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Acne Cure -
Herbs and Ayurvedic Remedies
and Other Treatments
by Tom
Alter |
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Acne is a very common skin ailment
found mostly in the period of puberty. It is more common in women
than in men. Acne is characterized by the presence of eruptions
on the skin, which are commonly known as zits or pimples.
Acne is a sign of the impurity
within the body. The impurity could be in the blood, which manifests
itself externally as acne. If the blood is impure, then the sebaceous
(sweat) glands will have to work harder in eliminating these
wastes. This hyperactivity of the sweat glands causes acne.
Hormonal imbalances are very
important causes of acne. During puberty there are major hormonal
changes in the body, as also during each menstrual cycle of women.
Therefore, these are important periods when acne can occur. People
who consume steroids for any reason also stand a higher chance
of getting acne.
In Ayurveda,
acne is known as Yauvan pidika. It is classified as both a vataja
and a kaphaja. Any increase in the dhaatus of rakta and medha
are responsible in a major way for the formation of acne. |
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(1) Useful Herbs in the Treatment
of Acne
1. Almond (Amygdalus communis)
The
almond replenishes the lost nutrients from the skin. Thus it
makes the skin healthier, which is an important step in reducing
acne.
2. Aloe vera (Aloe vera)
Aloe vera is widely recognized to be one of the
most effective herbs in the treatment of acne. It is an important
ingredient in most cosmetic products also. Aloe vera can remove
the marks that acne leaves behind, and it gives a moist shiny
sheen to the skin.
3. Bergamot
(Citrus bergamia)
Bergamot is an age-old Ayurvedic
remedy to treat skin problems. On the face, it is especially
useful in the treatment of rashes and acne.
4. Indian blackberry (Syzygium cumini)
Popularly
known as jamun or jambula in India, this blackberry has a purple
juice. The purple juice has an alkaline content which can reduce
the pus formation in the pimples. Thus, jamun prevents the acne
from spreading and also checks its further outbreaks.
5. Sandalwood (Santalum album)
The
sandalwood is a fragrant herb which is looked upon with utmost
reverence in Ayurveda. It has a religious significance. In the
human body, it can produce a cooling effect and treat the blood
of its impurities. Owing to this, sandalwood can treat acne among
its many other uses.
(2) Dietary Treatments for Acne
Acne is directly dependent on the diet, since it
is a blood impurity. It is absolutely necessary to keep the blood
clean so that the facial skin does not become a victim of ungainly
pimples.
Maintain a healthy
dietary regime. Oily and spicy foods can aggravate the acne.
Foods that are beneficial for acne are green leafy vegetables,
salad vegetables and fruits that have good water content in them.
Foods that are difficult to digest can aggravate the acne.
(3) Ayurvedic
Treatment for Acne
Ayurvedic
methods do not use any thick pastes for the treatment of acne
for the simple reason that these pastes can clog the pores further,
leading to aggravation of the pimples. Instead, mild and thin
pastes of the following herbs are prescribed:-
1.
Guduchi
2. Shatavari
3. Sarsaparilla
The preparation Arogyavardhini
also has good effects in the treatment of pimples.
(4) Home Medications
There are many household remedies that can be used
to control the condition. Most of these remedies are external
applications, but some of them are also meant to be taken orally.
1. Mix the husk of mustard seeds
in paste form with cow’s milk. Apply this mixture on the
affected areas every night and wash it off thoroughly in the
morning. The eruptions should disappear within a week.
2. Application of buttermilk on
the affected regions is also helpful.
3. Prepare a mixture of nutmeg and red sandalwood
in water. Apply this mixture on the face.
4. Mix the pulp of the neem fruit in water and
apply it on the face. This application provides quicker but temporary
relief from the pimples.
5.
Application of a paste of thorns of the semolina in milk for
three consecutive nights will help reduce the eruptions.
6. A very simple and cheap remedy
is to apply the paste of orange peels on the face.
7. Indian plum or jambola must be squeezed in water
and this paste must be applied on the affected part. This is
more effective in the pimples which appear in early youth.
8. One traditional method to
keep acne away is to wash the face twice or thrice a day with
buttermilk. This is also believed to increase the glow on the
face.
9. Apart from this,
the following points must be borne in mind:-
10. Maintain proper facial hygiene. This can be
done by washing the face at least thrice a day. Use lemon soap
for washing. It is very important to wash the face after returning
home from outside.
11. Keep
your mind stress-free. Stress can release more hormones, which
would exacerbate the acne. |
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