Is your lifestyle the root cause of your skin irritation? Find out how Ayurveda can help. By Shubhra Krishan

Got a skin allergy? Your local dermatologist might send you home with a pill and an ointment, but visit a 'vaidya', and he'll give you a lecture on the importance of improving your lifestyle. This might seem illogical, but think about it. When a gardener spots wilting leaves on his plant, does he water the surface? No! He nourishes the root. Similarly, ayurvedic physicians believe that your skin problems originate much deeper beneath the layer of skin that you can actually see.

So, how does a 'vaidya' pacify an angry patch of skin? With 'jadi-bootis' and pastes? Those too, but primarily, the 'vaidya' will give you a three-fold prescription. If you follow his advice, you'll achieve much more than taming your allergies - you'll master the mantra to staying fit for life. Here are some gems of wisdom from the ayurvedic treasury.

Cool Down Your Angry Skin
Skin allergies manifest themselves in not-so-pleasant ways, ranging from hives, rashes, urticaria, and burning eyes, to allergic types of dermatitis and eczema. According to Ayurveda these have one thing in common - they are a reaction to an overload of heat in the system. In technical terms, 'vaidyas' say these allergies happen when there is excess 'pitta' in your system. In other words, these eruptions are your skin's way of saying that it is feeling hot and angry!

So find out what triggers off that anger in the first place. Usually, it's exposure to anything that is 'hot' in nature, especially very spicy food. The first line of treatment: Stop eating curries and 'kormas' laden with chillies and garam masala.

Healing Spices
These contain allergy-fighting chemicals that include flavonoids and phenols, for example:
• Turmeric is anti-allergic.
• Cumin ('jeera') is anti-inflammatory, helps regulate your digestion and balance the flow of bile. It also stops the creation of toxic residues in the body.
• Coriander ('dhaniya') cools and helps the body's cells shed accumulated toxins.
• Fennel ('saunf') cools, and neutralises the effect of 'hot' spices. So if you've succumbed to the temptation of spicy 'chaat' or curry, don't worry! Munch on a few grains of fennel, to pacify your stomach and your skin. As a bonus, your mouth will smell fresh, too.
• Ginger opens up the body's clogged pores by flushing out debris.
• Black pepper is cleansing and helps the body absorb nutrients from food and prevents toxins from building up.

But before you head for the kitchen to dish up a meal with these spices, a word of caution: Even the most healing spices won't work their magic if you cook them in a dish loaded with grease. Oil-rich foods aggravate the 'heated' feeling in your body that cause those unsightly break outs. But again, there is a delicious alternative to oil. 'Vaidyas' suggest sautéing a combination of ground turmeric, cumin and coriander in ghee and using the mixture to season your vegetables.