Acne

Acne

Foods to Eat More Of:

Fruits: Apples, apricots, berries, cantaloupe, grapes, mangoes, papayas, pears, pumpkins
Vegetables: Arugula, beets, beet greens, cabbage, carrots, collard greens, cucumbers, kale, romaine lettuce, spinach, squash, turnips, watercress
Olive oil, soy products, turmeric
Seeds (pumpkin, sesame, sunflower, flax)
Lentils, oats, whole grains, yogurt
Oily fish (especially salmon, sardines, mackerel, tuna)
Water and herbal tea

Foods to Avoid or Minimize:

Kelp supplements, iodized salt, high doses of vitamin B, refined carbs (white sugar and flour), fried foods, animal fats, shellfish, dairy products (except yogurt), oranges, alcohol, sweet sugary drinks (including soda), chocolate, coffee and black tea.

Essential Oils:
*If additional information or precautions are available, the links below will direct you that information. If not, you will be directed to Amazon for purchasing options.

Bergamot, carrot, cedarwood, chamomile, clary sage, eucalyptus, frankincense, geranium, jasmine, juniper, lavender, lemon, lemongrass, marigold (calendula), myrrh, neroli, orange, patchouli, roman chamomile, rose, rosemary, spikenard, tea tree, vetiver, yarrow (on affected area, neck, stomach, temples).
Add a few drops of lavender, chamomile, lemon and/or marigold (calendula) to a bowl of hot water. Steam face with towel over your head.
Acne mask: mix 1/2 tablespoon green clay, 1/2 tablespoon cornflour, and 1 drop of chamomile, lavender, juniper and patchouli oils. Mix well and apply to face for 15 minutes. Rinse well.
Face lotion and/or night lotion: Dilute any combination of the above oils in almond, borage seed or evening primrose oil and apply daily.

Natural/Herbal:
*If additional information or precautions are available, the links below will direct you that information. If not, you will be directed to Amazon for purchasing options.

Agrimony, aloe, birch, burdock (root, leaf and seeds), calendula, clover, dandelion (root and leaves), echinacea, fennel (seeds), golden seal, lavender, lemon balm, marshmallow, southernwood, stinging nettle, yellow dock.
Use witch hazel as a toner.
Apply fresh aloe gel daily.
Drink 1-2 cups of burdock root tea daily.
Rub the cut side of a raw garlic clove on affected area each evening.
Juice/press 2 garlic cloves and mix with an equal amount of apple cider vinegar and apply to affected area.
Dab pimples with Listerine mouthwash.
Add finely powdered oatmeal to your normal face wash.
Make a cabbage lotion by blending cabbage leaves and distilled witch hazel in a blender/food processor to desired consistency. Apply lotion twice daily.
Make a lettuce lotion: Boil 3 cups water. Add 1/2 cup lettuce, reduce heat to low and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Drain and use cooled liquid as lotion.
Take 1 tablespoon of flaxseed oil daily (in the morning). Can take alone or in food/smoothies/etc.
Add 1 teaspoon Cream of Tartar to 8oz glass of water or orange juice (or add to smoothies). Drink once daily.

Supplements & Homeopathic:

Sulfur 6c: 3 times daily for 10-14 days (reduce as condition improves).
Hepar Sulfuris 6c: (for large boil-like pimples) 3-4 times daily for up to 10 days (reduce as condition improves).
Vitamin A (under a doctor's supervision): 25,000 - 300,000 IU/day until healed, no longer than 1 month (pregnant women should not exceed 5,000 IU/day).
Vitamin B6: 50 mg each morning.
Vitamin C: 1,000 mg twice daily (reduce if it causes diarrhea).
Zinc/ Copper: 30 mg zinc daily (add 2 mg copper daily when using zinc longer than 1 month).
Evening Primrose Oil: 500-1,000 mg 3 times daily (1,000 mg Borage Oil once a day can be substituted).
Milk Thistle: 100-300 mg daily.
Flaxseed oil: 6,000 - 7,000 mg daily (or add to your food!).
Turmeric: As directed, or add powder to food!

Mind-Body Connection:

Can represent the inability to accept/like yourself.
Blackheads can represent feelings of being dirty and unloved.

Recipes - Food Medicine:
*Note: Not all recipes are nutritionally perfect, but the options below are a great way to start incorporating beneficial foods into your diet in delicious ways. Always try to buy organic, and feel free to make substitutions to accommodate gluten-free, vegan, etc diets. Recipes naturally Vegan and Gluten-Free are marked as such (V=Vegan; GF=Gluten-Free).

Smoothies/Beverages:

Meals:

Sides & Salads:

Asian Cabbage Salad (V, GF)
Brown Rice Pilaf with Saffron and Ginger (V, GF)
Butternut Squash Risotto (V, GF)
Chinese Peanut Salad (V, GF)
Cucumber Canapes (V, GF) - Best if the Vegan & Gluten Free variations are used
Kale Salad with Sesame Dressing (V, GF)
Pesto Vegetables (V, GF)
Quinoa Salad (V, GF)
Steamed Edamame (V, GF)