The changing weather’s crisp air can leave skin feeling dry, tight, and vulnerable. According to Ayurveda, cold seasons intensify the dry qualities of Vata dosha, leading to dehydration, flakiness, and premature aging. Without proper care, this imbalance can weaken the skin’s natural barrier, making it more prone to irritation and dullness.

Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine, offers holistic solutions to combat dry skin by focusing on internal nourishment and external hydration. By incorporating specific dietary choices, self-massage rituals, and hydrating oils, you can restore skin balance and maintain a healthy glow throughout the year.

Ayurvedic Diet for Deep Nourishment

What you eat directly affects your skin’s hydration and overall health. In Ayurveda, consuming warm, nourishing foods helps balance Vata and replenish moisture from within. Here are some dietary recommendations:

Soups and Stews: These nutrient-rich, hydrating meals are easy to digest and help provide deep nourishment.

Healthy Fats: Ghee, olive oil, and coconut oil strengthen the skin’s lipid barrier, preventing moisture loss.

Steamed Vegetables: Soft, warm vegetables like carrots, squash, and sweet potatoes offer essential vitamins for skin repair and hydration.

Herbal Teas: Infusions of ginger, cinnamon, and licorice improve digestion and circulation, which are crucial for healthy skin.

Additionally, staying hydrated is key. The cold season may suppress thirst, but drinking warm water throughout the day keeps skin plump and resilient.

The Magic of Abhyanga: Daily Self-Massage for Hydration

A daily self-massage, known as Abhyanga, is a powerful Ayurvedic ritual for keeping skin deeply moisturized. This practice involves massaging the skin with warm oil to lock in hydration and improve overall skin health.

Benefits of Abhyanga include:

Deep Moisturization: Warm oil penetrates the skin, preventing dryness and rough patches.

Improved Circulation: Gentle massage enhances blood flow, ensuring better oxygenation and nutrient absorption.

Stress Reduction: The rhythmic motion of self-massage calms the nervous system, reducing stress-related skin issues.

To practice Abhyanga, warm the oil slightly before application, massage it into the skin using gentle circular motions, and allow it to absorb for at least 15-20 minutes before rinsing off.

Choosing the Right Oil for Your Skin Type

Selecting the right oil is crucial in Ayurvedic skincare. Different oils offer unique benefits for maintaining soft, hydrated skin. Here are some top choices:

Sesame Oil: A warming, deeply nourishing oil that combats winter dryness.

Coconut Oil: Provides intense hydration and antimicrobial properties, making it ideal for dry, sensitive skin.

Almond Oil: A lightweight yet deeply moisturizing option, suitable for daily use.

Additional Ayurvedic Tips for Healthy Skin

Use a Gentle Cleanser: Harsh soaps strip the skin of its natural oils. Opt for mild, herbal-based cleansers.

Apply a Natural Moisturizer: Aloe vera gel or honey helps lock in moisture and soothe irritation.

Practice Pranayama (Breathwork): Deep breathing techniques improve circulation and detoxify the skin.

Get Adequate Sleep: Quality rest helps the body repair and rejuvenate the skin overnight.

Ayurveda offers a holistic and time-tested approach to combat dry skin. By following an Ayurvedic diet, embracing the ritual of Abhyanga, and choosing the right oils, you can achieve long-lasting hydration and maintain healthy, glowing skin. Integrating these simple yet powerful practices into your daily routine can transform your skin from dry and flaky to soft and nourished.

Note: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor before making any major changes to your skincare routine.

Tulsi is worshipped in Hidusism as it is believed to be an incarnation of goddess laxmi. Thus, it is not uncommon to find this herbal plant in Indian households. But recently, the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department planted thousands of Tulsi plants around the Taj Mahal. But do you know the reason behind them?

You might not be aware of the reason. Since ancient times, basil has been called the "Queen of Herbs." In India, almost every household used to have a basil plant in their courtyard.

Basil trees were planted around the Taj Mahal to help control pollution. They release oxygen for up to 20 hours a day and protect the ozone layer within just four hours. Additionally, basil can purify the air within a 100-square-foot radius.

Shah Jahan had the iconic tulsi trees planted around the monument. Tulsi is known for its medicinal properties—it can help counteract the side effects of paracetamol and anti-TB medicines. It also reduces DNA damage, inhibits tumor growth, and is beneficial for conditions like asthma and bronchitis.

Here's What Happens To Your Body When You Eat Tulsi Leaves Everyday?

When consumed first thing in the morning, tulsi leaves can provide several health advantages.

Immunity Booster: Tulsi is rich in antioxidants such as vitamin C and eugenol. These compounds help fight free radicals and support the immune system. Daily intake may help the body resist infections and improve overall resilience.

Detoxification Powerhouse: Tulsi’s natural diuretic qualities help eliminate toxins and excess water. This cleansing effect can support kidney function, purify the blood, and result in clearer skin.

Digestive Aid: Eating tulsi leaves on an empty stomach may stimulate the production of digestive enzymes. This boosts nutrient absorption and eases digestion, while its anti-inflammatory traits soothe the gut lining and reduce bloating.

Stress Relief and Mood Enhancement: Tulsi is known for its adaptogenic properties, which help the body manage stress by regulating cortisol levels. This may lead to improved mood, reduced anxiety, and a greater sense of calm.

Respiratory Support: Used traditionally for coughs, colds, and asthma, tulsi’s antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects support respiratory health and relieve airway discomfort.

Blood Sugar Regulation: Some studies indicate that tulsi can help manage blood sugar by enhancing insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism, potentially aiding those with diabetes or prediabetes.

When doctors give you a tiny pill, saying it will provide instant relief. You swallow it, and in a matter of minutes, the pain starts to fade. What if that pill was just sugar? Welcome to the intriguing realm of the placebo effect—where faith can create physical healing. But what if a medical system—such as Ayurveda—is routinely criticized as being placebo-based? Can traditional remedies hold their own against modern science?

In a wellness-driven world, more people are turning to alternative healing systems like Ayurveda, seeking natural remedies that promise holistic health without side effects but one lingering question remains—do these remedies truly work, or are they merely benefiting from the placebo effect?

To answer this, we spoke to Dr. Rohit Sane, an Ayurvedic physician—a healthcare organization committed to merging ancient Ayurvedic wisdom with modern medical scrutiny. Their studies, particularly in cardiovascular health, are not just challenging the placebo narrative—they’re redefining how we look at holistic healing.

What is a Placebo Effect?

Placebo, by its nature, is treatment with zero therapeutic effect. Yet patients feel improved after ingestion of placebos because they assume that they have received actual medication. The body responds to anticipation—releases endorphins, alters perception, and even modifies pain. The effect is so powerful that today's pharmaceutical company drug tests incorporate a control or placebo arm so that efficacy may be validated and measured objectively.

As Dr. Sane points out, "The placebo effect is evidence that our minds play a huge influence over our body health. But to use placebo alone as a treatment is risky—particularly with chronic or potentially fatal diseases. That's where Ayurveda comes into the conversation with actual real-world results."

Challenge of Testing Ayurveda the Western Way

In contemporary medicine, therapy is frequently centered on isolated molecules—a single active ingredient attacking a single symptom. Ayurveda, by contrast, is holistic in nature. It combines herbal mixtures, dietary regimens, individualized therapies, and lifestyle modifications. Challenging this whole ecosystem with a classical placebo model creates a methodological challenge.

"Ayurvedic medicine isn't a pill. It's a protocol—a way of living," says Dr. Sane. "You can't isolate one variable and expect to understand the whole system."

That makes randomized, placebo-controlled trials (RCTs)—the gold standard of scientific acceptance—challenging to design for Ayurvedic regimens. But difficult doesn't equal impossible.

One persuasive reference point is the ORBITA trial—a landmark study that looked at whether angioplasty works for people with stable angina. Patients who had what they thought was a real procedure (when actually it was just a simulation) had outcomes as good as those who had the actual procedure. The outcome? A major heart procedure, when compared to placebo, didn't have the strong benefit many had anticipated.

This highlights the significance of not brushing off Ayurvedic treatments as placebo. Contrary to ORBITA's results, trials have shown quantifiable, long-term gains without surgery.

Aside from heart health, studies indicate Ayurvedic treatments favorably impacting parameters such as:

• Regulation of blood pressure
• Cholesterol control
• Increased metabolic efficiency
• Long-term weight loss
• Increased cardiac output

Dr. Sane comments, "These are not merely patient perceptions—they are objective measures, monitored and recorded under medical supervision."

This real-world applicability gives Ayurveda an edge in managing chronic disease where pharmaceuticals often treat symptoms not the underlying cause.

Clinical evidence mounts that Ayurveda, rather than being a retro system or a placebo-based wellness fad, can be used alongside contemporary medicine. Its greatest value is in prevention, lifestyle modification, and sustained health.

Scientists are now calling for methodological pluralism—a strategy that permits the scientific assessment of holistic systems such as Ayurveda through measures other than those applied in conventional pharmaceutical trials.

As Dr. Sane summarizes, "Ayurveda isn't competing with modern science. It's a complementary model—based on centuries of knowledge, but now entering the world of evidence-based care."

So, does Ayurveda function outside of the placebo effect? Although its multifaceted nature makes it difficult to fit into standard research protocols, recent studies—show real-world effectiveness. With increased scientific scrutiny and improved study design, Ayurvedic treatments are losing their "alternative" status to be accepted as legitimate, complementary healing methods.

If you're considering Ayurvedic treatments, always consult qualified practitioners and seek interventions that are part of evidence-backed protocols because healing shouldn’t rely on belief alone it should be grounded in results.

Dr Rohit Madhav Sane is a Ayurvedic doctor and founder of Madhavbaug in India

You’re eating clean, barely touch alcohol, and still feeling bloated, irritable, or constantly fatigued. Your liver panels are slightly off, but nothing seems to explain why. Now, what if the answer wasn’t in your plate or your glass—but in your pent-up rage or that unresolved tension you brush under the rug?

Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of holistic medicine, has long warned us about something modern science is just beginning to catch up with—that your emotional landscape, particularly unchecked anger and stress, can be just as damaging to your liver as any toxin. Yes, your emotions might be silently inflaming your liver, disturbing digestion, and setting off a chain reaction that messes with everything from hormones to metabolism.

Anger isn’t just a fleeting emotion but a heat that fuels inflammation, stagnation and long-term organ dysfunction. Dr. Manoj Kutteri, Ayurvedic doctor and Naturopathy expert, reveals how our modern “go-go-go” lifestyle—laden with cortisol, quick fixes, and bottled-up emotions—throws our doshas off balance and overburdens the liver, the body’s chief detox organ.

When we think about liver damage, alcohol is often the usual suspect. While it's true that excessive alcohol consumption takes a significant toll on liver health, emerging insights from Ayurveda—the ancient Indian system of medicine—suggest there’s more to the story. Emotional factors like anger, stress, and anxiety may be silently impacting liver function too.

Dr. Kutteri emphasizes that the liver is not only a metabolic powerhouse but also a seat of emotion and energetic balance. “Whether it’s long-term anger, stress, alcohol consumption, or digestive issues, the root often leads us back to the liver—and more importantly, to our doshas and Agni,” he says.

The liver is one of the most vital organs in the body—second only to the heart and lungs. It performs over 500 essential functions including detoxification, digestion, hormone regulation, and energy metabolism. From filtering the blood to breaking down old red blood cells, the liver is constantly at work.

What’s often overlooked is that liver diseases are “silent” in their progression. Symptoms typically appear only when significant damage has occurred. This makes proactive liver care—not just reactive treatment—crucial.

Do Your Liver Reflect Your Emotions?

In Ayurveda, the liver is not merely a physical organ—it is energetically and emotionally linked to overall well-being. It's considered the seat of Pitta dosha, the dosha associated with heat, transformation, and metabolism. Dr. Kutteri explains, “Pitta governs digestion and blood quality. When it gets imbalanced due to anger, alcohol, spicy food, or stress, the liver is the first to suffer.”

This view helps explain why some individuals with minimal alcohol exposure still develop liver dysfunction. Their inner emotional and metabolic environment may be fuelling silent inflammation.

Effect of Tri-Dosha on Liver Health

Ayurveda recognizes three primary forces—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha—known as doshas. Each governs different bodily and emotional functions. When imbalanced, these doshas can impair liver health in distinct ways:

Pitta imbalance: Leads to excessive heat, inflammation, bile disruption, and can exacerbate emotional outbursts like anger.

Kapha imbalance: Causes sluggish metabolism, fatty deposits in the liver, and toxin accumulation.

Vata imbalance: Disrupts circulation and nervous system communication, resulting in erratic digestion and poor detoxification.

According to Dr. Kutteri, “A disturbed doshic balance doesn’t just reflect in liver enzymes or fat buildup. It shows up as mood swings, sugar cravings, skin breakouts, fatigue—subtle signs your liver is crying for help.”

How Anger Contributes to Diseases?

Western medicine is increasingly acknowledging the gut-brain-liver axis. Ayurveda, thousands of years ago, already made the link between emotions and liver health. Anger, in particular, is seen as a potent disruptor.

“Chronic anger or suppressed frustration creates heat in the body and disturbs bile flow,” says Dr. Kutteri. This not only upsets digestion but also leads to inflammatory responses—fueling gut issues, skin conditions, and metabolic imbalances.

In practical terms, if you’re someone who gets easily irritated, holds grudges, or experiences frequent emotional burnout, your liver may be silently bearing the burden.

What Ayurveda Says About Alcohol?

Yes, alcohol is still a villain—but Ayurveda explains why it affects people differently. For those with Pitta dominance, alcohol intensifies inner heat, disrupts digestion, and congests the liver. Kapha types may experience fat buildup and sluggish detoxification, while Vata types can suffer from dryness, anxiety, and erratic metabolism with long-term use.

“Ayurveda doesn’t just say avoid alcohol—it teaches you how your body constitution interacts with it,” says Dr. Kutteri.

Role of Agni in Digestive Fire

A central concept in Ayurveda is Agni, or digestive fire. When Agni is strong, the liver thrives. When weak, it leads to Ama (toxins), which accumulate in the liver and bloodstream. There are four types of Agni:

Sama Agni – Balanced digestion, indicating optimal liver health

Vishama Agni – Irregular digestion, seen in Vata imbalance

Tikshna Agni – Overactive digestion, associated with Pitta dominance

Manda Agni – Sluggish digestion, common in Kapha types

To maintain liver health, it’s essential to support Agni through mindful eating, herbal detox therapies, seasonal routines, and balanced emotions.

In Ayurveda, practices like pranayama (breathing), yoga, meditation, chanting, journaling, and chakra healing are not optional—they’re essential. These rituals help balance the doshas, release suppressed emotions, and support liver regeneration.

“In a world driven by productivity, we’ve ignored how emotional stress silently disrupts our organs. The liver is particularly vulnerable,” Dr. Kutteri stresses.

If your goal is to prevent chronic diseases like insulin resistance, diabetes, PCOS, or cardiovascular conditions—or even if you just want clearer skin, better sleep, and a calmer mind—start with your liver. It’s not just alcohol that burdens this mighty organ. Your anger, stress, lifestyle habits, and even your thought patterns play a role. Fortunately, Ayurveda offers us a holistic, practical, and deeply intuitive roadmap to heal from within.

So the next time you clench your jaw in traffic or hold back that outburst at work, remember: your liver might be absorbing more than just your diet—it’s absorbing your emotional leftovers too.

Dr. Manoj Kutteri is a wellness expert with specialization in Naturopathy, Ayurveda, Nutrition, Acupuncture, Yoga and Physical culture at the Atmantan Wellness Centre in India