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Page 58
| gland activityrefined carbohydrates (typically sugar and white flour), fried foods, and animal fatsis important. Sweets and chocolates also tend to aggravate the condition, as do alcohol and sweet, sugary drinks. |
| Infected pustules will generally respond to low doses of echinacea (one 200-mg capsule two to three times daily) or use echinacea creams externally. |
| Cleansing Tea for Acne |
| 2 parts stinging nettle |
| 1 part each chamomile and marigold flowers |
| Mix the herbs and use two teaspoons of the mix to a cup of boiling water. Drink a cup 3 times daily. |
| Cleansing Lotion for Acne |
| 5 drops each of tea tree, eucalyptus, and lavender oils |
| 2 tablespoons each of distilled witch hazel and water |
| Mix together and store in a clean glass bottle. Shake the bottle well before applying to affected areas night and morning with a cotton swab. |
| Another useful herb for acne, and one that can generally be found from North American suppliers, is gotu kola (Centella asiatica). Drink a tea made from 1 heaped teaspoon of the dried herb to a cup of water three times a day. |
| Externally, the classic treatment is to rub acne pustules with a cut garlic clove, an effective remedy, but not one that teenage sufferers enthusiastically embrace! Alternatively, try cabbage lotion (p. 5) or the mixture of essential oils in an astringent base given here. |
| Athlete's Foot |
| Athlete's foot (Tinea pedis) is a very common fungal infection generally affecting the space between the toes and toe nails. Depending on the infecting fungus, it can either include inflammation and itching or may simply involve scaling of the skin and general discomfort. Like all their species, the yeasts causing athlete's foot thrive in warm, damp places, so good sensible foot care (making sure the toes are well dried after bathing and that shoes are comfortable) is important. |
| Antifungal creams, such as marigold and echinacea, can help. Apply them night and morning to affected areas. Alternatively, soak |
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