HERBAL THERAPY
Herbal remedies are without a doubt the number one best selling and most widely used of all the forms of alternative medicine. Herbal remedies can be mixed at home after picking them from the garden or countryside, they can be bought from the health food store, chemist an now the top selling names have hit the supermarket shelf's and of course there is the herbalist. Perhaps the biggest selling point of herbal remedies is the diversity in which they can be used, remedies come in pill form, capsule, in dropper bottles and in essential oils for inhalation. They are also known to treat a wide and varied amount of illnesses, diseases and problems and are also a number one seller when it comes to treating disorders of the nervous system such as panic attacks. While being able to relieve symptoms of major illnesses, herbal medications can also be used to help everyday and the more common ailments that we all suffer from. Acne - almost all teenagers and some adults suffer from acne at some time or another, aloe gel is particularly well known for its astringent properties and as such can be an excellent remedy to help combat acne attacks and to keep the skin healthy.
Because prevention is the best way to protect your skin from the scarring associated with severe acne, many dermatologists recommend that controlling problematic acne through diet, regular cleansing procedures, and herbal remedies, is the most effective way to combat the tendencies of skin that is prone to acne and acne-related scarring.
Treatments that accentuate the regulation of daily habits having to do with diet, physical exercise, mood control, and other activities, are known as holistic treatments. Holistic treatments often include herbal therapies.
Herbalists recommend the following herbal remedies for acne and scarring:
1. Black currant seed oil taken in 500-milligram capsules three times a day for three months or until acne is diminished.
2. Evening primrose oil taken in 500-milligram capsules three times a day for three months or until acne is diminished.
3. Teas made from a combination of echinacea, tea tree oil, goldenseal, nettles, or calendula.
4. Teas made from lavender or chamomile, to help reduce acne-causing stress.
5. Chinese herbs such as cnidium seed and honeysuckle flower.
6. Teas made from cumin, coriander, and fennel, steeped for 10 minutes in hot water and consumed three times a day after meals.
7. Some alternative medicine practitioners recommend using diet as a way to combat acne and acne-related scarring. These practitioners believe that diets high in beta-carotene help to reduce the factors that contribute to severe acne. Orange and yellow foods such as carrots, pumpkin, and cantaloupe are loaded with beta-carotene and should be a regular part of the diet of anyone suffering from acne and scarring.
8. Another dietary recommendation for acne-sufferers is to consume many bland foods such as oatmeal, rice, brown grains, and applesauce. These foods should be eaten instead of spicy foods and fried foods, which are believed by some practitioners to stimulate the hormones and glands that aggravate acne conditions.
9. A daily practice of yoga is commonly recommended as a way to increase the flow of blood to the face. This helps to flush acne-causing toxins and to provide your facial skin with natural nutrients that help to decrease the formation of acne and to heal scar tissue.
10. People who suffer from acne should also take care to perform some simple daily rituals that can help to reduce the occurrence of acne and scarring.
11. Dermatologists and alternative medicine practitioners suggest that acne-sufferers should wash the area twice daily with mild soap. Washing should be gentle. Scrubbing or grating the skin will only aggravate the condition and lead to scarring.
12. Hair should be washed thoroughly and regularly and should be kept away from the face and shoulders.
13. Acne sufferers should also avoid shaving as much as possible. When shaving, take care not to run the blade over blemishes. Always use a new blade so as not to spread infection.
14. Avoid wearing make-up and facial cosmetics. If you must, take care to use make-up that is hypoallergenic.
15. In order to prevent scarring, do not pop or squeeze pimples. Popping and squeezing pimples is tempting, but can easily cause infection and the development of unwanted scar tissue.
16. While many of these holistic therapies can be easily performed at home, it is a good idea to speak with your dermatologist or alternative medicine practitioner about the best holistic measures to take as a way to help with acne and acne-related scarring.
17. Greg Podsakoff is a former acne sufferer, and currently provides information on treating acne, pimples, and zits, via an objective informational skincare website
REFERENCES
1. Hosssan and Gupta. Textbook of medicine, AITBS publication, ist ed. Jan 2002,655-657.
2. Goodman and Gilmans. The pharmacological basis of therapeutics, medical publishing division, 10th ed., 1809-1811.
3. Ross and Wilson. Anatomy and Physiologi in health and illness, Churchill livingstone, 9th ed.,210-210.
4. Tripathi KD. Essential of pharmacology, jaypee publication, 5th ed.
5. Materica medica
6. Indian Herbal Pharmacopoeia