•Anti-Aging & Cosmeceutical Corner
problems and promote sleep, stress
reduction or skin rejuvenation. The
entire body is massaged with medicated herbal oils. They are massaged
over marma or energy points in a specialized way. Shirodhara Abhyanga is
the most popular and unique therapy
for de-stressing. It reduces restlessness and completely grounds you.
Warm, infused oil is gently poured
over the third eye chakra filling you
with extraordinary bliss. In Shila
Abhyanga, hot stones infused with
Ayurvedic essential oils are placed on
the back and legs. This treatment
reportedly helps reduce cellulite.
The Benefits of Exfoliation
Depending upon your constitution,
mixtures of herbs: salts, flowers,
greens and whole grains are rubbed
on the entire body. The treatments
reduce cellulite and exfoliate skin,
leaving it healthy, soft, fresh, glowing
and rejuvenated. Here’s a look at just
a few of them.
Mud Therapy: Various clays,
fruits and vegetables are blended into
a paste and massaged on the body.
This treatment absorbs toxins from
the body and helps reduce cellulite.
Potli Swedhan: A warm cloth
dipped in a combination of rice, herbs,
milk, saffron, whole grains, botanical
extracts and flower waters is rubbed
on the entire body. This treatment
improves circulation, reduces cellulite, eliminates chronic stress and
toxins, and relieves aches and pains.
Kansa Vataki (“kahn-sah vah-tah-kee”): This Ayurvedic treatment
uses a small metal bowl to massage
the soles of the feet. It provides mental peace and energizes toes and provides relief from fatigue.
Skin Care Applications
As baby boomers age, they have
greater awareness of preventive
health care, which helps explain the
popularity of yoga, pilates, healthy
cuisine cooking classes, etc. It is no
surprise that today’s professional skin
care and spa industry exceeds $1.2
billion.1
Ayurveda views each person as a
unique, complex individual. Unlike
modern western medicine, which
focuses on the treatment of symptoms
of an illness, Ayurveda concentrates
on the source of ailment and treats it
with natural herbs to promote each
person’s inherent self-healing abilities. Ayurvedic doctors are trained to
look at skin color, tone and aura for
