Author: Tom Alter
Source: isnare.com
Acne is a very common skin ailment found mostly in the period of puberty. It is more common in women than in men. Acne is characterized by the presence of eruptions on the skin, which are commonly known as zits or pimples.
Acne is a sign of the impurity within the body. The impurity could be in the blood, which manifests itself externally as acne. If the blood is impure, then the sebaceous (sweat) glands will have to work harder in eliminating these wastes. This hyperactivity of the sweat glands causes acne.
Hormonal imbalances are very important causes of acne. During puberty there are major hormonal changes in the body, as also during each menstrual cycle of women. Therefore, these are important periods when acne can occur. People who consume steroids for any reason also stand a higher chance of getting acne.
In Ayurveda, acne is known as Yauvan pidika. It is classified as both a vataja and a kaphaja. Any increase in the dhaatus of rakta and medha are responsible in a major way for the formation of acne.
(1)Useful Herbs in the Treatment of Acne
1. Almond (Amygdalus communis)
The almond replenishes the lost nutrients from the skin. Thus it makes the skin healthier, which is an important step in reducing acne.
2. Aloe vera (Aloe vera)
Aloe vera is widely recognized to be one of the most effective herbs in the treatment of acne. It is an important ingredient in most cosmetic products also. Aloe vera can remove the marks that acne leaves behind, and it gives a moist shiny sheen to the skin.
3. Bergamot (Citrus bergamia)
Bergamot is an age-old Ayurvedic remedy to treat skin problems. On the face, it is especially useful in the treatment of rashes and acne.
4. Indian blackberry (Syzygium cumini)
Popularly known as jamun or jambula in India, this blackberry has a purple juice. The purple juice has an alkaline content which can reduce the pus formation in the pimples. Thus, jamun prevents the acne from spreading and also checks its further outbreaks.
5. Sandalwood (Santalum album)
The sandalwood is a fragrant herb which is looked upon with utmost reverence in Ayurveda. It has a religious significance. In the human body, it can produce a cooling effect and treat the blood of its impurities. Owing to this, sandalwood can treat acne among its many other uses.
(2)Dietary Treatments for Acne
Acne is directly dependent on the diet, since it is a blood impurity. It is absolutely necessary to keep the blood clean so that the facial skin does not become a victim of ungainly pimples.
Maintain a healthy dietary regime. Oily and spicy foods can aggravate the acne. Foods that are beneficial for acne are green leafy vegetables, salad vegetables and fruits that have good water content in them. Foods that are difficult to digest can aggravate the acne.
(3)Ayurvedic Treatment for Acne
Ayurvedic methods do not use any thick pastes for the treatment of acne for the simple reason that these pastes can clog the pores further, leading to aggravation of the pimples. Instead, mild and thin pastes of the following herbs are prescribed:-
1. Guduchi
2. Shatavari
3. Sarsaparilla
The preparation Arogyavardhini also has good effects in the treatment of pimples.
(4)Home Medications
There are many household remedies that can be used to control the condition. Most of these remedies are external applications, but some of them are also meant to be taken orally.
1. Mix the husk of mustard seeds in paste form with cow’s milk. Apply this mixture on the affected areas every night and wash it off thoroughly in the morning. The eruptions should disappear within a week.
2. Application of buttermilk on the affected regions is also helpful.
3. Prepare a mixture of nutmeg and red sandalwood in water. Apply this mixture on the face.
4. Mix the pulp of the neem fruit in water and apply it on the face. This application provides quicker but temporary relief from the pimples.
5. Application of a paste of thorns of the semolina in milk for three consecutive nights will help reduce the eruptions.
6. A very simple and cheap remedy is to apply the paste of orange peels on the face.
7. Indian plum or jambola must be squeezed in water and this paste must be applied on the affected part. This is more effective in the pimples which appear in early youth.
8.One traditional method to keep acne away is to wash the face twice or thrice a day with buttermilk. This is also believed to increase the glow on the face.
9. Apart from this, the following points must be borne in mind:-
10. Maintain proper facial hygiene. This can be done by washing the face at least thrice a day. Use lemon soap for washing. It is very important to wash the face after returning home from outside.
11. Keep your mind stress-free. Stress can release more hormones, which would exacerbate the acne.