Dump those products! Anti-aging naturally

Don't go blowing a bundle on lotions and potions that make empty promises. Want to look eternally youthful? Here's what you have to do.

The search for the fountain of youth goes on. Something new is continually being discovered. But the truth is that several very effective fountains of youth are already at our disposal. These really do not stop aging, but they turn a wrinkled face into an elegant work of art that improves each year, adding grace and beauty with the brush strokes of time.

There are a host of products that claim, with or without much validity, to help reverse aging, but the best and surest way to do it is through natural means. There are three major processes of getting younger naturally. These are:

• Detoxification
• Rejuvenation nutrition and therapies
• Maintenance and enhancement

In the following pages, we outline a personalised plan centered around each of these processes, so read on.

For detoxification, it is important to begin the night before by taking a mild laxative. Drink lukewarm water first thing in the morning, as it helps the bowels get active and starts releasing toxins through the kidneys and bowels. At least three glasses of warm water have to be consumed before noon.

Undergo an Ayurvedic body massage like abhayanga. Again, the type of body massage and the oils and herbs used will depend upon your health condition and constitution.

Your diet on detoxification day has to consist of fruits, light herbal tea and warm soups, but with no sour ingredients or artificial flavours. A light khichdi can be taken at 3 pm and after that one has to rest.

Mild enemas with herbal water can be taken a few times during the detoxification process.

This process can last from one to 15 days, depending upon the condition of health.

Pranayams and mild yoga exercises may be undertaken during this period.

After the body has been cleansed, it is the time to build the rasas. The rasas are fluids which carry nutrition and adaptogens to the different parts of the body, in order to bring back its functions to a youthful state.

During rejuvenation, khichdi made up of rice and mung dal (green gram) along with a little quantity of organic ghee (clarified butter) should be consumed. The only function of the ghee is to carry the nourishment to deeper tissues, as it is excellently absorbed by the body.

Many herbs can be added, as decoctions or as powders to the menu; the dosage can be thrice a day:

• Herbs like Ashoka are good for the female reproductive system.
• Brahmi is good to rejuvenate the nervous system.
• Gokshura is good for the urinary system and the prostrate gland.
• Ashwagandha is a tonic for the nervous system and frazzled nerves.
• Bringraj is pitta-pacifying and is good for anxiety-related hairfall and premature graying of hair.
• Guduchi is a powerful immune modulator and helps the body to heal itself and improve immunity.
• Shatavri is good for the female system and any ulcers.

Body massages and eye therapies are to be administered for a period of a month.

During maintenance, one has to continue with herbs and slowly build the diet along with more exercises, so that strength is gained, along with better posture and bone density.

Reversing aging is a lot of fun when it comes to the treatments and the process is also relaxing. The only difficult part of anti-aging naturally is that one should not go back to a lifestyle of excesses -- overeating, late nights, overdrinking etc.