Often traditional doctors do not believe that acne is a serious health issue. This is unfortunate because as someone who once suffered from terrible cystic acne both on my face and body, I understand just how debilitating having constant breakouts really can be.
Before I got into holistic health I tried just about every kind of topical cream and oil I could think of. None of them were working for me, at least not very well. Tea tree oil seemed to be the most effective thing I tried in the beginning for reducing the breakouts but my spots would never completely clear up. To my disappointment, everything I tried out would only ever improve my skin slightly. As far as I knew the only effective treatment for cystic acne was expensive cortisol injections which I just did not have the money for at the time. Determined to find a solution I persevered with different treatments.
Every doctor that I talked to seemed to think my skin condition was nothing to worry about, simply calling it eczema and offering little to no guidance whatsoever. Looking back I am not sure why I never tried out Accutane which my brother had taken to clear up his teenage acne. I think that possibly drugs like this just have so many side effects that doctors are hesitant to prescribe them. Either that or they just didn’t care to help me with my skin or simply didn’t know how and so I continued to keep trying out different methods on my own. Eventually after spending most of my adult life feeling terrible about my skin flair-ups I did manage to find an effective cure that actually worked brilliantly for me.
Below is the top supplement that used to completely clear up my own cystic acne plus four more natural treatments recommended by top medical practitioners and experts in herbal medicine.
The Five Best Natural Remedies For Treating Acne
1) Oregano Oil
Oregano oil has been used as a popular herbal medicine for centuries. The most popular type known for its medicinal qualities is Oregano vulgare, also known as Spanish thyme and wild marjoram. Oregano oil supplements are usually around 90% thymol and carvacrol which makes it a powerful natural antibiotic. Good quality oregano oil has very strong antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-pathogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant qualities. It has even been found to be highly effective for both cancer treatment and fighting off drug-resistant bacteria and there is plenty of scientific research that backs this up.
How To Use Oregano Oil For Acne
As a supplement
I would recommend to both take an oregano oil supplement as well as applying the oil topically as acne can often be caused by larger infections in the body and in particular the gut. The oil most commonly comes in a bottle but I managed to find it in capsule form as a food supplement by SOLGAR. It would be a good idea to consult with a naturopath before taking oregano oil orally if you plan to exceed the recommended dosage which I’ll admit is much lower than the dose I initially took myself. The oil is extremely harsh and even burns when undiluted so I would not recommend to try this out yourself without first getting proper medical advice from a registered practitioner.
As a topical treatment
To use topically on your skin you will need to buy a bottle of pure steam distilled oregano oil and then dilute it yourself. As mentioned above the oil is far too potent to apply directly to the skin in its pure form and this is why dilution is essential. What you need to do is use a carrier oil like sweet almond oil or even olive oil from your kitchen if you don’t want to buy more products. I’d recommend doing 3 parts carrier oil and 1 part oregano oil.
Rub the oil into your skin on the affected area twice a day. I must warn you that the oil has a very strong and unusual smell which is possibly why this treatment is not more popular. Because of the strong scent it would be best to do this just before you go to bed and half an hour or so before you have a shower in the morning. Be sure to rub the oil in well so that it soaks into your skin properly. If you get a bad reaction then you can try diluting the oil even further. Do this for at least 6 weeks after the acne has cleared up to help prevent it from coming back.
2) Fatty Acids
You can buy fatty acid supplements from most health care stores and the reason why it is recommended for treating acne is because acne is very often caused by inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. This inflammation is worsened by eating many common foods such as refined sugar, coffee, and alcohol. As the body tries to detoxify itself from the pro-inflammatory substances it often releases them through oil-secreting glands which then generate pimples when they become blocked with this gunk. Taking essential fatty acids can help eliminate these pro-inflammatory substances without sending them out through the skin. I’d highly recommend taking a fatty acid supplement for anyone suffering from adult acne.
For the best results, you should try to add more fatty acids to your daily diet through food as well.
Foods high in essential fatty acids
- Mackerel
- Salmon
- Cod Liver Oil
- Herring
- Oysters
- Flax Seeds
- Chia Seeds
- Walnuts
- Soy Beans
- Seaweed and algae
- Hemp Seeds
- Edamame
- Kidney Beans
3) Acupressure
In traditional Chinese medicine, acne is considered to be caused by a problem with chi. Chi is an energy that is crucial for keeping our bodies and minds flowing freely.
Acne is said to happen when the flow of chi in the liver is blocked. There are four acupressure points in particular that can effectively reduce acne. Stimulating the right points releases congestive energy and built-up toxins in the body. You may see better results from trying acupuncture but below is a short video explaining how to perform acupressure for treating acne at home.
4) Herbal Tinctures
Both Chinese and Western herbal medicine can help to clear up acne and prevent recurrences by detoxifying the lymphatic system. I’d recommend consulting with a herbalist but one effective formula combines red clover, burdock, yellow dock, dan gui, milk thistle, cleavers, shisandra, echinacea, and licorice. Drinking a few drops of tincture in water or juice for three months should effectively clear up the pimple-causing infections. This formula in particular also contains herbs that support liver function and nourish the blood which is also contributing factors that lead to acne.
5) Hydrotherapy
It is usually a good idea to perform a herbal steam bath on your face once a week to help drain the toxins out of your pores. The herb yarrow is an extremely healing herb that I’d recommend for this purpose but some more common types that work well are chamomile and rosemary. You can also add a few drops of lavender or eucalyptus oil as well which are both soothing and also detoxifying.
To perform a steam bath for your face if you are using fresh herbs you will need to simmer them in water for 20 minutes and then add a few drops of oil if you are using it. Carefully pour the mixture into a heatproof bowl and place on a table. Drape a towel over your head to help keep in the steam and lean over the bowl keeping your eyes closed. Please do this at your dining table or on a very stable surface because you do not want to burn yourself. For best results steam for 5 to 10 minutes.
If you suffer from rosacea then I would not recommend this treatment as the heat could aggravate your condition.
FOLLOW THE HANDS OF THYME 🌿
