Acne is one of those frustrating skin ailments that can be painful, embarrassing, and just a nuisance to prevent and treat. The problem is that everyone's dermal layers are different and react differently to various potions and skin regimens. That said, there are some that have been proven to be beneficial, and it may be worth your time to test each option and see what works best for you. Five popular acne cure treatment methods are outlined below to stave off and conquer those zits.
1. Wash your face at the end of the day.
Seems obvious, doesn't it? But it can be still hard to do this all time, especially after a long and tiring day. Women in particular need to heed this rule because the make-up and grime that can coat the skin after a full day can be a breeding ground for new pimples. Always use a gentle cleanser to cleanse the skin (this applies to guys too!), before hitting the sack.
2. It's OK to pop a zit (sometimes).
This only applies to those pimples that have formed a visible white head on the surface and seem ready to be purged. By no means should you go digging, or attack any deep cystic acne. You can sanitize a needle with alcohol and gently puncture the head in order to squeeze out any pus. Dab on a bit of anti-bacterial ointment afterwards. Releasing the contents and pressure this way may actually better facilitate the healing process.
3. Salt water toner.
Some people cite that a beach vacation has often helped clear up their skin. Where's the connection? It's in the sea water that you've been splashing around in. Salt is anti-bacterial and will help heal your skin. At home, you can make a salty solution yourself and apply it as a daily toner to keep your skin clean and clear.
4. Aspirin mask.
You can take aspirin the regular way (in pill form with a glass of water) and it will help reduce the inflammation of your pimple, but you can also use it as a face mask. The beta hydroxy acids will help clear things right up. Crush the aspirin with some water to form a paste and smooth onto your face. Used a couple times a week, you should start to see a difference as a treatment and as a preventative measure.
5. Ice cubes.
Nothing is cheaper than frozen water out of your refrigerator. This is particularly effective when you cool down a pimple as soon as you feel it emerging. It will bring down swelling, reduce any redness, and as long as you keep doing this on a regular basis, it ought to reduce the severity of the acne, or might keep it from blooming altogether.
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February 23 2010 | Acne | No Comments »
Historical and Current Uses
Sandalwood is one of the oldest aromatic materials, being acknowledged in ancient biblical and in Indian text as well as used in religious ceremonies throughout the ages. Botanically known as a small evergreen in the genus Santalum and family Santalaceae, this modest-sized tree (up to 10 meters) provides a great deal of commerce for India and to some extent Australia and is now being examined by the medical industry for its medicinal properties. There are several species of Santalum, but only a few are used commercially, most notably Santalum album (India) and Santalum spicatum (Australia). Other tress from such places as Polynesia and Fuji are in small numbers and in great decline. Oddly, other plants such as the Bead Tree or Candlewood are known as sandalwood but are not botanically parallel. Sometimes, non-related plants such as Red Sandalwood are used as fillers for the more expensive, genuine sandalwood.
True sandalwood contains aromatic heartwood (middle) and roots which when harvested are used for furniture items as well as distilled for its highly prized essential oil. Plantations have been set aside in both India and Australia to meet growing demand for Santalum essential oil. Sandalwood harvesting and manufacturing of incense sticks, furniture and essential oil provides great employment for many in India, especially in southern India. The value of sandalwood in India cannot be overstated. Besides its ceremonial significance, sandalwood is used extensively in Indian Ayurvedic medicine. The harvest and processing of sandalwood is strictly regulated and private ownership of the trees is not permitted. Since 1792 trees have been considered of Indian royalty and thus well guarded and protected. These valued trees take decades to develop their rich aromatic wood and are not considered commercially viable until at least forty years of age, but trees have been harvested at thirty to meet rising requests for its processed products.
Much of the valuable wood is found in the roots of sandalwood and thus harvested by uprooting the entire tree versus cutting it at the trunk. In the last few years alone, the price of sandalwood has skyrocketed, mainly due to rising demand and limited supply. Increased demand has mainly come from the perfume and aromatherapy industry. Sandalwood essential oil and paste is used in Indian and Chinese medicine and of course aromatherapy botanical medicine. The perfume industry covets this oil for its ability to blend well with other perfume oils; hence, it is used extensively in hundreds of cosmetic products.
Over the centuries, the use of sandalwood and its products have been an integral part of several religious cultures. It scent, either as an essential oil or ground as incense, is thought to bring one closer to the Divine. Hindus burn incense made from sandalwood oil in burial pyres and at funerals. It's also used in temples to remind people of the heavenly realms. Yogis in India use the oil to anoint each other during ceremonies and before meditation as well deity statues often made of sandalwood itself.
Sandalwood May Help with Antibiotic Resistance
Opposition to antibiotic use in food agriculture has been gaining momentum. In years past, it was known that severe illness-causing microbes such as Salmonella and E. coli could be contracted through eating contaminated meat. Now, it is proposed that contraction of bacteria, in this case antibiotic resistant bacteria, can possibly be transferred through ingestion, handling of industrial animal manure, as well as through drinking manure-contaminated ground water. With these scenarios coming to the surface, scientists and government officials alike are in alarm and strongly suggesting the decrease if not absolute elimination of non-therapeutic uses of antibiotics in the meat industry. Recent media has brought attention to the proposed link between the steep increase of antibiotic-resistant microbes with use and perhaps misuse of antibiotics in agriculture. Modern industrial agriculture raises animals in tight often inhumane quarters which results in animals being much more susceptible to sickness and disease, thus the administration of antibiotics is very common. Because bacteria and other microbes can easily mutate (in as little as 20 minutes), it is no wonder that great concern is now mounting.
Concern for antibiotic-resistant microbes is worldwide. A need to find alternatives to conventional antibiotic treatment is rising. Essential oils have been gaining attention by research scientists for their antimicrobial properties. A collaborative study of researchers in Austria and Germany (Flavor and Fragrance Journal 2006 May/Jun; 21(3): 465-468) found that santalols of sandalwood (the main chemical components of sandalwood) in medium and/or high concentrations showed significant antimicrobial potential against the yeast Candida albicans, the Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, and the Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae.
Other Promising Uses
The Australian and Indian Santalum species, found to be similar in chemical composition, are known by aromatherapists to have such therapeutic properties as anti-inflammatory, antiphlogistic (reduces fever), antiseptic (as mentioned above), antispasmodic (relieves muscle spasms), astringent, carminative (relieves flatulence), demulcent (reduces irritation), diuretic (soft and soothing to skin), emollient, expectorant, as a sedative and general tonic. Their principle chemical constituents are alpha-santalol and beta-santalol. According to a study conducted by the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and South Dakota University (Anticancer Research 2007 Jul-Aug; 27(4B): 2185-8) application of the chemical compound alpha-santalol prevents UVB-induced skin tumor development in mice. Sandalwood is also thought to help alleviate the symptoms of depression as reported by the University of Maryland Medical Center (www.umm.edu).
Summing It Up
It is rather evident that the value of sandalwood extends across centuries and continents. It is revered by various religions, scientists, aromatherapists and perfume enthusiasts alike. What is remarkable is that uses of plants and their essential oils are bringing such world-wide engagement as their promising applications are uncovered in scientific research. A need for alternatives to conventional antibiotics as well as insecticides is clear. As less-than amiable agriculture practices surface and resistance to current antimicrobials increase, it is apparent that humankind will revert back to solutions found in nature and perhaps make a more diligent effort to conserve the very earth that sustains us.
Essential oils have a very broad range of uses, from just making a room smell nice, to combating the most challenging bacterial infections. The term 'aromatherapy' includes all these uses. To learn more, visit The Ananda Apothecary online.
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January 11 2010 | Skin Care | No Comments »