secrets of ayurveda treatments for skin disorders · secrets of ayurveda treatments for skin...

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SECRETS OF AYURVEDA

TREATMENTS FOR SKIN DISORDERS

By Dr Deepika Rodrigo B.A.M.S.

Disclaimer

The Publisher and Author of this e-book do not warrant or assume any legal liability

or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of the information

provided here. This book is not a substitute for professional medical prevention,

diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist or health care

provider before taking any home remedies or supplements or following any

treatment suggested in this e-book. Only your health care provider, physician or

pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique

needs or diagnose your particular medical history.

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Table of contents

1. Ayurveda – Ancient Remedies for Modern Life 3

2. What is Ayurveda? 3

3. Effective Skin Treatment – Inside Out & Outside In 4

4. What Causes Skin Disease? 4

5. Eat What You Are 5

6. What is Your Dosha? 6

7. Vata Pitta Kapha Common Skin Disorders 6

8. Supporting the Body to Eliminate Skin Disorders 8

9. Advice for Vata Pitta Kapha Skin Disorders 9

10. Eczema – Vata-type Eczema 10

11. Treating Vata-type Eczema 11

12. Eczema – Pitta-type Eczema 12

13. Treating Pitta-type Eczema 13

14. Eczema – Kapha-type Eczema 14

15. Treating Kapha-type Eczema 15

16. Psoriasis 17

17. Ayurvedic Approach to Psoriasis 17

18. Vata Pitta Kapha type Psoriasis 18

19. Ending the War Within – Treating Psoriasis 19

20. Ayurvedic Treatment for Psoriasis 19

21. Ayurvedic Advice for Vata Pitta Kapha Psoriasis 21

22. Dermaved Cream – Ayurveda Skin Care 22

23. Dr. Deepika Rodrigo B.A.M.S. 22

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Ayurveda - Ancient Remedies for Modern Life

Ancient and timeless, Ayurveda offers us the secrets to attaining and maintaining

optimal health and wellbeing. Its benefits have been proven over thousands of years

and its methodologies continue to help millions of people across the world live a

balanced and vital life in the 21st century.

Ayurveda recognises that each person is unique and offers a highly customised

approach to health and wellbeing. This e-book outlines the basics of Ayurveda and

explains how you can begin using the secrets of this science to heal skin disorders.

Skin disorders can range from mild irritation and inflammation to chronic and long

term conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, dermatitis, acne and other

inflammatory skin disorders. Perhaps you have always had sensitive skin that burns

easily in the sun or breaks out in hives when it has contact with “foreign” objects.

What is Ayurveda?

Thousands of years before modern medicine provided scientific evidence for the

mind-body connection, Ayurveda was developed in the Indian subcontinent. It is the

world’s oldest and most sophisticated health system. More than merely a means of

treating physical illness, Ayurveda literally means ‘the science of life’ (“Ayu” in

Sanskrit meaning life and “Veda” meaning science or knowledge). It is an ancient and

dynamic body of wisdom which can help people live at their optimum best, vibrant

and happy.

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Effective skin treatment – Inside Out & Outside In

Ayurveda offers the perspective that while all skin conditions can seem superficial in

nature, our skin, the largest organ of the body, is a reflection of the hidden realities

within our bodies. Skin conditions are rarely caused exclusively by an external factor;

they are far more likely to be the result of a deeper imbalance.

A disorder is like a weed. What we see on the surface of the skin are just the leaves.

Treating the leaves alone doesn’t eliminate the weed. We also have to go to the root

and treat the disorder from there. Skin care from an Ayurvedic approach aims to

identify and treat the underlying causes of skin imbalances as well as alleviating the

discomfort of the superficial symptoms – both from the inside out and from the

outside in.

The benefits of this deeper and more conscious approach are real and sustained

results which increase your overall wellbeing in the process. The best part of

Ayurveda is that the improvements you will notice on the surface of your skin are

usually the result of a more significant transformation which improves your life and

overall wellbeing in ways you may never have imagined skin care could.

What causes skin disease?

According to this ancient knowledge the cause of all skin disorders is impaired

digestive fire (known as “Vishama Agni” in Sanskrit), which in turn is caused by

incorrect diet and lifestyle. When the digestive fire is imbalanced, either too high or

too low, it causes some food to convert to toxins (known as “Ama” in Sanskrit).

These toxins or Ama then circulate throughout the body, and are deposited on the

superficial fascia, which can leave the skin feeling and looking dry, causing irritation,

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scaling or inflammation and infection. Like a blocked and overflowing drain, the

body finds the point of least resistance to deposit toxins.

Even though skin disorders are influenced by genetics, according to Ayurveda, they

can be eliminated or significantly reduced by using the right combination of topical

preparations to help heal and repair the skin, diet and lifestyle choices, in

accordance with your constitution (known as “Dosha”).

Eat What You Are

Today we are bombarded with information about nutrition and what to eat.

Researchers, doctors and nutritionists are providing us with rules about how many

portions of fruit and vegetables to eat; what the latest super-food can do for us; how

much water to drink; which foods are now deemed to be harmful; what to cut out of

our diets … and the lists go on. We are often left in a state of confusion. According to

Ayurveda, even if you followed all this advice to the letter (which would be

impossible anyway as so much is contradictory), you may still be eating the wrong

foods to attain your optimal health and wellbeing. This is not because these foods

are bad or good. Breaking down our diets in this way is oversimplified. In Ayurveda,

each of us is recognised to be as unique as our DNA codes and so any principle that

suggests everyone should eat in the same way is bound to fail.

We are unique in our physical build, our metabolism, our energy levels, our genetics,

our ethnicity, our environment, our work, our feelings, our relationships, our tastes

… ever wondered why some people have acne and others don’t? We are individuals

with unique needs that must be satisfied in order to enjoy optimal health and

wellbeing.

It is also why some people can eat chilli with no side effect while others break out in

a rash and feel terrible the next day. It is why some of us cannot tolerate certain

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foods such dairy products while others have no problem tucking in. One woman’s

medicine can be another woman’s poison. Depending on who you are, the same

food can either harm you or help you. It comes down to constitution, not nutrition.

What is Your Dosha?

According to Ayurveda’s fundamental principles each person is a combination of the

three Doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Each Dosha has specific qualities and it is the

combination of these qualities, which make us each as unique as our DNA or genetic

code. Each of the Doshas is a combination of two of the five elements – space, air,

fire, water and earth.

Vata has the light and mobile qualities of air and space; pitta is passionate and

energetic like fire; and kapha is steady and reliable like earth.

Once a person understands their own constitution (particularly with the help of an

Ayurvedic doctor) and re-orders any imbalance through the use of diet, lifestyle,

medicinal herbs, and detox treatments such as Panchakarma, they can expect to live

unhindered by skin disorders. Take our dosha quiz at the end of this e-book.

Vata, Pitta, Kapha Common Skin Disorders

Long before the existence of microscopic technology, Ayurveda recognised that the

skin was made up of three main layers.

The superficial fascia (known as “Apicharma”) is in constant contact with the outside

world and so it constantly repairs itself to adjust to the outside atmosphere. As a

result it tends to get dry, flaky and irritable frequently. People who are

predominantly Vata (made up of the qualities of air and ether) are more likely to

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suffer with irritable skin disorders at the most superficial layer of skin. Hence Vata

people have a greater tendency to dry skin, dry eczema, irritable skin, and dandruff.

Damp weather, dry, cold and raw food and stress tend to aggravate and increase

Vata dosha. Reducing exposure to these aggravators can help to eliminate this

disorder, as well as applying the right moisturiser and making simple adjustments to

life style and diet.

Just like vata people, vata type eczema is ‘easy come, easy go’.

The second layer of skin consists of more connective tissue, blood vessels and

plasma. It tends to be more moist and warm. When toxins or Ama circulate in this

layer, skin tends to get irritable, hot and red. Hot blooded ‘Pitta’ people (made up of

the qualities of fire and water) are more prone to a type of eczema which is

inflammatory, hot and red as well as rosacea, dermatitis and other types of

inflammatory skin conditions. Stress and anger can further aggravate these types of

skin disorders. The application of suitable moisturisers, following a Pitta reducing

diet and stress reducing adjustments to lifestyle can help to significantly heal these

types of disorder.

Pitta people are characterised by their dominant qualities and so pitta skin disorders

take some effort to overcome.

Third layer (known as “addhus charma”) is made up of connective tissue, fat and

blood. It tends to be the moistest layer of the skin and has a greater tolerance for

toxicity. However, when toxins build up to saturation point, disorders begin to

appear slowly. When this third layer gets affected it is much harder to cure. Normally

people with Kapha constitutions (made up of the qualities of earth) are more prone

to disorders of third layer, such as Psoriasis, the most common disorder in this layer,

infected boils and wet eczema. With effort and a longer term approach, through

application of the correct moisturisers, herbs, and adjustments to life style and diet

as well as deep cleansing programmes like “Panchakarma”, Kapha skin disorders can

be cured.

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Just like Kapha people, it takes a long time to come, a longer time to eliminate but

once gone it may never return.

Supporting the Body to Eliminate Skin Disorders

As we are all as unique as our DNA code, specific diagnosis along with highly

individualised advice to identify the cause of the disorder, eliminate toxicity built up

in the body and to heal, repair and maintain healthy skin can be provided by a

qualified Ayurvedic Physician.

This foundational advice will significantly support the body in eliminating any type of

skin disorder:

Daily moisturisation of the skin with a suitable, healing cream such as

Dermaved

Protecting the skin from extreme weather conditions, whether cold or hot

Improving circulation by staying properly hydrated and taking regular

exercise, especially stretching, yoga or walking

Gentle regular sweating to excrete toxins from the system

Following a diet which allows proper, regular bowel movements

Avoiding acidity, red meat, red fish, tropical fruit, red wine, tomatoes, cold

raw salads, nuts and seeds

Passing urine regularly throughout the day whenever the body requires

Reducing stress levels through meditation or other leisure activities

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Advice for Vata, Pitta, Kapha Skin Disorders

Vata Pitta Kapha

Foods to avoid Dry, cold, raw Acidic, raw, spicy Dairy, starchy,

creamy, sugary

Lifestyle essentials Good night’s sleep;

maintaining routine

in lifestyle

Stress reduction;

meditation

Regular vigorous

exercise; regular

meals

Mealtimes Regular meal times Avoid frequent

meals

Moderate food

intake

Physical activity Yoga, walking,

swimming

Regular relaxing

exercise such as

yoga

Regular, vigorous,

aerobic exercise

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Eczema – Vata-type Eczema

If you’re Vata predominant, your eczema is likely to look like dry, irritable and flaky

skin and feel itchy. You may also have dandruff.

The good news for Vata constitutions is that they tend to experience eczema in the

uppermost layer of the skin, which means it is ‘easy come, easy go’. Using the right

topical cream to help soothe and heal the skin and a few simple adjustments in diet

and lifestyle you can see off eczema easily.

For Vata eczema, moisturising is key to counteract the lack of moisture in the skin.

Apply moisturiser that deeply nourishes dry skin and draws out heat to reduce

irritability and itchiness. Stress, damp weather and dry, cold or raw food and act as

aggravators to Vata. So stay warm, calm and eat nourishing warm food too,

especially during the winter months.

Vata – is this you?

To know more about whether you’re predominantly Vata, read our quick guide

below:

Vata has the light and mobile qualities of air and space.

If Vata dosha predominates in you, movement and change are characteristic of your

nature. You’re always on the go, with an energetic and creative mind. In balance,

you are lively and enthusiastic and tend to have a thin, light frame with excellent

agility.

Your energy comes in bursts, as does do your bouts of fatigue. You tend to have dry

skin and hair and cold hands and feet. Your sleep is generally light and your digestion

sensitive. When Vata is imbalanced, it manifests in the body typically as weight loss,

constipation, hypertension, arthritis, weakness, restlessness and digestive disorders.

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You love excitement and new experiences. You don’t hesitate to take initiative. You

love to talk and you are a lively conversationalist. Balanced, you are creative,

energetic and flexible. Unbalanced you are prone to anxiety, worrying, insomnia and

often feel overwhelmed or stressed. You tend to blame yourself when things go

wrong.

Treating Vata-type Eczema

Foods to avoid:

Dry, cold or raw food

Lifestyle essentials:

A good night’s sleep; maintaining routine in lifestyle and regular mealtimes

Optimum physical activity:

Yoga, walking, swimming and gentle, constant moving activity

This basic advice will significantly support the body in eliminating any type of skin

disorder:


Dermaved.

Protecting the skin from extreme weather conditions




Following a diet which allows proper regular bowel movements

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Avoid acidity, red meat, red fish, tropical fruit, red wine, tomatoes, cold raw

salads, nuts and seeds


Reducing stress levels through meditation or leisure activity

Eczema – Pitta-type Eczema

Pitta people are more prone to the type of eczema that is inflammatory, hot and red

as well as rosacea, dermatitis and other forms of inflammatory skin conditions. It is

accompanied by a burning sensation, swelling and even infection.

Pitta eczema is characterised by its dominant qualities and in this way penetrates to

the second layer of skin where it affects the connective tissues, blood vessels and

plasma. This means it can take a little effort to overcome.

Using the right topical cream to draw out the heat created by pitta will significantly

help to reduce inflammation, soothe and heal the skin. Specific changes in diet and

lifestyle can overcome pitta eczema completely.

Stress and excessive bouts of anger can aggravate this eczema, as well as heat

producing foods which are sour, salty and spicy.

Pitta – is this you?

To know more about whether you’re predominantly Pitta, read our quick guide

below:

Pitta is passionate and energetic like fire and water.

If pitta predominates in you, you tend to have a fiery nature and are of medium

weight and size. You are more likely than other doshas to be a red head. You may

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suffer baldness or thinning hair eventually. Everything about pitta is strong and fiery.

You have a strong appetite for food and for life. You have a strong sex drive, and

sleep soundly too.

Out of balance, Pitta predominance manifests in skin rashes, excessive body heat,

heartburn and indigestion.

If you are pitta predominant, you are blessed with a strong intellect and ability to

focus. You like precision and structure and you can also be sharp witted and often

outspoken. This means you make a good teacher, leader or decision maker. You also

make a good public speaker. Out of balance, you are short-tempered and can be

aggressive. You tend to blame others when things go wrong.

Treating Pitta-type Eczema

Foods to avoid:

Acidic, salty, spicy foods

Lifestyle essentials:

Stress reduction, anger management. Meditation can be of great help for pitta

disorders.

Best physical activity:

Regular relaxing exercise such as yoga


disorder:

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Dermaved.










Eczema – Kapha-type Eczema

Kapha people are more prone to the type of eczema that is wet, inflamed with

infected boils or water blisters. The skin tends to be cold, clammy, sticky, oozing,

swollen and itchy. Kapha predominant people suffer psoriasis.

Kapha type eczema penetrates slowly over time down to the third layer of skin,

which is made up of connective tissue, fat and blood. It is the moistest layer of skin

and so has the greatest tolerance for toxicity. It is harder to eliminate toxicity from

the third layer of skin and thus harder to cure these types of skin disorders. The good

news however is that once cured, it may never return.

Using the right topical applications regularly for a period of time to help draw out

infection, clean and soothe inflamed skin will aid the elimination of the disorder.

Combined with specific dietary advice, and deep cleansing Ayurvedic treatments to

clear the toxicity in the deeper levels, such disorders can be entirely eliminated.

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Kapha – is this you?

To know more about whether you’re predominantly Kapha, read our quick guide

below:

Kapha types have a strong build and excellent stamina. They tend to have large, soft

eyes, smooth, radiant skin and thick, lustrous hair. They benefit from sound sleep

and regular digestion.

Out of balance, Kapha predominant people can gain excessive weight easily, retain

fluids, sleep excessively and are prone to asthma, diabetes and depression.

Kapha types are naturally calm, thoughtful and loving. They have an inherent ability

to enjoy life and in balance are strong, loyal, patient, steady and supportive people.

Out of balance, they have emotional issues with letting go of things and people.

Kapha types are resistant to change and can be stubborn. In adversity, they are likely

to avoid dealing with difficult situations.

Treating Kapha-type Eczema

Foods to avoid

Dairy, starchy, creamy, sugary foods

Lifestyle essentials

Having a moderate intake of foods at mealtimes and avoiding excessive sleep

Best physical activity

Regular vigorous, aerobic exercise

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disorder:


Dermaved.










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Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a common skin condition affecting 2-3% of the UK population (an

estimated 1.8 million people). It is a non-infectious, auto-immune disorder that

affects the skin and sometimes the joints. The immune system turns on the very

thing it is designed to protect, the body. It sends out white blood cells to attack,

where there is no enemy and leads to inflammation in the skin and sometimes

joints.

There are several types of Psoriasis of which two most well known in conventional

medicine are Plaque Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis. Psoriasis is caused by new cells

of skin being produced faster than normal and before dead cells are shed. This

results in excess thickened skin. It can also cause inflammation of the joints, known

as psoriatic arthritis. Psoriasis can vary in severity ranging from a disorder that is a

nuisance to one that is physically and emotionally debilitating for sufferers.

Ayurvedic Approach to Psoriasis

According to Ayurveda, the cause of all skin disorders is impaired digestive fire

(known as “Vishama Agni” in Sanskrit), which in turn is caused by incorrect diet and

lifestyle. When the digestive fire is imbalanced, either too high or too low, it causes

some food to convert to toxins (known as “Ama” in Sanskrit). These toxins or Ama

then circulate throughout the body, and are deposited on the superficial, medial or

third layer fascia, which can leave the skin with symptoms ranging from feeling and

looking dry, causing irritation, scaling to inflammation and infection. Like a blocked

and overflowing drain, the body finds the point of least resistance to deposit toxins.

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Depending on the individual constitution of the person or “dosha”, the Ama will

deposit itself in the different layers of the skin. This means that from an Ayurvedic

approach there are three (main) types of Psoriasis.

Vata-Pitta-Kapha type Psoriasis

Vata type Psoriasis

Vata type Psoriasis manifests in the superficial fascia. It is characterised by silvery

scaling skin, dryness and itchiness. It can be seen mainly on the skin around joints in

the body. Vata type Psoriasis doesn’t cause pain or discomfort over and above the

itchiness.

Pitta type Psoriasis

Pitta type Psoriasis manifests in the medial tissues of the skin or the second main

layer. It appears all over the body and can be identified by the coin-sized, elevated

red patches on the skin, which are weeping, irritated and painful. Pitta type Psoriasis

is characterised by inflammation.

Kapha type Psoriasis

Kapha type Psoriasis occurs when the Ama has travelled deep into the third layer of

skin. Here the disorder is well rooted and harder to cure. It is identifiable by the

large red patches of excess skin on the body often accompanied by a lot silvery

scaling skin and can even be pus producing. This type of Psoriasis can appear and

feel like wounds and be painful for the individual. The depth to which the Ama

travels into the skin means that it is the type Psoriasis which can become Psoriatic

arthritis by moving into the joints of the body. Whilst conventional medicine claims

that Psoriasis cannot be cured, in Ayurveda, the disorder can be fully eliminated

from the body. Using Ayurvedic methods, as the body is cleansed of excess Ama,

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Psoriasis can leave the joints and re-appear on the skin in its journey to be fully

eliminated from the body.

Ending the War Within – Treating Psoriasis

Even though skin disorders are influenced by genetics, according to Ayurveda, they

can be eliminated or significantly reduced by understanding your body’s needs. This

means using the right combination of topical preparations to help heal and repair

the skin, intelligent diet and lifestyle choices, in accordance with your constitution

(known as “Dosha”) and sometimes detoxification treatments to cleanse and

support the body in its work.

From an Ayurvedic approach, you can learn to be your body’s best friend and put a

stop to the war within by caring for your body with some simple adjustments to your

routine. These can bring about significant changes within just days or weeks.

Ayurvedic Treatment for Psoriasis

Superficially the elimination of toxins can be assisted by

Moisturising the skin daily with a suitable, healing cream such as Dermaved

Oleation or regular massage of the skin using suitable oil

Internally, to assist in proper elimination of toxins, the most important advice is to

restore the digestive fire to its optimum level. To do this, simple adjustments to

eating habits will make an enormous difference:

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Eat plenty of leafy, green vegetables

Eat cooked, warm food

Eat only when hungry

Avoid eating frequent, small meals or snacks

Drink water when you are thirsty and avoid flooding the body

Avoid acidic foods, red meat, red fish, tropical fruit, red wine, tomatoes, cold

raw salads, nuts and seeds

Avoid sour foods such as yoghurt, diary products

In addition, consciously incorporating these habits into your regular routine will have

enormous benefits for your well-being and keep psoriasis away long term:

Passing urine regularly whenever the body requires

Maintaining a diet which promotes regular, healthy bowel movements


Exposing the skin to sunlight for 30 minutes a day if possible


If you choose to consult an Ayurvedic practitioner, some of the methods which can

catalyze the detoxification process to eliminate Psoriasis include:

Purgation or the use of specific herbal laxatives

Enemas using herbal medicated oil

Panchakarma therapy which is a last resort and deep, powerful detoxification

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Ayurvedic Advice for Vata-Pitta-Kapha Psoriasis

Vata Pitta Kapha

Foods to avoid Dry, cold, raw Acidic, raw, spicy

and diary/sour

foods

Acidic, raw, spicy

and diary/sour

foods

Lifestyle essentials Good night’s sleep;

maintaining routine

in lifestyle

Stress reduction;

meditation

Regular vigourous

exercise; regular

meals eaten only

when hungry

Mealtimes Regular meal times

3 times a day

Avoid frequent

meals; only eat

when hungry

Moderate food

intake; have a long

gap between

meals and avoid

snacking

Physical activity Yoga, walking,

swimming

Regular relaxing

exercise such as

yoga

Regular, vigorous,

aerobic exercise

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Dermaved cream – Ayurveda Skin Care

100% pure & natural. Dermaved is a unique preparation of 25 naturally active herbs

with Acacia, Venivel and Coral Tree seed plant extracts blended with Shea Butter to

instantly relieve itchiness, discomfort and inflammation and help heal and repair the

skin. Dermaved is made from sustainably wildcrafted herbs according to a trusted

Ayurvedic formula. Formulated with pure, natural ingredients, it is ideal for all skin

types and even infants. It is prepared to the highest standard and each ingredient is

laboratory tested for purity and potency. It is free from artificial colours, perfumes and

parabens.

Visit www.dermaved.com for more information or call us on +44 208 405 4407

Dr Deepika Rodrigo B.A.M.S.

From exploring the medicinal plants in the rainforests of her native Sri Lanka as a child,

Dr Deepika’s journey has led her to become the most highly sought after Ayurvedic skin

specialist in Europe.

She is widely recognized as a principal driving force behind the growing awareness of

Ayurveda in Europe and has trained many of today’s leading Ayurvedic specialists and

many health care professionals. She practices from her London based clinic, established

in 1997.

For more information please visit www.theayurvedicclinic.com or call us on +44 208

405 4407. Consultations are offered in person or via Skype for both domestic and

overseas patients.

secrets of ayurveda treatments for skin disorders · secrets of ayurveda treatments for skin...

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