Beauty from the inside out—how ashwagandha and ghee boost your glow
Ashwagandha and ghee are both powerful superfoods that externally promote beautiful glowing skin and healthy hair. We were already aware of the internal nutritional benefits of ghee and ashwagandha, as they have been studied for thousands of years and touted for their contribution to long-term health and vitality. Let's dive in to learn a little more on how these two gems contribute to our internal health for a visually pleasing external glow!
Make sure to check out our other blogs on healthy eating and feeling our best by visiting the links below.
Let’s dig a little deeper: Ghee
Ghee is a class of clarified butter that originated in ancient India. It is commonly used in cuisine, traditional medicine, and religious rituals. Ghee is made by melting butter. The butter separates into liquid fats and milk solids. Once separated, the milk solids are removed, which means that ghee has less to no lactose.
Traditionally, ghee has been used as cooking oil, an ingredient in dishes, and in Ayurveda therapies. Ghee is still used in Ayurvedic massage and as a base for herbal ointments to treat burns and rashes.
Ghee improves digestion and reduces inflammation throughout the body. Ghee includes the fat-soluble vitamins A, D and E as well as antioxidants that fight free radicals, promote cell growth of the skin, strengthen vision and optimize the overall functioning of the immune system.
Ghee is a kitchen staple in Indian kitchens and is becoming more prominent in the West as its virtues continue to be revealed. As a full-body balm, it is a panacea. In fact, it may be worth bathing in!
Why is ghee good for your glow?
- It improves the skins overall glow and moisturizes: The essential fatty acids in ghee induce hydration into our skin cells. It penetrates and nourishes all seven layers of the skin. When used daily on the face, its anti-aging results are reportedly impressive.
- It cures chapped lips: Use as a natural hydrating lubricant to cure or prevent chapping. Apply before bed.
- It reduces dark circles under eyes and relieves tired eyes: Applying before bed around the eyes and washing off in the morning is said to an effective treatment. Results can also be expected even after 15 minutes if overnight seems daunting.
- It treats coarse, frizzy, dry hair and removes split ends: Ghee penetrates deep inside your scalp and improves blood circulation, positively affecting the quality of your hair. Use as a conditioner and massage into hair for 15-20 minutes before rinsing.
- It improves digestion: Regular ingestion of 1 or 2 teaspoons of ghee relieves constipation and works as a lubricant for the body, improving digestion, which adds luster to skin and hair from the inside out. Ghee also helps to increase the body’s ability to absorb vitamins and minerals from the food you consume, thus boosting vitality of skin and hair.
- A practice common in India to promote a smooth, glowing complexion is called shata dhauta ghrita, or ghee washed with water 100 times. The recipe is quite simple, you add equal parts water to ghee and blend or mix, pour the water off and repeat at least 3 times or as many as 100 (!) as the recipe suggests. Spread generously over your face and body daily to achieve that beautiful smooth glow.
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb (it’s considered to be “the king of herbs,” in fact). An adaptogen promotes the health of the adrenal system that manages the body’s response to environmental, physical and emotional stress. In other words, adaptogens help the body combat stress and fatigue. Ashwagandha also acts as a soothing salve that restores a deep, rejuvenative peace and calm, replenishes the body, and combats the stressful effects of everyday living. Ashwagandha has also been shown to be an effective way to treat insomnia.
Ashwagandha has high levels of antioxidants that stave off free radicals to fight signs of aging such as wrinkles, dark spots, fine lines, and blemishes. It possesses alkaloids that act on the nervous system to ease anxiety and stress, which have a direct effect on the health of our skin and hair.
How Ashwagandha works
- Moisturizes: Ashwagandha soothes and protects against dry, rough skin.
- Cleanses: The compounds referred to as “withanolides” help cleanse dirt and impurities, which can prevent clogged pores and acne.
- Heals: A liquid mixture of ashwagandha can be applied as an ointment to treat cuts, bruises, and skin inflammation.
- Stimulates: Ashwagandha boosts DHEA, which is a precursor to both testosterone and estrogen and stimulates the production of vital compounds and proteins for healthy skin hydration. DHEA and estrogen help in keeping the skin youthful by stimulating the collagen production and increasing the natural skin oils. On the other hand, it lowers cortisol levels, which can be problematic to the skin.
For glowing skin, try this easy to make at home skin toner
- 2 teaspoons HANAH Ashwagandha+
- 1 teaspoon dried ginger
- 1 teaspoon dried lemon peel
- Boil together in 1 cup of water and apply the infusion when it is slightly cooled.
For healthy, lustrous hair, add ashwagandha to your shampoo. It is believed to improve scalp circulation, strengthen the hair, and get rid of dandruff, psoriasis, and eczema on the scalp. It stimulates melanin—the pigment responsible for the color of your hair—so it may reverse greying. It is also believed to prevent breakage and hair loss.
So there you have it—the secret to radiant skin and hair is right under our noses. Who knew that the two most iconic superfoods in Ayurvedic tradition work together synergistically to supplement any skin or hair routine? Inside and out!
We’d love to hear from you! How have HANAH Ashwagandha+ and HANAH Vechur Ghee boosted your glow? Write a review for our HANAH products here.
Other HANAH blogs that inspire us to live our best lives:
- Yoga, Lifestyle & Diet
- 4 ways to increase energy health for optimal performance and long-term health
- Healthy Eating Guidelines from Health Coach & Yogi Cate Stillman
Check out our wonderful HANAH Vechur Ghee and Ashwagandha+ product pages to learn more:
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