Natural Organic Facial Care

Our skin is the body’s biggest organ and is sometimes the most neglected.  Whoever said that beauty is only skin deep must be very beautiful indeed because our skin is sometimes the best indicator of what is going on in our body.

Our skin is susceptible to infections like acne, rashes and other skin ailments.  Most skin care products contain chemicals which do not only do more harm than good to our skin but to our environment as well.  However, there are herbs which help alleviate pimples and rashes and can help our skin look young and fresh looking.

Aloe is a very good herbal medicine for acne and wrinkles.  Aloe contains alpha hydroxy acid which nourishes the skin and reduces wrinkles.  Aloe also soothes skin irritated by acne.  For best results wash the face with warm water and vinegar.  Apply aloe to skin and leave over night.

For a severe acne break out, use tea tree oil.  Mix the tea tree oil with a carrier like unscented white lotion or jojoba oil.  For best results clean the face an pat dry.  Apply the mixture twice daily.  Some people may be sensitive to tee tree so a skin test is recommended.  Apply on a small spot and wait for 24 hours.

For puffy eyes, you can use the old stand by of cucumber slices or chamomile tea.  Let the chamomile steep in a cup of hot water, let cool and then soak some cotton balls.  Apply on puffy eyes.

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Medicinal Plants

Medicinal plants are referred to plants which have medicinal properties.  Almost all plant species on earth have medicinal properties and are used in medicinal researches.

Aloe Vera is perhaps one of the most popular herbal medicinal plant in the world.  The species originated in Africa and papyrus found in Egypt as old as 16th century BCE show that the plant has been used for healing even during the times of the pharaohs.  Aloe Vera is known for soothing burns.  Studies have shown that topical application of Aloe Vera for 1st to 2nd degree burns promote faster healing.  It is also effective for genital herpes and psoriasis.

Bamboo is usually associated with Asian culture.  Medicinal use of bamboo is prevalent in Asian countries especially in Chinese medicine.  The Chinese use the bamboo for curing infections.  It is also a good source of nutrients and is sweet to the taste.  The siliceous concentration found in the bamboo stem is known in the west as “bamboo manna” and is used to clear respiratory infections.  Bamboo shoots are also a significant ingredient in Asian cooking.  However caution is observed when eating shoots from the giant bamboo as it contains cyanide.

The Lavender yields a fragrant oil that is used in not only in herbal medicine but also in cosmetics and perfumery.  Essential oil of the lavender has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.  During WWII it was used to disinfect clinics and hospitals.  Lavender has a soothing effect and is widely used in aromatherapy today to promote a good night’s sleep.  Rubbing lavender on the temples can soothe headaches and insect bites.  Clumps of lavender are said to ward off mosquitoes

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The Decline of Indian Medicinal Plants

Traditional Indian medicine has been dominated by generous use of medicinal plants which are known to the local populations since antiquity. Many of these medicinal plants are wild herbs and seeds of different species that rest at the center of Ayurvedic medicine. Modern healthcare professionals and pharmaceuticals are increasingly getting aware of the importance of wild medicinal plants and the pharmaceutical industry is extending the availability of traditional medicinal herbs of India to foreign countries.

Dozens of different Indian medicinal plants are traditionally used for treating many major health problems. Some of these are: Ratti (used for pain relief, sciatica, dysentery, male infertility, cough etc); Garlic or Lahsun (used for pain relief, fever, diabetes, skin problems, cough and general physical weakness); Harshringar (used for respiratory diseases including asthma, fever, cough, and gastrointestinal trouble, and hair and skin problems); Kantaphala (used for treating hysteria, dyspepsia, chronic fever, pain, and inflammation) and numerous others curative species. There are plants, like the Madagascar periwinkle, for treating cancer, and Neem for hepatitis, malaria, and several skin conditions. Then there are also a number of plants for treating psychological problems like Ashwaganda and Ginkgo biloba (for anxiety disorders), Licorice and Damiana (for depression), and Withania (for stress and anemia that may cause epilepsy).

Medicinal plants are certainly not confined to India’s political boundaries but the neighboring land of Nepal is also home to many plants of medicinal value used in the Indian pharmaceutical industry. Jatamansi and Kutki are two famous medicinal plant species that largely grow in Nepal and are used in medications in both Nepal and India. The consumer demand for these medicinal plants, however, is much higher in the populated land of India where the pharmaceutical industry is also more developed and productive.

Not unexpectedly, the growing population of India (over a billion people now) and the excessive collection of medicinal plants from the wild have endangered the availability of herbal medicine in near future. In a recent report by the IUCN and TRAFFIC researchers, seven key species of medicinal value are declining sharply due to over-harvesting. These include: Elephant’s Foot, Jatamansi, Kutki, Desert Cistanche, Red Sanders, Himalayan Yew, and Snakeroot. Some of these naturally grow in countries other than India e.g. Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and China. The decline in the presence of these species foretells of the potential crisis that the pharmaceutical industry in India, as well as other countries importing Indian medicinal products, may face soon.

Environmental conservation organizations are certainly not oblivious to the endangered medicinal plants of India. The seven species mentioned above are already being protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Cultivation of these plants is also promoted by environmental conservation bodies and over-harvesting is being discouraged through advocacy. However, the implementation of environmental law in India and other developing countries is far from being satisfactory. For sustainable harvesting of India’s medicinal plants, international efforts are ever more in need along with improvements in government policies and pharmaceutical trade.

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