Akansha Verma, Usha Sharma
Vol. 8, Jul-Dec 2019
Abstract:
Beauty is the desire of every individual to give pleasure to the sense. The concept of using herbs for beautification is well defined in Ayurveda. In Ayurveda beauty was defined in holistic terms, and beauty was within everyone’s approach. Ayurveda cosmetology started from mother wombs, dinacharya, ratricharya, ritucharya with the practice of herbal & herbo-mineral formulations. Charak Samhita classified cosmetic drugs as Varnya, Kushthaghna, Kandughna, Vayasthapaka, Udardaprashmana, etc. Some medicinal plants like Haridra, Manjistha, Saariva, Chandana, Amalaki, Ghritkumari etc. has been described for beautification of skin, hair, teeth, nails etc. These herbs balances the Agni, the Dosha and the Dhatu to maintain good health. Perfect balance of these three are necessary for good proportion of Dhatu and Updathu which is basic requirement for fit and beautiful skin & body. Moreover, these herbswork in healing of damage tissues of the body. In these herbs Manjistha (Rubia cordifolia) holds the reputation of a very good skin care herb as it is used to make the complexion lighter,even and lightendark spots due to its Varnya, Rakta-prasadaka, Rakta-shodhaka (blood purifier), Vishaghna, Rasayana properties. Chemically it contains glucosides known as Manjisthin and Purpurin, along with resins, lime salts and colouring agents etc.