Herbal remedies: the natural path to clear skin
Friday, January 29th, 2010If you are tired of using man-made, over-the-counter, expensive and sometimes harsh chemical products on your skin, but still want some effective treatment to fight your acne, there are many natural acne cures available. One of the most cost effective of these options is to use herbal remedies. Herbal solutions to the acne problem have been used for centuries, and are better for the body than chemical gels or creams. They can help to normalise any internal imbalances you may have, and like many of the more advanced treatments for acne today, they help to fight the cause of acne rather than just the symptoms. Herbal remedies can help to unclog the pores of impurities and toxins, and leave you with a bright, glowing complexion. Here are some popular herbal remedies that have given many people success in treating acne.
Basil, a herb that is easily obtained from any supermarket or grocer’s, can be effective in tackling acne. It can be bought in leaf form or powdered form. Basil has a proven capability of killing bacteria on the skin’s surface. To use it, the leaf form can simply be pressed onto the skin of the face, to allow it to kill acne-causing bacteria. Alternatively, the leaves can be boiled for 5 minutes to extract the healing oils from inside the leaves. The water should then be drained and can be used to soak a wash cloth, which can then be left on the face, allowing the healing oils to be absorbed onto the skin. Also, the powdered form of basil can be mixed with water and applied to the face in the form of mask, and left for a few hours.
Garlic is another wonder-herb. It is well-known for its bacteria-killing, antibiotic properties. For this reason, if raw garlic is ingested daily, it can reduce the prevalence of acne, as toxins and impurities are cleansed from the inside out. Alternatively the garlic can be crushed and applied directly to the skin.
Calendula can also be very effective. Calendula tea can contribute to a glowing complexion when drunk, and these teas, when cooled, can also be applied directly to the skin.
Yellow Dock is a herb that forms anthraquinone glycoside in the body. This stimulates bile production by the body, as well as cleansing the liver. If taken for a long period of time, Yellow Dock can improve the acne problem greatly. However, this method should not be used by anyone who has suffered from kidney stones.
Dandelion also heals and detoxifies the liver. It can aid the liver in fat digestion. Cleansing of the liver can result in better detoxification, and clearer skin. Dandelion should be taken for 4-6 weeks to see any improvement.
These herbal remedies can be very effective in reducing acne. However, given severe cases of cystic acne, herbal remedies used in conjunction with over-the-counter medicines such as Derma Cleanse can fight the acne from two directions, hopefully resulting in complete removal of the acne problem.