Talk of inflammation is everywhere. But what exactly is
chronic inflammation and how can we achieve healthful balance if it persists?
Take a look at any health and wellness site - you’ll find multiple articles and blogs on the perils of inflammation. And because it concerns so many these days, there are myriad suggestions for how to soothe or eliminate inflammation. But it’s important to remember that inflammation isn’t all bad.
Confounding? Read on to understand...
Inflammation is the body’s natural response to what it believes to be an infection or injury. As a part of your Immune System’s defenses, inflammation occurs when you get a cut or scratch. The redness and swelling that follow are white blood cells fighting for restoration. In the right context, inflammation is beautiful because it is your body’s remarkable defense against harm.
However, inflammation can be triggered unnecessarily and excessively. The body may respond to chronic stress, autoimmune disorders, obesity, and other conditions with a constantly activated inflammation response. Rather than rushing in to heal a specific wound or infection, the body simply remains in a relentless state of hyper-vigilance and defense.
When people talk of soothing or diminishing inflammation, this is the type of which they speak. What was intended for good has lost its balance and become a source of hurt rather than healing. This reversal can be debilitating and disheartening, even leading to conditions like DNA damage, arthritis, depression, and cancer.
So how does a natural, healthy immune system reaction go so wrong? There are quite a few possible contributing factors to chronic inflammation. They include:
Chronic inflammation has been called
smoldering inflammation - an indicator that the fire of this reaction never quite burns itself out. Rather, it is a low-grade imbalance that can cause whole-body damage, discomfort, and distress for years on end.
So how does inflammation show itself in the body? Here are just a few ways in which it manifests:
Because inflammation can affect the whole body, it can be helpful to closely examine the Ayurvedic way of health and wellness. Ayurveda takes a holistic approach, which means it seeks to restore balance to the entire person: spirit, mind, and body.
Ayurveda is
an ancient system of wellness based on historic texts from India. In fact, Ayurveda is considered the globe’s very first system of medicine, dating back to over 5000 years!
But rather than emphasizing on symptom mitigation and prescription medications, Ayurveda seeks to restore balance to the entire being through a comprehensive approach: diet, fitness, meditation, right thinking, and the potent properties of nutritive herbs.
Medication and treatment aren’t commonly recommended for chronic inflammation, but lifestyle changes, dietary care, and overall improved wellness are. As such,
Ayurveda is an ideal philosophy for imbalances in the mind and body and smoldering inflammation is one of them.
One remarkable practice within Ayurveda is the self-loving art of daily self-massage. Though this may be an unfamiliar concept in the West, people are beginning to catch onto it with great enthusiasm. Once considered, daily massages make a lot of sense in a society that’s stressed, overworked, exhausted, and looking for release.
Within Ayurvedic healing,
Abhyanga is the name for a luxurious, daily act of self-care in the form of a thoughtful, stress-reducing massage. It utilizes warm oil in a full-body treatment to restore balance in mind, body, and spirit. As such, chronic inflammation is one of many ailments that can benefit greatly from the practice of
Abhyanga.
Traditional texts within Ayurveda speak on the importance of
Abhyanga
to the individual’s overall health and wellness.
Though the benefits are countless, here are just a few:
Because stress, anxiety, and toxins can all contribute to chronic inflammation, the introduction of
Abhyanga into your daily beauty and self-care regimen can do more than just making your skin glow.
By combining soothing oils, nutritive herbs, and rejuvenating fruit essence, Ayurvedic experts craft wondrous tonics that facilitate a memorable full-body experience.
During the act of self-massage, the tension stored in your overworked body slowly begins to melt away. Of equal importance, you signal to your body that rest and restoration are both prioritized and sacred. After all, true acts of self-care should not be practices that cause further stress and anxiety, like spending money you don’t have or eating foods that later make you feel sluggish and inflamed.
The most delicious self-care practices are ones that leave you
feeling energized, positive, and full of the vibrant fuel of life. Abhyanga is the kind of precious self-love that helps undo the damage of the day and restore equilibrium and balance to your entire being.
Traditionally, this massage is performed early in the morning. Still, some people love winding down and wrapping up their day with relaxing Abhyanga. Try not to impose too many rules on your self-care routine, lest it should become another source of anxiety or stress.
The most important aspect of Abhyanga is that it should be done thoughtfully and without rushing.
Overall, the massage itself is quite simple and exceptionally pleasant.
Here are some simple tips for you:
As you’re probably aware, there is a bounty of restorative herbs provided to us by the Earth. While the latest promotional marketing will always attempt to convince us of some new wonder ingredient manufactured in a lab, something within us longs for the organic and all-natural.
Within Ayurveda, massage oils and tonics are crafted using only the finest of ingredients. These herbs, fruits, and oils have rich historical significance and have stood the test of time. They provide nourishment and restoration while promoting harmony and balance.
Here are just a few popular healing ingredients you might find in Ayurvedic massage oils:
With its uber-moisturizing propensity, organic sesame oil is a wonderful, silky base for a massage oil. This kind of oil is protective of the skin and helps release toxins. Overall, sesame is considered one of the most nourishing oils available and is highly regarded in Ayurvedic practice.
Within Ayurveda, licorice is cherished for its cooling, calming properties. It’s also known to be a great beautifier and a source of loving nourishment to the skin. Often called a harmonizing herb, licorice is believed to amplify the nutritive effects of all other herbs within an oil.
Also known as Amla, Indian Gooseberry is a beloved ingredient in Ayurveda because of its youth-promoting and balancing effects. In fact, Amla is often referred to as the mother herb, such are its generous and numerous gifts to the recipient’s holistic wellness and restoration.
Exceedingly popular in recent years, this oil lives up to its sterling reputation. As an ingredient within Ayurvedic massage elixirs, coconut oil is celebrated for its intense hydration and rich moisturizing properties. Also, the scent is well-loved for its fresh, tropical energy.
Another ingredient gaining immense popularity in the West is turmeric. In fact, this ingredient, in particular, is revered for its ability to quench and soothe whole-body inflammation. While it’s commonly ingested with warm milk or used in popular dishes, turmeric is also a superb ingredient for massage oils. When applied topically, it does wonders to purify and restore balance.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of Abhyanga is the aromatic experience it provides. Herbs like rosemary are known for the calming, soothing aroma.
The iYURA line of oils are intended for whole-body wellness. Each of the iYURA oils is carefully crafted using ancient Ayurvedic wisdom and balancing, nutritive herbs. They include hair oils, face oils, and oils that are superbly suited for Abhyanga massage. With time-honored ingredients that are proven for effectively and effortlessly working their way into the overworked body to soothe and relax it, and the untainted, herbaceous aroma that soothes and calms the mind, your Abhyanga ritual will not be like any other massage. Instead, it'll be a gratifying experience that your body will thank you for!
(no animal testing, ever)
A warming Restor-Active full-body oil to energize your day and strengthen your workout routine! It makes your skin firmer, softer and glow more! Based on an 800-Year-Old Traditional Formulation with Rosemary, Citriodora, and Lavender
VIEW DETAILSUltra-Light Energizing Body Massage Oil.
A light yet deeply enriching moisturizer specifically designed for congested skin and clogged pores, dullness, excessive oiliness and/or a broad/heavy frame is finally here – yes, a unique body moisturizer meant not for just a skin type, but also a body type!
A Polyherbal formula with about 46 herbs that does not contain any added essential oils, artificial fragrance, mineral oil or any kind of additive or chemical.
Get natural, Ayurvedic support in dealing with discomfort, relax, rejuvenate, live it up and rejoice with this Stuff of Legends!
Light Body Massage Oil for Soothed, Calmed Skin. Balances Pitta dosha.
Instant, light moisture that keeps your skin comfortable through the day, without making it sticky or oily
A soothing, innately cooling experience that soothes the heat element and provides calmness to the already touchy skin.Your sensitive skin won’t find itself annoyed anymore, it will not feel dry, not will it feel sticky and oily, it will feel pure, clean, appear clearer, soothed and smoothed.
This Kansa Wand works wonders for giving you a youthful face,stress-relief and total skin and mind-body rejuvenation!Whether used as a part of a facial or a stand-alone experience, this wand will give you a natural, gentle face-tightening and revitalizing experience like never before!
Comes combined with the unique formulation of Kansa Oil that not only gives the perfect glide needed for the wand to do its work but also brings you the superlative skin-enhancing benefits of specific Ayurvedic herbs.
A warming Restor-Active full-body oil to energize your day and strengthen your workout routine! It makes your skin firmer, softer and glow more! Based on an 800-Year-Old Traditional Formulation with Rosemary, Citriodora, and Lavender
VIEW DETAILSUltra-Light Energizing Body Massage Oil.
A light yet deeply enriching moisturizer specifically designed for congested skin and clogged pores, dullness, excessive oiliness and/or a broad/heavy frame is finally here – yes, a unique body moisturizer meant not for just a skin type, but also a body type!
A Polyherbal formula with about 46 herbs that does not contain any added essential oils, artificial fragrance, mineral oil or any kind of additive or chemical.
Get natural, Ayurvedic support in dealing with discomfort, relax, rejuvenate, live it up and rejoice with this Stuff of Legends!
Light Body Massage Oil for Soothed, Calmed Skin. Balances Pitta dosha.
Instant, light moisture that keeps your skin comfortable through the day, without making it sticky or oily
A soothing, innately cooling experience that soothes the heat element and provides calmness to the already touchy skin.Your sensitive skin won’t find itself annoyed anymore, it will not feel dry, not will it feel sticky and oily, it will feel pure, clean, appear clearer, soothed and smoothed.
This Kansa Wand works wonders for giving you a youthful face,stress-relief and total skin and mind-body rejuvenation!Whether used as a part of a facial or a stand-alone experience, this wand will give you a natural, gentle face-tightening and revitalizing experience like never before!
Comes combined with the unique formulation of Kansa Oil that not only gives the perfect glide needed for the wand to do its work but also brings you the superlative skin-enhancing benefits of specific Ayurvedic herbs.
