AYURVEDA FOR THE FIVE SENSES
Ayurveda is a holistic healing science which provides ways to keep every part of the body functioning healthily, inside and out. Below are ways prescribed by Ayurveda to keep your 5 sense organs in good shape. Add these practices to your Dinacharya to keep your senses sharp and well cared for.
EYES
Eyes are the most important organs. They allow us to see the world and live in it comfortably. The best way to maintain eye health is by daily irrigation of the eyes with water. According to Ayurveda, eyes are the centre of pitta and care must be taken to ensure they are unaffected by kapha. For this reason, it is essential to keep the eyes cool. Practice Anjanam every morning to maintain eye health. While bathing, fill your mouth with water, and use your palms to splash water in to them. Splash water into your eyes continually until the water in your mouth has lost its coolness. Then, spit out the water and repeat again after a few seconds. This helps dispel any heat or kapha from the eye region and keeps eyes healthy. You can also do a simple eye massage around the periphery of your eyes every day after meals. The nerves in the foot are connected to vision as well and a good foot massage can help boost eye health as well.
EARS
Ears help us hear, and must be intensely cared for. Improve ear wellness by putting a few drops of sesame oil inside your ear canal after food, a few times per week. This practice, known as Karnapuranam, flushes out any toxins or ama and also helps remove any hardened ear wax which might be causing blockages. Issues such as hearing loss, tinnitus, and even jaw related issues such as TMJ or lock jaw can be prevented by regularly practicing this.
NOSE
The nose is considered the gateway to the head according to Ayurveda. This means it is important to keep your nasal cavities clean and healthy. This can be done by incorporating a practice of Nasyam in your day to day life. Simply put a few drops of oil in your nose. This helps prevent colds, stuffiness of the head, and headaches. Depending on your dosha, you can use almond oil for vata, mustard oil for kapha or ghee for pitta.
TONGUE AND MOUTH
The tongue allows you to enjoy the food you eat, and is also the portal to your gastrointestinal system. For this reason, Ayurveda has specific practices to maintain good oral hygiene. Every day, after brushing
your teeth, always scrape your tongue. This practice, called Jihwa prakshalana, has been proven to eliminate any remnants of toxins and keep the tongue clean. It also helps improve taste. Another practice to follow is Kabalam. Kabalam is also known as oil pulling and is a great way to detoxify the mouth. Simply gargle a mouthful of oil and spit it out. Do this daily to experience a drastic change in how your mouth feels in terms of freshness, gum strength and tooth enamel whiteness. It also helps improve hearing and taste.
SKIN
The skin is the external appearance of your internal health which makes it absolutely vital to care for it appropriately. According to Ayurveda, it is essential to perform a daily oil massage or Abhyangam, which not only helps aid in flow of lymph, but also keeps the skin glowing, luminous and well-hydrated. Another practice to follow is called gharshana, also known as dry brushing. Using a cloth, rub your body vigorously. This helps slough off all dead skin cells, and also boosts circulation, which promotes skin appearance. Consult an ayurvedic practitioner to find the best way to incorporate Ayurveda into your life according to your body dosha type.
