Perhaps these folks can help with the referral:

www.ayurveda-nama.org/

My understanding is that whenever stuff comes out through the skin it is typically rooted in a digestion problem (so what does your tongue look like upon waking in the morning is a first question) and for that pancha karma as well as possibly some dietary adjustments are in order to start with.

Acne is from Pitta in the Rakta Dhattu, take turmeric 1/4 tsp 2xday (or more) and put a pinch of Sandalwood powder in tea, eat a little Neem if you can get it. Externally make a paste of sandalwood pwd and turmeric + a little water, this can stain clothes so be aware of that.

The dosha involved is Vatapitta.

Internally take Triphala - 12-15gms with warm water, 1 hr after dinner for seven days.
If you do not get Triphala in ur location, take (chew and eat) fresh Amla (gooseberries), in empty stomach, early in the morning. One on the first day. Increase the count of amla in multiples of two (2 on the second day, 4 on 3rd, 8 on 4th. Then gradually reduce the count to 1.)

Leave a gap of seven days and continue the same for another seven days. repeat it for a month.

Externally apply triphala powder / dry amla powder mixed with ghee. Let the application be thick and warm. Befor it dries out completely wash the application with warm water. Use green gram powder as a scrub. Try this regularly for atleast a month.

Hi Crystal,

There are 2 Ayurvedic physicians in the DC metro area I'd recommend:
Dr David Mathis & Debbie Mathis - www.ayurveda-md.com (they have a forum on their website where you could ask your question if you don't feel like driving out)
and
Brendan Feeley - www.avalonastrology.com/brendanfbio.pdf [PDF]

None of them take insurance, though if you can get your primary care provider to give you a referral you might be able to claim that. Depends on how much $$ you can spare or what your plan covers. The Mathises are in Hamilton, VA, which is a good hour from DC. Brendan Feeley is closer in Rockville, just up I270. They are all really nice people, and Brendan also knows homeopathy.

You might also want to check out the products here: www.ayurveda.com/products/...ducts.html

Good luck!

well,....If i remember correctly, vata shouldn't eat much spicey food....in both Aryvedic and TCM Acne does stem from the digestion and errupts within "internal heat" or "fire" ALL spicey foods should be avoided and meat is also very heat oriented, fish and game meats are less heat oriented.....also, very little dairy, since it can "induce" the heat and create dampness....just some ideas...

When Vata is out of balance, it can pull other doshas out of balance as well, so try to soothe your Vata imbalance. Pitta is responsible for acne, rashes, and other skin problems, so eat foods that soothe your Pitta as well. (If you get hot easily, an excellent remedy is cucumber milk: peel a cucumber and blend it with some milk in a blender for a deeply refreshing drink.) In general, turmeric taken internally or applied externally is very good for skin, but beware - it stains. Triphala is an internal cleanser that will help you get rid of toxins that are being released through your skin, if you take it first thin in the morning on an empty stomach, about an hour before you eat.

I make my own facial scrub that I use a few times a week: I combine a teaspoon or two of salt (or sugar), some sunflower oil (which doesn't aggravate Pitta), and a pinch of turmeric powder. Just before I hop in the shower, I rub this all over my face and neck, and sometimes elbows or feet or other patches of rough, dry skin. I rub it in really well, and it sloughs off dead skin, stimulates blood flow, loosens dirty oil out of my pores, and wakes me up! I then wash my face in the shower as I normally would to remove excess oil and wash away the turmeric color.

>> Can anyone make a recommedation? Simpler is better

Wear a coral necklace or in any form. This will heat up your body and will take care of the vata constitution, if that's the problem.

But...with my limited knowledge of ayurveda...from your picture it doesn't look like you have any vata problems, I would recommend you consult an ayurvedic doctor. It looks, to me, more like weak nerves system. Reduce meat (and sex :) ) and try eating more vegetarian food, that might help.