Benefits and Uses of Neem, Tulsi, Wheat Grass and Amla on Skin Care

You might be surprised to know that skin is the largest organ in human body. It is a kind of sheath that separates us from the outer environment. It protects our internal organs from getting exposed to the harsh climatic condition pravelling outside. Any problem in skin or any kind of infection to the skin can causes threat to the internal organs. It helps in keeping our vital organ from hanging outside the body getting infected very easily. It also helps in maintaing body temperature. More importantly it helps us in perceiving sensation of touch.

According to modern sciences skin is made up of three layers. Named epidermis the outer layer, dermis the middle layer and subcutaneous fat the inner layer. Ayurveda believes that skin has six layers.

Epidermis is the outer most layer of the skin and is the part of the skin, which is visible with our normal eyes. This layer of skin keeps on producing new cells, as 30000 to 40000 cells are lost every minute. It contains a very important content name melalin that is a very talked about things now a days. Melalin imparts colour to our skin. More the melalin content darker is the complexion. Actually melanin is a protective device of your skin that helps you to protect from sunburns and very harmful ultraviolet rays or more commonly called UV rays. This is the reason tanning occurs in people who get exposed to sun. But melalin production is not enough to give all round protection to protect skin from dehydration and cancerous cell production. Important thing about epidermis is that it is composed of dead cells hence is non vascular i.e. it does not have blood supply and nervous supply.

Second is the dermis layer that lies below the epidermis. As it is beneath the epidermis hence dermis is not visible. Dermis serves very important function in the protective and perceptive role that skin plays. It serves many functions, as it possesses nerves ending, vascular supplies and glands (both oil or sebaceous glands and sweat glands). Due to presence of these factors we can perceive the touch sensation. Vascularity to the skin initiates in dermis and hence helps in providing proper nourishment to the skin cells. Dermis also contains sebaceous glands or more commonly called oil gland, which helps our skin in lubrication thus helping it from catching any infection. It makes our skin work as raincoats therefore help skin from getting sogged and swelled away in water. Sweat glands play a very important role in our life. Most important of all is that it helps in maintaing our body temperature; secondly it plays an excretory role by excreting out harmful toxins that might have formed in our body; thirdly it helps in protecting our body from microorganism as it possess antibacterial properties.

Third and the most important of all the layers is the subcutaneous fatty layer. Its role is to work as a shock absorber in he body and to maintain body heat from getting transferred to outside temperature. It also helps in holding internal organs tightly as it is present beneath the skin. This also contains a very peculiar feature that only mammals possess i.e. hair follicles. This layer is full of hair follicles out of which hair grows out. Nourishment of hairs depends upon the sebaceous glands, which opens into the hair follicle thus proving it with shine and nutrients.

Types of skins

It is really very essential to know the kind of skin you possess, as right care of skin can help in reducing any skin problems and avoid diseases.
There are mainly 5 types of skin: -

1. Normal skin: It not a commonest kind of skin. It is soft, smooth, velvety and evenly textured skin with no flaky dead cells and no pores visible. Proper distribution of oil and moisture is there that makes it a balanced skin i.e. not excessively dry and not excessively greasy. It is clear and free from blemishes

2. Dry skin: Skin is said to be dry, when skin is dull, patchy, reddened and flaky especially around eyes. Dry skin may cause formation of fine lines on cheeks, under eyes and corners of mouth. These conditions happen when oil or sebaceous glands are not supplying good nourishment and lubrication to the skin. If proper care is not given to the skin then it may lead to initiation of wrinkles in early age.

3. Oily or greasy skin: This kind of skin is thick, dull in colour and shiny in appearance. Due to over secretions of oils or sebum through oil gland, makes skin pores open and skin becomes sticky, which attracts dirt and dust from the environment. Due to this tendency, dirt and dust particles blocks the skin pores which are already widely open in oily skin leads to problems like black head, white head, acne and other skin related problems.

4. Combination skin: Commonly seen skin texture which is the combination of two kind of skin i.e. some of the skin area is dry and some of the area is oily. Usually it follows the pattern of "T" i.e. the greasy part is usually the portion which is vertical to nose crossing nose (nose, mouth and chin) and horizontal on fore head and hence referred to as "T-Zone". The area left i.e. cheeks is comparatively dry.

5. Sensitive skin: This kind of skin is very sensitive to any change in environmental conditions or any kind allergies, which may be caused due to procedures like bleaching, makeup's and other external applications.

How to know that what type of skin you possess

It is a very simple method to know that what kind of skin you possess by following procedure mentioned below.

Whenever you wake up in morning, wipe your face with dry tissue soon after leaving your bed. If you find oil on that tissue, you possess oily or greasy skin. If you find grease on the center panel then you possess combination skin. If there is no grease at all then you either have dry or normal skin.

Now to check weather your skin is dry or normal. Just do one thing, wash your face with non-greasy soap and water. If you are left with the feeling of stretchiness and tightness on skin then you possess dry skin otherwise you have normal skin. If in daily routine you easily get skin allergies, rashes, itches and boils then your skin supposed to be sensitive

Our skin faces mainly three kinds of troubles

1. Firstly disease caused directly to skin from external source.

This includes diseases that directly infect the skin from outside for example fungal infection in early stages etc

2. Secondly disease caused due to systemic disorders.
This is the second category of the disease, which is caused due to systemic infection in the body. For example leprosy, psoriasis

3. Thirdly it may represent mere symptom of another disease.
In this skin is the mere face that represents the symptom of any disease prevailing in the body. For example loosening of skin, which might be caused by dehydration.

How to make skin to happy so that it may remain healthy and glows with shine.

1. Protect your skin from over exposure of sun by using sunscreens

2. Carry an umbrella or a cap with you when overexposed to external environment

3. Don't smoke and drink excessively

4. Wash your skin gently and with lots of care

5. Moisturize your skin regularly

6. Shave with care and softly. Only shave in direction of hair growth

7. Use of good skin cleansers and toners regularly to open up blocked pores.

8. Drink lots of water and fresh fruit juices

9. Eat healthy food and avoid junk food.

10. Avoid use of chemicals on your skin

Inspite following these measures if you are not able to achieve the healthy and good skin then you must read below.

Here are some herbal remedies that is the answer to all your problems

Benefits of neem on skin

· Neem is a wonder herb. Since early times neem is known for its wonderful properties and marvelous results on skin. It works as blood purifier and is very helpful in eradicating toxins from the blood that are supposed to cause harm to the skin.

· Local application of neem powder or neem oil has miraculous results. It is a famous anti microbial herb, it renders all the microorganisms inactive therefore helping in proper healing of wound without causing any infections and septic conditions

· Good results have been seen on skin problems like acne and blemishes. It helps in disinfecting the hair follicles and helps in eradicating the particle which is the main culprit in blocking the pore

· Taking bath of neem leaves socked water helps our body to counter mild infections, which our body might get in day-to-day activity

· Neem helps in early healing of burns and injuries that might also helps in fading of scars that are left after the any injury

· Tropical application and internal use of neem makes us relieved from eczema and even ringworms

· Neem is very helpful in providing internal glow to the skin by providing natural supplements that are required for good and healthy skin

· Neem is extensively used in hair fall and early graying of hairs with very satisfying results.

· It also find its application in dandruff and in lice growth

· Neem is helpful in lighting dark circles which are usually caused due to life style disturbances

By Dr John Anne

Wheat Grass - A Miracle Medicine

WHEAT grass therapy can thus be effectively used for skin diseases and ulcerated wounds. By retarding bacterial action, it promotes cell activity and normal regrowth. The chlorophyll content present in wheat grass enhances heart and lung functions. Capillary activity also increases, while toxemia is reduced. By increasing iron content in the blood and thereby haemoglobin, lungs function better. Oxygenation improves and the effect of carbon-dioxide is minimised.

Wheat Grass Juice Therapy

Wheat grass juice furnishes the body with vital nourishment, providing extra energy to the body. This juice contains nearly 70 per cent of chlorophyll. It is a rich source of vitamins A, B, C and contains minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, sulphur, cobalt, and zinc. The chlorophyll contained in wheat grass juice is very beneficial for the body. It purifies the blood due to its high vitamin and mineral contents. This property is used by the body to cleanse and rebuild itself. By drinking this juice regularly, toxins can be neutralised. It thus helps to maintain good health.

Constituent of Wheat Grass

He chief constituent of wheat grass is chlorophyll which nature utilises as a body cleanser, builder and neutraliser of toxins. Dr. Fisher, a Noble Prize winner, used chlorophyll to treat anaemia. As early as July, 1940, the American Journal of Surgery, reported 1,2000 cases of peritonitis, brain ulcer, pyorrhoea and skin disorders cured by chlorophyll.
The chlorophyll molecule bears close resemblance to haemoglobin, the red pigmentation in human blood, and differs only in the central element which in blood is iron and in chlorophyll, magnesium. Owing to their close molecular resemblance.
Skin Diseases

If has been scientifically proved that chlorophyll arrests growth and development of harmful bacteria. Wheat grass therapy can thus be effectively used for skin diseases and ulcerated wounds. By retarding bacterial action, it promotes cell activity and normal regrowth. Regular drinking of wheat grass juice creates an unfavourable environment for bacterial growth.

Digestive System Disorders

Wheat grass juice used as an enema helps detoxify the walls of the colon. The general procedure is to give an enema with lukewarm water. After waiting for 20 minutes, 100 to 125 m.litre of wheat grass juice enema is given. This should be retained for 15 minutes.

Circulatory Disorders

The chlorophyll content present in wheat grass enhances heart and lung functions. Capillary activity also increases, while toxemia is reduced. By increasing iron content in the blood and thereby haemoglobin, lungs function better. Oxygenation improves and the effect of carbon-dioxide is minimised.The chlorophyll content present in wheat grass enhances heart and lung functions. Capillary activity also increases, while toxemia is reduced. By increasing iron content in the blood and thereby haemoglobin, lungs function better. Oxygenation improves and the effect of carbon-dioxide is minimised.

Several diseases can be treated successfully by regular drinking of wheat grass juice. These include: arthritis, psoriasis, premature greying and falling of hair, general weakness and debility, kidney stones, weak eyesight, abdominal pain, asthma, constipation and insomnia.

Many physicians at Hippocrates Health institute at Boston have tested the miraculous effectiveness of the wheat grass therapy. They have proved satisfactorily that wheat grass chlorophyll is a New Age food -- medicine capable of alleviating the problems of sick humanity.

An exclusive diet of wheat grass can be used beneficially in treating diseases. In adopting this mode of treatment, the patient should undertake fast on wheat grass for seven days. Such a fast can pleasantly cleanse and nourish at the same time. One can be confident of complete safety and real health

How to Grow and Use Wheat grass

Wheat grass can be grown in any sheltered place where the direct rays of the sun do not reach from about 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and where the temperature is mild. The direct rays of the sun have a tendency to sap the strength from the grass. The round stalks flatten out and become limp.

For growing wheat grass a good variety of wheat should be soaked for eight to 10 hours. The water should then be drained and those grains allowed to sprout for 15 hours. Earthen pots or wooden trays can be used to grow the wheat grass. They should be filled with compost manure and the wheat sprouts should be spared. They should be covered with a dark cloth or kept away from the sunlight in a room. They should be sprinkled with water once or twice a day and allowed to stay as such for six to seven days the grass grows five to seven inches high.
The grass can be cut with a scissor. It should be immediately washed and group. Thereafter, the juice of the ground pulp should be extracted through a fine piece of cloth. To derive maximum advantage, the pulp should be ground and the juice extracted for two or three times. The juice so extracted should be taken immediately, as its efficacy reduces every minute and the medicinal value is completely lost after three hours.

By Diwakar Vashist