Herbs 4 Medicine

Any examination of medicinal herbs being used for skincare needs to analyze two related but separate questions. First, what exactly ARE these medicinal herbs? And second, do the herbs used in skin care really work? This article will analyze the hypothesis that herbs assist with skin care problems.

Basil, a.k.a. holy basil, purportedly has numerous assorted medicinal purposes.  As a skin care component it’s considered as a “de-toxifier” that’s particularly effective in treating acne. However, some believers in this herb actually claim that taking a mud bath with the soil on which basil grows can actually make “all skin problems disappear”. It can be quite difficult to believe that ANY plants (or mud) could possibly make skin troubles go away.

Another common skin care herb is sandalwood oil. Since the oil is drawn out from wood, the definition of herbal is a bit broad. Not that it causes any concern to  those promoting it. An important word of precaution should be applied with sandalwood oil. It really shouldn’t be applied directly to the skin; it has to be mixed with an oil carrier such as lavendar, geranium or bergamot. It’s claimed that sandalwood oil helps relieve irritation and itchiness, and can even help cure any number of common skin problems. Much like basil, sandalwood is also used to help treat various skin problems.

Turmeric is another that is ordinarily used. It can be used to clear away dark circles, eczema, fine lines, and even psoriasis. It is likewise found in different sunscreens. Unfortunately, many positive turmeric studies appear to be anecdotal. It’s yet to be seen whether or not there is any actual scientific evidence that supports turmeric's skin treatment properties.

It’s reasonable to state that a lot of the postulates concerning herbal skin care products are extreme. It is difficult to conceive that just one single herb can thoroughly treat such a wide range of  skin problems. It is likewise foolhardy to totally dismiss herbal skincare, since some herbs may actually be beneficial.

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