Natural Treatment for Acne

Natural Treatments for Acne

I must make a disclaimer, using natural treatment for acne or herbs for acne alone will not improve your condition!  Natural remedies for acne, or any other health condition will not work if you continue to eat an unhealthy diet and lead an unhealthy lifestyle.  Natural treatments for acne are designed to address the underlying causes of acne and the underlying poor health of the individual as a whole.

Natural acne treatments are not bandaid approaches and require time, effort and change on your part in order to be effective.  If you are ready and willing to make the necessary changes to improve your overall health that will lead to resolution of  acne continue on......if not you may want to seek another approach.

Mini's Acne Mask:

3 Tb. Raw honey

1 Tb. lemon juice

2 tsp. white willow bark powder

2 tsp. comfrey

Fresh aloe vera

Mix mask ingredients to make a paste, add a little water if necessary.  Apply mask to face and rest for 10-15  minutes.  Rinse off and moisturize with a fresh oil:

White willow bark- an anti-inflammatory, willow bark lowers the body's levels of prostaglandins, hormone like compounds that can cause inflammation.

Comfrey- cell proliferant and heals the skin

Honey- has strong antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and it has been used as a treatment for wounds and other skin problems for thousands of years.

Lemon juice- an excellent natural astringent and anti-oxidant for the skin.

Skin Cleanser:

I recommend acnetix  http://www.acnetix.com

It is an all-natural cleanser that does not contain any harsh chemicals that may exacerbate acne.  It contains a wide range of herbs and vitamins that cleanse and nourish the skin.

I have several clients who use acnetix and have had excellent improvements in their skin.

Do not use commercial astringents:

Astringents are very drying to the skin and cause an imbalance of oil, pH and other factors for healthy skin.  Even alcohol free astringents are not appropriate for use on any type of skin.

Natural Astringents

If you feel you need an astringent to tone and tighten the skin use a natural astringent with vitamin C and other natural properties.

Fresh lemon  juice

Fresh strawberries-  mash them into a pulp and spread on skin for 1-2 minutes.

Aloe Vera:

Fresh aloe vera is wonderfully healing to the skin, do not use any commercial perparations of aloe vera as they will not have the same healing properties.

Aloe vera easily penetrates the skin increasing the circulation of the blood to the skin, promotes sloughing off of dead cells and fosters the growth of new ones. It aids in the regeneration of scarred or blemished skin tissue and provides a protective coating on the skin to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.

Moisturizers:

All moisturizers on store shelves contain petrochemcials, and skin clogging ingredients, despite the fact that they are supposed to be designed to be 'good' for your skin.  These companies use cheap ingredients, fillers and chemicals that are not good for your skin or your body.

Save yourself a lot of money and use natural and inexpensive moisturizers.

• Shea butter- Heavier oil for dry skin.
• Cocount oil-  Use good extra virgin oil, it has long been used as a  skin moisturizing oil in the tropics.
• Almond oil- Excellent light oil for oily skin.
• Jojoba oil
• Olive oil- Olive oil has strong anti-inflammatory properties due to its high concentration of polyphenols and a substance known as oleocanthal.

Fruits and Vegetables juices for Acne:

 Carrot & spinach, celery & watercress, grapefruit juices are all useful to combat acne. [NL 3-5]  These juices provide easily digested nutrition to the body, they are extremely cleansing and provide superior nutrition.

I have noticed when I consume fresh juices the reddness of acne scars is significantly reduced.  The water content coupled with the high antioxidant and nutrient content of juices that are easily absorbed contribute to overall health and optimal skin health.

Nutrition:

Diet is absolutely critical for healing of acne, you can use all the lotions and potions you want but if your diet is abysmal you will have very little success in treating acne either naturally or with pharmaceuticals.

"As pointed out by Dr. Jerome Fisher, 'About 80 percent of cows that are giving milk are pregnant and are throwing off hormones continuously.' Progesterone breaks down into androgens, which have been implicated as a factor in the development of acne...Dr. Fisher observed that his teenage acne patients improved as soon as the milk drinking stopped."

"Hormones found in cow's milk include: Estradiol, Estriol, Progesterone, Testosterone, 17-Ketosteroids, Corticosterone, Vitamin D, insulin-like growth factor, growth hormone, prolactin, oxytocin..."

Journal of Endocrine Reviews, 14(6) 1992

These hormones can cause significant disruption in our natural hormonal balance and can lead to poly-cystic ovarian syndrome, infertility, acne,  early puberty among a host of other health problems.

"Acne is an end-organ hyper-response to androgens...These data show that sebaceous glands are stimulated by androgens to varying degrees and support the theory of an end-organ response in acne."

British Journal of Dermatology, 1998 Jul, 139:1

Dairy contains a powerful binding protein, casein, which is strongly linked with constipation.  Excess estrogen is excreted through the bowel, if an individual is suffering from constipation that estrogen will be reabsorbed causing elevated levels of estrogen.  This cycle of constipation and reabsorption of estrogens can cause hormonal imbalances that can affect health in a myriad of ways including contributing to acne.

Studies have shown that women who consume a high fiber diet have lower levels of circulating estrogens, lower cholesterol levels and lower androgen levels.  All of these hormones and precursors have a direct affect on hormonal health and acne.

It is critically important to consume a very high fiber diet!

Dietary Recommendations

4 servings of vegetables daily

4 servings of fruit

1-2 c. of legumes

1-2 c. of whole grains

1-2 oz. nuts and seeds

Eliminate dairy products

Limit consumption of eggs and meat to 12% of calories or less

 Water

Normally I recommend that clients drink water when they are thirsty.  The blanket recommendation that everyone drink 8 glasses of water a day is not accurate for every persons needs.   Some need less, some may need more.

However, most individuals mistake thirst for hunger and have completely ignored their thirst signals for so long they don't know what it feels  like, so in the case of severe acne I recommend that you drink 6-8 glasses of water per day. 

Avoid Processed Food

This is something that everyone should be doing, but you cannot heal or balance the body without providing the nutrients necessary to maintain health and proper balance in the body.  If you continue to eat potato chips, white bread and hydrogenated oils the likelihood that anything will truly heal your acne is very slim.

The basic premise of garbage in, garbage out applies here.  You cannot put garbage into your body and expect to maintain optimal health.  If you want healthy, glowing skin you have to provide the building blocks for optimal health. 

Junk foods to avoid

White bread, crackers, cereals, cookies or boxed processed foods

Hydrogenated oils

High fructose corn syrup

All refined sugar

All oils

FD& C colorings

BHT

MSG

aspartame

white rice

Probiotics

You need to restore a healthy flora balance in the body in order to prevent constipation and to optimize digestion and absorption of nutrients.

Probiotic pills are okay but are not potent enough when you are just beginning to replenish your gut flora.

 Rejuvenative Foods

Rejuvenative foods is the absolute BEST food for replenishing friendly flora.

Rejuvenative foods zing salad

Rejuvenative foods raw sauerkraut

2 Tb. daily

http://www.rejuvenativefoods.com/

Acne is a very complex issue that involves digestion, hormonal balance, balance of friendly flora, proper nutrition and hydration.  Natural treatment for acne must include a multi-faceted approach.  Modern medicine does nothing to address the underlying aspects of acne, they simply destroy your friendly flora by prescribing powerful anti-biotics or very strong facial peels.

A healthy, well nourished body will not suffer from acne.  It is important to deal with the root cause of acne rather than use powerful, health damaging medications that do nothing to heal or cure the condition.

There are a myriad of herbs for acne, however these herbs for acne will not cure the condition if you continue to eat a very unhealthy diet and live an unhealthy lifestyle.  Natural treatments involve lifestyle changes, not merely bandaid approaches to health.  It is extremely important that you make the necessary changes to improve your health and healthy skin will be a natural result of those changes.

Nutritional and Herbal approach to Anxiety

 Nutrition, Alternative and Herbal Approaches to Anxiety disorders

  Anxiety is a multi-faceted problem and needs a very comprehensive approach.   Anxiety can be the result of past experiences, stress in life, lack of sleep, food allergies, nutritional deficiencies and a host of other situations so it is important to take all these factors into account when seeking treatment options for anxiety.

Let's explore the connection between food allergies and anxiety related issues.

Most people may be unaware that depression and anxiety are listed as symptoms of food allergies.  This may seem to be a very simplistic explanation for such pronounced symptoms of anxiety but food allergies should be considered when exploring anxiety and its causes.

Common symptoms of Food Allergy include:

Irritable bowel syndrome
Joint problems
Migraines
Muscle and joint pain
Depression and anxiety
Fatigue
Nausea and vomiting
Ulcers and hyperactivity in children

Most people are intolerant to more than one food. The commonest culprits are wheat, dairy products, yeast, eggs, beans, nuts, tea and coffee.
http://www.theallergysite.co.uk/dairy.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/328523/three_foods_shown_to_trigger_anxiety.html?cat=70

The causation of food allergies is a complex issue and will be examined on the post on food allergies but in the event of an anxiety disorder it is a good idea to go on a food rotation diet in order to identify if any of these food allergies may be causing some of the symptoms.

Eliminate wheat, dairy and eggs from the diet for two weeks and keep a journal of your anxiety and emotional state, then reintroduce these foods one at a time, one food the first week, the next food the second week and so on.... continue to monitor your symptoms to see if one of these foods may contribute to your anxiety.

Kundalini Yoga

There is a mind-body connection in every physical expression of illness and disease, this connection should be addressed especially in emotional problems.   It is not uncommon that stresses in life build up to a level that the individual can no longer cope with and they express themselves as depression, anxiety and other emotional expressions.

The most comprehensive explanation of the mind body connection in psychiatric disorders and explanation of techniques to deal with them are in:

Kundalini Yoga Meditation techniques specific for psychiatric disorders, couples therapy and personal growth by David S. Shannahoff-Khalsa

Supplements that May Help Anxiety Disorders

Full Spectrum Light Therapy-   This type of light therapy has been shown to help with depression and sleep, adequate sleep is critical for mental and emotional health and is often difficult for those with anxiety.

http://www.webmd.com/depression/tc/light-therapy-topic-overview

EPA and DHA supplement

Recent research has shed some light on the powerful effects of excessive consumption of omega 6 fatty acids and deficiency or low intake of omega 3 fatty acids.  Americans are aware that omega 3's benefit brain function, decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease and are anti-inflammatory but studies have also shown omega 3's to help with anxiety and agressive behavior.

Omega 3's are important for all individuals seeking to improve their health.  It is important to ensure that you are not taking too much, as it can lead to easy bruising, thin the blood too much and other issues but a standard supplement dose many benefit individuals with anxiety.

Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2008 Feb 15;32(2):568-75. Epub 2007 Nov 1

GABA [Gamma-aminobutyric acid]

An amino acid that has calming properties, it can help you relax and also aids with insomnia.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is often recommended for those with osteoporosis and other health problems but it has recently been recommended for those with depression and other mood disorders.  This important vitamin is actually a hormone, produced when the skin is in contact with sunlight.

In our culture slathered in sunscreen we are unable to produce the amount of vitamin D necessary for health, and for those in northern latittudes it is even more difficult so supplementation has become increasingly important.  Deficiency of  Vitamin D has been linked in research to polycystic ovarian syndrome, osteoporosis, cancer, and mood disorders among many other health problems.

Many individuals who suffer with anxiety also suffer depression, insomnia among other health issues and could greatly benefit from vitamin D supplementation.

Clin Rheumatol. 2007 Apr;26(4):551-4. Epub 2006 Jul 19

.http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/depression.shtml

Dietary Approach for Anxiety

It is crucial in any health condition to have optimal nutrition, the body cannot heal or even function properly without adequate nutrition.  Americans are overfed and undernourished and are suffering a myriad of health problems because of this.

Foods to Avoid:

• Processed grains-  Cereals, white bread, white rice, crackers, any processed grain in a package or a box.
• Sugar-  Sugar stimulates the brain in much the same way as cocaine and is extremely addicting, it also causes blood sugar spikes and falls which can exacerbate any mood disorder and can mimic anxiety disorder symptoms.  This includes, white sugar, honey, maple syrup, corn syrup or any other processed sweetener.
• Food additives and preservatives- a variety of chemicals and toxins that are in our food supply have an untold affect on human health and should be avoided.  Recent dietary programs for ADHD and other similar problems have had success by removing these chemicals from the diet of children who suffer from attention disorders.  These may include:  BHT, nitrates, MSG, EDTA,  FD&C colors which are coal tar derivitives. Basically if you don't know what it is.....don't eat it!
• Caffeine- This should be a no brainer for anxiety sufferers, caffeine can cause heart palpitations, shakiness and other symptoms attributed to anxiety and withdrawal from the drug can also mimic anxiety related symptoms so as you remove caffeine from your diet if you experience a worsening of symptoms realize that this is withdrawal and should decrease over about 72 hours.

Critical Foods for Mood Stabilization and Optimal Health

• Fresh Fruit-   Fruit is full of fiber, cancer fighting antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals that are critical to optimal health.
• Vegetables- Vegetables are low in calories but very high in fiber, folate, vitamins, minerals and do not cause major fluctuations in blood sugar levels.
• Whole Grains- Whole grains provide stable energy throughout the day as the fiber and protein contained in intact grains are slowly absorbed into the bloodstream and provide stable blood sugar levels and prevent mood fluctuations related to these rises and falls in blood sugar levels.
• Legumes- High in protein, low in saturated fat, high in fiber legumes are a superfood for optimal health.

These four groups should make up the majority of your diet, this allows for optimal nutrition, health and disease prevention.

Helpful Additional Foods for Health

• Ground Flax- high in lignans and omega 3's
• Chia seeds- high in omega 3's and minerals
• Sea vegetables- high in minerals and protein



Herbs for Anxiety

Many individuals claim that herbs have not been studied and are therefore useless.  This is actually a false statement, the chemical constituents of herbs have been well studied and in fact, synthetic versions of the chemical constituents in herbs are found in many pharmaceutical drugs.  The constituents of herbs are well understood and their actions in the human body are also well understood.  Here is a short list of herbs that can be effective for anxiety. 

Each herb has unique actions and so you may need to find the one that will work best for you and your particular situation.

Valerian. This herb is a nervine and a relaxant, it has been used for insomnia and for calming the nerves.  It has recently been studied for its efficacy in anxiety, a double-blund study in 2006 used a valerian and lemon balm combination compared with a placebo and it was found that a 600mg dose of the herb combination reduced anxiety in study participants.  (Kennedy DO et al 2006).

Another study compared valerian with diazepam and placebo and valerian was shown to reduce the psychic symptoms of anxiety based on teh Hamilton anxiety scale.   (Andreatini R et al 2002).

**Do not take valerian with other sedatives or barbiturates or alcohol, it can enhance the sedative affects of these medications and can be dangerous.

Skullcap- skullcap functions as a tranquilizer for the body and the mind. Skullcap can relax the muscles and soothes the nervous system, it is these actions that make it excellent in cases of anxiety and stress.

Ashwandaga-  An adaptogenic herb that supports the adrenal glands which can be stressed and weakened by constant anxiety.  It is an important herb for balancing the body and helping cope with stress and anxiety.

Kava Kava-  A team of researchers, compared the efficacy of over 100 alternative and complementary treatmetns for anxiety found that kava kava was the most effective for general anxiety (Jorm AF et al 2004) 

**Do not take kava kava if you are on xanax or with levodopa-based medication, alcohol, barbiturates, or other mood-altering drugs

Emotional Therapies

Most individuals suffering from anxiety need some form of emotional therapy in order to identify mental and emotional triggers that are causing their anxiety. 

• Emotional Freedom Technique [EFT]-  Highly effective for a myriad of emotional and mental problems, to find a practitioner in your area visit:  http://www.eftuniverse.com/
• Healing the Inner Self-  I have experienced Dr. Fishs' work first hand and it is truly life changing.  You can attend a seminar, find a practitioner or purchase his books for yourself at: http://www.drmfish.com/

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This blog is my gift to you for your assistance....

I have been studying nutrition and natural healing for 6 years and have provided free advice and consultations to dozens of individuals.  I have always offered my assistance to anyone who has been in need and have not charged fees to those who did not have the financial ability to pay.

I am in the middle of my Master Herbalist education and need some financial assistance to help me continue and finish my education.  I have set up this blog so that I can offer you high quality education on natural healing and nutrition.  I will be researching and posting information on a variety of health problems and diseases with comprehensive information on nutrition, herbs and supplements for that particular condition. 
In return for this valuable information I would appreciate it if you could donate even a small amount to help me further my education.