Herbs for Skin problems
INTERNAL USE
Some useful herbs include:
Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia) is often used to clear up mildly infected skin problems and teenage acne. It can also be used topically.
Sarsaparilla (Smilax officinalis) is a cleansing and detoxifying herb, used traditionally for psoriasis, acne and rosacea. It can be drunk as a tea or taken as a tincture.
Burdock (Arctium lappa) is considered to be a liver herb, and helps with elimination and clearing skin problems. It is often used in long standing cases of acne and psoriasis.
Chamomile (Matricaria recuitita) is a gentle nerve relaxant, anti-inflammatory and healer. It combines well with plantain and nettle for the treatment of eczema.
Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) is a cooling and strengthening herb for the skin. It promotes healing and works well in a tea blend.
Nettle (Urtica dioca) is traditionally used as a gentle blood cleanser and anti-allergy remedy. It is particularly useful for itchy, allergic skin conditions and can be taken as a tea or tincture.
EXTERNAL USE
Creams or lotions containing these herbs can help alleviate skin conditions:
Starflower (Borago officinalis) seed oil is soothing, healing and anti-inflammatory. It is useful to treat inflamed skin such as in eczema, psoriasis or dermatitis.
Chickweed (Stellaria media) is a cooling herb for hot, itchy skin.
Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) is used by herbalists to reduce redness and inflammation in itchy skin conditions. It combines well with cooling peppermint for itchy eczema.
Pokeroot(Phytolacca decandra) may help to reduce redness and scaling in psoriasis when used as in a prescription only ointment.
Calendula (Calendula officinalis) is used for its healing and antiseptic properties to prevent infection and heal broken skin. It is useful in acne, dermatitis, eczema and to heal wounds.
Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) essential oil has a strong antibacterial action, and is extremely useful in treating acne, as a herbal cream, gel or in skincare preparations.
Caution: Stopping the use of steroid-based creams suddenly can cause skin conditions to flare up. Steroid creams should be withdrawn slowly and can be used alongside herbal preparations. If in doubt, consult your doctor or a qualified medical herbalist.
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for skin problems
Napiers Skin Soother Herbal Relief contains burdock root, sarsaparilla, queen's delight and red clover.
Napiers Elixir of Echinacea contains echinacea, wild indigo and fumitory.
Burdock root (Arctium lappa) is the mainstay of most internal treatments for skin, as it has a detoxifying effect on the liver.
Don't struggle alone
If you have chronic health problems, we advise you to see a medical herbalist at Napiers or through the National Institute of Medical Herbalists.
Starflower oil (Borago officinalis) is pressed from the seeds. High in GLA it is extremely soothing.
Calendula (C. Officinalis) also called Pot Marigold stimulates and speeds up skin cell renewal.
Humble Chickweed (Stellaria media) is cooling in skin creams for even the most sensitive and delicate skin types.
