Mine sure has been. And while I’ll get into some theories tomorrow, I know that the arrival of vata season (a.k.a. fall in ayurvedic terms), with all of its loveliness and nostalgia, is also likely to aggravate anyone prone to stress (me! you!). So, while we’ve already covered the ayurveda angle, it all bears repeating and today Well+Good has an interview on the subject with one of our favorite practitioners. If you read the book (aw, remember the book? It feels so long ago now!) you will surely remember the part when Siobhan was washing her face with dried sticks and going to ashrams in search of the perfect acne cure. Well Pratima was one of the first alternative docs that really set her straight in those early days when we were both still using stuff like benzoyl peroxide and glycolic acid.
So let’s hear from Pratima, but first: How has your skin been faring this fall?
From the piece:
Got some dry patches and breakouts with the dip in temperature?
The cause of your contradictory complexion is par for the course, says Dr. Pratima Raichur, an Ayurvedic physician and owner of Pratima Spa in Soho. It’s Vata season.
The Ayurvedic calendar says October through February is a time when our bodies—and skin—are plagued by imbalances and change, says Dr. Raichur, who has made skin health her specialty.
Her Rx? Nourishment, a few more yoga classes, and a smattering of healthy skin-care oils to bring your beauty goals into balance.
Want to conquer Vata season’s beauty vices? We asked Dr. Raichur to explain how in layman’s terms:
Ayurveda is a 5,000-year-old healing science. What is its take on skin, particularly this time of year?
Vata is both a season, and one of three Ayurvedic constitutions called doshas that apply to people.
Vata-dominant people will typically have dry skin and hair, be prone to premature wrinkles, and lack skin luster. This time of year, it can worsen and so can health symptoms like insomnia, constipation, and mental blockages.
Even if Vata is not your primary dosha, all of us are prone to these right now.
What diet or lifestyle changes help fend off Vata season’s effects?
I always recommend doing a detox but dietary changes help. Try to avoid cold or raw food, and opt for steamed or stir-fried dishes. Organic soups and grains like quinoa, basmati rice, seitan, and amaranth are excellent, and adding ghee to your meals helps nourish skin cells.
To keep digestion in check, add spices such as ginger, fennel, cumin, and coriander to your meals.
And most importantly, drink six to seven glasses of room temperature water or herbal tea each day to stay hydrated.
Keep reading Pratima’s advice here.
