Remember your grandma telling you to avoid wearing heavy gold jewelry and wear silver jewelry instead in the summers and rather wear it during the monsoon or the winter season? Well she probably said so because gold is expected to have heating properties and therefore it isn’t fully fit for the hotter months and thus, she was right!
- According to Ayurveda metals like silver and copper have cooling properties which directly affect our nervous system. Energetically, nervous diseases are believed to be directly connected to phases of the Moon (Chandra), and therefore Silver (Chandi) can be used as medicine because it is known to have a very calming, sedative and soothing effect on the nerves. Metals such as silver are specially purified and prepared into an ash-like powdery substance called Bhasmas. After purification, what remains are highly potent elixirs that can be used to heal the body and mind. Reduced silver or ‘Roupya Bhasma’ is very effective in treating disorders of the nervous system such as neuritis, neuralgia, epilepsy, peripheral nerve damage, insanity, etc.
- In the long hot days of summer, silver can be especially helpful in alleviating high Pitta(an element that governs the digestive system in the body). Silver has natural cooling properties and can relieve excessive heat symptoms such as fever, heartburn, inflammation, and profuse menstrual bleeding. Ayurveda doctors advise preparing ‘silver water’ at home for the summer heat related problems and drinking it therapeutically. Simply place some pure silver coins or jewelry in 2 cups of water, and boil it down to 1 cup, and then consume 1 teaspoon of this water thrice in a day. Many even use this silver water as a cool summer beverage.
- One can also use pure silver tongue scrappers which give off ions that kill the bacteria on the tongue which can cause bad breath. No wonder silver tinctures are well known and widely used for its antiseptic and disinfectant actions by doctors worldwide. For the same reason, major companies that produce wound care products are starting to introduce innovative dressings that combine the anti-microbial properties of silver.
- Ayurvedic texts have also touted silver for its anti-aging qualities, as well for the fact that it gives a fairer complexion. Now you know why expensive spa treatments and beauty therapies and many holisitc facials and masks use silver mesh directly on the skin to reduce puffiness, redness and inflammation.
- Silver is also used in foods. Traditional Indian mithai is always served with a thin layer of real silver leaf or Varak garnish on the barfi for aesthetic as well as medicinal reasons.
- In the end, how can we forget the evergreen, cooling yet funky silver jewelry. Wear beautiful silver jewelry that glistens in the moonlight. Massive along with chunky beaded silver necklaces continue to be the summertime trend. If you do not like big and bold, keep it simple with delicate stackable rings, skinny bangle bracelets and thin necklaces or silver chains.
Silver is definitely of great value at the moment. Plus, now there are lots of beautiful silver gemstone jewelry designs in the market to choose from. And if you do not want to step out in the heat or the rains, you can simply order silver jewelry online on at infibeam or silverstarjewellery.com and other alike.
