Tvachagnivardhani: An ancient practice that strengthens skin metabolism

How this ancient practice helps enhance the radiance and health of your skin

Many modern-day trends in the skincare and wellness industry are rooted in the principles of Ayurvedic medicine. One of the concepts that has been practiced for thousands of years in India is tvachagnivardhani, which is the principle of enhancing skin’s metabolism. Ayurveda has a sound philosophical basis, corroborated by centuries of evidence that uses natural, botanical ingredients for medicinal uses. In comparison, present-day cosmetic products can have adverse effects on the body’s biological makeup. With there being a greater focus on mindful and natural products in recent years, the study of Ayurvedic philosophy has had a surge in popularity, especially in the West.
A foundational text of Ayurveda, Sushruta Samhita, describes the twak (skin) in seven layers. These are avabhasini, lohita, shweta, tamra, vedini, rohini and mamsadhara. Mamsadhara is the innermost layer and is the platform for skin's stability and firmness. When this layer is in balance, the skin looks young and supple. According to Ayurveda, multiple factors influence the health of our skin from within. The three primary factors include:

While describing aging, Ayurveda takes into consideration prana (breath, considered a life-giving force as it is responsible for respiration, oxygenation and circulation), which governs the two other subtle essences, ojas and tejas. Ojas (the essence of the seven dhatus or bodily tissues) is responsible for the immune system and mental intelligence, as well as for longevity. Three of these bodily tissues also reflect the well-being of our skin. These are nutritional fluids (rasa), blood (rakta) and muscles (mamsa). Tejas (the essence of a very subtle fire or energy), on the other hand, governs our overall metabolism. Some commonly used herbs for anti-aging include centella asiatica (gotu-kola), sandalwood, vetiver, manjistha, Indian sarsaparilla and other natural sources of vitamins A, C and E. These ingredients nourish the skin and ensure proper functioning.

The principle of tvachagnivardhani involves strengthening the skin's metabolic mechanisms, which revive and enhance its luster. With time, a consequence of intrinsic and extrinsic factors lead to skin deterioration and aging. The metabolism of our body generally slows down as we age and our skin weakens. Specifically, skin metabolism is the process by which the skin repairs and maintains itself. When the rate of this metabolism slows down, an imbalance of enzymes occurs that lead to the creation of metabolic toxins called ama. This ama in the skin clogs the channels resulting in wrinkles, dryness, dullness and other signs of aging that overpower skin’s youthful and radiant glow. The removal of these deep impurities helps in the prevention of a number of issues that cause our skin to lose its healthy glow. A slower skin metabolism also changes and weakens our facial skin’s ability to respond to skincare products, as the response rate of nutrient absorption in our cells slows down.

Tvachagnivardhani is one such process that has been used for centuries to enhance and strengthen the metabolism of the skin and remove impurities. A ritual that is often used in this context is called abhyanga. It involves massaging herbal oils from head to toe, paying particular attention to joints and energy points. This improves circulation, strengthens metabolism and increases suppleness of the skin.

The Ayurvedic principle of enhancing the skin’s metabolism or tvachagnivardhani is the process that inspired our new Ranavat Imperial Glow Facial Polish. Its exfoliant is a finely-milled rice powder, which promotes healthy skin by removing ama, or metabolic toxins, which include dead skin cells and impurities. You will find sesame and almond oil formulated with Ashwangandha, which is one of Ayurveda’s most common herbs. It has potent antioxidants responsible for de-stressing and firming the skin.