Acne Herbs: Information and List of Herbs and Herbal Remedies for Acne

Plants and the substances derived from plants have been used in all cultures since the dawn of mankind to not only treat and prevent disease but also to enhance the general health and wellbieng of the individual. The use of botanical medicines to treat common disorders such as acne is one of the fastest growing of all complimentary therapies. While conventional medicines primarily aim to relieve symptoms, correctly prescribed herbs and botanicals work over time to resolve the underlying causes of the disease.

There are a number of useful herbs for acne treatment that are readily available in either their raw form, as extracts or ingredients within herbal acne medicines. One of the many benefits of using natural herbs for acne is the absence of negative side effects which are commonly experienced with many over the counter acne medications.

This list of herbs that help acne is not by any means exhaustive but represents some of the more commonly used herbs and botanicals that have proven to be effective natural remedies for acne.

Burdock has been used for centuries for treating all forms of chronic skin problems has proven to be a safe and effective acne herbal remedy. Burdock is native to Europe and Northern Asia. Extracts of burdock root can be found in many herbal preparations as well as homeopathic remedies. The root is believed to have anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. It's ability to increases blood circulation and to eliminate toxins from the skin makes it an excellent acne herb and natural acne treatment.

Lavender oil is well known for its natural antibacterial and anti-viral properties. It penetrates quite rapidly and its analgesic properties help reduce the pain and redness on inflamed skin. Not only does it soothe, tone and revitalizes the skin but helps to stimulate the growth of new skin cells. Lavender oil is excellent as a preventative acne treatment. Don't use lavender oil neat. It is very strong and should be diluted with grape seed oil before applying it to the skin.

Dandelion Root is is a well balanced herbal remedy. It also makes an effective acne tea. The therapeutic benefits of dandelion is its ability to cleanse the liver, eliminate excess hormones and accelerate the elimination of toxins from the body. Dandelion root is also rich source of vitamins A, B, C, D.and trace elements. The extract from the root is is beneficial in promoting clear skin. and excellent for treating skin disorders such as acne.

Green tea. The medicinal value of green tea has been understood by the Chinese for over 4000 years. A mixture of green tea and honeysuckle called "pimple tea" is a popular Asian remedy for acne. The secret of green teas curative abilities are partly due to a group of antioxidants called polyphenals. These powerful antioxidants are responsible for nuetralizing the damaging effects of free radicals and toxins that circulate the body and damage the skin.

Read more about green tea and acne ...................

Red Clover is a safe and effective herbal remedy for acne, with a long history of medicinal usage. Traditional herbalists have used red clover to treat a wide array of conditions including eczema, psoriasis, and acne. Red clover taken internally is a powerful blood cleanser and plays an important part in decreasing acne breakouts.

Aloe Vera is a wonderful alternative to over the counter acne medications. Aloe Vera contains 6 anti-septic agents and provides strong anti microbial activity to eliminate many internal and external infections. When applied externally aloe vera is a good acne moisturizer as it has the ability to penetrate seven layers of skin and can penetrate four time faster than water. Applied twice a day Aloe has the ability to soothe irritation and accelerate the healing of acne scars. Aloe can be taken orally or used topically. Aloe vera juice and lotions are inexpensive and readily available from health food stores. Aloe vera plants are fairly easy to grow in moderate to warm climates and you can find them in many nurseries and garden stores.

Olive Leaf Extract is a natural product made from the leaf of the olive tree (Olea Europaea). The healing properties of olive leaves and olive leaf extracts finds its roots in the folk remedies of ancient Greece and many other cultures of the Middle East.

Olive leaf extracts have been found to demonstrate very high anti oxidative qualities. One of the primary antioxidants is believed to be oleuropein. Taken internally, olive leaf extract can help your liver eliminate harmful toxins, regulate hormones and kill molds that can cause acne from the inside. Olive leaf extract also has very powerful anti-bacterial, antiviral and anti fungal properties and when used topically is extraordinarily effective in eradicating acne bacteria.

Olive leaf extract is an inexpensive and very effective natural remedy for acne. Although olive leaf extract has very few side effects, some individuals might experience symptoms such as headaches, muscle aches, nausea and flu-like symptoms. Mostly, this is a detoxification reaction and signals that the body is eliminating excessive toxins. In this situation it would be best to temporarily discontinue or cut down on the amount taken until the symptoms subside.

Tea Tree Oil has long been recognized as one of natures most effective healing oils. It is extracted from the leaves of the Melaleuca tree (Melaleuca Alternifolia), a native paper bark of NSW Australia.

Many believe that the best quality tea tree oil comes from this area. Tea tree oil contains class of naturally-occurring compounds called terpenoids which are known to possess strong antiseptic, anti fungal activity anti-inflammatory properties. It is these properties which make tea tree oil an effective acne oil.

Recent studies have demonstrated that a topical application of 5% tea tree oil is as effective in killing acne bacteria as a 5% benzoyl Peroxide solution. The action of the tea tree oil is slower that benzoyl peroxide, but with fewer side effects such as irritation and dryness which make it an excellent herbal treatment for acne. A 5% - 15% solution of tea tree oil can effectively reduce acne by killing acne bacteria and reducing inflammation.

Do not used undiluted (100%) oil directly onto your skin as it can cause excessive irritation and dry out your skin.

Licorice Root has a history of medicinal use that stretches over thousands of years. The healing properties of this herb was well known to the ancient Greeks, Egyptians and Chinese who still use in their herbal preparations to promote vitality and balance the effects of other herbs.

Although the most common use for licorice root is to relieve stomach pains and cramps, it also possesses strong anti inflammatory properties. Licorice root applied topically, will both soothe the skin and inhibit the production of irritants which contribute to skin conditions such as acne.

There are risks of mild to severe side effects when licorice root is taken orally in large amounts or for long periods of time. Licorice root is not recommended to be taken orally by breastfeeding mothers or during pregnancy as some research has indicated the increased risk of premature birth.