It is not possible to get away
with the process of aging and getting old but letting it not come very
early is possible with ayurveda and its medicinal herbs. According to
ayurveda healthy skin is the result of overall health condition of
individuals and prescribes numerous skin care treatments that need to be
pursued at every stage of life.
It is necessary to know about one's skin, whether it is oily, normal or
dry and subsequently about its needs and necessities. Medically skin is
a sensory organ that responds to reflexes and is a protective system
that shields the entire living body. As ayurveda believes that all
living beings have the
panchamahabhoota as it is
components, same is for skin. It is formed of the Pancha Mahabhootas and
is the seat of
sparshan indriya (a tactile sensory
organ). Apart from perceiving sensations such as cold, warm, heavy,
light, rough, smooth, etc. skin is also an excretory agent for Sweda
(sweat). Skin is also the dwelling of
Bhrajaka pitta and
regulates the temperature of the living body and absorbs all local
medicinal applications. The complexion and luster of our skin is also
conferred to the skin. According to the sage Sushrut: "As the
heating of milk forms a layer of cream on the milk surface, in a similar
manner in the embryonic stage, dhatus (seven basic elements described in
Ayurveda which compose the human body) form the different layers of the
skin on our body."
According to Ayurveda skin is made up of seven layers and every
successive layer is thicker than the previous one and can be affected by
various disorders.
Following are the various layers of the skin:
- Avabhhasini
Being the thinnest skin of the skin that provides five different
chhayas (shades) and kanti (glow) to the skin. As the skin layer has
the capacity to retain water Charaka has described this layer as
udakadhara. On being bruised, lasika, a watery substance flows out
of it but if the skin is ehalthythis layer holds on to lasika and
does not allow it to flow out immediately. The two disorders that
effect this layer are:
- Lohita
The two disorders that effect this layer are called
- Shweta
The disorders that are found in this layer of skin are:
- Charmadala
- Ajagalli
- Mashaka
- Tamra
The disorders effecting this skin layer are:
- Vedini
The disorder that effects the skin's this particular layer are:
- Rohini
The disorders that disease this layer of skin are:
- Granthi
- Apachi
- Arbuda
- Galaganda
- Mamsadhara
The disorders found in this skin layer are called:
