Some of the most beautiful women in the world are from India. Their bright beautiful eyes, glowing skin and shiny thick hair are remarkable. I have several friends who are Indian, mostly from Fiji in the South Pacific, but they have carried down their age-old practices from India.

Tumeric is used in Indian food, but it is also used in beauty supplies in India and is rapidly being adopted in the United States and other places. Tumeric exfoliates dead skin to reveal a brighter complexion. It is usually mixed together with honey (one of nature’s best moisturizers) for normal-to-dry skin. You can make your own complexion-beautifying cleanser at home. In a small bowl, combine 1 tsp. of honey with a pinch of tumeric powder (do not too much since it can stain the skin) and mix until it becomes a paste. Smooth over your face and let it sit for 15 minutes, then rinse.

Indian women take mind-clearing strolls called a prana walk. This is part of the ancient Indian medical practice ayuveda, the common prescription for tiredness and brain fog.

They believe that walks in nature provide exposure to prana, which is the life force in tress, water and plants. Prana flows into the body and corrects any internal imbalances that hinder mental and physical wellbeing. Researchers from the University of Michigan discovered that walking among trees improves short-term memory and attention by 20 percent.

For stress relief, Indian massage called Champissage is used. It focuses on pressure points on the neck, face and shoulders. This massage increases the circulation and efficiency of the lymphatic systems, and helps to disperse damaging toxins. Trapped toxins dull the skin, lead to cellulite formation and weight gain and can dampen immunity and energy. To do this yourself, gently massage your scalp with your fingertips. Next, grab fistfuls of hair by the roots with knuckles close to your head. Turn your head from side to side, tugging your hair lightly. Also, place the heels of your palms on your temples and squeeze, making circular movements. You can also massage the back of your neck with one hand by squeezing the muscles going from top to bottom.

Now for the beautiful shiny thick hair, Indians use coconut-oil conditioner. Coconut contains lauric acid, a saturated fatty acid, which penetrates the hair shaft and bonds to proteins. It can help in healing damaged strands and can fortify locks against breakage. Coconut oil moisturizes the scalp, which wards off dandruff flakes. Massaging coconut oil into the scalp also stimulates the circulation of blood to the area, which helps hair to grown better.