Known as the traditional Indian medicine, a holistic health care system and a philosophy that promotes longevity and enhances life, Ayurveda – derived from Sanskrit words, Ayus or life and Veda, meaning science or knowledge - is often referred to as the ‘mother of all medicine’. Over 2500 years old, Ayurvedic medicine is still widely used today for its profound benefits for one’s physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. Ayurvedic treatments incorporate rejuvenation therapy, vitamin supplementation, massage, meditation, body care, diet, colour therapy, exercise, yoga, surgery and herbal medicine.

Ayurveda teaches that beauty, health, happiness and longevity are achievable only by understanding how all aspects of one’s life contribute to bring about balance to the body and mind. Therefore Ayurveda promotes ‘beauty’ as a marriage of physical, emotional and spiritual health. As Ayurvedic doctor, Dr Rama Prasad explains, “internal balance creates external radiance”. The focus is not only on the cosmetic, but also on cultivating physical health, strength of mind, wisdom and achieving an inner calm and contentment. These qualities give a person an ageless vitality, magnetism and radiance that no amount of cosmetics can replicate. Skincare treatments take on a deeper meaning as nurturing the body, and the skin, with massage, essential oils and Ayurvedic herbs offer both therapeutic and cosmetic benefits.

Prakruti

According to Ayurveda, each person is born with his or her own prakruti, which means innate character. Determining your prakruti helps you understand your unique set of qualities and what treatments are required to bring your body into balance and manifest your inherent beauty. This prakruti is your basic constitution and like a blood group does not change throughout your life. Your constitution is made up of a combination of the three doshas, namely vata, pitta and kapha. These three are the dynamic forces, which make up the elements of the universe and are found in all living beings, with the only difference being the degree of interaction of the doshas.

The doshas themselves are combinations of energy we name the five elements. Vata is a combination of air and ether. Vata dosha controls blood flow and the elimination of wastes, breathing and the movement of thoughts across the mind. Pitta is a combination of fire and water. It is responsible for heat, metabolism, and energy production and digestive functions of the body. Kapha is a combination of earth and water. It is responsible for physical stability, proper body structure and fluid balance.

Every person has some amount of each element inside of him or her. What makes a person unique is the amount of each element they have and this determines their personality and physiology. A person may be predominantly pitta with vata secondary, or pitta with some kapha. The unique characteristic of vata is dryness, pitta heat, kapha, and heaviness. So, if there is a lot of dryness in the body, vata energy is high. This may manifest in dry skin, dry hair, brittle nails, cracked lips or internal dryness resulting in constipation. When there is excess heat, pitta is high creating oily skin and hair, acneous skin, skin sensitivities and inflammations or hot temper. When there is excessive heaviness, extra kapha energy is present, making for excess weight, and oiliness of the skin, water retention, swelling, puffiness and cellulite.