Massaging your body with oil before you take a bath brings physical and mental advantages. Regular oil massage with appropriate oil – coconut oil or sesame oil – has its advantages like lowered stress, better physical fitness, lower blood pressure, etc are some of them.
Oil massage is of great help to people living in hot conditions. The oil massage can calm the nervous system, circulatory system and mind.
Asthangahridaya, an ancient treatise on Ayurveda suggests daily application of oil on head, ears and feet. This is effective against creases on skin, arthritic pain and fatigue.
The main goal of oil massages is maintenance of smoothness and moisture of skin. People living in hot countries and working under extremely hot conditions have their sebum easily dried up.
This drying up of skin can make the body exposed to pathogens. The sebum, secreted by sebaceous glands and filled up on the skin surface, acts as a layer of protection against pathogens. With less sebum, the skin and body is vulnerable.
An oil massage can reverse this condition, give moisture and help skin retain its normal conditions.
Oil Massages in Treatments
Ayurveda suggests massage treatments for variety of conditions. Medicinal herbs are boiled in coconut or sesame oil.
The herbs are mixed well with the oil. When applied to the skin, a portion of the medicines reach the blood, just like injection. However, only a limited amount of active components reach the blood.
The oil gives flexibility to skin and after massaging with medicated oils, one can experience freedom from conditions like arthritis.
Abhayangam is full body oil massage, specially formulated to bring in several mental and physical benefits like relaxation, immunity, flexibility, etc.
From simple coconut oil and sesame oil to fully medicated oils of varying qualities, you can find a variety of massage oils. There are also specially formulated oils for head massage, which promote hair growth.
Regular oil massage, especially on head, ears and soles, as is said by Vagbhata Acharya in Ashtangahridaya is good dinacharya (daily routine). It prevents creases on skin, tiredness and arthritis. It also gives you several benefits including better relaxation, better immunity and better sleep.
Archive
Posts Tagged ‘Skin Surface’
Mar
05
Dec
09
Hives are red welts of small or sometimes larger size that appear in the skin surface. Hives are a form of skin allergy and occurs when the skin is exposed or is subjected to chemicals or substances that trigger allergic reactions.
Hives are characterized by the feeling of itchiness. You know hot it feels when something is really itchy. There is a feeling of uneasiness and discomfort and sometimes wounds and scratches occur as products or results of scratching itchy skin surfaces.
Hives often manifest or appear in people who have already experienced or reported other allergic reactions that may include angioedema and hay fever.
The welts that often indicate or herald the onset of hives appear on the skin surface in clusters or batches.
The affected part feels itch because of releases of histamines and other body chemicals which are the body’s immune system’s reactions against allergens causing hives.
Causes that result to the onset or appearance of symptoms for hive vary. These sources or cause also are ver much broad and generalized, sometimes making the identification of the skin disease hard and inaccurate.
Hives often are body reflex reactions to harsh medications or drugs that are rejected by the body’s immune system.
Hives is not a disease. You should be advised that the skin condition is merely a skin reaction to allergens or substances that are rejected by the body upon entrance.
Occurrence of hives indicate that the body is very active in throwing out impurities and foreign and unlikely substances, indicating that the immune system is really working.
There are also several foods that may induce the appearance of hives in the skin. Common examples of these food are milk, eggs, nuts, fish, shellfish and of course, berries.
On set of hives upon eating or taking in such foods can be avoided by totally eliminating these food in the diet. There are alternatives available in the market for such foods so cravings would be somehow satisfied and quenched.
Pollen, which normally are spread though the air during summer and spring seasons, also can contribute to the onset of hives.
Other causes include animal or insect bites and animal danders, especially those from cats.
Recent findings of hives studies also reveal and suggests that hives are sometimes hereditary. It must be noted, however, that hives can also develop or become full blown after illness or infections like leukemia and autoimmune diseases.
Other ailments that result in hives include hepatitis, angioedema, dog tapeworm, lupus erythematosus, mastocytosis and colds.
Symptoms of hives, treatments and prevention
The most prevalent and common symptoms of hives include appearance of red welts on certain skin portions and characterized itching.
It is very uncommon for the person with hives to develop a fever, but if that happens, immediate help and advice from the doctor is imperative.
Fevers indicate the attack of viral and bacterial elements and heralds the onset or looming danger of a more serious disease. In the case of hives, fever can pin point or indicate the presence or development of complications.
Antihistamines, epinephrine, coticosteroids and sedatives are the sure medications to curtail hives, but their administration and in take should be guided accordingly by physicians and doctors.
Prevention is achieved by avoiding exposure to allergens identified as causes for hives.