Natural Herbal Acne Cures

Do natural herbal acne cures work? Check your PC, and you'll find that over-the counter and prescription acne remedies can all have possible unpleasant side effects.

So its tempting to believe that you can better manage those troublesome spots with 'pure natural herbal' acne treatment.

But is this the case?.

Lets have a look at some of the most popular herbs that have been touted - sometimes for hundreds of years around the world - as safe, effective acne cures, plus any scientific research done on them.

If you decide to purchase any of these as preparations, be sure to use them exactly as advised. Consult beforehand with a professional if you are pregnant, breast feeding,or suffer from any medical condition likely to be aggravated by usage.

Also - we all have individual reactions - discontinue use of any herbal acne remedy immediately if you suffer any bad reactions whatever. Treat them as you would any other acne medication.

OK, Here are some top contenders

1/ Burdock The herb burdock (Arctium lappa), popular in US, Asia and Europe for hundreds of years as part of a popular drink as well as an acne treatment. Be warned, its bitter on its own! Can be bought as an extract, tablets or in combination with other herbs like yellow dock, and red clover. There is evidence the tablets do have an internal cleansing action, but no solid scientific evidence, it does act as an acne cure.

Though its a common weed, don't collect it yourself, and only buy from reputable sources- the roots of burdock closely resemble those of belladonna or deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna), and there is some risk that amateur burdock preparations could become contaminated with these potentially dangerous herbs.

There is also some evidence that burdock can lower blood sugar. Hence those with diabetes should avoid burdock as an acne treatment.

2/ Tea tree oil - this popular leaf extract from one species (Melaleuca alternifolia) of the Australian tea tree does seem to act as a natural acne cure. A scientific trial compared skin application of 5% tea tree oil to the most common acne treatment, 5% benzoyl peroxide (normally sold over the counter at 2-5%) for common acne.

Although the tea tree oil acted more slowly than benzoyl peroxide on spots, it had far fewer unpleasant side effects and was regarded as more effective overall.

Also, unlike benzoyl peroxide, tea tree oil doesnt bleach your clothes! It has caused allergic reactions in some people,can dry the skin when used alongside other acne remedies, and should not be taken by mouth.

3/ Aloe - This herb has gained world wide popularity a natural acne herbal remedy.Can be applied as juice gel or ointment,or drunk (bitter again), but does have a drying action on the skin, so should be used with a moisturizer. Said to be slow acting, taking 6 months or more.

So far there is some evidence that its good for the bowels and has some anti-inflammatory and wound healing action, but no conclusive evidence aloe is an effective herbal acne treatment

Side effects? Nothing major externally, but if taken internally, it's a laxative- so do not take high dosages

4/ Wild Basil Oil (Ocimum gratissimum) . Not so popular with the herbalists, but a study showed a 2% alcohol solution of Brazilian Wild Basil Oil was a better acne treatment than 10% benzoyl peroxide lotion!

You can already buy basil oil fro a herbalist, or boil the leaves and apply a cooled poultice of the 'tea' to the affected parts.

I'm looking into herbal remedies for acne further...

So should you. Good luck!

About the Author:
Michael madigan
To read the other part of this report ,and gain further information on acne treatment and acne remedies, visit Mick Madigan's Acne Index at http://www.m1mart.co.uk/acne/acneindex.htm
Added: 20 Oct 2006
Article Source: http://articles.simplysearch4it.com/article/39961.html