Rainy season is almost on its way and we are ready to welcome the monsoon showers after experiencing the scorching summer heat. Ayurveda describes monsoon as the period from mid-June to August,and it is believed that Dosha imbalances in monsoon can leave their manifestation on our health as well as skin. Although the atmosphere is cool due to the rains, the humidity levels are high. The increased humidity in nature makes the digestive fire (Agni) weak, which causes an increased accumulation of toxins (Ama) in the body.
Why Detox is a must during the Monsoon season?
Ayurveda tells us that our lifestyle and more specifically our diet,should be modified during seasonal changes to match the change in Doshas during these external variations. The Ayurvedic diet for Monsoon is all about reducing the accumulated toxins from the body, in other words a detox.
What is a detox or skin and body detoxification?
A detox simply means, cleansing and nourishing the body from inside out and it can be done via your diet as well as via application on the skin. It helps in eliminating toxins from the body and feeding the body with healthy nutrients to renew the ability to maintain optimum health.
Some important herbs that help in internal as well as external detox during the monsoon are Neem, Sandalwood, Aloe Vera, Narangi, Turmeric and Rose – all of which can be incorporated both in your diet through delicious preparations like juices and teas, as well as used on your skin in different forms.
Monsoon Detox Diet
Here are some important dietary guidelines to be followed during the monsoon season:
- Incorporate astringent, mildly bitter and pungent foods in your diet this season.
- Avoid heavily salted foods as these are responsible for water retention in the body that can lead to bloating. This includes avoiding naturally sour foods like Tamarind, Tomatoes and Lime.
- Eat bitter vegetables like Bitter Gourd, and bitter herbs like Neem, Turmeric powder and Methi seeds to detoxify.
- Drink a lot of fluids to flush out toxins and eat only fresh, well cooked food.
- Drink lots of herbal teas, especially those with antibacterial properties prepared with Ginger, Pepper, Honey, Mint and Basil leaves. Excessive intake of coffee and tea dehydrates body fluids, so these must be avoided.
- Fasting is another Ayurvedic method of detoxifying the body, recommended at least once a week during the Monsoon.
Skin detox during the Monsoon
Detoxification through skin helps in drawing out the toxins and impurities from within to leave skin glowing and amply nourished. Ayurveda recommends the practice of exfoliating the skin followed by masking, for thorough detoxification. While exfoliation releases toxins through the pores of the skin, masking after exfoliating helps to close the pores and seal in nutrients of your skincare, to keep skin soft, supple and rejuvenated.
For Facial Care in the Monsoon:
For Oily skins, this season we suggest gentle exfoliation with the Revitalizing Kashmiri Walnut Facial Scrub, which is prepared with finely milled Kashmiri Walnuts in a base of Pure Aloe Vera Gel. Follow this with masking using the Sandalwood and Nagkesar Facial Treatment Masque – this is a nourishing blend of soothing Sandalwood, hydrating Rosewater, skin toning Himalayan Kaolin Clay and potent Ayurvedic herbs like Nagkesar to infuse the skin’s tissues with deep nourishment and reveal glowing skin on the surface.
For Body Care
For full body exfoliation, try the Turmeric and Sandalwood Body Polisher, which is an age old Ayurvedic formulation prepared using pure Sandalwood blended in a fresh Turmeric paste, Sea salt crystals, and a nourishing blend of Virgin Oils.This best seller deeply penetrates the skin; detoxifies and re-energizes it to impart a youthful, radiant glow.
Also Read: Neem, A Wonder Herb for Monsoon