millions of Americans are popping pills in their quest for rest. Studies have suggested that sleeping problems may be linked to obesity, depression, and diabetes—conditions which are epidemic in the United States. In a December 9, 2008 report published on www.medicalnewstoday.com, Professor Philippe Froguel of the Department of Genomic Medicine at Imperial College London pointed out, "we know that obese children tend to sleep badly and that people become more obese if they are not having enough sleep. Our new study demonstrates that abnormalities in the circadian rhythm may partly be causing diabetes and high blood sugar levels."
Clearly, sleep involves more than the bliss of closing your eyes at night. According to Ayurveda, the traditional medicine of India, getting quality sleep is one of the key ingredients of a healthy and joyful life. Sleep acts as a rejuvenator of mind and body, enabling us to have optimal functional performance during our waking hours. Even powerful medicine is of hardly any use if the fundamental ingredients of life are missing.
Sleep is important because it supports Ojas. Ojas is of the three treasures in Ayurveda (the other two being Prana (life force) and Tejas (radiant energy) that integrate body, mind, and spirit into a functioning individual. Ojas is the refined essence that is derived from the digestion and assimilation of food. It governs the growth and development processes in the body and enhances the immune system.
The state of deep sleep is achieved when our awareness is completely disconnected from our physical senses. If our awareness is only partially disconnected, then our quality of sleep may be adversely affected. Our lifestyle, eating habits and behavioral patterns create an imbalance of Vata (air), Pitta (fire) or Kapha (water) which eventually results in sleep imbalance. Vata, Pitta and Kapha are the three Ayurvedic causative-patterns that govern all the different activities of the body and mind.
We all have varying amounts of Vata, Pitta and Kapha within us. If we pay attention to our resting patterns, we can discover more about our balance of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha and make simple changes to our diet and lifestyle to enhance our experience of sleep each night.
Vata sleep imbalance is related to problems with falling asleep. A Vata pacifying diet is recommended in Ayurveda to alleviate this problem. Consider including foods that are warm, heavy and oily, and minimize foods that are cold, dry and light. Add the sweet, salty and sour tastes, and cut down on spicy, bitter and astringent foods. Develop a routine of eating meals and going to bed at the same time. Apply a little lavender oil to your hands and feet before you go to bed. Also, practice deep and slow breathing meditation to help you unwind.
Follow a Pitta pacifying diet if you tend to wake up during the night. This is generally an indication of Pitta sleep imbalance. Try incorporating foods that are cool and in liquid form. Sweet, bitter, astringent foods are good in moderation. Reduce foods that are hot, spicy, salty or sour. Apply calming oil, such as vetiver or rose, before going to bed. Practice deep and slow breathing meditation to help calm your mind.
If you wake up feeling dull and lethargic, you may be experiencing a Kapha sleep imbalance. In this case, favor foods that are light, dry and warm. Minimize or avoid foods that are heavy, oily and cold. Place an emphasis upon warm spices and tastes that are bitter and astringent. Avoid sweet and sour tasting foods. Massaging feet with warming massage oil such as rosemary or eucalyptus will help.
When appropriately chosen and practiced regularly, an Ayurvedic diet combined with a blend of essential oils and breathing meditation can create a relaxing and calming atmosphere to balance your body, mind, and spirit so that you wake up feeling rested and rejuvenated.
http://www.visionmagazine.com/archives/0901/Holistic_Living_Sleep.html

Tropical Eye Cream

Ingredients: 2 tbsp grated cocoa butter (find at health food stores); 3 tbsp coconut oil

Mix ingredients in an heat-proof container. Melt in microwave or in a water bath. Pour the melted mixture into a small clean container and allow it to cool completely. To use, apply nightly under your eyes. Makes 3 oz.

Hand and Foot Sugar Scrub

Ingredients: 2 tbsp light olive oil (not extra-virgin, which gets sticky) or grapeseed oil;
2 tbsp granulated sugar

Rub this mixture onto hands and feet, focusing on calloused areas. Rinse under warm water and pat dry. Voila! Fabulously silky-smooth skin.

credit to total beauty

Healthy Appearance

Facial appearance

Negative emotions can alter the appearance of the face by triggering stress hormones that cause acne outbreaks, dilating the pupils, which makes your eye color appear to change, and brings on frowns and scowls that can etch lasting lines.

Overall Health

Bad moods can harm your health. Chronic depression can lead to headaches, backaches, muscle pain, poor sleep and possibly even decreased immune functioning and cardiovascular damage. Thousands of women turn their lives around every year, but it's easier to start by driving in the right direction in the first place. Come out from under the covers and start now!


Our beauty regime should evolve as the years pass


When you're young, it's not hard to look great. It's all about natural beauty and simply taking care of your health. As you get older, it's a lot more work to look as young and healthy as you can. And every year it takes more. Don't wait for the whole thing to fall down. Looking beautiful is a journey and not a destination, and if you want to be beautiful, it's a daily process.

Natural Make~Up

The History of Make~Up

From the copper and lead ore that the ancient Egyptians used to create the world's first cosmetics to the scientifically advanced products of today that can do everything from hide pores, smooth complexions and turn the pale green of your eyes a vivid shade of emerald, makeup has been an integral part of humankind for thousands of years. Over the centuries, women used burnt matches to darken their eyes, berries to stain their lips and young boys' urine to fade their freckles. They even swallowed ox blood in some misguided attempt to improve their complexions. Women throughout history put their health at risk with many of their homemade cosmetics. In some cultures, for example, women used arsenic, lead, mercury and even leeches to give themselves the pale appearance deemed beautiful in the old days.

Make~Up Today

You have many choices today in cosmetics and coming to the forefront rapidly is the Natural and Organic. They don't contain synthetic FD&C dyes, artificial fragrances, or petro-chemicals. Because natural makeups are made from mineral pigments and organic plant extracts, oils and waxes, they're gentle and healing.
There is also the category of Skin Care Make~Up which allows the skin to breath and function normally while still protecting it from air-born pollutants.

Camouflage Make~Up

Is great for any Vascular Lesions including Rosacea, Pigmentary Disorders, Scars, Chronic Skin Diseases including acne and Temporary outcomes after surgery such as laser, chemical peels, dermabrasion and surgical procedures and Temporary Tattoo removal.

Art of Mehndi

The history and origin of Mehndi (known as Henna) is hard to track, with centuries of migration and cultural interaction it's difficult to determine where particular traditions began. There is some historical evidence that henna originated in ancient India as a ceremonial art form. Others believe that Mehndi was introduced to India in the 12th century. It's been used for at least 5000 years as a cosmetic and for it's natural healing properties. There's also documentation that Mehndi was used in ancient Egypt to stain the fingers and toes of the Pharaohs prior to mummification. Mehndi is popular in India since an era of Mewar Rajput Kings and Mughal Regime.

The existence and use of Mehndi for the last 5000 years can be found in overwhelming archeological evidence: in the books of Charaka and Sushruta, the scientists and physicians of ancient India, in the paintings, sculptures and texts, and in the remains of ancient Egypt. Mehndi body art is an ancient form of body adornment, with origins in Egypt, India, and the Middle East. For centuries Mehndi has been used for ritual adornment in Hindu and Islamic cultures. Happily, Mehndi body art has found its way to the West.


For more than 5000 years, cultures from India to Africa to the Middle East have embraced the art of henna body decoration-for fashion and beauty, for personal expression, for social and religious occasions, for healing purposes and more. In recent years global travel and migration, along with increased communication and cultural sharing has brought henna to many parts of the West, mingling traditional practices with new interpretations and uses.

Henna body art (often referred to as "mehndi") is all natural, temporary, painless, and safe for all skin types - a unique way to decorate your personality, spirit, and body. Henna derives from a plant known as Lawsonia Inermis, whose leaves are dried and crushed to make a powder with natural dying properties. Henna designers create beautiful designs that temporarily stain the skin a reddish brown that develops into a rich brown color and lasts one to three weeks, depending on the care the dyed skin receives. The application of henna has four distinct benefits ("the four C's"), as it cools, conditions, cleanses, and colors the skin. Henna is also commonly applied to hair -- on which it is has a similar effect -- by millions in Asia and Africa, where it is inexpensive and readily available, and helps cool the scalp in the hot summer months.

The henna plant grows in hot climates and can be found in countries such as Iran, Pakistan, Syria, Morocco, Yemen, Egypt, Uganda, Tanzania, Afghanistan, Senegal, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and India. It is known by many names, including Henne, Al-Khanna, Jamaica Mignonette, Egyptian Privet, and Smooth Lawsonia. The art of applying henna is referred to as 'henna' and 'mehndi', depending on which culture or country one comes from.

From the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt to modern-day wedding parties, from Morocco to India, henna has enjoyed a variety of applications and meanings throughout the centuries.(http://www.hennagarden.com/history.html)

Henna has medicinal value too. It is considered an anti-irritant, a deodorant and an antiseptic. It is used by Ayurvedic physicians for the treatment of heat rashes and skin allergies and to cool the body against the intense heat of summers. Because of it's cooling property henna leaves and flowers are made into lotions and ointments to be used externally for boils, burns and skin inflammations, including sores from leprosy. Henna has been used as medical treatments for a wide range of ailments to cure almost anything from headaches to leprosy and other skin disorders. It is used to create an instant 'scab' on large areas and is believed to have antiseptic properties. Henna is also used for rheumatic and arthritic pains. (http://www.bindi4u.co.uk/history.htm)

The clusters of small rosy white flowers that cover a henna bush are very fragrant and used to make perfumes. Sleeping on a pillow stuffed with henna flowers is considered to have a soporific effect on patients suffering from sleeplessness.

Botox May Move From Face to Brain

Posted: 2008-04-05 19:33:52

A woman receives a Botox injection. A study on rats suggested that the active ingredient in the drug may end up in parts of the brain connected to injection sites.

(April 2) -- Botox may do more than diminish wrinkles. A new study suggests that the botulinum toxin -- the active ingredient in the skin treatment -- may move from its injection site to the brain.

According to a study in the Journal of Neuroscience, scientists injected the toxin into rats' whisker muscles. Within three days, they saw evidence that the substance had moved to the animals' brain stems.

The toxin "was generally thought to act locally," said Christopher von Bartheld, a University of Nevada doctor, in a press release on the study from the Society for Neuroscience. "But these basic research findings show how it can be transported and spread along axons to distant sites in the central nervous system of animals, where it can have significant and long-lasting effects on neuronal function."
Fox News has the full story.http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,345068,00.html


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2008-04-05 16:28:29
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