AYURVEDIC FACE PACKS
Chickpea face pack for dull skin
This is one of the most effective and efficient face packs for dull skin. Its exfoliating action takes away the dead cells, and it is a famous Ayurvedic remedy for blemishes too. Regular usage will result in soft, smooth, and glowing skin, and slowly, blemishes will start fading too. There is no other face pack that takes sun tan away like this one does. It clears the skin and gives it an added glow.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon chickpea flour (besan)
Few drops fresh-squeezed lemon juice
Pinch of turmeric powder
1–2 tablespoons rose water (for aged skin) or milk (for dry skin) or yogurt (for acne or oily skin), or enough to make a paste
Method
1. Mix all ingredients to make a paste.
2. Apply the mask to cleansed face and leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water.
Saffron skin glow-enhancing ubtan
Saffron is the best antiblemish and complexion-enhancing agent. Oats are highly absorptive and soften the skin. Red lentil has excellent skin-cleansing properties. It can be used on the face as well as all over the body. Milk has a nourishing quality. All of these wonderful ingredients, when mixed and applied on the face, clean it as well as soften it and add a glowing quality.
Ingredients
½ cup red lentil flour (masoor)
¼ cup ground oats
¼ teaspoon saffron strands
1 tablespoon cool milk, or enough to make a paste
Method
1. Mix all ingredients into a paste.
2. Apply a thin layer on face and body. Wash off with cool water after ten minutes.
Rose Exfoliator
This recipe is for good for all skin types including extremely sensitive skin.
Ingredients
1 teaspoon rock candy, ground into a fine powder
1 teaspoon whole milk
1 teaspoon rose water
½ teaspoon honey (for oily/hot skin) or ghee (for dry skin)
Method
1. Mix all ingredients to make a paste.
2. Use both hands to exfoliate the face by rubbing the mixture gently on the skin.
3. Rinse with warm water after a few minutes. Moisturize if desired with a light moisturizer.
MUNG BEAN PANCAKES
Mung is mentioned as the best among beans in Ayurveda texts. This is my everyday breakfast. I make the batter ahead of time and make fresh pancakes for the entire family. This recipe is satiating but very light and works for everyone. Whether you are trying to lose weight or gain, mung supports a healthy metabolism.
Ingredients
1 cup yellow mung beans (soaked 3 hours or overnight)
½ teaspoon ground, roasted cumin
½ teaspoon rock salt
¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
¼ teaspoon grated fresh ginger ⅛ teaspoon asafetida
2 tablespoons ghee
Method
1. Drain soaking liquid from mung beans and place in a blender. Blend on high speed for about 1 minute, adding a small amount of water (about 2 tablespoons) until smooth.
2. Add cumin, salt, turmeric, ginger, and asafoetida and blend again briefly. Thin the mixture with enough water so that batter is a medium-thin consistency similar to wheat-flour pancake batter.
3. Heat a small amount of ghee (½–1 teaspoon) in a skillet or griddle on medium heat.
4. Drop a small ladle full of batter (¼ cup) onto griddle and spread in a circle. Cook on first side until edges start to brown and lift, about 5 minutes.
5. Flip pancake with spatula and cook on second side until golden brown, about 3–5 minutes.
6. Repeat steps 3 through 5 with the rest of the batter and ghee.
Read here for more details on book. https://www.indiacurrents.com/ayurveda-good-health-reality/
Excerpted from Ayurveda Lifestyle Wisdom, by Acharya Shunya. Sounds True, February 2017. Reprinted with permission. For more information, visit www.acharyashunya.com
