All of us want to have healthy younger looking skin. We may be concerned about acne on our face or just another skin condition such as eczema, psoriasis, rosacea or dermatitis. While you may visit a dermatologist and get prescription for a skin cream, the long term natural solution has to do with your diet and lifestyle.
Naturopaths believe that toxins get pushed through the skin if the body is toxic and overworked. If the diet consists of processed greasy food, excessive meat and dairy, sugary and unrefined carbs and lack of vegetables, it may have a negative impact on the skin. For instance, research from the Nurses’ Healthy Study showed that the hormone driven condition of acne is common among those who consume dairy products.
Let’s assume that you have already changed your lifestyle as the first step towards a radiant and glowing face. The second step is to be aware of beauty products and cleansers that you are allergic to. Using harsh anti-bacterial soaps and cleansers can do a lot of damage to your skin. Natural mild cleansers and beauty products are better alternatives.
The final step is to look at natural home remedies that may help with your skin condition. In this article, we will focus mostly on herbal remedies that help bring down the inflammation and improve skin texture naturally.
Deer Antler
Deer Antler is an ancient Chinese herb that can be found at a natural herbal store. It contains large portions of collagen which is a protein found in the fibers of the skin. This herb slows down the aging process, increases energy and helps to make your skin smooth.
Chaga Mushroom
Chaga mushroom is also known as “Mushroom of Immortality” by the Siberians and “King of Plants” by the Chinese. This mushroom works great for cleansing the body and healing the liver. Natural herbal stores sell chaga skin cream which softens and soothes the skin. You can also drink chaga mushroom tea.
Dong Quai
Dong Quai is another Chinese herb that is a great blood tonic and hormone balancer. It improves circulation in the skin, detoxifies your body and clears skin blemishes. Several herbal formulas for skin conditions such as dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis include dong quai.
Licorice Root
Licorice root tea can be found at a natural tea store. In Asia, licorice root has been used for thousands of years to treat a variety of skin care problems. It is known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Some natural skin care lotions and peels are starting to use licorice root as a side ingredient.
Schizandra
Schizandra was used by women in the Chinese Imperial Court to stay young and beautiful. It is a safe and powerful tonic herb that protects the skin from the effects of the sun and the wind. It also helps the skin hold moisture for skin health.
Stinging Nettle
Nettle is a common herb that is a rich source of vitamins A, C and E, iron, silica, calcium and phosphates. It has several benefits for your skin. It helps to relieve acne and eczema, reduce skin inflammation and help you look more youthful. The easiest way to consume this herb is by drinking the tea from organic loose leaf nettle.
Dandelion
If you thought dandelion was just a weed, you will be amazed to find out it has amazing healing properties. If you are on a budget and do not want to buy herbs at a store, you can just pick them from your yard and use the dandelion roots. It helps create healthy skin by cleaning and detoxifying your blood. This can be consumed as dandelion root tea.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera has been used for thousands of years to treat acne and other skin conditions. You can simply break the leaf and apply the watery gel to the affected area on the skin to reduce the redness and swelling. You can also drink aloe vera juice every day to prevent acne outbreaks. When you buy aloe vera juice from a store, you have to be careful because of additional sugar added by manufacturers. While aloe vera is healing, excessive sugar may cancel some of the effects from the plant. So it is better to freshly squeeze your own aloe vera juice if you can. You can easily find fresh aloe vera leaves at an Asian grocery store.
Raw Honey and Bee Pollen
Honey, bee pollen and royal jelly are known to reduce skin allergies and improve the complexion of the skin. Some cultures use honey to treat skin blemishes by directly putting them on their face. This honey mask is known to cure acne, scars and spots. Using honey as a sweetener for tea is also a great way to consume honey.
Bentonite Clay
While bentonite clay is not classified as a herb, it can have great benefits for the skin as well. Spas use clay for the face mask most of the time. You can mix bentonite clay with aloe vera juice or apple cider vinegar for an amazing face mask. Applying this to your face will pull toxins directly out of the pores of your skin. Some holistic doctors believe that drinking clay tea will pull toxins out of the body and make the skin look younger.
The herbs mentioned above can help with any skin condition. However, this does not mean that you have to apply all these herbs to get the benefits. You may try and experiment with these herbs one at a time and figure out which one works the best for you. Also, it is important to understand if you are allergic to any particular herb and avoid it. Or you may be taking several prescription medications and one of these herbs might interact with the medicine. In these cases, you may want to consult with your doctor or natural herbalist.
Eating lots of fruits and vegetables, doing some cardio exercises regularly and using natural herbs can slow your aging process, help your skin look younger and make your face glow. While cream and prescription medications from a dermatologist can be very helpful in the short run, it is important to treat skin conditions holistically for the long run. This will not only save you money but also help your overall health.
Additional Source:
The Amazing Human Body – The Face by Dr. Vaughn Lawrence
Be the first to comment