Herbal Remedies and Other Non-Traditional Treatments For Acne

Acne treatment can be done effectively using several conventional prescriptive medications and over-the-counter medicines. The treatment may result in controlling and eventual removal of acne. There are other less conventional medications to treat acne.

Non-conventional medicines basically deal with approach to the problem, such as Chinese acupuncture, homeopathic medications, mind and body medicines which include hypnosis and biofeedback and cognitive imagery,, herbals, Ayurveda, kampo, etc. There are dietary and nutrition-related treatments also. The following delves with each of these approaches towards acne.

Chinese Acupuncture: The Chinese method of acupuncture for treating acne has not been scientifically assessed. But two acupuncture processes are reported to have relieved acne symptoms. These two types are auricular acupuncture - the acupuncture that is applied to the ear lobe - and electro-acupuncture - the acupuncture that uses mild electric current.

Herbal medicine: Herbal medicines generally possess inflammation reducing agents. So, these may be useful in curing acne and other skin disorders:

Calendula (Calendula officinalis) , the German chamomile otherwise known as the Matricaria recutita, the Witch hazel or the Hamamelis virginiana, the Licorice root or the Glycyrrhiza glabra, the tea tree oil, or the flaxseed, known as the Linum usitatissimum

The herbs help in decreasing the presence of P.acnes created as a consequence of clogging of skin pores which will help in reducing acne inflammation. Tea Tree oil contains more beneficial properties when compared to benzoyl peroxide in lowering P.acnes and is known to cause lesser adverse consequences than the later. The lesser adverse consequences are itchy sensation, skin dryness, etc.

Homeopathic remedies: The approach of homeopathy is to evaluate the patient first in terms of physiological, psychological, and intellectual makeup before actually recommending a treatment methodology to the patient and then adjusting the treatment to the needs of the patient. The homeopathy approach has not been backed by any substantial and reliable scientific investigation. But homeopaths insist that certain treatments can actually give relief from symptoms of acne. They are:

Belladonna operates well for patients who sense warm areas on their face and have acne marks.
Calendula is employed to cure infected scars or boils.
Hepar sulphur is a good cure for infected acne marks that give pain.
Kali bromatum is taken for profound acne marks, particularly for those above the eyebrows.
Silicea is also for infected acne.

Mind and body medicine: The mind and body approach to the problem of acne is achieved with the practices of biofeedback, hypnotherapy as well as cognitive imagery.

The Biofeedback together with the Cognitive Imagery technique:

 Biofeedback as well as the  cognitive imagery are therapies of rest and relaxation. Stress and tensions aggravate acne problem. This method provides relaxation to the patient. Biofeedback techniques teach a person to try and manage bodily tensions and processes such as pulse rate and muscle rigidity. Cognitive imagery, also known as guided imagery, makes use of mental imageries and pictures to provide comfort and eases physical and psychological tensions and conditions. These methods, when used in combination, have shown to decrease the rigors of acne onsets.

Hypnotherapy: Hypnotherapy operates the same way as the biofeedback and cognitive imagery work. It provides relaxation to the patient. The only dissimilarity is that a trained expert controls the therapy process, without the use of any imageries.

Ayurveda: It is also a 'whole body approach' system of medicine that has origins in India. Ayurveda concentrates mainly on food habits and on way of life. Each person is distinctive in nature and Ayurveda acknowledges this feature. Ayurvedic treatment works by adjusting prescriptions that are suitable to the person concerned.

The Ayurveda expert makes individual examination and employs the knowledge imbibed from ancient written materials. Ayurveda is based on body's equilibrium of three subtle energies called doshas - vatha, Pitta, Kapha - that influence every human being.  Ayurvedic  remedies are mainly based on herbs. The one Ayurvedic medicine for treatment of acne is called "Sundar Vati" - a herbal combination of ginger (Zingiber officinale), Embelia ribea and the Holarrhena antidysenterica.

Kampo: The  Kampo represents  a Japanese variety of conventional, ancient Chinese medicine. Keigai-rengyo-to (TJ-50) is a Kampo treatment for acne. In some cases, it has proved its efficacy. TJ-50 contains seventeen herbs that have a combination of inflammation-reducing and anti-bacterial properties. These herbs are: Licorice root or the Glycyrrhiza glabra, the  Skullcap root ( known as the Scutellaria lateriflora), (), the  Mint  extract (Mentha arvensis),  the Angelica root (known as the Angelica archangelica), the Peony root (known as the Paeonia lactiflora), etc.

Nutrition and Dietary Supplements: It is proved that diet has no influence on acne. But there are some food items that affect people in several ways. Some acne affected people say that certain foods and liquids make acne more acute. Nuts are suspected to affect acne adversely. So, keep a watch of what you eat and drink and see how these affect you over time.

Reference Websites:

herbal_remedies_and_other_non_traditional_acne_treatments.php
http://ezinearticles.com/?Herbal-Remedies-and-Other-Non-Traditional-Acne-Treatments
http://www.herbalremediesinfo.com/Acne.html