Oh no!

It is morning. You stumble to the bathroom to do your usual morning rituals. You take one look at the mirror and you scream. Oh no! Your face has broken out in awful red spots.

Acne. Teens and adults dread the arrival of these oil-clogged and pus-filled sores. For some, it is more serious and they even dread going out of the door. How to get rid of acne?

The answer might lie in nature.

Back To (Earthly) Basics

For many, trying the usual skincare route has become useless (and have probably made their condition worse). So, going back to basics, going back to nature and her gentle cycles, might just do the trick.

But how to get rid of acne with nature?

You might have heard of Ayurveda.

Ayurveda

Ayurveda is a non-invasive and complementary way of life that understands the body as a balance of Vata (air/the nervous system), Pitta (fire/digestion and metabolism) and Kapha (water/lubrication and nutrients in the arteries). Vata, Pitta and Kapha can be explained as basic bodily humors or doshas. A person can be made of one primary dosha and all doshas are made up of the basic three elements.

So, by understanding one's body and constitution, getting rid of acne becomes easier. According to Ayurveda, acne is caused by the aggravation of Pitta (fire) and it is common in both teens and adults. This aggravation of Pitta further affects Vata and Kapha, with Kapha causing flawed blood which in turn causes the secretion of oil from glands. The end result of this imbalance between the doshas is acne. Go away, acne, go away!

How To Get Rid Of Acne - Ayurvedic Style

One very basic and practical way of balancing the aggravated doshas is to modify your way of life and diet. Sounds hard? By listening to your body and treating it well, you are already on your way on ridding the dreadful acne spots.

You can also look at the herbs in Ayurveda that deal with acne and the prevention of the skin condition. Herbs are natural and a gift from Mother Earth. It is a good way to start working closely with Mother Earth and to start balancing your body with herbal treatments and changes to your diet.

Neem is a revered and sacred plant in India. It has also good anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. You can use neem in either oil or powder form. You can try by putting neem as a facial mask. Neem acts as a deep cleanser and also improves your skin elasticity, healing your acne scars.

Aloe vera (Kumari) is a plant commonly grown in the garden. It is a good plant to use, especially to cool or reduce the inflammation caused by acne. It is also known for its gentle healing properties when it comes to scars, caused by either acne or other skin irritations. The liquid mucous substance that oozes out when you cut the tip of an aloe vera stalk is thought to reduce swelling and fights bacteria. Apply it to the scars regularly. It also reduces the oily secretions on the skin and acts as a good prevention against acne.

Likewise, Ayurveda also recommends the modification of your life-style and diet, as it sees the physical and spiritual as a complete whole.

How to get rid of acne by changing my way of life? You ask. Yes.

Modifying Your Habits

The doshas in our bodies are affected by our life-styles. Lack of sleep, inadequate nutrition and stress often lead to the aggravation and imbalance of the doshas. Also, certain foods are known to affect our constitution and end up resulting in skin conditions like acne.

You have to reduce the intake of fatty and salty food as well as food considered opposites. Opposite foods consist of items like fish and milk, mango and milk and fish and sugarcane. The trick is to maintain a balance in your body by eating balanced food.

Do not take heavy meals and exercise, because this would cause indigestion in your system. This is a wise life-choice and immensely practical.

Ayurveda suggests meditation and yoga to balance your spiritual aspect as well as your emotions. By reducing your stress levels (and our emotions contribute so much to it!), the occurrence of acne is prevented. Also remember to have adequate sleep. This is very important in balancing the doshas.

Do You Want To Give It A Try?

So, that concludes How To Get Rid Of Acne, Ayurvedic style. Do you want to give this ancient Indian medical philosophy a try?