Herbal Remedies and other Non-Traditional Acne Treatments

Although over-the-counter acne treatments and traditional
prescription medications have been seen to be effective in
the reduction and sometimes elimination of acne, there are
other less traditional ways to approach the treatment of
acne that you should be aware of.  Approaches such as
acupuncture, herbal medicines, homeopathic medicine,
mind/body medicine, Ayurveda and Kampo as well as dietary
and nutritional considerations are some of the more common
ones. Let's take a look at each of these areas as they
relate to acne.

Herbal medicine: Some herbs are known to have
anti-inflammatory properties and, for that reason, they may
be helpful in the treatment of acne (as well as other skin
conditions).  You may have already heard of these:
Calendula, German chamomile, Witch hazel,  Licorice root,
Flaxseed and flaxseed oil, and also Tea Tree Oil.

The herbs that help reduce acne inflammation do so by
reducing the amount of the P.acnes bacteria produced by the
body as a reaction to clogged pores. Tea Tree oil has been
favorably compared to benzoyl peroxide in the reduction of
P.acnes and is said to have fewer side effects (stinging,
itchiness and dry skin).

The use of acupuncture in the treatment of acne has not
been scientifically proven but nevertheless has seemed to
produce results in reducing the symptoms of acne,

Homeopathic professionals evaluate the individual and then
tailor the treatment to the individual. Professional
homeopaths have found that certain homeopathic treatments
reduce certain symptoms of acne:

Biofeedback and Cognitive Imagery: Biofeedback and
cognitive imagery are relaxation therapies used because
emotional stress can have an aggravating effect on acne.
Biofeedback techniques train the individual to control some
internal processes such as heart rate and muscle tension.
Cognitive imagery (also called guided imagery) involves the
use of mental pictures to relax and evoke helpful physical
and emotional conditions. Together, when used properly by a
person who has mastered the techniques, these methods have
been shown to lessen the severity of acne breakouts.

Ayurveda is a holistic system of medicine originated in
India. Ayurveda focuses primarily on diet and lifestyle.
Each person, as we all know, is unique and Ayurveda
treatments recognize this by tailoring recommendations to
the individual.

Kampo is a Japanese version of traditional, ancient Chinese
medicine. A Kampo treatment for acne, the treatment called
'TJ-50), has proven effective in some cases. TJ-50 consists
of seventeen herbs that have combined anti-inflammatory and
anti-bacterial properties.

It has been pretty well proven that, at least as a general
proposition, diet has no effect on acne but there are
certain foods that effect certain people in certain ways.
There are many reports from individual acne sufferers that
certain drinks or foods (it seems that nuts are
particularly suspect) make their acne worse. All that can
be said about this is pay attention to what you eat and how
it affects you over the next few days.

As is usually the case, a dermatologist should be consulted
if your acne condition doesn't improve when most of the
mainstream treatments have not yielded results.


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Author Tony Buel
http://www.acnetreatment-101.com/
Full article can be found at:
http://www.acnetreatment-101.com/Herbal-Remedies-and-Non-Tra
ditional-Acne-Treatments.htm

 

Antioxidants and the Prevention of Breast Cancer

According to the American Cancer Society, in the United
States alone, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every
three minutes.  So far, in 2006 alone, there have been over
212,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer diagnosed, as
well as over 61,000 cases of non-invasive breast cancer.
Over 40,000 women will die from breast cancer in 2006 alone.

These are astounding numbers, and one must consider that
breast cancer research is ongoing, and has made impressive
steps towards the survival rate among women who have
experienced breast cancer. But with these numbers, it is
not enough. Hence, the steps taken by many national and
private associations to make women aware of breast cancer,
its causes, its treatment, and its prevention.

What researchers have found is that antioxidants, which are
produced naturally by the body, aid in the prevention of
breast cancer. Unfortunately, in today's environment, the
antioxidants that our bodies product isn't enough. Coupled
with the fact that as we age, our bodies produce less
antioxidant, scientists have looked into other ways that we
can detoxify our bodies for the prevention of breast cancer.

In Athens, Greece, at the Athens Medical School, and the
Harvard School of Public Health, major studies have been
conducted to determine the effect our diets have on the
risk of developing breast cancer. Women who ate a lot of
fruit cut their risk by 35 percent, and women who ate a lot
of vegetables cut their risk by 46 percent.

In Jefferson, Arkansas, researchers at the National Center
for Toxicological Research published a study that also
found that higher consumption of fruits and vegetables
helps to reduce the risk of breast cancer, and also those
vegetables that aid in detoxification help to reduce the
risk even more.

Of course, these studies just show that ingesting a higher
amount of fruit and vegetables and detoxifying the body
reduces the risk. There are still other risk factors that
one must consider, but when it comes to preventing breast
cancer, any reduction of risk is worth the effort.

Green vegetables are natural antioxidants, and the FDA
recommends two servings of green vegetables daily.
Unfortunately, most of us don't have the time or the
resources to get those two servings, but now, there is an
alternative. This is great news for anyone who wants to
lower their risk for breast cancer - as well as anyone who
hates green vegetables - and many do.

Furthermore, you can get your daily serving of green
vegetables that will aid in detoxifying the body in liquid
form. Scientists have also found that our bodies absorb
liquids better than solids. This doesn't mean that you
shouldn't eat solid food - the body needs that as well. It
means that when you are trying to ingest your needed
vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, you are better off
getting them in liquid form, as opposed to pill form.
Copyright (c) 2006 PillFreeVitamins.com

----------------------------------------------------
Steven Godlewski is a self-made millionaire and is
currently working with the staff at PillFreeVitamins.com He
has an extensive background in nutrition as well as other
health related fields. For more health-related articles or
a FREE bottle of Liquid Vitamins see their website at:
http://www.pillfreevitamins.com