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Page 57
| Herbs for Common Ailments |
| This section lists those common ailments that may require emergency treatment, as well as disorders that are self-limiting and would normally be treated at home with over-the-counter medicines. |
| In all cases, if symptoms persist for more than a couple of days or if the condition appears to worsen, seek medical help immediately. |
| Note that in general, "oil" refers to the essential oil; use of an infused oil is always specified as such. Herbal quantities in teas are for dried herbs. Refer to the specific herbs described in the previous chapter for cautions on individual herbs. Unless otherwise specified, doses should be repeated up to three times a day. |
| Acne and Blemishes |
| The characteristic pimples and blackheads of acne are all too familiar to teenagers. The cause of the problem is usually inflamed sebaceous glands, which open into the hair follicles and produce an oil secretion known as sebum. This oil helps to keep the skin soft, moist, and supple. The sebaceous glands are at their most active during puberty, and it is a time when the excess oils can block skin pores and lead to bacterial infection with pus-filled pimples, small cysts, and blackheads. Typically, acne starts in the early teens and usually disappears by the mid-twenties, although a tendency to blemishes can be a lifelong problem for some people. |
| Cutting down on the foods that might encourage sebaceous |
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