Toners play a major role in facial skin management. Vaidya Mishra has been conducting extensive research and trials over the past couple of years to bring us the perfect skin toner, full of herbal intelligence and effective, as well as free from any synthetic preservatives, scents, or colors.

Why use a facial toner at all?

After any deep, or even a mild facial cleanse, the pores of your skin get dilated. Why? Simply because after a cleanse or a scrub, the pores release built-up toxins and a vacuum is created there where there used to be toxins (you should be careful in your choice of facial cleansers in general, as some facial products cause more dilation of the pores, rather than less).

Vaidya Mishra’s line of Lalita cleansers, such as the Lalita’s CreamClay – either regular CreamClay or the Lalita’s Prebiotic CreamClay – are formulated to dilate the pores minimally, and to scrub your facial skin clean without depleting your skin’s natural oil content or lubrication. In addition, the Lalita’s Facial Cleanser Lotion for mild daily cleaning at the end of the day, will clean off any accumulated physical particles without drying your skin.

This is why, after a cleanse, a toner is needed to re-set your skin pores into their optimal state: to hydrate, nourish, and firm up your skin again. How does Lalita’s Facial Toner do this? Here is an ingredient-wise explanation of the toner’s effect:

• Guava leaves: the acqueous extract of tender guava leaves carry an astringent yet nurturing ayurvedic effect for the skin. Specifically, the astringent property has the special effect of “sankochan” or “shrinking.” Guava leaf extract helps reset the pores to their original size by tightening them.
• Jasmine leaves: in Ayurveda, Jasmine leaves are renowned for their “sandhania” effect: they help keep the skin layers snugly attached to each other. When our skin ages, the layers de-attach resulting in sagging. Aging results from ongoing toxic accumulation as well as the inevitable passage of time – keep in mind that good maintenance of the skin with regular proper detox cleanses can slow down aging resulting from the passage of time. Jasmine leaves are very good for helping with the cohesion of the skin layers.
• Jasmine flowers: the Jasmine flower carries the aromatic principle of “somanasya janana” which also acts as a “sandhanya.” The “somanasya janana” property means that which enhances bliss.
• Rose buds: the aromatic principle of Rose enhances the coordination between heart and mind. More specifically, it strengthens the connection between the “light of the soul” or “satwa” and the mind. Vaidya Mishra speaks about this at length in his many lectures, explaining that when the “light of the soul” is “on,” it reflects and reverberates through the face directly. When mind and heart are connected, the face glows, and rose is a good medium for achieving this, as it pacifies sadhak pitta, paving the way for a strong connection.
• Saffron is the #1 “varniya” dravya or plant of Ayurveda. “Varniya” means that which enhances the overall complexion of the skin by nurturing the layers. Scientists have long been interested in the active chemical ingredient “crocin” contained in Saffron, and studies have confirmed its anti-aging and nurturing effects for the skin. In India, as well as in other ancient cultures, Saffron has been used as a proven skin tonic since forever!

How and when to use Lalita’s Facial Toner?

You can use Lalita’s Facial Toner daily! Whenever you clean your face with a gentle soap or a gentle cleanser – Lalita’s Facial Cleanser or CreamClay – Vaidya recommends that you apply this toner to rehydrate your skin and tighten your pores.

You should definitely use Lalita’s Toner after an application of Lalita’s Prebiotic or regular CreamClay. After applying the CreamClay, rinse of thoroughly, then spray this toner over your face and neck (make sure your eyes are closed so that they don’t get irritated). You may also alternately spray the toner onto a cotton pad and gently sponge all over your face and neck. Give it 2-3 minutes and it will be absorbed right away as it is water based. You are then ready to apply the hydrating and nourishing cream of your choice. You can choose from Lalita’s Age-Defying Cream (with or without aroma); Lalita’s Face-Lift Cream (lipid based for additional nourishment); Lalita’s Facial Oil – if you prefer a more natural oil base with the same herbal synergistic ingredients; Lalita’s Pro-biotic Facial Cream – this product requires refrigeration; Lalita’s Celestial Radiance Cream – enhanced with the cosmic power of all nine planets plus the moon and sun!

Give yourself the glow you deserve, try Vaidya’s full spectrum line of Lalita’s facial products.

Get the total approach for aging skin, beyond nutrition and dosha specification. The SVA pre-biotic and pro-biotic approach was practiced in SV Ayurveda for a long time. Nowadays, scientific research recognizes synbiotic antiaging therapy as the ultimate approach for skin rejuvenation. Synbiotic means synchrony with pre and pro-biotics. In other terms: pre-biotic bacteria provide food for the friendly pro-biotic bacteria and allow them to flourish and multiply in a healthy environment. Together, in a perfectly balanced combination, Lalita’s SVA pre- and pro-biotic formulas become the perfect synbiotic approach to help the friendly bacteria of our skin do their job, sustaining and flourishing in the harsh environment of the facial and body skin.
Ayurvedically the pre-biotic and the pro-biotic bacteria enhance the pranic coordination between the skin and the environment, receiving soma from the pre-biotics and the environment, producing more ojas to support the barrier function of the skin, which, in turn, helps to protect the body from infection and the hazardous effects of xenobiotic (household chemicals) and vibrational toxins (EMFS). The scientific community is trying to prove what Ayurveda has known for thousands of years: that this symbiotic therapy improves the barrier function and supports the immune system of the skin, reversing aging inside-out.

Pre-biotic Cleanser for the face: these balanced non-drying cleansers supply food for the friendly pro-biotic bacteria to allow them to flourish in a healthy environment. Pre-biotics are necessary for healthy pro-biotic colonies in the skin. Pro-biotic health of the skin, in its turn, is necessary to reverse aging.

Pre-biotic CreamClay: experience the luxury of a non-drying deep cleansing SVA herbal facial mask, rejuvenate and refresh with Ashoka, Lodha, Triphala, Praval pista, in a base of Vegetable glycerine, Pranic clay and Coral calcium which is more suitable for body skin. Clean your skin from deep within.

Pro-biotic Cream for the face : these creams contain live lactobacillus bacteria, turmeric, guduchi, neem, manjistha, Indian sarsaparilla, aloe vera, jasmine, ylang-ylang and sweet orange in a very advanced base made mainly with vegetable glycerine and coconut with a balanced preservation system. This cream reverses aging by creating more ojas, enhances glow, supports the skin’s barrier function and minimizes wrinkle lines.

NOTE: the pro-biotic products contain live bacteria that need to be refrigerated in order to stay alive. All of Vaidya’s pro-biotic products ship out in refrigerated packs with faster delivery – express or express saver 2-3 day options only.

No matter where you may live, perfect weather conditions may not be present all the time anytime, so we have to learn to make the most out of existing conditions. And it is possible to get great benefit for the skin and physiology out of any climactic condition with the proper knowledge. Every season comes bearing its own gifts!

Out of all the seasons, cold winter weather may be the harshest for our skin, because our bodies have a hard time supporting and hydrating our skin internally due to shrunk micro and macro circulatory channels. That’s when our skin becomes dehydrated both in terms of its lipid as well as water components internally. In this situation, transdermal nutrients are the best option, since the internal pathways are already shrunk and circulation has slowed down due to the cold, so whatever is consumed orally may not reach its destination on time!

In this sense, it becomes even more crucial to use just the right product for your face in the wintertime, because you don’t want to further “freeze” your already shrunk channels by applying heavy clogging creams. If you clog your pores and channels further, you hinder the evacuation and movement of toxins or “mala”s and bring about more toxic accumulation in your skin. For those of us who carry amavisha (reactive acidic toxic build-up) and/or garavisha (xenobiotic toxins created from too much exposure to EMF or industrial chemical fumes or the us of products with preservatives), these virulent toxins do not get evacuated through the proper detox channels and are bound to eventually come out through the skin causing rashes and other imbalances. A cream that has not been intelligently formulated to have the perfect balance of Soma, Agni, and Marut ingredients, will freeze and block your skin pores making your skin dryer, itchier, and more depleted in nutrients.

Vaidya Mishra explains that in the SVA tradition, his father taught him to focus on nourishing the skin transdermally because in the wintertime the skin is already hungry and thirsty for nutrition and hydration. It readily takes in and accepts what you apply on it externally since it cannot get nourished and balanced internally.

Re-enliven your skin

When, in the wintertime, internal nutritional delivery to the skin is cut off due to clogged channels, as well as externally depleted due to cold drying weather, there are 2 important things you need to consider.

First: you will need to use slightly thermogenic channel-opening facial products, particularly cleansers. Most cleansers on the market tend to dry out the skin. Their cleansing properties can deplete the skin of Soma – the lubricating principle of the skin. Your skin will already be craving for lubricants, bothin the lipid and water-soluble format due to cold dry weather. So the first step towards balancing your skin has to start with your skin cleanser. You cleanser should carry a channel opening effect. In SVA terms, it should be slightly thermogenic. Usually when a product is thermogenic, it is also drying, but your cleanser should be thermogenic without being drying at all…

Second: in colder weather, the friendly bacteria of your skin do not receive enough nutrition because of short supply from within, so your cleanser should also address that lack and nourish your skin. It should be a balancing factor for the friendly bacteria of your skin, supplying pre-biotic nourishment for the pro-biotic bacteria in your skin so they can thrive.

When the friendly bacteria of the skin are faced with drying cold weather and the internal supply of nourishment to the skin is cut off, they suffocate and die. Probiotic bacteria are living organisms that need the right environment and nutrition to survive. The lack of friendly bacteria in your skin causes more dryness and thinning of your skin – your skin looses it healthy luster, elasticity, and glow, and eventually becomes wrinkled. This results in the lack of tolerance from environmental stressors like allergens, environmental toxins, even mental and emotional stress, particularly in the facial area.

The SVA Daily Regimen

Here is Vaidya Mishra’s daily regimen for maintaining our facial skin’s health and glow. First off, clean your face with Lalita’s pre-biotic facial cleanser. This will take care of surface impurities that clog the pores and create a layer of toxic build-up to suffocate the friendly bacteria – dust, smog, make-up residue, etc. You can do this daily, morning and evening.

Then, once a week, give your skin a deeper cleanse, with Lalita’s Facial CreamClay: a rich thermogenic facial mask that will cleanse the deeper layers of your skin, extracting toxins that have sunk in beyond the first skin layer. This CreamClay will detox without drying, leaving your skin clean and ready to absorb nutrients and hydration.

After applying the Facial Cream Claymask, it is ideal to use the Lalita’s Facial Toner to firm, reset, and ready your skin pores to receive the Pro-biotic or other Lalita’s Facial cream or oil of your choice.

During the week, after the daily cleanser, after cleaning your face use the Lalita’s Facial Toner, and then apply the Lalita’s Pro-biotic cream or the cream of your choice. You may use, depending on your skin’s needs, any of the cream for day and night time application.

The Pro-biotic cream has been specially formulated this cream to feed and balance the friendly bacteria of the skin. In addition to the live friendly bacteria that it contains, this cream also has the synergy of all 15 herbs contained in the Lalita’s Age-Defying cream. You can use this cream at night before bed to replenish and rejuvenate your skin. Or in the morning to help shield your skin against climactic vagaries.

After using Lalita’s pre-biotic cleanser, your face will feel clean but your skin will experience no dryness!

You may notice, with the full spectrum Lalita products, that your skin is re-hydrated, smooth and silky, yet without the feeling of heaviness one usually gets from facial creams.

Most creams add a lipid or water-soluble layer to give your skin moisture and elasticity. That may actually further clog your pores. The Pro-biotic cream supplies live friendly bacteria that get to work by feeding on the pre-biotic left by the cleanser. They create a live dynamic shield that nourishes your skin by enlivening it. Many satisfied SVA patrons have written us back saying they even experience inner bliss after applying Lalita’s facial creams.

“In order for our daily diet to be balanced, it must contain a share of protein,” says Vaidya Mishra. SVA recommends using either, or both, vegetarian or animal sourced protein – depending on individual needs: yogurt, paneer or fresh homemade cheese, chicken, etc.

For the SVA vegetarian diet, lentils are an additional essential daily source of vegetarian protein. Mung and masoor (red lentil)are favored, along with “kulthi” dahl – a therapeutic detox lentil.

Given that this is a limited range of options, creativity has to be teamed with necessity to create new flavors out of the same ingredients, since Ayurveda emphasizes that taste is as important as the nourishing or detoxing properties of a food item.

So let us introduce you to a North Indian vegetarian specialty item called: vadi, and pronounced “ba-ree!” The best way to define a vadi is: “lentil dumpling.” Vadi-s are a popular food item because they add a unique texture and flavor to any meal, in addition to being extremely easy and fast to prepare, and light yet highly nutritious in content.

There can be different varieties of vadi-s. Mung vadi-s, or dumplings, are the most popular. They are made exclusively from Mung dahl, perhaps with some added turmeric and salt.

Mung vadi-s are commonly available in Indian grocery stores. You should watch out for quality and beware of content though. They may contain food coloring agents, synthetic salt and flavors, pesticides, etc.

Vaidya Mishra’s great fondness of vadi-s has led him to put together SVA vadi-s. His SVA vadi-s are made from certified organic mung dahl, certified organic turmeric, and Soma Salt. And nothing else! However, in view of making the best of this recipe not just for nourishment but for ongoing nutritional detox as well, he has put together not one, but 4 kinds of vadi-s for us:

• Mung vadi – plain: with turmeric and Soma Salt
• Spicy Mung Vadi: with Mum’s Masala and green Thai chilies
• Mung and Kulthi Vadi: 80% Mung and 20% Kulthi for mild nourishing detox protocols
• Spicy Mung and Kulthi Vadi: 50% Mung with 50% Kulthi, along with Mum’s Masala, Thai chilies, as well as traces of Asafoetida and Black Salt for deeper detox.

Why Mung and Kulthi?

Kulthi has long been known and used in India as a favorite food item for disintegrating urinary stones. The basis of this popular home-remedy probably originates in the “asmari nasan” prabhava or ultimate post-digestive and post-absorption property of kulthi. The term “asmari” comes from “asm” or stone, and “ari” or enemy. Calcification appears as stone deposits in the body, a hostile unwanted presence that can cause many complications – an “asmari.” Then, “nasan,” means to eliminate or do away with. This is how kulthi is considered an “asmari nasan” and used as a home-remedy for that purpose in one’s diet.

My father was also very fond of this particular lentil due to its many desirable properties and overall health benefits. He taught me how to use it properly, and our SVA experts have been following the kulthi protocol for detox with great success.

My father explained that it was a natural daily event to make ama or toxins from situations and diet, but that the problem would arise when that accumulation of ama was not addressed in a timely and proper manner. We have learnt and now understand that when accumulated ama is not burnt off by more agneya or metabolism enhancing food item, it will transform into amavisha – highly virulent toxins. Ama may just block channels and hinder activity; but amavisha will create inflammation and tissue imbalances. Amavisha gets circulated as highly toxic micro-molecules floating in the physiology.

We don’t only accumulate amavisha from a bad ama-genic diet or emotional and mental stress, Garavisha or xenobiotics – environmental toxins – are also highly poisonous. But we can also make toxins out of good ingredients, for example, if we overdose on indigestible calcium, or make ama of calcium, then we also create a highly toxic situation where molecules of calcium bind with molecules of amavisha and garavisha to create hardened toxic crystals.

These crystals of amavisha can be very hard to get rid of and can cause deep tissue imbalances and organ disruptions.

And this is where the great benefit of the regular consumption of kulthi comes in. Since kulthi carries the “asmari nasan prabhava” it easily disintegrates the hardening and crystallization of calcium and virulent toxic molecules.

Based on ayurvedic pharmaco-dynamics of the kulthi lentil, we understand that it unblocks the micro-circulatory channels, even when they are blocked by micro-crystals of amavisha and garavisha. In addition, incorporating kulthi dahl to your weekly diet is great for regulating weight and supporting weight loss because it creates lightness, “laghu guna,” in the body.

Vaidya and his SVA experts have been recommending the consumption of the kulthi lentil once or twice a week, however here is the problem: kulthi is hard as a rock itself! Even after soaking overnight, it may take up to 2-3 hours to cook. Almost all SVA detox diet followers have, at one point or another, complained about how time-consuming the preparation of kulthi can be. This is why Vaidya is now happy to give you his Mung and Kulthi vadi that will cook within only minutes!

For more information about the Kulthi dahl, watch Vaidya Mishra on his YouTube SVA Health Channel on Kulthi and Detox with Kulthi.

Minimize Lectin Intolerance

Here is another reason vadi-s are a great thing to adopt into your daily diet: they are easier in terms of their lectin content. Vadi-s are not pre-cooked, so when you purchase a bag of vadi-s, it is recommended that you dry toast them for a few minutes on top of your stove in a dry pan. This dry toasting reduces the levels of lectin that cause lentil intolerance in many individuals (for more information read Vaidya’s blog article on Lectin Intolerance dated September 11, 2013).

Dry toast your vadi-s in a dry pan just enough to see them get toasted gold/light brown and their aroma released. After this, add a little ghee, Mum’s Masala or your favorite spice mix, stir and toast for a few more minutes. At this point, you can add any vegetable of your choice, or you can just add water, to make plain a vadi dish with a clear broth that you can consume with rice, quinoa, or some bread. You can also top off by adding fresh chopped cilantro leaf, then sprinkle a few drops of olive oil.

For lectin-intolerant individuals, plain Mung Vadi-s are a great source of lentil protein: easy to digest, flavorful, and nutritious.

Probiotic Vadi-s

You can add yogurt to your vadi-s to make them even healthier. At the stage where you would add room temperature water after dry toasting, adding spices and oil. Add yoghurt and mix in. You may also garnish with fresh chopped cilantro leaves. The benefits of probiotics in your daily diet are innumerable: from weight regulation (lose or gain weight as per your body’s needs); probiotics support your brain and its neurotransmitters by supporting your gut; probiotics enhance your absorption of nutrients so you actually get nourished by what you eat; probiotics support your overall immunity; bone and teeth health; etc.

In general, plain Mung Vadi-s take 3-5 minutes to be fully toasted. As a rule, Kulthi vadi-s take about 5-10 minutes longer than that. Still beats the 2-3 hours of stove-top cooking though!

Vadi with Garcinia to regulate your weight!

Prepare your vadi-s according to the general guidelines, pre-toasting, then adding the oil and spices, then vegetables and/or protein, then water. At this stage add ¼ tsp Garcinia chutney to the broth and mix it in. It will add a nice subtle flavor, and help keep the agni in all your seven tissues running smoothly. You may also add the Garcinia chutney to the probiotic version of your Vadi preparation.

Kulthi lentils grow onthe hard rocky soil in the Himalayan mountains. Thus, they have that intelligence to break down toxins which have crystallized in our bodies. These are the very toxins that, if they wind up in our feet can cause gout, or in our fingers can cause the hard bumpy arthritis nodules, they can calcify arteries and glands. And they can form kidney stones.

I love these lentils -­ Vaidya had taught me how to use them first to break up kidney stones. My first case history using them for breaking up kidney stones was in a 60-year-old man who had an extremely large stone. His doctors warned him that it was going to be extremely painful when he passed it. He came to me to see if there was anything he could do to shrink it. I put him on a regimen of kulthi lentils for 3 months. Then he went back and had an ultrasound and the stone was completely gone!

Since then I’ve used it for cleansing in all the patients. At the moment I have a patient who has had a team of cardiologists monitoring her arteries, which have lots of calcium deposits in them. I have her eating them as well. I will let you know how she is doing once she gets her arteries examined again.

In the meantime, keep eating these tasty lentils to prevent all the problems that can occur from toxins calcifying in the physiology.

Yours in good health,
Dr.Marianne Teitelbaum
Cinnaminson, New Jersey
856-786-3330