Body Odor – Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment
Body odor is the unpleasant odor emanating from sweat. While human sweat is mostly odorless, bacteria living on the skin can break down the sweat into acids that produce an unpleasant odor. All people who have passed the age of puberty can produce body odor. Since men tend to sweat more than women, they are more likely to have body odor. Concentrated in the armpits, genital areas, and breasts, apocrine sweat glands release scented chemicals known as pheromones. These apocrine glands are primarily responsible for body odor because the sweat they produce contains a high level of protein that bacteria find easy to break down. Obesity, medical conditions like diabetes, and eating primarily spicy foods can increase the chances of body odor.
Most people with body odor can control this problem by adopting regular, simple self-care techniques. These include bathing regularly once or twice a day; wash your armpits well with an antibacterial soap; use a deodorant or antiperspirant; shave your armpits regularly; use natural fibers made; and limit the consumption of red meat and spicy foods. Ayurvedic medicines may be given to those who do not benefit from the above self-care techniques and continue to have a body odor problem. Medicated Ayurvedic soaps containing Haridra (Curcuma longa), Chandan (Santalum album) and Usheer (Vetiveria zizanioidis) can be used to wash the body every day. These medicines work against bacteria on the skin, have a cooling effect and give off a pleasant smell. In addition, the body can be massaged with fine powders of the aforementioned medicinal herbs and also other medicines such as Manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia) and Saariva (Hemidesmus indicus).
Oral medications may also be given, which help reduce sweating and prevent or reduce body odor. These medicines include Maha-Manjishthadi-Qadha, Saarivasav, Chandanasav, Usheerasav, Bilva-Avelaha, Haridra, Daruharidra (Berberis aristata), Yashtimadhuk (Glycerrhiza glabra), Chirayta (Swertia chirata), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Vishwa (Zinziber officinalis) , Rakta-Chandan (Pterocarpus santalinus), Bilva (Aegle marmelos), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), Behada (Terminalia bellerica), Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) and Usheer.
Medical conditions that contribute to body odor should be treated separately. Obesity can be treated with Medohar-Guggulu, Triphala-Guggulu, Chandraprabha-Vati, Triphala (Three Fruits) and Trikatu (Three Spicy Herbs). Diabetes can be treated with medicines such as Haridra, Amalaki, Gudmar (Gymnema sylvester), Vijaysaar (Pterocarpus marsupium), Mamejva (Enicostemma littorale) and Karavellaka (Momordica charantia). Stress can be reduced with medications such as Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Jatamansi (Nardostachys jatamansi), and Shankhpushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis).
Thus, maintaining proper hygiene and the judicious use of medication, if required, can in most cases satisfactorily resolve the body odor problem.