There are many herbal treatments for acne: Grapefruit Seed Extract, Saw Palmetto, Aloe Vera and others. Tea Tree Oil and Green Tea are the most effective treatments.
There are many herbal formulas on the market; one can choose the most appropriate treatment based on personal preference and the cause of the acne. Zenmed uses lavender, which is an excellent astringent and skin conditioner. Lavender also has a pungent yet relaxing fragrance, and it is often touted by aromatherapists for its effectiveness in relieving stress, a major contributor to chronic acne. The Zenmed system provides lavender capsules to be taken internally as well as a cleanser to remove excess oil and to relieve the skin. The entire treatment costs about $60 and is a good alternative for acne sufferers who want to enjoy the aromatherapeutic benefits of lavender coupled with a treatment that is used to combat acne both internally and externally.
There are those who believe that no herbal treatments can work well on a long term basis, but the cure for acne is to stimulate the liver which clears the body of excess acne-causing hormones and purifies the blood of toxins. Many of these treatments contain herbs that stimulate the liver and help prevent the causes of acne; bacteria, extra hormones and poor general health. Your Last Acne Solution Program costs $39.97 and claims to build liver capacity in a short amount of time.
These treatments work well for many people, but many others do not see the any improvement in their acne condition. One reason for this discrepancy is that acne has different causes for different people, and one treatment might affect a complete cure for one person, but may do nothing at all for someone else. The best solution is to avoid spending a lot of money on kits, creams and capsules until one establishes which herbs work well for him or her, and then invest the money in a certain program that incorporates those herbs.
One can experiment with a variety of treatments using essential oils purchased from health food stores for about $8 a bottle. Grapefruit seed extract has produced dramatic results for many acne sufferers. This powerful extract kills drug resistant bacteria but does not harm beneficial bacteria. Salicylic Acid, which doesn't sound natural at all, but is actually nothing more than willow bark extract, is an excellent topical agent that treats acne. Try Aloe Vera gel which has a cool, non-drying effect. For acne conditions caused by hormonal fluctuations, Saw Palmetto or Chasteberry may be effective. Saw Palmetto is often used for those suffering from prostrate problems, but it also works as an effective hormone regulator for women. Chasteberry, or Vitex helps the pituitary gland to increase progesterone and to help correct irregular menstrual cycles and to treat Pre-Menstrual Syndrome, during which chronic acne is often a problem.
The only two herbal remedies that have been clinically proven to treat acne are Tea Tree Oil and Green Tea.The Tea Tree, or Melaleuca alternifolia, is found only in Australia and has been used for centuries by the aborigines to treat a wide variety of ailments. Tea Tree Oil works well for acne because it is an antibacterial agent and an astringent combined. The active acne-treating antioxidants in Green Tea are called catechins, and are highly effective, but usually have a very brief shelf life.
It is generally agreed that the best herbal treatment of acne is Green Tea Acne Cream which also has Tea Tree Oil. This formula contains levels of catechins and Tea Tree Oil sufficient to treat acne quickly and effectively, without drying or other side effects. To correct the common problem of the catechins losing their potency, the active ingredients have been preserved by a natural method which prevents the antioxidants from breaking down. In medical studies, Green Tea Acne Cream was just as effective as 4% benzol peroxide cream in treating acne. Compared to many other treatments, Green Tea Acne Cream is relatively affordable, only $16 for five grams and $30 for 20 grams.
