subject: Gentle But Powerful - Herbal Remedies For The Skin [print this page] Gentle But Powerful - Herbal Remedies For The Skin
The skin is our largest organ, closely linked to our vascular and nervous system. In general, superficial skin problems can usually be treated by applying natural healing remedies onto the skin while results for chronic skin conditions are better when treated internally as the problem often stems from the deeper layers of the skin.The best herbs for treating skin problems are plants you may already have in your garden such as calendula (marigold), comfrey, chamomile and thyme. Other useful herbs include echinacea, eyebright, lavender, mountain grape, nettle leaf, red clover, ribwort plantain, tea tree, valerian and yellow dock. These herbal remedies for the skin can help to treat ailments like athlete's foot, cold sore, boils, burns, cuts, grazes and wounds, dandruff and itchy scalp, eczema, itchy skin, nappy rash, psoriasis, skin rash, sunburn, warts and verrucas. Let's explore the most useful herbal remedies in more detail.Calendula is an excellent natural remedy for the skin. It has anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties and promotes the fast healing of skin injuries. It can be used very effectively when the skin has been broken; e.g. for cuts, grazes, sunburn, heat burns, insect stings, skin and nappy rashes. Bruises can be treated by calendula but comfrey would be better in such circumstances.Comfrey acts in a similar way to calendula. It is only recommended for external application. Being less allergenic it is suitable for people who are allergic to calendula or chamomile. Comfrey works well on bruising around open wounds. Depending on the problem calendula and comfrey can be used as an ointment, cream, infused oil, poultice or compress.Chamomile can be used internally or externally as a natural healing remedy for skin complaints. It has anti-inflammatory properties and is good for skin conditions where inflammation of the skin plays some part; e.g. swellings, dry eczema, insect bites or acne. Chamomile can be applied externally as a cream, poultice or compress and internally as a tincture.Chamomile and calendula can cause allergic reactions in some people, so be careful if you are allergic to plants of the compositae (daisy) family as you may be allergic to them as well. If you are not sure, apply on a small area of skin first for a few days to see how your skin reacts.Thyme can be used to treat skin infections, sunburn and itchy skin conditions. It is excellent for fungal infections and can be mixed with other anti-fungal herbs. It is also a good disinfectant for minor skin injuries. It can be applied externally as a tincture, infusion, compress or essential oil. The essential oil should not be used without consulting a specialist during pregnancy and for children under three. Tinctures should be diluted slightly to avoid stinging.The above natural healing remedies for the skin are safe but not entirely risk free. As with any medicine you must exercise caution when using them, follow the recommended dosage, watch out for side effects or allergic reactions and beware of interactions if you are taking conventional medication at the same time.
