Herbal Home Remedies for Treating Acne

Acne generally originates from wrong eating habits, such as an irregular eating schedule, eating excessive amounts of starch, sugar, fried and/or fatty foods. Chronic constipation may also be a cause of acne. Other causes of acne are unhygienic living habits, drinking too much tea, coffee, alcohol, or tobacco, and a sedentary lifestyle.

Following, we've listed some of the most commonly used herbal home remedies you can employ to help treat acne:

Burdock (Artium lappa)

Burdock is an ideal astringent which helps to remove excess oils from the dermis. Use it on a daily basis to treat oily skin. It could
take a few weeks before an improvement to the skin is visible. Place two handfuls of burdock roots and leaves into about two cups of water. Bring the water to a boil in a pot. Lower the heat and continue to simmer for about 10-15 minutes. Dip a clean cloth in the mixsutre and use it as a compress until cool. Repeat this process, keeping the mixture hot, for 15-20 minutes.

Strawberry

Crush a whole strawberry and rub on the face. Leave it on the face for 10-15 minutes. Then, rinse the face thoroughly with water. This should aid in clearing acne blemishes. ALERT: Some people may be allergic to strawberries. Test a patch of skin before using the facial treatment.

Baking Soda

Produce a paste by mixing baking soda and water. Apply this mixuture to the face and leave it on for about five minutes. Then, rinse the paste off using apple cider vinegar. Rinse the face again with water. Lastly, rub some vitamin E oil onto the face and leave it on overnight.

Thyme

Thyme can function as a good astringent. This allows it to be used in clearing up acne blemishes. Start by pouring 1-1/2 cups of boiling hot water over four tablespoons of thyme (dry). Let it steep for about a half an hour. Then, strain and bottle the resulting liquid. Keep the mixture refrigerated. Teenagers who suffer from acne can use this mixture daily to treat acne.

Orange Peel

Orange peel has been reported to be an effective treatment for acne. Pound the peel well with water against a stone. Then, the ground peel should be liberally applied to any areas affected by acne.

Garlic

Garlic has also been reported to have been used to successfully treat acne. Pimples often disappear when they are rubbed with raw garlic a few times a day. Even extremely stubborn acne has been successfully treated using this herb. Use garlic externally to helps clear acne from the skin. This can further be aided by eating two or three pods of raw garlic once a day for a few weeks in order to help purify the blood.

Ginger: Use and Benefits

Ginger has a variety of health benefits, including treating nausea and other digestive problems, improving and stimulating circulation, and treating arthritic pain. Relieving nausea resulting from pregnancy or travelling is one of its most popular uses.

The ginger root can also be highly effective at helping to calm and soothe an upset stomach, and to stimulate the flow of bile. It also aids in relieving stomach cramps. Ginger promotes a healthy cardio-vascular system and improves circulatory function.

Ginger oil can be used for massage which can aid in providing relief for painful arthritis because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger is often used as an ingredient in herbal decongestants and can reduce the symptoms of respiratory conditions, colds, and allergies.

How to Use Ginger

Ginger root can be ground or grated and used for cooking. It is also widely available in supplement form, which can be ingested orally on a daily bases.

Grated ginger root combined with a small amount of lime juice can soothe problems with the digestive tract and reduce gas and flatulence. Ginger can also be made into an oil and massaged into areas of localised pain. Addittionally, it can be taken as an extract whcih helps reduce inflammation.

When deciding on a ginger supplement, it is important to pick one that contains ginger's pungent compounds. These are called gingerols and shogaols and are the ginger plant's primary active ingredients.

Natural Herbal Remedies for Treating Dandruff

Suffering from dandruff can be extremely unpleasant and embarrassing. It can also potentially lead to excessive hair-shedding. To get relief from dandruff you can try commercial, medicated anti-dandruff shampoos or you can use natural herbal remedies. The advantage of using herbal remedies instead of commercial shampoos is that there is much less potential for negative side-effects.

Following is a list of what are thought to be the most effective herbal remedies for treating dandruff:

Lemon Juice

If your hair is oil and you have dandruff, then using lemon juice may help you. Squeeze one lemon and add its juice to a cup of water. Rinse your hair with this mixture after you shampoo your hir. Do not rinse your hair with water afterward.

Fenugreek Seeds

Grind a large handful of fenugreek seeds and mix with water. Then, apply this paste to your scalp. Leave the mixture on your head for about an hour before shampooing and rinsing. After about a month of this remedy you should notice to see a reduction in dandruff.

Rosemary Oil

Massage your scalp with rosemary oil on a regular basis. Do this for about a half an hour before shampooing your hair.

Green Gram Powder

Produce a smooth paste by mixing three tablespoons of green gram powder with one cup of curd. Then, apply the herbal mixture to your scalp twice a week. Leave it on for half an hour before shampooing.

Source: MedWonders.

Bilberries and Their Benefits

Bilberries are the small, dark fruit of a European shrub - which is extremely similar to the North American blueberry. Bilberries contain very powerful antioxidants which may help to neutralize dangerous free-radicals throughout the body.

Vision Problems

Some studies have shown the compounds active in bilberry - called anthocyanosides - may help to lower the rate of macular degeneration. Billberries have also been shown to help prevent cataracts, glaucoma, and poor night vision.

Vascular and Blood Disorders

Bilberries have been used to help treat varicose veins, as well as angina. The flavonoids contained in bilberry have the effect of thinning blood and preventing weakness of the capillaries.

Digestive Problems

Information regarding the history of bilberry has shown that it has often been used as a digestion aid, as well as for treating diarrhea, nausea, dysentery and indigestion. Bilberries have also been used as an anti-inflammatory for the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat, and to help alleviate painful ulcers.

Menstrual Cramps

Many women have reported that they have successfully used bilberry as a treatment for the relief of menstrual cramps.

Ginseng has Many Health Benefits

Ginseng has had many reported health benefits for a very long time, including improving cognitive function, as well as helping to prevent the development of dementia.

"Ginseng appears to have some beneficial effects on cognition, behavior and quality of life," according to JinSong Geng, of the Medical School of Nantong University in China.

Numerous trials have shown evidence which suggests that ginseng may have a positive role in enhancing learning, memory and for general health.

Soo-Yeun Lee of the University of Illinois has mentioned several studies that may highlight ginseng's impact on a variety of aspects of health and well-being.

"Consumers like to see ginseng on a product's ingredient list because studies [suggest] that it improves memory, enhances libido and sexual performance, boosts immunity and alleviates diabetes," Lee said.

Very recently, food chemists have created a process which reduces the herb's bitterness, which could increase its use as a functional ingredient in energy drinks. According to the chemists, improving the taste of the herb may help manufacturers add ginseng's health benefits to these beverages by helping them not to add the bitter taste.

Source: Ginseng Benefits (Dr. Axe).