Use Thyme As a Natural Cure For Acne

During the 1950s and '60s, there was almost no way to get through puberty acne-free. Then the magnitude of acne-faced teens dissipated. Now acne, also known as pimples or zits, seems to be making comeback.

As acne becomes more prevalent so are the pharmaceutical solutions dispensed by dermatologists. You know, the folks who say sunshine will cause skin cancer and recommend you lather up with those carcinogenic sunscreens.

If you or someone you know is concerned about the presence of pimples, there is a natural, inexpensive solution - thyme.

Out with the pharmaceuticals and in with the thyme

The standard of care from dermatology involves antibiotics or creams containing the chemical benzoyl peroxide. Antibiotics used may kill the Propionibacterium acne (P. acne) that's associated with acne breaking out on the skin's surface.

That bacterium usually resides in healthy skin in low amounts without incident. But when trapped in enlarged pores with oil and dead skin cells, this anaerobic critter thrives, colonizes and creates those little pus pockets on top of sores.

But, anything containing benzoyl peroxide is liable to create irritation or other side effects and long term antibiotic use kills the good bacteria that help ward off other diseases. Administered orally or even intravenously for acne, antibiotics manage to kill off both the beneficial and problem-causing bacteria.

In addition, these potent antibiotics can weaken the immune system and add to P. acne's antibiotic resistance, which could be life threatening if the P. acne bacterium colonizes elsewhere -- like in the brain.

A thyme-based tincture has proven to be a more effective topical solution without side effects than benzoyl peroxide creams, according to recent research at Leeds Metropolitan University in Leeds, UK. The thyme tinctures, not essential oils, proved highly effective at soothing the skin and killing the Propionibacterium acne.

In addition to the healing and antiseptic attributes of the herb thyme, the alcohol base used for the tincture adds more antiseptic qualities. The tincture can be applied with a cotton ball, gauze, or sprayed on from a mist spray bottle.

You can make your own long lasting thyme tincture or any other herbal tincture inexpensively (http://www.naturalnews.com/032298_herbs_tinctures.html).

You can alternately combine thyme with green tea. Simply mix a half cup of chopped thyme and several teaspoons of green tea leaves into two cups of water. Bring it to a boil and let is steep until it completely cools. You can keep it in a refrigerator for a week or more and apply with a cotton ball daily.

There you have it, a couple of zits-no-more protocols that defy Big Pharma and keep you away from dermatologist fees.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.leedsmet.ac.uk

http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_thyme.htm

http://www.skincareresourcecenter.com/toner-recipe.html

Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/035869_acne_natural_cures_thyme.html#ixzz1v3SzChFR

How To Fight Adult Acne With Vitamins

There has been lots of buzz in acne forums about using vitamins to treat adult acne. I'll cover briefly the most common vitamins for acne.

For our purposes vitamins could be divided into two groups: co-enzymes (B vitamins) and antioxidants (A, C & E vitamins). These groups have significantly different functions. Co-enzymes are necessary for the proper activation of various biochemical reactions. Antioxidants work as protection mechanism, they protect the body against the effect of many toxic substances. More specifically they protect the body against free radicals. According to a large number of medical studies vitamin C is also boosts immune system and kills bacteria and virus in the body.
Antioxidants - Vitamin C And E

Vitamin C is by far the most important 'adult acne fighting' vitamin. When it comes to adult acne the main functions of vitamin C are:

* Antioxidant - vitamin C prevents/ reduces the damage toxins to do cells.
* Detox agent - vitamin C removes toxins and other pollutants from your body

Most of the animals manufacture their own vitamin C and there is evidence that stress, trauma and disease will increase vitamin C production.

"For example an adult goat will manufacture more than 13,000 mg of vitamin C per day in normal health and as much as 100,000 mg daily when faced with life-threatening disease, trauma or stress."

Vitamin C seems to also act as a protective agent in the body. For example seminal fluid (sperm) contains 8 times the vitamin C as the blood does. Current medical research says that vitamin C protects the DNA in sperm against mutation and damage by free radicals.

Vitamin C is also used as a part of many detox programs, for example Dr. Janet Hull recommends taking Vitamin C in her 10 Days Detox Program.

For more information in vitamin C please go to www.vitamincfoundation.org/

Vitamin E acts also as an antioxidant. The main difference between vitamins C and E is that vitamin C is water-soluble and vitamin E fat-soluble. When taken in excess the fat-soluble vitamins accumulate in the fatty tissues. According to current medical understanding fat-soluble vitamins are more dangerous when taken in 'mega doses'. Even though there is very little evidence about the dangers of vitamin E overdose, doesn't mean that 'mega doses' of vitamin E would actually be healthy.

The damage caused to the liver (which is one of the root causes of adult acne) by toxins, bacteria and parasites is largely due to free radicals. Vitamin C, E and other antioxidants could play an important role in reversing and preventing adult acne.

Co-Enzymes - Vitamin B

B vitamins are also important in fighting and preventing acne. Among other things, B vitamins are essential for:

* Digestion of carbohydrates, proteins and fats
* Maintenance of healthy skin, nerves and digestive tract
* Production of red blood cells
* Manufacture of sex hormones

In short B vitamins are absolutely necessary for proper functioning of the body and indirectly may affect adult acne.

In my opinnion the fact that B vitamins are involved in digestion makes them very important 'acne fighting'- vitamins. A typical Western diet is chronically deficient in most vitamins and the body is forced to use its vitamin reserves to compensate. Over time these reserves will empty out, digestion slows and the road eventually leads to acne.

Unlike vitamin C a large doses of vitamin B are not likely going to help you in anyway. B vitamins are required to activate different chemical reactions in the body. However, once the body has enough vitamin B available additional amounts will not help you in anyway.

Vitamin B actually consits of 8 different vitamins. Since these vitamins generally work in combination and are required in precise balance it doesn't make sense to separate them.

B vitamins are water-soluble and according to current medical understanding (which may change as scientists and doctors learn more) excess amounts of vitamin B will be lost in urine. As such there seems to be few, if any, known dangers of taking too much vitamin B.

However, please understand that B vitamins don't work alone. When a specific B vitamin (like B5) activates a biochemical reaction (like digestion of fats) other B vitamins (for example B1, B2 and B12) and possibly other vitamins are also required. So a 'mega dose' of a specific vitamin B may lead to deficiencies in other vitamins and thus health problems. You can read more about this here: adult acne and vitamin B5.

Few the B vitamins have received plenty of attention among acne victims; vitamin B5 as a adult acne treatment and vitamins B6 and B12 as contributing to acne.

Hidden, Toxic Ingredients In Everyday Foods That Promote Acne

What do you think happens when you mix profits with food? Do you think that food companies care more about your health or increasing their profits? What happens when the regulatory agencies (that are supposed to police the industry and protect you) health are influenced by the very industry they are policing?

You get what Mike Adams, The Health Ranger, calls "metabolic disruptors".

These are common ingredients, such as white flour and sugar, that prevent your body from healing, promote acne, outrageous cravings among other health problems. Unfortunately, metabolic disruptors are used in almost all commercially prepared foods. But if you know what to look for, you can fill your cart with foods that will help you live a longer more vibrant life.

If you want to prevent acne, have a clear skin and vibrant health stay away from these.

Sodium nitrite

This little baby is used to color most of the meat sold in supermarkets (and other retail outlets). An old meat generally has putrid, gray color, which, retailers understand is not so attractive. To counter this issue they add sodium nitrite to the meat to color it red - to give an illusion that it's fresh.

The thing that they conveniently don't mention is that sodium nitrite is HIGHLY carcinogenic. In fact it's used in cancer research. When researches want to inflict mouse with a cancer they inject sodium nitrite into the mouse.

It's believed that the carcinogenic effect of eating meat is more to due to the added sodium nitrite than saturated fat in meat.

Here are couple of links to more info about sodium nitrite:
http://www.newstarget.com/011148.html

Sugar and sugar substitutes

I believe that sugar is directly contributing to acne. Harmful bacteria in the digestive track (and other parts of your body) strive on sugar. They ferment sugar and convert it to toxic waste.

Sugar is also highly acidifying. I'm sure you remember that harmful, acne-causing bacteria require an acidic environment to survive. Eating or drinking sugar directly contributes to well being of the 'bad guys'.

Sugar is not just sugar, it comes in many forms and names. Look for these:

* Sucrose (table sugar)
* Raw sugar
* Brown sugar (is 91 to 96% sucrose)
* High fructose corn syrups
* Fructose (fruit sugar - fruits eaten whole and on empty stomach are ok)
* Dextrose or glucose
* Lactose (milk sugar)
* Sorbitol, Mannitol, Malitol, and Xylitol
* Anything with the ending "ose"

Sugar substitutes are probably more dangerous than sugar itself. Here's a good article on dangers of common sugar substitutes: http://curezone.com/foods/aspartame.asp

Look for the following items:

* Aspartame
* Sucralose
* Acesulfame-K
* Saccharin

Practically all the processed foods in supermarkets contain some amounts of sugar, but there are two food items that rise above the rest in sugar content:

* Sodas, canned fruit juices and other sugary drinks
* Candy, candy bars and other sweets

Just eliminating those will cut a huge amount of sugar out of your diet, and should be among your first priorities. Look out for sugar in other food items also, but cut those out first.

The only safe sweetener I'm aware of is stevia. It's a herb that is very much sweeter than sugar and it doesn't degrade your health. It's so sweet that you have to use only few drops of it, so it works out to be dirt cheap also.

Hydrogenated oils

Sugar and hydrogenated oils compete for the top spot in the extremely toxic ingredients that are in almost all foods.

Hydrogenated oils are man-made artificial fats that are extremely toxic. Using hydrogenated oils in foods is a strategy used by manufacturing companies to enhance the taste of their foods, add calories to their foods and extend the shelf life and shelf stability of those foods. This all adds up to higher profits for food companies.

Hydrogenated oils cause a cell-by-cell failure of the human body by destroying the porosity and flexibility of healthy cell membranes. It's like tearing your body down from the inside out.

There's plenty of information about the dangers of hydrogenated oils in the Internet. Just type it to Google and see. Here are good articles on hydrogenated oils: The health dangers of trans fats have been known for decades, yet food companies still poison customers with hydrogenated oils
Trans-Fat: What Exactly is it, and Why is it so Dangerous?
Trans Fats: The Science and the Risks

Here's a list of foods that commonly contain hydrogenated oils

Hydrogenated oils also come in many names:

* hydrogenated oils
* partially hydrogenated oils
* trans fats
* shortened fats or oils

If you see any of the above mentioned words on the ingredients label of the foods - run!

Mono Sodium Glutamate (MSG)

You probably already know about this extremely toxic ingredient. It's said to be more toxic than any other food toxin, poison or allergen. Some patients have stronger reactions to MSG than arsenic or mercury.

Unfortunately the food industry doesn't want you to know about this 'little gem'. for this reason MSG is not required to appear on the ingredients label of food products as MSG. However if you find the following names in the label you can be sure that it includes MSG:

* hydrolyzed vegetable protein
* autolyzed yeast extract

These are the most common names, but there are many other names. Check this web site for more information (look for the link 'Hidden names for MSG' at the left hand side: MSG Myths

Just by making sure that you eliminate MOST sources of sugars and sugar substitutes, hydrogenated oils and MSG you are already long way in winning your battle against acne.