Herbal anti-aging treatment is now being accepted by scientific communities with Ayurvedic treatment being the most well-known. Ayurvedic treatments concentrate on three areas of a person – Vata, Kapha and Pitta. According to Ayurvedic treatment experts, maintaining a perfect balance among these three aspects is the secret to staying young-looking and healthy.
The goal and the herbs
The goal of Ayurvedic treatments is not only to bring about the slowing down of the aging process but also to make the body work at its best and bring vitality and peace to individuals. Some of the herbs used in Ayurvedic treatments are:
Amla or emblica officianalis
This herb is specifically given special attention in the literature Charaka Samhita. This herb is full of natural vitamin C and therefore has the capacity to rejuvenate bodily systems.
The ginger family
The herbs of the ginger family are rich in anti-oxidative ingredients, ingredients that increase blood flow to the peripheries and ingredients that reduce inflammation at the cellular level.
Turmeric rhizomes
These substances in the form of curcumin, curcuminoids and tetrahydrocurcuminoids possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Galanga (also called chinese ginger)
Galanga contains gingerols, diarylheptanoids and essential oils. Diarylheptanoids are anti-arthritic. Pure Galanga extracts have the ability to fight oxidants, absorb UV radiation and inhibit tyrosinase.
The clove family
These herbs are used to relieve pain such as toothache and muscle pains which is because they contain anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties.
Vitis
The anti-aging abilities of Vitis are attributed to the grape family members’ antioxidant properties. Procyanidins are concentrated in the seeds while resveratrol is concentrated in the skin of the grape.
Rosemary
The rosmarinic acid, carnosic acid, amyrenones, rocciferone, seco-hinokiol, oleanoic acid, carnosol and diterpenes ursolic acid contained in the rosemary herb exhibit strong anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and tyrosinase-controlling properties.
Licorice
This herb contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It has also been found to protect the skin from the harmful UV rays. Licorice’s active ingredients include liquiritins, glabridins, glabrol, glycyrrhetinic acid, and glycyrrhizin.
Neem
This herb is already recognised for its ability to control bacteria and insects. Found to have hypoglycemic, anti-malarial and wound-healing properties, neem is also known to have powerful free radical inhibiting and antioxidant properties.
Andrographis
Research suggests that the herb andrographis has a strong potential to control skin aging. This substance is taken from the Andrographis herb.
Pomegranate
This herb has punicalagins, punicalins, gallagic acid and ellagic acid. Although some of these substances are not yet used commercially, all of them have been found to be effective in neutralising oxidants and free radicals.
