13 Healing Herbs and Spices for Natural Skin Care

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When the foundation of good health has been laid, by making the most of sunshine, fresh air, sleep, water and food, it will be time to turn to the little details about the care of the complexion the hair, the teeth, the nails. 

VATSYAYANA

 

Natural skin care and beauty recipes have been around since the dawn of time.  When it comes to finding the solution to your care woes, you are not likely to find it in a bottle, lotion, or pill.

Your skin is an outer reflection of your inner health.  To clear up your skin issues, you need to clear up any underlying health issues.

Instead of looking for solutions at your local drug store, look no further than your kitchen.

Holistic Skin Care: 13 Healing Herbs and Spices

When it comes to holistic skin care, all you have to do is look into your spice rack or if you grow your own herbs, your garden. Humans have known for millennia that different herbs can be astringent or can help the skin hold on to moisture. They can clear up breakouts and make skin glow with health. Here are some herbs and spices to consider for skin care:

Oat Straw

Oat straw is the stem of the oat plant while it’s still green and its sap is milky. It is a great source of silica and calcium and has been used for hundreds of years for skin problems and to correct imbalances in the blood sugar. Oat straw is most often made into tea or extracts and added to food.

Oat Straw Tea contains six different B vitamins, Vitamin A, vitamin E, folate, pantothenic acid, magnesium, iron, calcium, manganese, phosphorus, and anti-oxidants.  Learn more here.

Horsetail

Horsetail, whose other name is shavegrass, used to be used as an exfoliant and probably still is in some place. An astringent, horsetail is full of silica that supports the suppleness of the skin. It can be drunk in tea but is often dried, powdered and made into a poultice to put on the skin. It can also be added to a warm bath.

Horsetail contains many nutrients and minerals. These include calcium, iron, manganese, silica and antioxidants. Besides being an antioxidant, horsetail is also antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti­inflammatory. Learn more here.

Alfalfa

The leaf and seeds of this plant are used for skin health. Alfalfa is full of carotene, which is converted to vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A is an anti-oxidant that is vital for the health of the skin, hair and nails. Alfalfa is also full of necessary trace minerals, vitamin K, chlorophyll and amino acids.  Learn more here.

Nettles

Nettle leaves are excellent when it comes to inflammatory skin diseases, especially in children. They clear up eczema and clean ulcers and wounds. When nettle leaves are used in a tea or tincture, their stinging hairs are neutralized.

Nettle contains vitamins C and K, B vitamins, as well as minerals like calcium, magnesium and iron, to name a few.³ It also has amino acids and antioxidants.  Learn more here.

Rose Hips

This is the fruit of the rose plant. Extremely rich in vitamin C, it is an all-purpose tonic. It can be taken as a tea, as capsules, as part of a mask or in a facial. It also makes an excellent jelly.

Rose hips contain vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, and vitamin B-complex, as well as minerals like calcium, iron, selenium, manganese, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, sulfur, silicon, and zinc. They also contain lycopene, pectin, lutein, and beta-carotene.  The antioxidant components, which include flavonoids, phytochemicals, and carotenoids also contribute to their health benefits.  Learn more here.

Turmeric

Turmeric is derived from the rhizome of a plant that resembles the ginger plant. In a compress, turmeric is used to heal injuries and skin lesions. When it is eaten, it cleanses the blood. This also contributes to the health of the skin.

Turmeric contains more than 300 naturally occurring components including beta-carotene, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), calcium, flavonoids, fiber, iron, niacin, potassium, zinc and other nutrients. But the chemical in turmeric linked to its most highly touted health effects is curcumin.  Learn more here.

Learn about the healing benefits of turmeric essential oil here.

Irish Moss

Yes, this is carrageenan, that additive that thickens store-bought ice cream. When applied to the skin Irish moss acts as a demulcent, which means it soothes inflamed or irritated skin.

Irish Moss contains 92 different minerals.  It also contains protein, beta-carotene, B vitamins, pectin, vitamin C and sulfur. Learn more here.

Burdock Root

This herb can also be drunk as a tea or used as a compress for skin problems such as acne and eczema. It soothes boils, bruises, warts and canker sores.

Burdock Root contains vitamins A, B complex and E, inulin, antioxidants, and phytochemicals. Learn more here.

Spirulina

This micro-algae is bought as a dried powder and can be sprinkled on food or mixed with drinks. It is a great source of chlorophyll, vitamins B1, B2, B3, copper, iron, magnesium, potassium, manganese, amino acids, antioxidants, and proteins. Its ability to cleanse the blood and help circulation promotes skin health.

Spirulina has 2300% more iron than spinach, 3900% more beta carotene than carrots, 300% more calcium than whole milk, and 375% more protein than tofu. Comparing phytonutrient levels, Spirulina is 31 times more potent than blueberries and 60 times more potent than spinach.  Learn more here.

Anthony William talks a great deal about the healing benefits of spirulina in his book, Medical Medium: Secrets Behind Chronic and Mystery Illness and How to Finally Heal, which is by far the most fascinating and revealing book on the planet.  

Rosemary

The aromatic leaves of this herb tones the skin and is especially good for the hair. It stimulates hair follicles and is said to put off the graying of the hair and baldness when used as a shampoo.

Rosemary is a good source of iron, calcium, vitamin B-6, and antioxidants.  Learn more here.

Learn about the healing benefits of rosemary essential oil here and here.

Aloe Vera

This herb is famous for its gel, which is used to heal minor burns. Its promotion of rapid cell regeneration helps to heal wounds, rashes, fungal infections and all types of skin problems. Aloe vera can be made into a juice drink.

Aloe Gel is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal and packed with 200 active compounds.  It contains vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants.  Learn more here.

 Yellow Dock Root

Drunk as a tea or taken in capsule form, this mildly astringent root is rich in iron and can build and cleanse the blood. This makes it a good choice for skin conditions. Yellow dock root is also used in formulas to treat psoriasis and eczema.

Yellow dock root contains vitamin A, C, iron, Calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, and antioxidants.  Learn more here

Sarsaparilla Root

Use the oil of this root externally to heal skin conditions that feature itching and scaling such as eczema and psoriasis. It also is used to treat ringworm, athlete’s foot, acne and other inflammatory skin conditions.  Learn more here.

For more information on natural and holistic skin care, check out Natural Skin Care 101 Guide.

Be good to your skin. You’ll wear it every day for the rest of your life.  ~Renée Rouleau