Using Yantra in Ayurvedic Herbalism

Yantra simply means ‘device’ in Sanskrit, and similar to devices like radios that tune into certain frequencies, yantras both tune into and amplify very specific vibrations that are salubrious to our herbal intentions. How does this spell healing to the Ayurvedic practitioner and their client? There are many reasons but here are some to ponder.

Yantra - Good for the Herbs
The Yantra is considered to be a geometrical equivalent of a mantra, and so it is about generating or modulating vibrational energy. Since the Yantra is more static, the vibration is steady, like a standing wave ‘trapped’ or ‘channeled’ by boundaries and filters. It also tends to be precise more often than a mantra. This particular vibration enhances the power of the herbs; it is like having a Gyoto monk or a Kashi pujari personally attending the herbs and continuously chanting empowering mantras. In fact, when using mantras to empower herbs, I have found that first directing the mantra through a yantra seems to focus the power of my sankalpa (intention). As Vamadeva points out, it creates a pattern in the herbs that will more effectively hold mantras.

Because a properly made Yantra invokes a pure, non-vitiated vibration, it activates the pure activities of an herb. For instance, Ashwagandha will create more Ojas than Kapha when used with a Yantra because Ojas can be seen to be the pure form of Kapha. The same goes for Prana and Tejas. The right yantra can also make herbs more Sattvic, while another yantra, say of a Goddess like Kranti, can make the herbs Rajasic. The choices of the herbalist are not “good or bad”, but rather about which energies are preferable: sometimes it is Rajas or Tamas.

Yantra - Enhances Practitioner Herb Wisdom
The Yantra is an archetypal symbol that can trigger the ability to innately know what an herb is good for and if it is good for you. It has this power because by looking at it, certain energetic structures in our subtle bodies are activated that allow a direct link to an intuitive knowledge of the herb. In other words, when you look at a jar of herbs on which a yantra is placed, your eyes read the text under the label or visually inspect the herbs, but your third eye reads the yantra, and gets to the codes to open up a part of you that can hear what the medicine is saying. Of course, only a great Vaidya Yogi can fully do this, but I am sure it happens subtley for some and subliminally for others. Tradition is that the same exact yantra actually exists inside of us, in the patterns of certain inter-chakra nadi networks within the within.

If we are lucky and skillful, a Yantra can be programmed, or requested, to gather and hold our accumulated collective efforts, thereby building the Prana of the remedy, the clinic, or the vaidya. Of course, any logo can do this, but to the extent that the yantra carries and promotes a special Shakti, it enhances above any other logos of our enterprises.

Utilizing Yantra
Respect is the key to correct use of a yantra as it is the mansion of a particular goddess embodying a cosmic principle. Since the moon significantly helps to govern the Soma in the herbs, I often will place a large Sri Yantra engraved on a Silver, Copper or Gold plate on top of the herbs and place this overnight out in the light of the full moon or during some other auspicious muhurta (moment). The Yantra can also be placed on the herb jar label. Yantras are more powerful when engraved in metal, so in India I once commissioned an artist to engrave the Sri Yantra in the metal tops of my herb jars. They were beautiful and I feel the Goddesses who empower herbs appreciate beauty and are more likely to take up residence in herbal practices and apothecaries that embrace and radiate beauty. Well made and skillfully used Yantras can promote this beauty.

It is best to practice Yantras within the whole of the tradition to fully utilize its synergy; it will not thrive when torn from its Vedic roots. Good results can be generated with the judicial use of these mystic diagrams, but like any Vedic science, the use of Yantras is best learned directly from the Yantra and from an experienced expert, and not from mere written words. In fact, to be assured that I have a great expert on my side who will rectify my mistakes and lack of skill, I almost always use Yantras that I have personally immersed into the Ganga to invoke her Divine blessings. As Ayur, the continuity aspect of consciousness, is a hologram, Yantra helps us reflect That.

by Prashanti De Jager

Ayurveda Acne Skin Remedies

One of Ayurveda’s fundamental concepts is that health and disease are holistic-that is, whatever happens in one part of the body happens to the whole body. There are no isolated health problems. Any physical or psychological symptom of imbalance indicates an imbalance in the body-mind unit. Keep this holistic picture in mind as you look over the common skin problems below.

Listed below are external remedies for the most common skin problems. (Several of them are the contribution of Dr. Kirit Pandya, one of India’s foremost Ayurvedic physicians specializing in skin disease.) But please be aware, even a topical ointment or detoxification treatment is only a temporary remedy. If you continue with unhealthy lifestyle choices, new toxins will soon appear.

ACNE VULGARIS (CYSTIC ACNE)

Description: Very oily skin, large pores, blackheads, large pussy pimples, deep scars.
Imbalance: Pitta or Kapha.
Aggravated by: Overconsumption of sweets, fats, oils, red meat, seafood, coffee, alcohol, tobacco; emotional stress and attachments (inability to “let go”), inactivity, feelings of possessiveness, depression, and purposelessness.

Treatment:
•    Exfoliate skin with Tej or Bindi herbal powders.
•    Take steam baths using rosemary or eucalyptus essential oils.
•    Take weekly detoxifying bath using Epsom salts or ginger + rock salt.
•    Exercise vigorously for 1/2 hour 3 times a week to achieve sweating.
•    Apply Tej Soothing Lotion on pimples, and do a pimple “mask” once or twice a week.
To make, mix 1/2 tsp crushed cumin seed + 1 tsp coriander + a few drops water, and apply paste over pimples. Leave on for 20-30 minutes, then rinse.
•    Do soothing weekly facial mask using red sandalwood + neem + lodhra powders.
•    For stubborn, large cysts, apply piece of warm onion 2-3 times a day to break it, but do not squeeze.
•    Supplements: Take daily 10,000 units beta carotene, 1,000 mg vitamin C, and 15-20 mg zinc. Increase dietary fiber, including bran, fresh fruit and produce. Drink fresh carrot, beet, or apple juice. Drink detoxifying herbal teas of burdock, goldenseal, echinacea, neem, or  turmeric. Drink 1/2 glass warm water every hour. In morning, take aloe Vera gel: 1 tsp for Pitta; 2 Tbsp for Kapha.

ACNE ROSACEA (”RED” ACNE)

Description: Red rash on nose and cheeks that may be very sensitive or burning. Excessive oiliness on T-zone, broken capillaries, and thickened skin on nose.
Imbalance: Pitta.
Aggravated by: Anger, frustration, disappointment, anxiety, overambition, stress and pressure, unsatisfying or acrimonious relationships, overactivity, hot weather, sun, hot spices, sour fruits, fermented foods, tomatoes, seafood, canned or preserved foods, soda, pastry, chocolate, pizza, french fries, sweets; antibiotics and harsh chemical peels.
Treatment:
•    Do not use astringents, toners, or any harsh substances on skin. Use only gentle, soothing treatments.
•    Wash with milk + white sandalwood, manjista, and neem herbal powders.
•    Soak towel in cool herbal tea of comfrey or nettle, and apply wet compress to face.
•    Grind fresh cilantro + mint. Add water to make paste, and apply to face as a mask. Lie down for 10-15 minutes, then rinse off. If condition is very dry, red, or burning, apply soothing lotion of ghee +juice from crushed dried neem leaves, or use neem herbal oil. Additional internal and external remedies are available from Tej.
•    Supplements Take daily 10,000 units beta carotene, 1,000 mg vitamin C, 15-20 mg zinc, 400 units vitamin E, and daily recommended dosage of B-complex.
•    Drink detoxifying herbal teas of burdock, goldenseal, echinacea, neem, or tumeric.
•    Drink a glass of water (at room temperature) every hour. In morning, drink aloe vera juice.

Skin Problems & Ayurvedic Toxic Skin

When our internal body chemistry is normal, so is our skin. When that chemistry changes because of improper diet, improper exercise or stress, toxins form in the body and the skin throws them out as acne, boils, eczema, psoriasis, rashes, or other kinds of eruptions.

Vibrant healthy skin has a youthful glow, good coloring, and a smooth, unblemished look. However, unhealthy skin can look shallow, tired, wrinkled, and older than its actual age. No one wants unhealthy skin, but since so many people fail to understand its causes far too many people are suffering from it.

According to a leading Ayurvedic practitioner, the type of toxic skin manifestations will depend upon each person’s constitution. In general, skin disorders fall into six categories:

Disorders of the sebaceous glands  - which include seborrhea, which is a Vata or Pitta imbalance, and blackheads, whiteheads, cystic acne, sebaceous cysts and excessive oiliness, which are Kapha imbalances.

Disorders of the sweat glands include excessive sweat, prickly heat, and red rash, which are Pitta problems; lack of sweat, which is a Vata problem; and abnormal foul-smelling perspiration, which is an imbalance of all three doshas.

Pigmentation problems include blackish discolorations (Vata); brown or reddish discolorations (Pitta); and whitish pigmentation (Kapha).

Skin allergies include psoriasis (Vata), dermatitis (Pitta), and eczema (Vata, Pitta, or Kapha).

Infections (fungal, bacterial, or viral) are due to low immunity (depleted ojas) and occur in all skin types.

Changes in tissue growth, which include dandruff (Vata or Pitta); moles, acne rosacea, and birthmarks (all Pitta imbalances); and cysts and tumors, which are Kapha imbalances.

As you can see, there are numerous explanations for unhealthy skin but the main causes tend to be an unhealthy diet, an ineffectual cleansing routine, and poor lifestyle choices.

Poor Diet
Your skin is a living, breathing organ of the body and it needs proper nourishment and hydration to look and feel its best. When your skin is deprived of the necessary vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that it needs it is unable to functional at optimal levels and the structure slowly begins to break down. This breakdown results in dry skin, blemishes, discoloration, wrinkles, and premature ageing.

In order to avoid this breakdown you need to feed your skin a varied mix of important nutrients each day. Ingesting sufficient amounts of vitamin A, a nutrient that can be found in citrus fruits and orange vegetables, can help you avoid dry skin and blemishes. Eating foods rich in the vitamin B group like brewer’s yeast or breads, or taking a vitamin B group supplement, can help you ward of skin discoloration, dry skin, dermatitis, shallow skin, and premature ageing.

To help discourage wrinkles, pale skin, sun damage, blemishes, and other unhealthy skin symptoms, nutrients like calcium, protein, iodine, niacin, folic acid, iron, and copper are very important to a healthy diet. Get these effective skin helpers by enjoying foods like mild, eggs, cheese, chicken, fish, leafy vegetables, fruits, and grains.

Poor Hygiene
Another common cause of unhealthy skin is poor hygiene. Whether this involves the failure to clean your skin often enough or the use of an ineffective cleansing routine, built-up dirt and grime can lead to blemishes, premature ageing, shallowness, dry skin, and wrinkles.

When your skin is not properly cleaned on a regular basis, dirt, pollution and other harmful substances are allowed to build up on your skin and clog the pores. Clogged pores result in breakouts, dry skin, and the reduction of cell renewal.

To get the most out of your cleansing routine make sure that you wash your skin twice a day, everyday. Also, make sure that you are using an effective cleanser like a soap that is specially formulated for deep cleansing. Make sure that you use gentle pressure when cleaning the skin, do not scrub or pull on the skin since this can result in tiny tears that are susceptible to irritation and infection. Finally, always follow your cleansing routine with a hydrating moisturizer that also contains a sunscreen in order to hydrate your skin and protect it from sun damage.

Bad Lifestyle Habits
Even if you enjoy a healthy diet and pay special attention to your skin care regime you can still be sabotaging the health of your skin by indulging in unhealthy habits. Habits like sun tanning, smoking, choosing fizzy drinks or sodas over water, and wearing heavy makeup can lead to the development of unhealthy skin. Avoid excessive sun exposure, always wear sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15, stop smoking and avoid those who smoke, drink plenty of water, and choose light cosmetics if you want your skin to stay young and healthy looking for years to come.

Ayurveda for Acne and Rosacea

Many of you may be curious, what is Ayurveda and how’s it going to help my acne?

The word Ayurveda translates to “the science of life” (Ayru – life and Veda – science). Ayurveda has brought true health and wellness to millions of individuals throughout the ages with simple changes in daily living practices. Incorporating just a few of these proven methods into your lifestyle can bring about radical changes in your life.

It is currently considered a form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) within the United States of America, but this ancient art of healing has been practiced continuously for over 5,000 years.

Where Ayurveda differs is in its approach. Unlike other treatment methods, Ayurveda is a comprehensive, holistic system that uses a variety of therapies in an attempt to bring about fundamental change in a person’s lifestyle.

Ayurveda states that each person is unique, exhibiting a distinct energy pattern that is a combination of physical, mental and emotional characteristics. These energies manifest themselves within three doshas, or regions within the body. The three doshas and their perceived locations are vata (colon), pitta (small intestine), and kapha (stomach).

There are more than 20 types of Ayurvedic treatments. These include herbs, nutritional changes, healing oils, massage therapy, meditation and breathing exercises, yoga and other forms of exercise, as well as inducing a person to sweat, move his or her bowels, or even vomit to cleanse the body of toxins.

According to Ayurveda, ojas is the source of the body’s immunity and the subtle substance that gives healthy skins it’s natural glow. When ojas is depleted, the immune response is weak and the skin becomes lifeless. Low ojas and low immunity result from the same cause: an overload of physical, chemical or psychological stress. Ayruveda describes this overloaded condition as an imbalance of the three doshas, and seven dhatus (or body tissues).

For example, acne rosacea is a blood disease and therefore originates in the second tissue. Whether the stressor is the wrong food or an undigested emotion, it takes a couple of weeks from the time the stress occurs for this type of type to break out. Cystic acne, on the other hand, is a disease of the fat tissue–or fourth dhatu-and takes as long as three to four weeks to appear on the skin. Cancer, a disease of the bone marrow and reproductive tissue –the sixth and seventh dhatus, may exist in the body as long as seven years before being discovered.

The basic premise here is one that western medicine is only now beginning to recognize–that every organ, tissue and cell in your body, are directly connected to each other. The skin and the mind form from the same embryonic tissues in the womb. Our skin can be seen as our second brain and the mirror of our thoughts and emotions. What you eat or drink can affect your mind as equally as how you think or feel can affect your body. This is experiential fact, for any of you who may have enjoyed too much alcohol at one time or felt your stomach turning the last time you were nervous or upset.

Ayurvedic practitioners believe that they must first identify which of a person’s doshas are out of balance before suggesting treatment methods. Symbiotically, whatever substance is absorbed into the skin will have an effect on the individuals’ body tissues and vice versa.

That said, there are some specific treatments that many recognize as effective treatments for skin conditions. For starters, regardless of the skin condition, Ayurvedic practitioners suggest staying hydrated. Ayurvedic practitioners believe that water helps to naturally stabilize dry or oily skin. Drinking enough water also helps prevent the loss of moisture through the skin, which helps to promote overall wellness.

Ayurveda also recommends adhering to a daily regimen for proper skin care, including the use of a natural soap and the use of natural skin moisturizers. This is true whether a person has naturally dry skin or suffers from a more serious condition such as psoriasis. The key is to make sure that the moisturizer is, in fact, natural, containing only substances such as aloe vera—a natural antibiotic that many believe is particularly helpful in the treatment of many skin conditions. Unfortunately, many commercially available moisturizers contain preservatives and other chemicals, and do not fully absorb into the skin, instead remaining on the surface and sometimes clogging pores as a result.

In addition to proper hydration and skin care, Ayurvedic medicine has identified three natural supplements that appear to help treat a wide range of skin conditions—neem, haemafine syrup and khadir. All three of these are widely prescribed to treat acne, psoriasis, and eczema, although many believe they can be used to treat any skin condition. The tree stem, root, and bark of neem, a large evergreen tree, have antibacterial properties. It is used in supplement form to treat skin conditions. In addition, many Ayurvedic soaps contain neem extract. Haemafine syrup is a natural solution made up of more than a dozen herbs. It is used as a remedy for all types of skin diseases through its natural blood purification properties. Khadir, also known as the acacia catechu herb, is another natural blood purifier used to treat skin conditions.

Besides supplements, some Ayurvedic sources also suggest that a person with a skin condition receive an abhyanga, a traditional Ayurvedic massage that uses herbalized oils to draw toxins out through the skin.