Treating acne with herbs

Fresh herbs are so delicious.  I use them in cooking but I’ve also used them for my skin.   Treating acne with herbs is easy and economical.

Garden Herbs

I plant a lot of herbs in my garden.  I started growing herbs quite a while ago because I wanted fresh and organic ingredients.

Here is a list of some of my most favorite herbs.

1. I started with lavender (yes, it’s an herb, according to Medical News Today).  I love the smell of lavender.  To me, it’s calming and fresh and I love to cut the flowering tops, dry them, and use them as dried flower arrangements.  I’ve even dried them to use in eye pillows that I’ve sewn.  Some people even use them in cooking but so far, I’m not too much into lavender in food.  It tastes too flowery to me.  Still, I love how it smells and the calming feeling I get with it.
2. Cilantro – some people have a love it or hate it relationship with cilantro.  I like a little bit of it but I don’t want it to overpower a dish.  A little goes a long way.  The nice thing about cilantro is that it re-seeds itself.  It grows best in cool weather so plant it in the spring, harvest what you need, then let it go to seed (the seed is called coriander).  The seeds will drop on their own and you’ll get another crop in the fall.  So little work!  A constant supply of cilantro for your guacamole and for your skin care.
3. Oregano – this is an essential ingredient in your pantry.  It’s used in so many things and it grows so well in the garden.  Be careful though, because this can spread quickly in your herb garden and can overtake the whole area if you aren’t careful.  Because of this, it’s  a perfect ground cover.
4. Rosemary – who doesn’t love rosemary?  This is another herb I started growing quite a long time ago.
5. Turmeric – this is an acquired taste for sure but it is so good for your health – body, skin, mind.  If I were you, I would consider using this herb.
6. Ginger – some consider this a spice but I consider the root to be an herb.  You already know how much I love ginger!
7. Garlic – OK maybe this isn’t truly an herb, but some do classify it as such.  It’s really a vegetable but it has so many benefits that I include it here.
8. Mint – another herb you need to make sure it can’t spread to where you don’t want it.  This is why I keep this one in a pot.

Some herbs can stay outside over winter, but others can’t – they won’t survive the wintery months.  Rosemary is one such herb that you need to bring in.  Ginger is another.  If you’d like to know more about how I treat these two so I can overwinter them, contact me.

5 Magical Herbs

Treating acne with herbs

Following are some of my most favorite ways to use herbs for skin care:

• Mint – make a Minty Skin Toner, get the recipe here.  Your skin will love it.
• Rosemary – this one has natural antiseptic properties.  Plus, it helps with the ‘springiness’ of your skin and helps with free radical damage.  I use this when I cook chicken.  Add a few sprigs when you roast chicken for some great skin benefits.
• Turmeric – helps free radical damage.  If you have skin damage from UV rays, try adding turmeric to your scrambled eggs in the morning.  No need to add a lot.  Plus, this herb is great for your brain.
• Cilantro – another antioxidant.  Helps your skin by detoxing and lessening the look of wrinkles.  In fact, there are several ways to detox at home.

Some other herbs that are not well known but are used in acne treatments are saw palmetto and vitex.  I’ve never used saw palmetto but I have used vitex as a supplement.  At the time, I did not notice a difference but it was also at a time when my body was going haywire.  Now that my body and hormones are more balanced, I am not planning on adding any more herbs to my diet or skin care.  With all that I am growing / using, I am happy to say to report that my skin is doing amazing!

How about you?  What do you plant in your garden?  And what skin issues do you have that you’d like to try using an herb for?  I’d love to hear about it!  Contact me to let me know!