If you have acne, you may feel
willing to try anything in hopes of preventing rid of this pesky and
disfiguring condition. But, for the majority of women with acne, it's not
necessary to resort to strong prescription drugs or harsh chemical peels. For a
gentler, more sustainable form of acne treatment, try using medicinal herbs.
Although these lack the level of scientific evidence supporting drug
treatments, they tend to produce fewer side effects. Talk to your health care
provider before taking medicinal herbs by mouth.
Tea Tree Oil
The
essential oil of the tea tree is one of the most notable and apparently
effective naturopathic preventions for acne. According to the National
Institutes of Health, this richly fragrant botanical medicine may wipe out acne
as effectively as conventional treatments. Visit a drug store or health food
store in your area to find a 5% tea tree oil solution. A gel of this strength
is about as effective as benzoyl peroxide, but it might take a little longer to
work. Don't apply undiluted tea tree oil directly to your face unless you like
the look and feel of burning, peeling skin.
Guggul
The herb
guggul contains a naturally high concentration of guggulsterones, which are
medicinal compounds that can help to fight acne. According to the University of
Maryland Medical Center, a 500-milligram dose of guggul twice per daynmay be as
effective as tetracycline for preventing and treating acne outbreaks. However,
you may need to think twice before taking guggul without your doctor's
supervision. It may affect levels of certain hormones, interact with
prescription drugs and cause problems if you are pregnant or nursing. Check
with your dermatologist or a qualified herbalist before using guggul.
Ashwagandha
Practitioners
of Indian traditional medicine, or Ayurveda, use ashwagandha in much the same
way that practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine use ginseng.
Traditionally, ashwagandha has been used as an adaptogen-- it might help to
enable your body to adapt to stress better. For this reason, it's ideal for
people who have acne outbreaks during times of stress. In one study, cited by
the UMMC, ashwagandha effectively prevented acne outbreaks when combined with
other, herbs, including Aloe barbadensis, Azardirachta indica, turmeric,
Hemidesmus indicus, Terminalia chebula and Terminalia arjuna. Don't worry; your
local health food store will forgive you if you can't remember how to spell or
pronounce those names.
Ginger
Ginger
and its close relative, turmeric, are also used in Ayurvedic medicine to
prevent acne. According to the UMMC, ginger taken by mouth, when combined with
the Ayurvedic herbs Holarrhena antidysenterica and Embelia ribes, can help to
prevent acne symptoms in most healthy women. There's still insufficient
evidence to truly prove its efficacy, but it probably won't hurt to try it.
Besides, it's a great excuse to go for that extra bottle of natural ginger-ale.
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