It’s the time of year when colder weather makes our skin dry and lizardlike—unless we take action. Fortunately, we can ease dry winter skin by getting in touch with the cycle of nature. That’s the thinking behind Ayurveda, the ancient East Indian system of healing. In Ayurveda, each season is associated with a predominant dosha, a guiding principle giving rise to a set of characteristics. To learn the Ayurvedic way of soothing the dry, cool skin of vata (winter) season, our editors turned to Nancy Lonsdorf, MD, a doctor specializing in Ayurvedic medicine and author of The Ageless Woman: Natural Health and Beauty After Forty with Maharishi Ayurveda (MCD Century). Her advice can give women and men healthier, more comfortable skin this winter…
Seal in moisture with every shower. Rub a few drops of olive oil into your skin before you shower. You can use any type of olive oil, and since you’re using a small amount, there won’t be any odor. If you feel lethargic or sluggish, use sesame oil instead—it’s energizing.
Choose the right foods. To counteract the cold of the vata time of year, opt for warm foods, such as soup and stew. Incorporate plenty of healthy oils, such as olive oil or sunflower oil, into your diet. These help to counter dry skin from the inside out. Drink plenty of warm water. Maintaining hydration increases circulation. Use generous amounts of cinnamon and gingerroot, two warming spices.
Drink herbal teas. Gotu kola tea is made from an herb that fights drying of the skin. Tulsi is an herb (also known as holy basil) used to make tea that reduces the stress hormone cortisol, the presence of which can lead to dry skin. You can find these teas at markets that sell a wide selection of herbal teas. Both teas also can be found online at Organic India (www.OrganicIndiaUSA.com).
Go to bed by 10. According to Ayurveda, the hours of sleep that occur before midnight are the most rejuvenating. The hours between 10 pm and 2 am are when the body is believed to detoxify. So going to bed by 10 will ensure that your skin has time to purify itself.
