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Guide to the Best Herbal Remedies for Various Skin Conditions
Did you know that many, perhaps 75%, of all conventional medications are refinements of herbal medicines? One example of this is the isolation of morphine from opium in 1806. This was the first time that chemical methods were used to extract the active chemical constituents of an herb. The chemical processes used to isolate morphine led to the production of codeine, the widely used cough suppressant. There are countless examples of commonly used medications which come from various plant materials, some of which can often be found right in your own backyard.
Although you should always consult your physician for medical conditions before using any treatment, natural or synthetic, the purpose of this article is to inform you of the various botanically-derived remedies that may be considered for treating some of the most common skin problems. There are many advantages to using herbs rather than the drugs derived from them. A standard medication consists of one, or occasionally two, medically active chemical compounds, plus carrier compounds and a buffer. Herbs and herbal formulas usually contain at least dozens, and in many cases, hundreds, of active ingredients. The many active ingredients act on the body, and on one another, simultaneously. This serves to make the primary active ingredients of the herb more effective. It also serves to prevent the toxic reactions that can lead to side effects. Herbal remedies are more likely to correct conditions without creating additional problems.
Although there are many techniques for making herbal remedies, for the purpose of skin and hair treatments and to simplify the process for home remedy use, I recommend purchasing the herb in the form of its essential oil. Essential Oils are highly concentrated extracts of the herb and can be purchased in small dropper bottles at your local nutrition store or online. Just one drop of essential oil is often equal to 1 full ounce of the plant.
Before applying essential oil to skin or hair, you must ALWAYS dilute the oil first. A carrier (or base) is used for this purpose. The carrier can be a natural oil like olive, jojoba, apricot kernel or similar oil. You could also use your favorite unscented lotion or shampoo or conditioner as a carrier base. I often use organic aloe vera gel as a base for treating skin conditions because of the extraordinary healing benefits of the aloe vera plant. I also prefer the use of aloe vera gel because it is not oily or greasy on the skin.
A good rule of thumb for diluting the essential oil into the carrier base for the purpose of treating a skin ailment is to use about 8 to10 drops of essential oil to 1 full ounce of the carrier base. If you are using more than one type of essential oil, then divide the drops evenly to equal 8 to10 drops total of the various essential oils to 1 full ounce of the carrier base.
Below is a list of 40 herbs, each with its summary of healing benefits. Simply choose between 1 to 3 herbs to use for the particular ailment you are treating and add the appropriate number of drops to your carrier base as explained above. Stir it or shake it to blend the ingredients well and store in a tightly sealed container. Apply it to the affected area 2 to 3 times per day.
Aloe Vera:
Greatest natural source of alpha hydroxy acid. Hydrating, soothing, moisturizing and healing for all skin types. Aloe Vera has extraordinary healing properties, is anti-inflammatory and can soothe the skin and help heal cuts, grazes, burns, radiation burns and insect bites.
Angelica:
Good for dull, irritated, inflamed skin, psoriasis, and fungal infections.
Basil:
Conditions the hair and stimulates hair growth, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, anti-infectious, antibiotic, very good insect repellent and also good for acne.
Bergamot:
Good for eczema, herpes, acne, psoriasis, skin infections, cold sores, blisters, shingles, and chicken pox. Antiseptic, antibiotic, anti-spasmodic, anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory.
Burdock:
Excellent for boils, eczema and chronic skin and hair problems. Prevents body's own immune system from attacking the skin, kills streptococcus bacteria and many disease-causing fungi that infect cracked skin. Add to shampoo or conditioner as a scalp treatment to improve hair strength, shine, body, and to combat hair loss, itching and/or dandruff.
Calendula:
Excellent skin healing herb, natural anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, fungicidal. Excellent for burns, cuts, eczema, oily greasy skin, bruises, soothes skin, inflammations, insect bites, rashes, wounds, cracked dry skin, stretch marks and diaper rash.
Cedarwood:
Cleansing properties, antiseptic, anti-fungal, good for oily or blemished skin, natural astringent used in acne treatments. Relieves eczema, psoriasis, skin inflammation, dandruff, insect bites, hair loss, dry or oily hair, softens the skin.
Chamomile:
Chamomile is excellent for many types of skin conditions as well as severely infected skin. It has an anti-inflammatory effect, good for hypersensitive skin, eczema, skin rashes, acne, rosacea and allergic skin reactions. Brings out natural brightness and highlights in hair when used in a shampoo.
Chickweed:
Chickweed is excellent for sores, abscesses, skin irritations and rashes. Chickweed has an anti-inflammatory action similar to cortisone.
Cinnamon:
Good for infections, antiseptic, antibiotic, anti-fungal, warts, anti-viral
Citronella:
Insect repellent, keeps away mosquitoes, ticks, fleas and other insects.
Clary Sage:
Regenerates skin cells. Good for oily skin and hair, blemishes, mature, wrinkled or inflamed skin, acne, boils and puffy skin.
Cypress:
Natural astringent and antibiotic. Good for mature skin, oily skin and acne. Stimulates cell regeneration.
Comfrey Root:
One of the most valuable plants in both cosmetics and medicine. Regenerates aging tissues.
Eucalyptus:
Antiseptic, antibiotic, anti-fungal, anti-infectious and anti-parasitic. Regenerates skin cells. Good for insect bites and rashes.
Everlasting:
Excellent for acne, scar tissue, mature skin, stretch marks, spots, warts, old scars, dermatitis, broken veins and burns. Antibacterial properties.
Frankincense:
Good for dry, mature, aging skin, acne, scars, reduces wrinkles, balances out oily skin, healing for all skin types. Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, natural astringent.
Goldenseal:
Excellent anti-fungal with antibiotic properties that fights secondary bacterial infections.
Gotu Kola:
Good for wounds, scarring and psoriasis. Stimulates the regeneration of skin cells and underling connective tissue, beneficial effect on collagen and inhibits its excessive production in scar formation, accelerates the healing of burns and skin grafts and minimizes scarring.
Grapefruit:
Used for acne, athletes foot, tones and tightens skin, antiseptic, disinfectant, detoxifier and anti-infectious. Good astringent for oily skin and hair, aids in hair growth.
Green Tea:
Natural anti-oxidant used in cosmetics expecially to reduce the puffiness around the eyes. Also has astringent properties.
Hibiscus:
Natural source of Vitamin C and malic acid. Used by the to treat wounds, dandruff and stimulate hair growth. Has antibacterial properties.
Hyssop:
Good for acne, bruises, cuts, wounds, dermatitis, eczema, inflammations, scars, and cell regeneration.
Jasmine:
Used for sensitive, mature, aging skin and stretch marks. Beneficial for dry, greasy, irritated skin.
Lavender:
One of the most popular herbs, lavender is excellent for many skin conditions such as dermatitis, eczema, sunburn, insect bites, infections, rashes, infected hair follicles, pimples, black heads and light forms of acne. Antiseptic, analgesic, antispasmodic, tonic, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, anti-infectious, antitoxin and anti-parasitic
Lemon Balm:
Good for infections, acne, boils, warts; increases shine and growth of hair and nails, antibiotic, astringent, and antiseptic. Beneficial for oily complexions, hair and skin blemishes.
Lemongrass:
Good for infections and acne. Natural astringent, antiseptic, anti-infectious, anti-parasitic and anti-fungal. Also good for enlarged pores.
Myrrh:
Beneficial for inflamed skin, boils, athlete's foot, chapped skin, mature skin, wrinkles and ringworm.
Neroli:
Scar tissue, improves elasticity and reduces stretch marks. Good facial softener, great for overall skin care, regenerates skin cells and tones mature, dry, sensitive skin.
St. John's Wort:
Excellent antibacterial and antiviral properties for the treatment of burns, cuts, scrapes, and minor skin irritations. Also may be helpful herpes breakouts.
Palmarosa:
Good for acne, scarring, blackheads, athlete's foot, eczema and other fungal infections. Antibiotic, anti-viral, anti-infectious, antiseptic, moisturizing, regenerates skin cells, aids in regulating oil production of the skin.
Patchouli:
Natural antiseptic, anti-fungal and antibacterial. Used for dermatitis, athlete's foot, ringworm, parasites, rejuvenates skin cells, mature and dry skin, scars, eczema, inflamed, cracked skin, acne, eliminates dandruff, repels bugs, and relieves insect bites.
Ravensara:
Natural antiseptic, antiviral, antitoxin, antibiotic and anti-infectious. Beneficial for cold sores, herpes, and shingles.
Rose:
Natural astringent, anti-infectious, antiseptic, astringent, antiviral and emollient. Regenerates cells, heals radiation burns more quickly, good for scarring and for use on all skin types especially mature, dry and sensitive skin.
Rosemary:
Good for infections, acne, skin care and hair care, Natural anti-toxic and antiseptic.
Rosewood:
Anti-infectious, antibacterial, antiseptic and anti-fungal. Good for candida, acne, dry, sensitive, inflamed dermatitis, scars, wrinkles, regenerates cells.
Sandalwood:
Used for scarring, acne, dry, aged, chapped skin, soothing as an aftershave treatment, good for dry and oily hair, and increases water retention of collagen. Natural antiseptic,astringent and emollient. Encourages new cell growth.
Tea Tree:
Tea Tree is an important herb extremely beneficial to various skin conditions such as cuts, wounds, abrasions, rashes, insect bites, nail fungus, dermatitis, ringworm, thrush, head lice, boils, cold sores, acne and infections. Can protect skin during radiation treatment, reduces swelling, heals scar tissue, controls oil on the skin, and dries up pus.
Vetiver:
Beneficial for acne, cuts, mature skin, oily skin, dry skin, infections, inflammations, regenerates cells, good for sagging skin, softens and moisturizes
Witch Hazel:
Natural astringent that also tones the skin. For all skin types.
If you are interested in a 100% natural, ready-made herbal skin remedy which incorporates many of the herbs discussed in this article, you may want to consider this handmade product by Viterba Naturals called “Herbal Skin Salve”.
Author reference: http://www.viterbanaturals.com
About the Author
Natalie A. Decker, Founder and Proprietor of Viterba Naturals Holistic Beauty & Wellness Boutique
"As a student of Herbology and Aromatherapy, and as an Usui Reiki Master and Teacher for over 10 years, I have a love for everything natural and holistic.
I began to make herbal healing salves and providing Reiki Healing Sessions for friends and family several years back, and although I had no intention of turning my love into a business...such is life!
The name Viterba comes from the Italian phrase "vita del' erba" which means "Life of the herb". My parents were born in Italy and so my love for the language has carried over into the name of my company.
I look forward to having you as my lifetime client and I promise to continue to bring to you the finest natural and organic products available from around the globe."
Catharanthus Roseus Flower Extract as Natural Indicator in Acid Base Titration
CATHARANTHUS ROSEUS FLOWER EXTRACT AS NATURAL INDICATOR IN ACID BASE TITRATION
Authors: Kokil S.U.*1., Joshi D.G.2., Jadhav R.L.3
1, 2 Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry,Tatyasaheb Kore College of Pharmacy, Warananagar Tal-Panhala Dist-Kolhapur. 416113.
3 Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, GES’S Satara College of pharmacy, Satara. 415004.
* Address for correspondence:
Kokil S.U.
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry,
Tatyasaheb Kore College of Pharmacy, Warananagar,
Tal-Panhala Dist-Kolhapur.
416113.
Ph- 9422600264., 9423867464.
E-mail- sachinkokil@rediffmail.com
ABSTRACT:
Catharanthus roseus, family Apocynaceae is a large deciduous plant. The present work highlights the use of vinca flower extract as acid base indicator in different types of acid base titration. The equivalence points obtained by the fruit extract coincident with the equivalence point obtain by standard indicator. In case of weak acid and weak base titration, the results obtained by the flower extract matched with the results obtained by mixed indicator. This natural indicator is found to be a very useful, economical, simple and accurate for said titration.
KEY WORDS: Catharanthus roseus, vinca, acid base titration, natural indicator.
INTRODUCTION:
Catharanthus roseus is known as Madagascar periwinkle. This plant was formerly classified as the species Vinca rosea, Lochnera rosea and Ammocallis rosea1. This periwinkle is a perennial evergreen herb in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae) that was originally native to the island of Madagascar. It has been widely cultivated for hundreds of years and can now be found growing wild in most warm regions of the world, including the Southern U.S2-3. The plants grow one or two feet high have glossy, dark green leaves (1-2 inches long) and flowers all summer long. Horticulturists have developed varieties with colors ranging from white to hot pink to purple. The plant has historically been used to treat a wide assortment of diseases. It was used as a folk remedy for diabetes in Europe for centuries. In India, juice from the leaves was used to treat wasp stings. In Hawaii, the plant was boiled to make a poultice to stop bleeding. In China, it was used as an astringent, diuretic and coughs remedy. In Central and South America, it was used as a homemade cold remedy to ease lung congestion and inflammation and sore throats. Throughout the Caribbean, an extract from the flowers was used to make a solution to treat eye irritation and infections. The plant contains a mother lode of useful alkaloids (70 in all at last count). Some, such as catharanthine, leurosine sulphate, lochnerine, tetrahydroalstonine, vindoline and vindolinine lower blood sugar levels (thus easing the symptoms of diabetes). Others lower blood pressure, others act as hemostatics (arrest bleeding) and two others, vincristine and vinblastine, have anticancer properties. Periwinkles also contain the alkaloids reserpine and serpentine, which are powerful tranquilizers.
In the 17thcentury chemist Robert Boyle, described indicators extracted from roses and other plant materials in his book “The Experimental History of Colors” published in 16644. Boyle included the ability to turn plant juices red among the properties of acids. The possibilities listed were only a few of many. Almost any highly colored fruit or vegetable or flower petal has the potential for use as an acid base indicator. Acid-base indicators are commonly employed to mark the end of an acid-base titration or to measure the existing pH of a solution. These are substances that reveal, through characteristic color changes, the degree of acidity or basicity of solutions. Indicators are weak organic acids or bases that exist in more than one structural form (tautomers) of which at least one form is colored. Intense color is desirable so that very little indicator is needed; the indicator itself will thus not affect the acidity of the solution. Care must be used to compare colors only within the indicator range. The indicator range is the pH interval of color change of the indicator. Some are most common indicators used for beginning chemistry, because its color change is very obvious which makes it easy to use.
A pH indicator is a halochromic chemical compound that is added in small amounts to a solution so that the pH (acidity or alkalinity) of the solution can be determined easily. Hence a pH indicator is a chemical detector for hydronium ions (H3O+) (or Hydrogen ions (H+) in the Arrhenius model). Normally, the indicator causes the color of the solution to change depending on the pH5.In this study we observed the reaction of flower extract in different pH conditions and compared natural indicator to commercial indicators with measurement of pH.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Analytical grade reagents were procured from Tatyasaheb Kore College of Pharmacy, Warananagar Tal-Panhala Dist-Kolhapur.Reagents and volumetric solutions were prepared as per I.P. The flowers of vinca were collected and authenticated. The petals were separated from whole flower and used for further study. Four gm of petals were macerated for 15 min with 20 ml methanol6. After pressing the mark, filtrate was collected. By repeating same procedure with same solvent the extract was concentrated. Finally extract was filtered and used as indicator.
The experiment was carried by using the same set of glassware for all type of titrations. As the same aliquots were used for both titrations i.e. titration by using standard indicators and flower extract, the reagent were not calibrated. The equimolar titrations were performed using 10 ml of titrant with three drop of indicator. All the parameters for experiment are given in Table1. A set of five experiments was carried out and mean and standard deviation was calculated from results.
The flower extract was screened for its use as an acid base indicator in acid base titration7, and the results of this screening were compared with the result obtained by standard indicators (methyl red, phenolphthalein and mixed indicator) for strong acid strong base (HCl and NaOH), Strong acid weak base (HCl and NH4OH), weak acid strong base (CH3COOH), weak acid weak base (CH3COOH and NH4OH) titrations. The results of screening were listed in Table1.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS:
For all titrations the equivalence point obtained by the fruit extract coincident with the equivalence point obtain by standard indicator while in case of weak acid and weak base titration, the results obtained by the flower extract matched with the results obtained by standard indicator. But it is noted that the flower extract is beneficial for weak acid and weak base titration because it involves use of mixed indicator, while the fruit extract can be used alone in such titrations.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
The authors would like to thank Principal Tatyasaheb Kore College of Pharmacy, Warananagar Tal- Panhala Dist- Kolhapur for providing laboratory facilities.
REFERENCES:
1) Dobelis, Inge N. Magic and Medicine of Plants. Pleasantville, NY; 1989.
2) Heywood VH, Flowering Plants of the World. New York, NY, Oxford University
Press; 1993.
3) Simpson, Beryl B, Molly CO. Economic Botany: Plants in Our World. New York,
NY: McGraw-Hill Publishing Co; 1986.
4) www.google.com
5) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PH_indicator.
6) Wagner H, Bladt S. Plant Drug Analysis A Thin Layer Chromatography. 2 nd ed. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidenberh, munchen: Atlas ;1996.
7) Untwal LS, Kondawar MS. Indian journal of pharmaceutical sciences.2006; 68(3):399- 401.
Table1: Parameters used for experiment and the results of screening.
Sr.no Titration
(Titrant v/s titrand) Strength in M Indicator S.D. (+/-) pH Color change
1
HCl V/S NaOH
0.1 Methyl red 11.0+/- 0.15 5.15 Yellow to orange red
Flower extract 11.1+/-0.15 4.99 Greenish-yellow to colorless
0.5 Methyl red 10.2+/- 0.12 4.38 Yellow to orange red
Flower extract 10.3+/-0.17 4.94 Greenish yellow to colorless
1 Methyl red 10.0+/-0.15 5.15 Yellow to orange red
Flower extract 10.1+/-0.16 4.99 Greenish yellow to colorless
5 Methyl red 9.9+/-0.12 5.15 Yellow to orange red
Flower extract 9.9+/-0.16 4.99 Greenish yellow to colorless
2
HCl V/S NH4OH
0.1 Phenolphthalein 4.2+/-0.11 8.47 Pink to colorless
Flower extract 4.2+/-0.10 6.54 Greenish yellow to colorless
0.5 Phenolphthalein 4.7+/-0.16 8.31 Pink to colorless
Flower extract 4.7+/-0.11 5.70 Greenish yellow to colorless
1 Phenolphthalein 4.5+/-0.18 5.15 Yellow to orange red
Flower extract 4.6+/-0.09 4.99 Greenish yellow to colorless
5 Phenolphthalein 4.5+/-0.12 5.15 Yellow to orange red
Flower extract 4.5+/-0.14 4.99 Greenish yellow to colorless
3
CH3COOH V/S NaOH
0.1 Methyl red 11.1+/-0.05 8.47 Pink to colorless
Flower extract 11.1+/-0.12 6.54 Greenish yellow to colorless
0.5 Methyl red 10.8+/-0.16 8.47 Pink to colorless
Flower extract 10.7+/-0.13 6.54 Greenish yellow to colourless
1 Methyl red 10.2+/-0.12 5.15 Yellow to orange red
Flower extract 10.2+/-0.13 4.99 Greenish yellow to colorless
5 Methyl red 9.8+/-0.13 5.15 Yellow to orange red
Flower extract 9.9+/-0.02 4.99 Greenish yellow to colorless
4
CH3COOH V/S NH4OH
0.1 Mixed indicator 4.5+/-0.05 5.15 Blue green to orange
Flower extract 4.5+/-0.05 4.99 Greenish yellow to colorless
0.5 Mixed indicator 4.4+/-0.16 5.15 Blue green to orange
Flower extract 4.4+/-0.15 4.99 Greenish yellow to colorless
1 Mixed indicator 4.4+/-0.12 5.15 Blue green to orange
Flower extract 4.4+/-0.18 4.99 Greenish yellow to colorless
5 Mixed indicator 4.4+/-0.06 5.15 Blue green to orange
Flower extract 4.4+/-0.05 4.99 Greenish yellow to colorless
About the Author
