Did you know that many, perhaps 75%, of all conventional medications are refinements of herbal medicines? One example of this is the isolation of morphine from opium in 1806. This was the first time that chemical methods were used to extract the active chemical constituents of an herb. The chemical processes used to isolate morphine led to the production of codeine, the widely used cough suppressant. There are countless examples of commonly used medications which come from various plant materials, some of which can often be found right in your own backyard.

Although you should always consult your physician for medical conditions before using any treatment, natural or synthetic, the purpose of this article is to inform you of the various botanically-derived remedies that may be considered for treating some of the most common skin problems. There are many advantages to using herbs rather than the drugs derived from them. A standard medication consists of one, or occasionally two, medically active chemical compounds, plus carrier compounds and a buffer. Herbs and herbal formulas usually contain at least dozens, and in many cases, hundreds, of active ingredients. The many active ingredients act on the body, and on one another, simultaneously. This serves to make the primary active ingredients of the herb more effective. It also serves to prevent the toxic reactions that can lead to side effects. Herbal remedies are more likely to correct conditions without creating additional problems.

Although there are many techniques for making herbal remedies, for the purpose of skin and hair treatments and to simplify the process for home remedy use, I recommend purchasing the herb in the form of its essential oil. Essential Oils are highly concentrated extracts of the herb and can be purchased in small dropper bottles at your local nutrition store or online. Just one drop of essential oil is often equal to 1 full ounce of the plant.

Before applying essential oil to skin or hair, you must ALWAYS dilute the oil first. A carrier (or base) is used for this purpose. The carrier can be a natural oil like olive, jojoba, apricot kernel or similar oil. You could also use your favorite unscented lotion or shampoo or conditioner as a carrier base. I often use organic aloe vera gel as a base for treating skin conditions because of the extraordinary healing benefits of the aloe vera plant. I also prefer the use of aloe vera gel because it is not oily or greasy on the skin.

A good rule of thumb for diluting the essential oil into the carrier base for the purpose of treating a skin ailment is to use about 8 to10 drops of essential oil to 1 full ounce of the carrier base. If you are using more than one type of essential oil, then divide the drops evenly to equal 8 to10 drops total of the various essential oils to 1 full ounce of the carrier base.

Below is a list of 40 herbs, each with its summary of healing benefits. Simply choose between 1 to 3 herbs to use for the particular ailment you are treating and add the appropriate number of drops to your carrier base as explained above. Stir it or shake it to blend the ingredients well and store in a tightly sealed container. Apply it to the affected area 2 to 3 times per day.

Aloe Vera:Greatest natural source of alpha hydroxy acid. Hydrating, soothing, moisturizing and healing for all skin types. Aloe Vera has extraordinary healing properties, is anti-inflammatory and can soothe the skin and help heal cuts, grazes, burns, radiation burns and insect bites.

Angelica: Good for dull, irritated, inflamed skin, psoriasis, and fungal infections.

Basil: Conditions the hair and stimulates hair growth, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, anti-infectious, antibiotic, very good insect repellent and also good for acne.

Bergamot: Good for eczema, herpes, acne, psoriasis, skin infections, cold sores, blisters, shingles, and chicken pox. Antiseptic, antibiotic, anti-spasmodic, anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory.

Burdock:Excellent for boils, eczema and chronic skin and hair problems. Prevents body’s own immune system from attacking the skin, kills streptococcus bacteria and many disease-causing fungi that infect cracked skin. Add to shampoo or conditioner as a scalp treatment to improve hair strength, shine, body, and to combat hair loss, itching and/or dandruff.

Calendula: Excellent skin healing herb, natural anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, fungicidal. Excellent for burns, cuts, eczema, oily greasy skin, bruises, soothes skin, inflammations, insect bites, rashes, wounds, cracked dry skin, stretch marks and diaper rash.

Cedarwood: Cleansing properties, antiseptic, anti-fungal, good for oily or blemished skin, natural astringent used in acne treatments. Relieves eczema, psoriasis, skin inflammation, dandruff, insect bites, hair loss, dry or oily hair, softens the skin.

Chamomile: Chamomile is excellent for many types of skin conditions as well as severely infected skin. It has an anti-inflammatory effect, good for hypersensitive skin, eczema, skin rashes, acne, rosacea and allergic skin reactions. Brings out natural brightness and highlights in hair when used in a shampoo.

Chickweed:Chickweed is excellent for sores, abscesses, skin irritations and rashes. Chickweed has an anti-inflammatory action similar to cortisone.

Cinnamon: Good for infections, antiseptic, antibiotic, anti-fungal, warts, anti-viral

Citronella: Insect repellent, keeps away mosquitoes, ticks, fleas and other insects.

Clary Sage: Regenerates skin cells. Good for oily skin and hair, blemishes, mature, wrinkled or inflamed skin, acne, boils and puffy skin.

Cypress: Natural astringent and antibiotic. Good for mature skin, oily skin and acne. Stimulates cell regeneration.

Comfrey Root:One of the most valuable plants in both cosmetics and medicine. Regenerates aging tissues.

Eucalyptus: Antiseptic, antibiotic, anti-fungal, anti-infectious and anti-parasitic. Regenerates skin cells. Good for insect bites and rashes.

Everlasting: Excellent for acne, scar tissue, mature skin, stretch marks, spots, warts, old scars, dermatitis, broken veins and burns. Antibacterial properties.

Frankincense: Good for dry, mature, aging skin, acne, scars, reduces wrinkles, balances out oily skin, healing for all skin types. Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, natural astringent.

Goldenseal:Excellent anti-fungal with antibiotic properties that fights secondary bacterial infections.

Gotu Kola:Good for wounds, scarring and psoriasis. Stimulates the regeneration of skin cells and underling connective tissue, beneficial effect on collagen and inhibits its excessive production in scar formation, accelerates the healing of burns and skin grafts and minimizes scarring.

Grapefruit: Used for acne, athletes foot, tones and tightens skin, antiseptic, disinfectant, detoxifier and anti-infectious. Good astringent for oily skin and hair, aids in hair growth.

Green Tea: Natural anti-oxidant used in cosmetics expecially to reduce the puffiness around the eyes. Also has astringent properties.

Hibiscus: Natural source of Vitamin C and malic acid. Used by the to treat wounds, dandruff and stimulate hair growth. Has antibacterial properties.

Hyssop: Good for acne, bruises, cuts, wounds, dermatitis, eczema, inflammations, scars, and cell regeneration.

Jasmine: Used for sensitive, mature, aging skin and stretch marks. Beneficial for dry, greasy, irritated skin.

Lavender: One of the most popular herbs, lavender is excellent for many skin conditions such as dermatitis, eczema, sunburn, insect bites, infections, rashes, infected hair follicles, pimples, black heads and light forms of acne. Antiseptic, analgesic, antispasmodic, tonic, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, anti-infectious, antitoxin and anti-parasitic

Lemon Balm: Good for infections, acne, boils, warts; increases shine and growth of hair and nails, antibiotic, astringen
t, and antiseptic. Beneficial for oily complexions, hair and skin blemishes.

Lemongrass: Good for infections and acne. Natural astringent, antiseptic, anti-infectious, anti-parasitic and anti-fungal. Also good for enlarged pores.

Myrrh: Beneficial for inflamed skin, boils, athlete’s foot, chapped skin, mature skin, wrinkles and ringworm.

Neroli: Scar tissue, improves elasticity and reduces stretch marks. Good facial softener, great for overall skin care, regenerates skin cells and tones mature, dry, sensitive skin.

St. John’s Wort:Excellent antibacterial and antiviral properties for the treatment of burns, cuts, scrapes, and minor skin irritations. Also may be helpful herpes breakouts.

Palmarosa: Good for acne, scarring, blackheads, athlete’s foot, eczema and other fungal infections. Antibiotic, anti-viral, anti-infectious, antiseptic, moisturizing, regenerates skin cells, aids in regulating oil production of the skin.

Patchouli: Natural antiseptic, anti-fungal and antibacterial. Used for dermatitis, athlete’s foot, ringworm, parasites, rejuvenates skin cells, mature and dry skin, scars, eczema, inflamed, cracked skin, acne, eliminates dandruff, repels bugs, and relieves insect bites.

Ravensara: Natural antiseptic, antiviral, antitoxin, antibiotic and anti-infectious. Beneficial for cold sores, herpes, and shingles.

Rose: Natural astringent, anti-infectious, antiseptic, astringent, antiviral and emollient. Regenerates cells, heals radiation burns more quickly, good for scarring and for use on all skin types especially mature, dry and sensitive skin.

Rosemary: Good for infections, acne, skin care and hair care, Natural anti-toxic and antiseptic.

Rosewood: Anti-infectious, antibacterial, antiseptic and anti-fungal. Good for candida, acne, dry, sensitive, inflamed dermatitis, scars, wrinkles, regenerates cells.

Sandalwood: Used for scarring, acne, dry, aged, chapped skin, soothing as an aftershave treatment, good for dry and oily hair, and increases water retention of collagen. Natural antiseptic,astringent and emollient. Encourages new cell growth.

Tea Tree: Tea Tree is an important herb extremely beneficial to various skin conditions such as cuts, wounds, abrasions, rashes, insect bites, nail fungus, dermatitis, ringworm, thrush, head lice, boils, cold sores, acne and infections. Can protect skin during radiation treatment, reduces swelling, heals scar tissue, controls oil on the skin, and dries up pus.

Vetiver: Beneficial for acne, cuts, mature skin, oily skin, dry skin, infections, inflammations, regenerates cells, good for sagging skin, softens and moisturizes

Witch Hazel:Natural astringent that also tones the skin. For all skin types.

If you are interested in a 100% natural, ready-made herbal skin remedy which incorporates many of the herbs discussed in this article, you may want to consider this handmade product by Viterba Naturals called “Herbal Skin Salve”.

Author reference: http://www.viterbanaturals.com

Is there any real truth in what they say, prevention being better than any cure for wrinkles? Most definitely yes is the answer. Before going under the knife or splashing out on expensive cosmetics, remember, wrinkles are a natural process of the human body that can not be removed indefinitely, however they can be smoothed out and halted from appearing before their initial due date.

To prevent premature wrinkles will entail you endorse a good cleansing routine. Some women tend to ignore the importance of this and therefore receive no removal indication from what they anticipated when their treatment began. If possible take time out solely for the cleansing pact. Many women ask how they can prevent wrinkles followed with excuses “I do not have the time”, or they do not enjoy this part of their beauty package. If you want to look your best or more importantly beautiful, sacrifices have to be made. If you adopt a more positive attitude towards cleansing the skin then it will certainly give you a smoother complexion.

If you are a busy mum or work commitment keeps you from babysitting the skin, fret not, although at times you find your time is not your own, then as long as the prevention method is sanctioned then that is all that matters.

Permanent wrinkle removal will never be so therefore accept wrinkles as a part of your life, denial mode of this can cause depression. Pug dog skin appearance can be helped.

Before approaching other quarters to help reduce fine lines and wrinkles, do some research? Cosmetic surgery is popular just like the popular side and after affects. Aside from the expense involved for removing wrinkles this way, consider the risks too. Beauty products like anti ageing creams do work as to what is suggested on the box, however is the box you hold the one to deliver the promise. You need to be careful, beauty suppliers are happy to take your money and run (not all) leaving you with a creased up face and huge whole in your pocket, also your skin could be under threat from certain ingredients which can cause a severe allergic reaction. Speak to your doctor for safe advice on wrinkle treatments.

Cleansing

Step 1:

Exfoliate a couple of times a week, to rid dead skin, use an anti-ageing serum and moisturiser with SPF 15 to protect your skin from the ageing effects of the sun. Two main causes behind wrinkly skin are over exposure to UV rays and smoking. Both are very dangerous, regardless of wrinkles they can kill.

Step 2:

Use anti-ageing products from the age of 30. Skin cosmetics containing sunscreen, peptides and anti-oxidants are good for keeping wrinkles to a minimum.

Step 3:

Face massage not only has its beneficial rewards (skin glow), it betters cell regeneration and circulation.

Step 4:

If possible a diet rich in oily fish is good. Healthy skin derives from eating foods like spinach and blueberries of which increases levels of anti-oxidants. Most deep coloured fruits and vegetables are best and tastiest.

Step 5:

Aside from the danger of lung cancer avoid smoking as this depletes the levels of vitamin C in your body and causes extra lines around the mouth. Avoid alcohol (ageing and dehydrating). Edibles containing anti-oxidants helps protect the skin from pollution. Take care in the open air, frost and icy winds can damage the skin.

1 For a clear fresh complexion – mix chilled cucumber and potato juice. Dab fluid on cotton pad and place on the eyelids for 15/20 minutes and gently rinse off. Apply baby oil, be careful when doing this.

2 To give eyelashes the longer look, apply castor oil each evening. It strengthens lashes, again be careful the eye region is very sensitive.

3 Coconut oil dabbed around dark circles of the eyes is a splendid beauty tip. Cold milk another affective remedy for removing dark circles

4 To reduce eye puffiness/swelling, grate a potato; wrap in a cloth and settle onto the eyes for approx fifteen minutes.

5 Cucumber juice mixed with a little rose water applied around the eyes will leave the skin feeling fresh

The lips are the most favoured of all kissable curves on the body

Making your own homemade lip balm not only saves money -fabulous rewards prevail. Mix one-tablespoon cranberry sauce juice with two tablespoons Vaseline for an affective product and into the bargain a tasty one too.

Apply juice from the skin of a lemon to prevent deep shading lips

For luscious lips massage them with juice of a coriander leaf for soft rosy lips as an end result.