Body Odor - Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment
Body odor is the unpleasant smell emanating from sweat.
While human sweat is mostly odorless, the bacteria that live on the skin can break down the sweat into acids which produces an unpleasant odor.
All people who have passed the age of puberty can produce body odor.
Since men tend to sweat more than women, they are more likely to have body odor.
The apocrine sweat glands which are concentrated in the armpits, genital areas and breasts, release scented chemicals known as pheromones.
These apocrine glands are mostly responsible for body odor because the sweat that they produce contains a high level of protein which bacteria find easy to break down.
Obesity, medical conditions like diabetes, and eating predominantly spicy food, can increase the chances of body odor.
Most people who have body odor can control this problem by adopting simple, regular, self-care techniques.
These include bathing regularly once or twice a day; washing the armpits thoroughly using an antibacterial soap; using a deodorant or antiperspirant; shaving the armpits regularly; wearing natural made fibers; and limiting the consumption of red meat and spicy foods.
Ayurvedic medicines can be given to those people who do not benefit from the above self-care techniques and continue to have a problem of body odor.
Medicated Ayurvedic soaps containing Haridra (Curcuma longa), Chandan (Santalum album) and Usheer (Vetiveria zizanioidis) can be used to wash the body every day.
These medicines act against the bacteria in the skin, bring about a cooling effect, and emanate a pleasant odor.
In addition, the body can be massaged with fine powders of the above mentioned herbal medicines and also other medicines like Manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia) and Saariva (Hemidesmus indicus).
Medicines can also be given by mouth, which help to reduce sweating and prevent or reduce body odor.
These medicines include Maha-Manjishthadi-Qadha, Saarivasav, Chandanasav, Usheerasav, Bilva-Avelaha, Haridra, Daruharidra (Berberis aristata), Yashtimadhuk (Glycerrhiza glabra), Chirayta (Swertia chirata), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Vishwa (Zinziber officinalis), Rakta -Chandan (Pterocarpus santalinus), Bilva (Aegle marmelos), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), Behada (Terminalia bellerica), Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) and Usheer.
Medical conditions which contribute to body odor need to be treated separately.
Obesity can be treated using Medohar-Guggulu, Triphala-Guggulu, Chandraprabha-Vati, Triphala (Three fruits) and Trikatu (Three pungent herbs).
Diabetes can be treated using medicines like Haridra, Amalaki, Gudmar (Gymnema sylvester), Vijaysaar (Pterocarpus marsupium), Mamejva (Enicostemma littorale) and Karavellaka (Momordica charantia).
Stress can be reduced using medicines like Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Jatamansi (Nardostachys jatamansi) and Shankhpushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis).
In this way, maintaining proper hygiene and the judicious use of medicines, if required, can in most cases satisfactorily solve the problem of body odor.
While human sweat is mostly odorless, the bacteria that live on the skin can break down the sweat into acids which produces an unpleasant odor.
All people who have passed the age of puberty can produce body odor.
Since men tend to sweat more than women, they are more likely to have body odor.
The apocrine sweat glands which are concentrated in the armpits, genital areas and breasts, release scented chemicals known as pheromones.
These apocrine glands are mostly responsible for body odor because the sweat that they produce contains a high level of protein which bacteria find easy to break down.
Obesity, medical conditions like diabetes, and eating predominantly spicy food, can increase the chances of body odor.
Most people who have body odor can control this problem by adopting simple, regular, self-care techniques.
These include bathing regularly once or twice a day; washing the armpits thoroughly using an antibacterial soap; using a deodorant or antiperspirant; shaving the armpits regularly; wearing natural made fibers; and limiting the consumption of red meat and spicy foods.
Ayurvedic medicines can be given to those people who do not benefit from the above self-care techniques and continue to have a problem of body odor.
Medicated Ayurvedic soaps containing Haridra (Curcuma longa), Chandan (Santalum album) and Usheer (Vetiveria zizanioidis) can be used to wash the body every day.
These medicines act against the bacteria in the skin, bring about a cooling effect, and emanate a pleasant odor.
In addition, the body can be massaged with fine powders of the above mentioned herbal medicines and also other medicines like Manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia) and Saariva (Hemidesmus indicus).
Medicines can also be given by mouth, which help to reduce sweating and prevent or reduce body odor.
These medicines include Maha-Manjishthadi-Qadha, Saarivasav, Chandanasav, Usheerasav, Bilva-Avelaha, Haridra, Daruharidra (Berberis aristata), Yashtimadhuk (Glycerrhiza glabra), Chirayta (Swertia chirata), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Vishwa (Zinziber officinalis), Rakta -Chandan (Pterocarpus santalinus), Bilva (Aegle marmelos), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), Behada (Terminalia bellerica), Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) and Usheer.
Medical conditions which contribute to body odor need to be treated separately.
Obesity can be treated using Medohar-Guggulu, Triphala-Guggulu, Chandraprabha-Vati, Triphala (Three fruits) and Trikatu (Three pungent herbs).
Diabetes can be treated using medicines like Haridra, Amalaki, Gudmar (Gymnema sylvester), Vijaysaar (Pterocarpus marsupium), Mamejva (Enicostemma littorale) and Karavellaka (Momordica charantia).
Stress can be reduced using medicines like Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Jatamansi (Nardostachys jatamansi) and Shankhpushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis).
In this way, maintaining proper hygiene and the judicious use of medicines, if required, can in most cases satisfactorily solve the problem of body odor.
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