December 20, 2007
Homeopathy - Is It A Useful Alternative Acne Treatment?
The word "homeopathy" comes from the Greek words homoios (similar) and pathos (disease). The first homeopathic principle states that anything that is capable of producing symptoms of disease in a healthy person can cure those symptoms in a sick person. Homeopathy uses a system that treats a disease by the administration of minute, micro-dosages of a remedy that would in large amounts produce symptoms similar to those of the disease.
The following are just a few of the numerous homeopathic treatment suggestions for acne:
- Antimonium tartaricum: This remedy claims to be helpful for acne with large pustules that are tender to touch.
- Calcarea carbonica: This remedy is supposed to help improve the skin's resistance to infection, especially in individuals with frequent pimples and skin eruptions, who get chilly with clammy hands and feet, are easily tired by exertion, and are flabby or overweight.
- Pulsatilla: This remedy can be helpful if acne is worse from eating rich or fatty foods, and aggravated by warmth or heat. It is indicated especially around the time of puberty, or when acne breaks out near menstrual periods.
- Silicea (also called Silica): This is intended for a person with deep-seated acne. Infected spots are slow to come to a head, and also slow to resolve, so may result in scarring.
- Sulphur: This remedy is meant for itching, sore, inflamed eruptions with reddish or dirty-looking skin.
You can find these items at your local health food store; select the remedy that most closely matches your symptoms. Treatment is taken by mouth in the form of tiny tablets, powder, granules, or liquids.
There have been few studies examining the effectiveness of specific homeopathic remedies for acne. Homeopathic remedies are usually harmless, and its supposed "cures" are probably due to the natural healing tendencies of our bodies. However, if serious acne or an illness strikes you, it's best to see a conventional physician rather than a homeopath.