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CARING FOR THE SKIN
Skin Care by Reflex Therapy
Reflexology, usually called Reflex Therapy or Acupressure Therapy, has become very popular in our country these days. The human body consists of five basic elements: water (jal), wood/earth (prithvi), fire (agni), air (vayu) and space ( aakash). All these are governed by bio-electricity or life-battery. In order to maintain a proper balance of these elements in the body, we should take food and drink according to the season. Some foods useful in one season can be harmful in another season. For example, buttermilk and curd which are useful in summer are not advisable in the monsoon while fresh vegetables usually beneficial in summer and winter can be a cause of disease in the monsoon because of excessive water content and the possibility of the water being polluted in the monsoon. Similarly, excess of any one of these substances leads to a health [problem. For example, colds are very common in winter due to the dampness example, colds are very common in winter due to the dampness of air and more water content in foods like rice and fish. The increased incidence of colds means that nature wants to throw out excess water from the body as any retention of it would lead to more diseases. The best cure for the people of a cold country like Japan is to take more food like wheat, have regular sunbaths and drink boiled and lukewarm water. In hot countries like Afganistan, the fire element predominates in the human body. Dry air, dry fruits and blazing sun lead to excess heat. This can be treated by taking more green, watery fruits like watermelon avoiding dry fruits in summer and including buttermilk and curd in the diet in greater quantities. Several bodily disorders can be treated and cured by acupressure therapy. Obesity after delivery, graying and falling of hair, pimples, sunstroke, corns and various skin diseases have been cured with reflexology. After childbirth or an operation for sterilization, women tend to put on weight because of the disturbance of sex glands. Treatment on all points corresponding to the endocrine glands should be undertaken.
Falling of hair and its premature graying is a great problem for women. In such cases, try rubbing of the nails of eight fingers against each other for 10 to 15 minutes every day. It shows wonderful results and may be done for 5 minutes in the morning and 5 minutes before going to bed and night. As soon as the first grey hair is seen, start this rubbing of nails. The hair will remain black for a longer period.
Pimples are sometimes caused by scanty, irregular menses. If there are corns on the feet, massage with ice for 2 to 3 minutes on the affected part. Afterwards, rub turpentine and then bandage the area. By the morning, this corn can be removed. Afterwards continue rubbing turpentine daily for 3 to 4 days. Rolling the feet on a wooden roller has been found to prevent further formation of corns.
Reflex treatment on the tips of the fingers and toes by vigorous massage and pressing hard on the point below the nose and above the upper lip, helps in treating sunstroke or heatstroke. Symptoms of skin disease are usually due to indigestion and lack of Vitamin ‘C’, resulting in impure blood. Certain foods mixed and eaten together create poisonous chemical effects in the body and if this poison is not removed from the body by the kidneys, it comes out in the form of eruptions on the skin. It is advisable not to eat cereals, fish, onions, garlic, citrus foods and antibiotics along with unboiled milk, curd and buttermilk. The first urine passed in the morning can be applied on the affected parts to ensure an early cure. Treatment on all points together with more Vitamin ‘C’ (amla, lemon, raw vegetable) intake and consumption of groundnut and sesame (til) in the diet will cure the disease and also remove the problem of dry skin.
Try this health drink which is very beneficial for the treatment of skin disorders. Mix 100 gms of ginger powder in 300 gms of amla gooseberry) powder. Take one teaspoonful of this powder along with water in the morning and evening. Or in four glasses of water, add two teaspoons of the amla and ginger powder ( fresh amla and ginger are better). Now boil the mixture till it reduces to three glasses. Filter the water and drink it. Honey or salt can be mixed in it, if desired. Amla is a source of concentrated Vitamin ‘C’ and has sixteen times more Vitamin ‘C’ than lemon. Such a drink will give protection to the body against cold and increase its digestive power. People in Western countries drink apple cider which is also beneficial, especially for expecting mothers and growing children. Green vegetable juice is an equally good health drink. Juice made of green spinach ( 25 gms ) methi (fenugreek leaves), cucumber , pudina (mint), tulsi (basil), lettuce, cabbage and coriander is a revitalizing drink.
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