Homeopathy for acne

Homeopathy uses a range of natural remedies and is based on the concept that stimulating an illness will strengthen the body's power of recovery.

Homeopathic treatments are available in shops but to get the best results people see a registered homoeopathist. Homeopathy is not widely available on the NHS; you can get a referral from your GP to a homoeopathist but you may have some difficulty. Luckily going private is relatively inexpensive; a consultation and treatment costs around £30-£50.

It is always best to see a registered homeopath, however thefollowing homeopathic treatments (available in health shops) might help:
Kali-b for itchy spots;
Sulphar for painful, infected pores;
Hepar sulphuris for very sensitive and irritated skin.

Benefits:
Natural treatments have few side effects;
Inexpensive;
Effective for a lot of people.

Drawbacks:
Not widely available on the NHS;
Results are slower with homeopathic treatments than conventional medicine;
If you don't live in a town/city it may be difficult to find a good homeopath nearby.

What can be treated by homeopathy?

As homoeopathy addresses the whole person and not just specific symptoms it can be used to treat a wide variety of conditions, such as:

1. First Aid, Sports injuriesAccidents, twisted ankles, cuts, grazes, bites, stings and bruises
2. Stress, Anxiety, InsomniaShock, fright, sad news, grief, loss, anger, performance anxiety
3. Skin problemsAcne, itchy rashes, exzema, boils, abscesses, cold sores, warts
4. Sinus and chest complaintsNasal congestion, headaches, ear problems, sore throats
   Headaches, migraines
5. Digestive disordersIBS, constipation, upset stomach, trapped wind
   Alleriges
6. Women's conditionsPMS, period pain, pregnancy, fibroids, cystitis, pcos, menopause - flushes, sweats, mood swings
7. Seasonal problemsCoughs, colds, flu sore throats, hay fever, sunburn
8. Baby and children's complaintsTeething, ear infections, throat infections, sleeping problems

How does homoeopathy work?

Homoepathic remedies help to stimulate the body's own healing ability. The remedies are chosen to treat the whole person including their mental, emotional and physical symptoms. The homoeopath take a detailed history from the patient in order to build a full picute of their symptoms and then matches this with a similar remedy.Remedies are made from a wide variety of natural substances that exist in the world around us. They can be made from plants, trees, herbs, insects, animals or minerals. A small amount of the original substance is prgressively diluted. Between each dilution the substance is also shaken vigorously. This is to release the natural healing properties of the substances. Hahnemann discovered that the more substances were diluted, the powerful they became.

What is Homeopathy?

Modern homoeopathy was developed by a German doctor, Samuel Hahnemann, born in 1755. He was unhappy with the harsh and dangerous medicines of his time and began to study gentler ways of healing. He worked with the principle that 'Like cures like', which states that any substance that causes disease in a healthy person could 'cure' the same disease in a sick person. This principle has been around for a long time and has filtered into our language in expressions such as 'Birds of a feather flock together'.An example of like curing like is that of Allium Cepa, or onion. Homoeopaths use this remedy to help hay fever sufferers who experience streaming eyes that sting and burn, just the symptoms we all experience when we chop up an onion!

Medical care For acne

Oriental medicine
Seek out a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine for herbal treatments to remove Heat and Toxins and also correct the energetic imbalances associated with acne. A practitioner will determine the correct herbal formulations for each individual based on symptom expression.

Homeopathy and cystic acne
Severe acne symptoms may be helped by treatment from a homeopathic practitioner. A constitutional homeopathic prescription can raise resistance, increase immune system strength, and help resolve the tendency to develop severe acne lesions.

Antibiotics
If natural methods of treatment have not succeeded after a six-month trial, then a course of oral (systemic) antibiotics may be required. The most common antibiotic prescriptions are erythromycin, minocycline, and tetracycline. A short course of 5-7 days is safest. Be aware that antibiotics may cause unwanted side effects, especially if used over an extended period of time. It is possible that antibiotics can aggravate acne symptoms, or replace a primary infection with a secondary acne infection. Antibiotics may also cause yeast overgrowth symptoms, vaginal yeast infections, upset stomach, allergies, increased susceptibility to sun-damage, yellowing of teeth, decrease in absorption of some vitamins and minerals, and increased bacterial resistance.

Diet to cure acne

The type of fats in the diet are a key factor for acne control. Use olive oil for cooking and on salads. Saturated fats and partially hydrogenated fats cause damage to body tissues and promote inflammation. Saturated fats are solid at room temperature and usually come from animal sources. Eat non-fat or low-fat dairy products. Cut back on red meats and butter. Partially hydrogenated fats are even worse because they replace unsaturated fats in cells. Eliminate partially hydrogenated fats from the diet. Avoid packaged snack foods, chips, crackers, and cookies that contain these fats. Read the labels on packaged products. Never eat margarine. Avoid fried foods. Oils that are heated and re-used to make French fries and fried chicken contain particularly harmful toxins. Supplement the diet with the omega-3 fats found in salmon and flax seeds. Avoid the omega-6 fats of vegetable oils (corn oil, safflower oil, soybean oil, cottonseed oil) because they promote inflammation.
It is also important to eat adequate quantities of protein and not overeat carbohydrates in order to prevent inflammation. Cut back on baked foods made with wheat flour and any foods containing large amounts of sugar. Overloading on carbohydrates is a major cause of weight problems and tissue damage. Overeating also increases testosterone levels and promotes acne. Do not eat more than necessary to maintain body weight and energy expenditure.
Eat plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, and salads. The vitamins contained in these foods can have a significant beneficial effect on acne. The fiber is essential for healthy digestion and elimination. Foods high in vitamin A and beta-carotene are especially good nutritional sources (carrots, sweet potatoes, apricots, and green leafy vegetables, spinach, kale, and romaine lettuce).
Avoid foods that increase Heat in the body, spicy foods, garlic, and coffee. Drink plenty of purified water or spring water (up to 4 quarts of water a day) to flush out toxins and transport nutrients.
Diet essentials
1. Cut back on saturated fats (whole milk, cheese, and red meat).
2. Eliminate partially hydrogenated fats. (Read labels. They are contained in chips crackers, and cookies, all those snack foods in a box or bag).
3. Eat fresh fruits, vegetables, and salads.