Author: Moin Nex

Natural Resource

7 Benefits of Lemongrass for Skin

Author ByMoin Nex

I always had a quest for natural homemade food, as they aren’t processed and are filled with nutrients. Unfortunately, we seldom have such nutritious diet in metro cities. However, I do visit my grandmother to fill myself with some vitamin rich things.

Enough about food; your skin also needs natural ingredients for its effective functioning. There are bunch of innate ingredients that can tone your skin and bring lost brightness to it. Lemongrass is one simple yet potent ingredient that can improve your physical appearance.

Lemongrass for skin has abundant benefits because of its rich nutritional profile. Some of the notable elements include myrcene, terpineol, methyl heptenone, limonene and vitamin C. Before dwelling into benefits of this herb, let me put down few points on lemongrass.

lemongrass benefits for skin

Native to India and Sri Lanka, lemongrass is tall with jagged and sharp edges. You’ll love its aroma, which is identical to lemon. Interestingly, you can use lemongrass herb in salads, meats and sauce. Internal consumption of this herb will improve your overall health. Have lemongrass tea regularly to treat chronic skin ailments.

Benefits of Lemongrass for Skin

  1. This perennial grass can be used to exfoliate your skin and remove impurities accumulated over it. Though it has less potent when compared to lemon juice, Western world considered this herb as an ingredient in cosmetic creams.
  2. Like lemon juice, astringent properties in this herb will tighten your skin pores. It also clears dead cells and sebum blocked in pores.
  3. Study concludes that lemongrass essential oil has anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal activity. These properties reduce acne blemishes and fungal infection. A compound limonene is known to exhibit anti-inflammatory activity.lemongrass for skin
  4. Antibacterial properties treat acne and other bacterial infection on the skin.
  5. Antiseptic properties will fasten the healing process of minor burns and injuries.
  6. Before apply your natural moisturizing agents, beauty experts recommend to use lemongrass. Its astringent activity clears impurities and reduces skin pores.
  7. Vitamin C can improve overall functioning of the skin and reduce aging wrinkles.
  8. Assorted nutrients in lemongrass enhance collagen production and improve elasticity of the skin.
  9. Use lemongrass as room spray to destroy insects and mosquitoes.

Also read: Lemongrass oil for acne

How to Use Lemongrass on Skin?

Most people prefer store brought lemongrass essential oil to topically apply over the face. If you’re adventurous and want to try to make your own herbal oil at home, check out below.

Normally this herbal oil is prepared by steam distillation. To prepare it at home, you’ve to infuse carrier oil with lemongrass.

  • Lemongrass stalk –  4 to 6
  • Cheesecloth to strain the oil
  • Mortar and pestle
  • Carrier oil -(Olive oil)
  • A glass container

Crush lemongrass leaves and drop in the container filled with carrier oil. Leave it for a couple of days and strain the oil using cheesecloth.

You can repeat the process to release oil in lemongrass leaves. As it is very strong you’re advised to blend it with other carrier oil.

Before using lemongrass for skin, it’s recommended to patch test to prevent allergic reaction. To apply this herbal oil over the face, wash your face or cleanse it. Pat dry with soft cloth and evenly apply this herbal oil. After 15-20 minutes you can rinse it off.

Blend with jojoba oil or almond oil to massage and relax your skin. Excellent aroma residing in lemongrass can be used in aromatherapy.

Note: Experts stop children, diabetic patients and pregnant women from using lemongrass essential oil. If you see experience allergy symptom like rashes, burning sensation or irritation consult your dermatologist immediately.

Image source: 1, 2

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Natural Resource

Turmeric and Yogurt Face Mask Benefits

Author ByMoin Nex

Are you among those who love their skin?

You might think it’s a weird question, but most of them including few among you love to have chemical ingredient creams over their face instead of natural remedies that has rich nutritional value.

Your skin loves natural ingredients, as they provide vitamins and minerals needed for its healthy functioning. Whereas, you’re cosmetic products strip natural oil surrounding the skin. Apparently your skin likes to have home available natural ingredients, but you serve them pricey refined creams.

Natural ingredients like turmeric and yogurt can make your skin free from impurities and guard it from harmful UV rays. Excellent thing is, it’s inexpensive and you don’t have to rush to a beauty spa. Regular use of these affordable ingredients will make you look young and attractive all the time.

Benefits of Turmeric and Yogurt for Skin

Turmeric has got vital role for minor injuries and burns in India. It is renowned for its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic activity that can soothe your skin and reduce acne inflammation. Curcumin is the compound that exhibits antioxidant and other assorted properties in turmeric.

Indians topically apply turmeric powder as a ritual. Below are some benefits of turmeric for skin.

  • Fade acne scars
  • Remove wrinkles
  • Treat acne
  • Fade stretch marks
  • Enhance healing of minor burns and injuries
  • Helps to remove unwanted facial hair
  • Soothes your cracked heels

Also read: Turmeric face mask for acne

Take it as a breakfast or apply it over your skin, either way yogurt can benefit you. Lactic acid and alpha hydroxy acid in yogurt can remove dead cells over your skin. Without ado let’s check the benefits of yogurt for skin.

  • Antibacterial and anti-fungal properties residing in yogurt can restrain acne causing bacteria and effectively treat acne blemishes.
  • As mentioned above, acids in yogurt can hydrate your dry and dull skin. When your skin becomes dry, it can’t fight to restrict bacterial invasion. Natural moisturizers can successfully bring back the lost moisture to your skin.
  • Zinc in yogurt helps to soothe minor sunburns.
  • Bleaching power housed in this innate remedy can help you to get rid of hyperpigmentation.
  • Assorted properties in yogurt can effectively reduce aging wrinkles and make your skin supple.

Also read: Honey and Yogurt face mask

How to Use Yogurt and Turmeric Face Mask?

turmeric and honey face pack for glowing skin

You don’t have to blend them to reap their benefits for skin. But, to make the face mask more effective beauty experts recommend mixing innate ingredients with each other.

Both turmeric and yogurt can make your skin glow and keep skin ailments at bay.

  1. Take 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder in a clean bowl.
  2. Mix 2-3 teaspoons of plain yogurt to it thoroughly.
  3. Mean while wash your face and pat dry with soft cloth.
  4. You can add 1 tbsp of yogurt if needed to form thick paste like consistency.
  5. Apply the mask evenly all over the face and leave it to dry naturally.
  6. Rinse it off after 15-20 minutes.

I’d like to add my favorite home remedy honey to it.

Extolling benefits of honey are documented in religious scriptures. It bagged exceptional varied properties like anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiseptic activity. These agents will thwart bacteria and enhance cell regeneration to bring back your skin to life.

Add 1 tbsp of raw honey to above mask and it will turn into an effective acne remedy. While applying the mask, make sure you avoid sensitive areas like eyes and inside nostrils.

Though the mask looks delicious, don’t lick it.

Must read: Turmeric and honey for glowing skin

Yes, you’re busy and can’t apply this face mask daily. Try this weekly or biweekly to see positive results.

Turmeric may leave yellow stains over your face. Don’t worry, apply moisturizer or wash it twice to fade the yellow stain.

Turmeric yogurt and avocado face mask

Antioxidants in avocado thwart free radicals and its vitamin C improves elasticity of the skin. Fatty acids residing in this fruit can hydrate your dry skin.

  • Blend 1 table spoon of mashed avocado with 1 teaspoon of yogurt and 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric powder.
  • Wash your face thoroughly and apply the face mask evenly.
  • You can apply it around the neck and over forehead.

Lemon juice yogurt and turmeric face mask

If you’ve oily skin add few lemon drops to the face mask. Acidic nature of lemon lightens dark spots and treats acne. Regular use can lighten the appearance of acne scars.

Optionally, apply natural moisturizer after using this face mask.

turmeric and yogurt face mask

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Acne

Neem Face Pack for Acne

Author ByMoin Nex

Neem taste bitter but it has got significant role in Ayurvedic medicines. Renowned as ‘One tree Pharmacy’, its leaves, bark and seeds exhibit abundant benefits for your skin and health. Indians use this herbal remedy to treat various skin aliments including chicken pox and measles. Hindu scriptures documented importance of neem and is scared in Hindu culture.

Momentous role of neem face pack in treating various skin ailments enticed cosmetic market to incorporate neem oil into their creams. However, they include processed and refined material which lacks nutritional value.

Prefer homemade neem face pack for acne blemishes. Pimples are common in teenagers and adults. Due to increasing pollution and unplanned diet, your skin is paying the price. Excess sebum gets produced due to hormonal imbalance and on the other hand your skin sheds millions of dead cells every day. With these impurities, your skin pores are blocked leading to blackheads.

Experts say that inflammation is the main cause of acne. Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antibacterial properties residing in neem restrains bacterial infection and reduces acne inflammation. Not just acne, topical application of neem face pack will rejuvenate your skin and thwarts infectious bacteria.

Benefits of Neem for Acne

neem and turmeric face pack

  • Dead cells and other impurities are exfoliated with nutrients residing in neem. It also tightens the skin pores making your skin firm.
  • Free radicals in your body damage cell membrane resulting in wrinkles and fine lines over your skin. Antioxidant activity of neem fights these free radicals and halts them from corrupting the membrane.
  • Anti-inflammatory agents housed in neem face pack can effectively reduce inflammation caused by acne.
  • Bacteria invade your skin to feed over excess sebum and dead cells over your skin. Antibacterial agents thwart these infectious bacteria and restrain them from multiplying.
  • Vitamin C helps to reduce aging wrinkles and enhance collagen production which improves elasticity of your skin.
  • Along with acne, topical application of neem face mask will treat chronic skin diseases like eczema and psoriasis.

How to Use Neem Face Pack for Acne?

One of the easiest ways to use neem leaves is, to boil 10-20 leaves in half liter of water till the leaves lose their color. Strain the leaves and collect water in a bottle. Using cotton ball apply the neem water over skin regularly.

As nutritional value of neem leaves are transferred to water it can soothe your skin, treat acne and reduce wrinkles.

I know you’re looking for something more effective and complex. Below are different face mask recipes using neem.

1. Neem and gram flour for acne

  • Grab some neem leaves from nearby garden and wash them. Mash neem leaves to form smooth paste. Alternatively, you can use neem powder available in market.
  • Mix 1 table spoon of gram flour and 1 table spoon of curd to the paste.
  • Wash your face and apply the face mask over pimples.
  • Leave it for 15-20 minutes and then rinse it off.

Gram flour has cleansing properties, which can remove impurities accumulated over your skin. Whereas curd regulate excess production of sebum.

Also read: 3 DIY Gram flour Face Pack Recipes

2. Turmeric and neem for Dry Skin

turmeric for stretch marks

Both ingredients in this recipe are renowned for antiseptic and antibacterial properties. Add some whipped cream to make it a moisturizing face pack.

  • Take dry neem leaves and ground them into fine powder. Add 1 table spoon of whipped cream and 1/2 tea spoon of turmeric powder to it.
  • Wash your face with lukewarm water to open blocked skin pores. Topically apply the neem face mask over the face evenly.
  • Let the nutrients starting working over acne. After 20 minutes rinse it off.

3. Rosewater and neem face pack for acne

  • Crush 2-3 table spoons of dried neem leaves into fine powder.
  • Add 2 teas spoons of rose water and mix well.
  • Optionally add few drops of lemon juice to the paste.
  • Rose water is renowned for antibacterial and antiseptic properties and can effectively reduce pimples.
  • Apply this face mask over prewashed face evenly and rinse it off after 20 minutes.

Before you add innate ingredients to neem face mask, make sure you aren’t allergic to it. If you see any allergic reactions consult your doctor immediately.

Natural Resource

7 Rosehip Oil Benefits for Skin

Author ByMoin Nex

rosehip oil benefits for skin

Among all flowers roses are instinctively related to beauty and love. Naturally they are packed with a bunch of nutrients that can nourish your skin and enhance its texture. Most of us are aware of rosewater, which can effectively treat acne and remove impurities from your face.

Likewise, rosehip, the round shaped portion below rose petals is renowned for vitamin C, fatty acids and antioxidant agents. Fresh rosehip oil has abundant benefits for your skin. Ailments like eczema, psoriasis, acne, wrinkles and stretch marks can be treated using this natural oil extracted from the seeds of rosehip.

It’s not the first time we’re using it for skin. Benefits of rosehip for skin are known from ancient times. Dr. Elizabeth Tanzi says that rosehip oil has been used by ancient Egyptians, Mayans and Native Americans. Enticing uses of rosehip for skin made beauty industries to replace their chemical ingredients with this natural oil. Check out your cosmetic cream ingredients list, sure you’ll find rosehip seed oil.

Unlike other heavier oils rosehip seed oil is light and non-greasy. Before you start slathering rosehip oil over your face, let’s check out its nutritional benefits.

Rosehip Oil Benefits for Skin

With growing traffic, pollution around us is increasing. Because face is the most exposed part of our body, all pollutants and impurities settle over it. If you don’t take action to wipe them off the skin, along with million dead cells shed by your skin they block skin pores and dark spots appears.

Unlike cosmetic creams, natural ingredients like rosehip oil penetrate deep into the skin and enhance is functioning.

1. Hydrates your skin

Unlike other oils like jojoba oil and shea butter, rosehip oil is easily absorbed by your skin. You’ll not feel greasiness over the skin; it penetrates deep into your skin and stimulates cell regeneration.

It makes your skin healthier, young and well hydrated. A moisturized skin can guard you from bacterial and fungal infection. Most chronic skin diseases are triggered by dry skin. So add this to your beauty regimen and use it twice in a week.

2. Enhance healing

Injuries and wounds are common, antiseptic properties of this oil can enhance fast healing and avoid infectious germs from the injuries.

Essential fatty acids housed in rosehip oil can boost cell regeneration and lighten the appearance of scars. You can topically use this innate ingredient to fade acne scars. However, it’s not recommend for treating acne. (Read below to know more)

3. Acne (Only for dry skin)

Experts say that inflammation is the main cause of acne blemishes. Excess production of sebum gets blocked with dead cells and impurities to form blackheads or acne.

Anti-inflammatory activity of this oil reduces acne inflammation and antibacterial agents can thwart P.acnes. Anyhow, experts don’t recommend this oil for acne. As its rich concentration may increase acne break outs and worsen the condition.

However, you can use rosehip oil for acne scars. When you see all acne blemishes are treated, apply this oil regularly to fade scars. People with extreme dry skin can use this oil topically for acne, but need to consult dermatologist before applying it.

Also read: How to Use Cinnamon and Honey for Treating Acne?

4. Fade wrinkles

Elasticity of your skin fails to form wrinkles or fine lines over your face. It’s a cosmetic concern. Cosmetic creams can’t prevent aging wrinkles effectively, as they are filled with chemicals that can strip natural oil guarding your skin.

Fresh rosehip has rich vitamin C packed in it. Anyhow, drying them will decrease vitamin C quantity.  Other nutrients like vitamin A and vitamin E along with C exfoliate impurities and dead cells from your face, stimulate cell regeneration and increase collagen production.

Collagen is mainly responsible for skin’s elasticity. When these vitamins and nutrients improve health functioning of your skin, wrinkles and fine lines fade slowly.

5. Fight free radicals

As you’re exposed to UV rays and impurities, free radicals are formed which damage cell membrane to trigger various skin ailments. Antioxidant activity of rosehip oil can effectively restrain free radicals and prevent cell damage.

6. Treats minor burns

Essential fatty acids residing in this oil hydrate the skin and fasten the healing process around the burns. Vitamin A boosts healing process and increases cell regeneration. Consult physician for major burns.

7. Tones your skin

Along with all above listed properties, astringent agents in rosehip oil tighten the skin pores and hydrate it, making it look young and bright. Like rose petals, rosehip oil application will relax and soothe your skin. You’re going to love its aroma.

You can get rosehip oil from local drug store. Take few drops of rosehip oil in your clean hands and apply topically over prewashed face or skin. Assorted properties in this oil can protect you from UV rays.

To reap rosehip oil benefits for skin blend it with 1-2 table spoon of coconut oil and 2 drops of lavender oil to 1/2 tbsp of rosehip oil.

Overview:

Exceptional properties like antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antioxidant agents are packed in this oil. But, experts condemned its use for treating acne blemishes. Anyhow, people with dry skin can try this oil and you can consider it as after acne treatment to fade acne scars.

Image source

rosehip oil benefits for face

Stretch marks

Mandarin Oil for Stretch Marks 

Author ByMoin Nex

I wonder why people opt chemical filled cosmetic creams on their sensitive skin, while there are naturally effective ingredients available in their kitchen. Few innate ingredients smell unpleasant and sticky, but when used topically they enhance healthy functioning of the skin.

Mandarin oil is an affordable essential oil that can effectively lighten the appearance of vertical streaks on your skin. This oil is extracted from the fruit commonly known as tangerine. Chinese traditional and modern medicines use mandarin oil for stretch marks.

When you gain or lose weight your skin stretches accordingly. But this extreme stretch tears inner layers of the skin leaving pink or red lines over outer layer of your skin. Though they are not associated with any serious health issue, people want to get rid of them out of cosmetic concern.

Unfortunately, you can’t treat stretch marks completely. However, topical application of essential oils can fade these annoying lines and give you a scar free skin.

  • Because of its healing properties, mandarin oil has significant use in aromatherapy to treat various health issues include stretch marks.
  • Antiseptic activity of mandarin oil restrains bacterial infection on your skin.
  • You can internal use mandarin oil blended with other citrus oils. Assorted properties in this oil improve blood circulation and this rejuvenates the skin.
  • Vitamins and minerals residing in this oil strengthen your immune system and stimulate fast healing.

How to Use Mandarin Oil for Stretch Marks?

Unlike cosmetic creams innate ingredients penetrate deep into the skin and enhance cell regeneration. If you can successfully improve elasticity of your skin, then you can prevent stretch marks. Anyhow, it’s not easy to repair broken tissue without leaving scars.

As mentioned above, you can lighten the appearance of these streaks and can’t permanently treat stretch marks using any remedy.

To make mandarin oil more effective blend other essential oils like almond oil, lavender oil and rose hip oil. Exceptional nutrients housed in this solution will not only fade stretch marks but improves your skin texture.

  1. Wash the affected area and pat dry.
  2. Blend mandarin oil, lavender oil and almond oil in required quantities. (Let say 10 drops each)
  3. Mix thoroughly and apply it over prewashed skin using cotton ball.
  4. Leave it for 15-20 minutes and then rinse it off. You can preserve remaining blended solution for future use.

Along with this home remedy, you’re advised to practice a healthy lifestyle. During early stages of pregnancy apply this solution over your waist and over knees to improve elasticity of the skin. Nutrients in these oils penetrate and enhance skin elasticity.

Note: Pregnant women need to consult their doctor before using any home remedy.

Natural Resource

7 Benefits of Horsetail for Skin

Author ByMoin Nex

Herbs has got prominent role in healing skin ailments and for medicinal purpose. Horsetail, also known as shave grass or Equisetum arvense is one among the herbal remedies used by ancient people to treat health and skin issues.

It grows in moist and sand soil temperature, like North America, Asia and Europe. It’s named horsetail because of its stems, which resembles like the tail of horse.

Horsetail for skin has abundant benefits because of its assorted nutritional profile. Unlike other plants, this herb has high concentration of silica that can improve your overall health including skin, hair and bones.

The Greek physician Galenus is the first person to recommend horsetail to treat skin inflammation, ulcers, wounds and ruptures. Chinese documented its medicinal properties in their historical medical scriptures. They used it to cure cool fever, eye inflammation, flu, swelling and hemorrhoids.

Benefits of Horsetail for Skin

horsetail for skin

As mentioned above, horsetail is packed with silicon, which has a healthy contribution in strengthening, skin, hair, building connective tissues and bones.

Do you know? Your skin shed millions of dead cells every day, along with other impurities it gets accumulate over your face causing dark spots on various places. Natural remedies like horsetail have antioxidant agents that can thwart free radicals and also wipe impurities off the skin.

  1. Enhances Collagen Production: Collagen is mainly made of silicon. If you’ve enough silicon in your body, then your skin looks much younger. Not just skin, collagen accounts for hair, teeth and bone functioning. It increases elasticity of your skin and locks moisture.
  2. Astringent: This property removes impurities and excess oil left over in the skin pores. Most astringents can stop bacterial infection, so it can effectively reduce acne blemishes. Astringent is renowned for cleansing and shrinking skin pores.
  3. Hydrates the Skin: Most chronic skin diseases are triggered due to dry skin. Topically applying horsetail for skin can promote collagen production, which makes your skin moist.
  4. Reduce Wrinkles: Your skin losses its elasticity as you grow older. Using external source of minerals can increase collagen production. As mentioned above, collagen improves elasticity of the skin and removes wrinkles.horsetail benefits for skin
  5. Heal Minor Injuries: Wounds, cuts and eczema flare-ups can be healed by using this herbal remedy. Its antiseptic property stops bacterial and fungal infection around wounds and injuries. (Note: Eczema can’t be treated permanently using this home remedy.)
  6. Antioxidant activity of horsetail will restrain free radicals that can damage cell membrane causing wrinkles.
  7. Anti-inflammatory properties reduce acne inflammation and allergic reaction triggered due to irritants. Also, antibacterial properties can restrain acnes bacteria, which increase acne inflammation.

Other benefits include strengthening bones, regularize menstruation, improve kidney and liver functioning, stimulate hair growth and treat other health issues.

Diuretic housed in horsetail helps to cleansing your body and increase urine output. You can either directly apply horsetail over wounds, injuries and blemishes to heal or consume it as directed by nutritionist. To reap the benefits of horsetail for skin, you can steep herbal tea with (1/2 cup of horsetail and 1 cup of water). Strain and use the water to rinse your skin and hair. (source)

Though this data lack scientific research, you can try after discussing with dermatologist or nutritionist.

Did you ever use horsetail? Share your views in comments.

Important Note

  • Though natural ingredients have no or very less side-effects, experts recommend to consult nutritionist for dosage.
  • Pregnant and breast feeding women must stay away from horsetail.
  • Alcoholic people normally has thiamine deficiency, consuming horsetail can worsen the situation.
  • Horsetail may decrease blood sugar levels, consult your doctor and check the progress while using this herbal remedy.

Image source: 1, 2

Skin diseases

7 Calendula Benefits for Skin

Author ByMoin Nex

Flowers have significant contribution for beautiful skin. In particular, petals of calendula flower have been used to heal minor wounds and nourish the skin.

Also known as pot marigold, calendula benefits for skin are abundant. Its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities reduce inflammation and restrain bacterial infection. Besides being an excellent home remedy, calendula flowers can be added to salads, food and sweets for its brilliant color. In the Hindu world flowers are used to decorate statues of Gods and high personalities.

Calendula flower looks like this (below image)

calendula benefits for skin

Benefits of Calendula for Skin

Calendula flower is native to Asia, Western Europe and Mediterranean. Dried calendula flowers can be used to make tea to calm stomach pain. Because of its assorted properties, cosmetic industries incorporated this herb in their beauty products.

Calendula oil has similar medicinal properties like its flower. Calendula oil can be used topically to calm various skin ailments.

Below are few notable uses of calendula for skin.

  1. Enhances healing: Antiseptic and anti-inflammatory activity of this flower can promote fast healing of minor burns, wounds and injuries. Also regenerate new cells.
  2. Reduce inflammation: Skin ailments are accompanied by inflammation and swelling. Topically applying this calendula flower can relieve you from inflammation and promotes healing.
  3. Anti-aging: Nutrients in this herb can post pone premature aging wrinkles and infuse your skin with a glow.
  4. Acne: Topical application of calendula flower stops inflammation and reduce swelling of pimples. Its antimicrobial agents kill acnes bacteria.
  5. Moisturizes your skin: Topically applying this herb may lock moisture over your dry skin.
  6. Treats chronic skin diseases: Assorted nutrients housed in calendula flower can gradually decrease the effect of eczema, psoriasis and other chronic skin infections.
  7. Cell Regeneration: Active ingredients like iodine, carotene and manganese promote skin generation and fasten the healing process.

Calendula tea can be used to treat stomach ulcers, tooth infection and genital inflammation. Apart from using it for beauty, you can consider this herbal remedy to heal wounds, rashes, burns, insect bites and other minor skin problems.

Of all skin diseases, acne is the most common skin condition affecting about 80% of US population. Inflammation is the main cause of pimples or acne blemishes. Hormonal imbalance caused due to inflammation increases sebum production. Excess sebum gets clogged over skin pores along with dead cells and other impurities.

Anti-inflammatory agents can effectively reduce acne inflammation and also exfoliate your skin. As calendula flower has these essential properties it stands impeccable in treating skin ailments.

Not just acne, its antimicrobial properties can thwart any bacterial and fungal infection on minor injuries and wounds.

Eczema and psoriasis are two major chronic skin infections that can’t be treated permanently. But, using calendula flower you can get relief from scratching.

Most skin problems are raised because of dry skin. Naturally, your skin is surrounded by natural oil called sebum that guards skin from infectious bacteria.

External factors like harsh chemicals, soaps and creams remove this natural moisture from the skin leaving it dry. Dry skin triggers itching, which makes favorable condition for a skin infection.

How to Use Calendula for Skin?

You can get calendula oils and soaps from drug store. Else you can get dried calendula flowers and add it to other innate ingredients like almond oil, olive oil or honey.

  • 1/2 cup of dried calendula flowers
  • 1 cup of extra virgin olive oil

Steep dried flowers in olive oil for 28 days in an air tight container and strain dried flowers using a cloth and use the olive oil over your prewashed face.

Another method to use calendula flower:

Take 2 tablespoons of fresh calendula flowers and leaves. Put the herb in a bowl of water and boil the water. After 15-20 minutes strain flowers and leaves using filter and cool the water.

Wash your face regularly with this water; as all nutritional values listed above are transferred to into this water your skin becomes supple.

You’re free to use any innate ingredient with this herbal remedy. But make sure to patch test before trying it over the skin.

Important Note:

Though most natural remedies have no or less side-effect, repeated use of calendula flower may trigger allergic reaction over your skin. To avoid such irritants patch test on behind your neck or on hand.

Reach dermatologist if you experience allergic symptoms after using calendula flower on skin. Please share your views on calendula benefits for skin in comments.

Image source

Acne

Red Clover for Acne

Author ByMoin Nex

red clover for treating acne

Acne is the most common skin disease affecting 80 percent of US population. Research reveals that 11 to 30 age group people will certainly have acne breakout at some point of their life. (1)

Often pimples are accompanied by mild to severe inflammation. Filled with blood and pus, pimples often invaded by bacteria to worsen the situation., treating acne is not tough, with lots of home available remedies you can cure them easily.

Red clover is an herbal remedy that can effectively treat acne and reduce inflammation to make your skin supple. It’s red and purple flowers are packed with medicinal properties, which has been used to treat different health and skin ailments. It is also known as cow clover, trefoil, meadow clover and purple clover. This herbal plant is commonly found in Britain, Europe, Asia and has been found in mountains. (2)

Benefits of Red Clover for Acne

Red clover contains rich nutrients that can improve immune system and overall health functioning. Skin ailments like acne, eczema, psoriasis and rosacea are commonly caused due to inefficiency of your skin. Red clover when consumed internally (in small quantities) can thwart toxins in the blood and flush them out through kidneys.

Notable nutrients residing in red clover are vitamin B, C, E, iron, calcium, choline and magnesium. Isoflavones housed in this herbal plant had shown significant effect in reducing menopausal in women. Coumarin is a compound in this herbal remedy that can make blood arteries flexible and avoid blood clotting.

  1. Acne is mainly triggered due to inflammation, which increases secretion of sebum. Excess sebum gets blocked with dead cells over skin pores.
  2. Assorted properties residing in red clover restrain toxins in blood and flush them out.
  3. Its anti-inflammatory activity reduces acne inflammation and effectively reduce acne bump.
  4. Resins in this herbal plant exhibits antimicrobial property that can relive you from respiratory, cough and gives warming effect.
  5. Isoflavones in red clover are changed to phytoestrogens that are similar to estrogen hormones. Studies show that estrogen relives acne blemishes.
  6. In simple words, Isoflavones bind itself to estrogen and reduce hormonal effect in the body reducing excess production of sebum.
  7. Chinese used this herbal remedy to treat expectorant (cough) and Russian used it to treat asthma.
  8. Topically application of red clover can effectively enhance healing of wounds and treat psoriasis. (3)

Though above listed benefits are enticing, most of them lack scientific evidence. Anyhow, under the supervision of physician you can try red clover for acne blemishes.

Pregnant and breast feeding women shouldn’t try this herbal tea as it may change hormonal effect in the body. Apart from consuming it with tea or in meals, you can topically apply red clover on skin.

How to Use Red Clover?

Either for acne or other skin ailments you can directly consume red clover tea regularly to benefit from its medicinal properties.

Else, mix it with honey or salads to consume it internally. Start with little quantity of red clover and increase as recommended by physician.

Apart from this, you can also try red clover capsules for treating acne.

Note:

Red clover is a natural remedy, but it wrong assumption that all natural products are free from side-effects. Excess intake of red clover may trigger abnormal functioning of your health.

Dosage depends on various factors like health, age and severity of the disease. As it’s not scientifically proven that red clover for acne or other ailments is effective, it’s recommended to consult doctor before consuming it.

Image source