Radhika Talati Iyer, Founder of Beauty by Anahata talks about the miraculous Kumkumadi oil.
Quite literally made of Saffron or “Kumkuma” along with 25 other ingredients, the legendary Kumkumadi Thailam is an ancient and classic Ayurvedic Skin oil formulation by the Ashwini Kumaras who are known to be the royal physicians of the Gods. Coined pretty much as the mystifying elixir from the Gods themselves, this oil when applied every night on the skin is said to make the skin glow like gold.
Literally translated as “saffron oil’ in English, the Kumkumadi Tailam, is known for its luminescent properties. This concoction has been renowned for its use in rejuvenating and renewing skin cells, illuminating the skin and bestowing a young and healthy appearance to it for as long as you use it.
This Thailam is originally known to be created by the Vedic twin Gods of medicine known as the Ashwini Kumars. Nasatya Deva, the older of the Ashwini Kumara twins who is regarded as the deity of health and his younger twin Dasara who is the deity of medicine, appear in the sky in a golden chariot at times of need. They are believed to bring divine herbs and formulations from the heavens to help mankind. The Kumkumadi Tailam is one such formulation. A step by step procedure of this oil is found in the renowned Ashtanga Hridayam and Bhaisajya Ratnavalli in Ayurveda.
The ancient preparation for this Tailam consists of 26 ingredients, all of which work towards perfecting the skin. The Ashtanga Hridayam Samhita tells us that the taila or sesame oil in this case, is teekshna or sharp in action, vyavayi or that which penetrates quickly, sookshma or that which is subtle in its action and ushna or that which is healing. The properties of the kumkumadi get enhanced with the use of sesame oil that is known to cure any disease.
The herbs that are added in the Kumkumadi Tailam are pitta and kapha balancing and are known to cure rashes that cause inflammation on the skin. Apart from being equipped with abundant healing properties, this radiant oil helps solve many skin disorders like, eczema, psoriasis, allergies, pigmentation etc. The preparation of this oil goes through various stages of boiling, infusing, distilling and cooling. Only after these many processes does the final infusion of the Kumkumadi oil occur.
One of the many star ingredients of this oil concoction is Aja Ksheera or goat’s milk. This milk is famed for its highly medicinal, cleansing, detoxing and astringent qualities in Ayurveda and hence an important choice in this preparation.
Herbs like Manjishta that helps heal wounds, and improves micro circulation on the body is another important herb in this oil. Saffron or kumkuma, lightens blemishes and helps the skin glow. Other potent herbs like Madhuka that balances doshas, Laksha, that reduces inflammations, Patranga, that helps improve skin texture and Yashtimadhu that soothes and heals skin elevate the value of the Kumkumadi Tailam.
This concoction is boiled on a low flame for several hours along with many more herbs that are added in a particular proportion in a certain sequence. The intricacy of its process of preparation renders this oil a royal status amongst medicines that do wonders for your skin. The luxurious Kumkumadi oil can work on blemishes, correct complexion disorders and eradicate pigmentation. It has the capacity to literally reverse ageing and provide for a skin that’s flawless and blemish free.
The Kumkumadi Thailam is a proud product from ancient India that has been designed to detoxify, cleanse and heal. It is recommended that one uses not more than 4 to 5 drops every night before sleeping. A turnaround on the skin becomes visible within a week of its application. For those with extremely oily skin, it is recommended that a few drops be added in warm milk and ingested for flawless skin.
This Thailam can also be applied inside your nose like a ‘nasya’ before pranayam for extremely positive results on the body.
While the Kumkumadi Tailam miraculously transform your skin from the outside, it is advised to internally support the system by following a disciplined lifestyle. According to Ayurveda, great skin, lustrous hair and a healthy body, requires one to practice regularity in their diet, exercise everyday and get adequate sleep every night.
So the next time you are wondering how to get that flawless, radiant skin, dive into the ancient practices of Ayurveda and gift yourself this miraculous elixir’ and experience your skin glow like gold. Quite literally!
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