Skin & Hair
Skin and hair are treated as outputs of blood quality and digestion. Cooling, blood-cleansing herbs are used internally alongside topical oils.
Daily practice
- Bitter greens and plenty of water to support the blood
- Weekly oiling of the scalp, left for at least an hour
- Avoid harsh cleansers that strip natural oils
Herbs used for Skin & Hair
Turmeric
Curcuma longa
The everyday anti-inflammatory root of the kitchen pharmacy.
- Plant
- Turmeric plant · Herb
- Also
- Haldi, Haridra, Manjal
- Parts
- Rhizome (root)Fresh root
Triphala (Three-Fruit Blend)
Emblica officinalis, Terminalia bellirica, Terminalia chebula
The three-fruit formula for gentle, regular digestion.
- Plant
- Three fruiting trees: amalaki, bibhitaki, haritaki · Formula
- Also
- Three-fruit formula, Triphala churna
- Parts
- Fruit
Amla (Indian Gooseberry)
Phyllanthus emblica
Indian gooseberry: cooling vitamin C for skin, hair and blood.
- Plant
- Amla tree · Tree
- Also
- Indian gooseberry, Amalaki, Nelli
- Parts
- FruitSeedLeaf
Neem (Indian Lilac)
Azadirachta indica
Intensely bitter, deeply cleansing: the classic skin herb.
- Plant
- Neem tree · Tree
- Also
- Nimba, Indian lilac, Margosa, Vepa
- Parts
- LeafBarkTwigSeed oilRoot bark
Fenugreek (Fenugreek Seed)
Trigonella foenum-graecum
Kitchen seed with real evidence for blood sugar and digestion.
- Plant
- Fenugreek plant · Herb
- Also
- Methi, Methika, Venthayam
- Parts
- SeedLeaf
Peepal (Sacred Fig)
Ficus religiosa
Sacred fig tree, also called pipal or bodhi: bark and leaf used for skin and breathing.
- Plant
- Peepal tree · Tree
- Also
- Pipal, Sacred fig, Bodhi tree, Ashvattha
- Parts
- BarkTender leafRoot barkFruit
Jamun (Java Plum / Black Plum)
Syzygium cumini
Indian blackberry tree: seed and bark long used for blood sugar and loose digestion.
- Plant
- Jamun tree · Tree
- Also
- Indian blackberry, Java plum, Jambu, Black plum
- Parts
- SeedBarkFruitLeaf
Banyan (Banyan Tree)
Ficus benghalensis
Banyan tree bark and aerial roots: cooling astringent for skin, gums and hair.
- Plant
- Banyan tree · Tree
- Also
- Bargad, Vata, Nyagrodha, Indian fig
- Parts
- BarkAerial rootLeafLatex