
A ruddy/rough complexion indicates toxic blood. An orangish or greenish sallow complexion can also indicate gall bladder stagnation or acid reflux.
Acne is considered a hot, oily pitta condition in Ayurveda. When oils build up in the skin and clog your pores the small pustules known as pimples appear. Acne represents a small local infection of the skin. Acne due to...
Blackheads indicate clogged pores. Recurring blackheads may indicate dirty or excessively oily skin. Skin becomes oily when the blood is sweet, or when Pitta brings excess blood to the area. In a Pitta constition, blackheads on the face imply excess...
A whitehead may also be painful. All painful whiteheads are due to a localized infection. Whiteheads can result from excessively sweet Kapha blood, or blood that is too high in sugar or fat content mixing with fiery Pitta toxins. The fiery toxins...
Painful acne is often deep seated and cystic. Cystic acne may form in a person with a watery kapha constitution has a clogged pore, their body may form a cysts around the irritant. A whitehead may also be painful. All painful whiteheads are due to...
Cystic acne may form in a person with a watery kapha constitution has a clogged pore, their body may form a cysts around the irritant.
Cystic acne, as it penetrates the lower skin layers, is more likely to form a scar.
Cellulite is largely determined by genetics, but may be a sign of kapha poor circulation. Improving circulation and reducing overall body fat can improve the appearance of cellulite. Aromatic spices such as turmeric can help disperse and move the...
Lumps and bumps could be lipomas, cancer, or other diseases. Lipomas indicate a problem with fat metabolism and lipid congestion of the lymphatic system.
Freckles, liver spots, moles and other blemishes are often a sign of liver stress.
Numerous moles may be a sign of liver stress. Where moles are associated with heat, oiliness and sourness, liver spots are associated with liver bitterness and dryness.
Stretch marks are a result of stress on the skin. When you gain weight too quickly as is often the case in pregnancy, puberty, water retention, traumatic life experiences, or when the skin is stretched too quickly for any reason, it can stress the skin...
There are hundreds of different kinds of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) affecting different areas of the body. Treatment ranges from Antivirals Ablation - Use of caustic agents to burn away the wart. Lasers, electrodes, freezing...
Liver spots are a sign of a deficiency in the liver, or of the livers ability to move blood in the skin. Where moles are associated with heat, oiliness, and sourness, liver spots are associated with liver bitterness and dryness.
Skin tags are often a sign of poor fat metabolism. OVerweight persons are more likely to develop skin tags. Skin tags are more common in diabetics. Diabetes causes high blood sugar and imbalanced hormone levels. This can cause abnormal growth of skin...
While most flaky skin is dry in nature, some are oily. Dry flaky skin is Vata. Oily flaky skin is Kapha. Neem and Tea Tree, while great for certain hair conditions, won't nourish and soothe a dry scalp. They are too dry and harsh! Massaging
Bruising easily is a sign of high Pitta in Ayurveda. Capillary beds may be dilated due to a heat condition in heart or liver, general inflammation, or irritating toxins in the blood. Platelet count may be low. Malabsorption of vitamins C and K may be a...
Puffy skin implies lymphatic stagnation, inflammation, and edema, overall a Kapha condition in Ayurveda and dampness in Chinese medicine. Possible causes include poor circulation, an allergen, and toxins. Kapha lymph is naturally thick & gooey. This...
The body releases toxins through the digestion, urine, skin & lungs. Rashes may result when there are too many toxins, or the liver becomes otherwise aggravated. Some rashes may be infectious and require a visit to a medical doctor. All rashes are...
Cracked skin is a more advanced Vata condition of dryness.
Rosaceae is an inflammation and dilation of capillaries typically around the nose and cheeks. Demodex mites are present in 80% of cases - these mites trigger an immune response that causes rosaceae. For this reason, some consider rosaceae to be an...
Hives are a sign of allergy and aggravated Pitta, or lymphatic congestion in aggravated Kapha.
Sensitivity to poison ivy runs in my family genes including hospitalizations! But over the past several years I healed my allergies to poison ivy and can even pick up a leaf without blisters or itching. I now view poison ivy as 'sister ivy', a powerful...
Sensitivity to chemicals imply that the liver is overwhelmed, often due to leaky gut syndrome or chronic indigestion.
Scarring easily may be a sign of low cholesterol. Vitamin E, almond oil, and other oils and herbs can help the skin repair more quickly.
Psoriasis vulgaris (common psoriasis) is a skin disorder characterized by hyperactive skin cell production. People with psoriasis produce new skin cells and shed old ones at a rate of about 10 times faster than most people, which leads to persistently...
DISCLAIMER: The pathogenesis of each person's condition is unique, and so the diet must be fit to the individual and the unique root causes of the condition in your body. The information on this page is for educational purposes only and should not be used to treat a medical condition. It is not a substitute for medical care. Please check with your doctor before making any changes to your health and wellness routine.
On Joyful Belly, we've created an extensive categorization of food so you can easily match food to your imbalanced biocharacteristics. By eating an optimal diet that balances your biocharacteristics, your whole body is strengthened and the conditions that created the disorder are removed. Once the root causes of the disease are removed, the disease lessens in strength or disappears altogether. Additional remedies - such as herbs and lifestyle practices - focused on the specific disorder, can greatly enhance your healing.
Founder of Joyful Belly Ayurveda, John Immel, answers the question ‘What is Ayurveda?’