One in every four adults of every adult from the age of 25 to age 44 is affected by acne. Acne affects more than 85% of all people between the ages of 12-24. Women and teenagers are especially vulnerable to this problem due to hormonal change in the body. This condition can be very distressing and confusing to deal with and many of the conventional methods can irritate and dry the skin.

Although over-the-counter acne treatments and traditional prescription medications have been seen to be effective in the reduction and sometimes elimination of acne, there are safe effective natural ways to approach the treatment of acne that you should be aware of. Approaches such as acupuncture, herbal medicines, homeopathic medicine, mind/body medicine, as well as dietary and nutritional considerations are some of the more effective services offered by the professionals at East West Center for Natural Medicine Let's take a look at each of these areas as they relate to acne.

Acupuncture in the treatment of acne has proven to produce results in reduction symptoms caused by acne such as pain, swelling and itching. It also addresses the underlying causes of the disharmony in order to prevent continued outbreaks.

Herbal medicine: Some herbs are known to have anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antibacterial and hormonal properties and, for that reason, they may be helpful in the treatment of acne as well as other skin conditions. You may have already heard of some of these: Calendula, German chamomile, Witch hazel, Licorice root, Flaxseed and flaxseed oil, and also Tea Tree Oil are a few. There are also some common patent Chinese formulas that have proven effective are: Fu Fang Zhen Zhu An Chuang Wan (a variation of a brand called Margarite Acne Pills) and Chuan Shan Jia Qu Shi Qing Du Wan.

One of the ways that herbal medicines help to reduce or eliminate acne is by reducing the amount of the P.acnes. These are a bacteria produced by the body as a reaction to clogged pores. One such product is tea tree oil. Testing has shown that it works well when compared to products such as benzoyl peroxide in the reduction of P.acnes. Herbal Medicine also has fewer side effects than over the counter topical treatments such as stinging, itchiness and dry skin.

Homeopathy: Your natural health Care professional will evaluate the individual and then tailor the treatment to the individual.  Homeopaths have found that certain homeopathic treatments reduce certain symptoms of acne.

Mind Body Medicine: T’ai Chi & Qi Gong and cognitive imagery are therapies used to alleviate the emotional stress that can have an aggravating effect on acne. T’a Chi, Chi Gong, Meditation and other mind body therapies train the individual to control some internal processes such as heart rate and muscle tension. Cognitive imagery (also called guided imagery) involves the use of mental pictures to relax and evoke helpful physical and emotional conditions. Together, when used properly by a person who has mastered the techniques, these methods have been shown to lessen the severity of acne breakouts.

Diet:  Conventional western medicine maintains that diet has no effect on acne. This is one area where western medicine and natural part ways. All forms of natural medicine maintain that diet and nutrition are extremely important in the maintenance and eradication of all health conditions and concerns. Following this school of thought, natural medicine maintains that there are certain foods that effect many people with acne problems in unfavorable ways.  Many people who suffer from acne report that certain drinks or foods such as nuts make their acne worse. Your Health care practitioner can assist you with the skills necessary to adjust what you eat and how it affects you over the course of treatment for better results in your condition.

For further information on your health options in this matter please contact East West Center for Natural Medicine 574-246-9582.