The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point
  • About this web log

    This blog ran from 2006 to 2016 and was intended as an objective and dispassionate source of information on the latest CAM research. Since my background is in pharmacy and allopathic medicine, I view all CAM as advancing through the development pipeline to eventually become integrated into mainstream medical practice. Some will succeed while others fail. But all are treated fairly here.

  • About the author

    John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.

  • Common sense considerations

    The material on this weblog is for informational purposes. It is not medical advice or counsel. Be smart, consult your health professional before using CAM.

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    Herbal treatments for acne

    Faculty members from Hamdard University in New Delhi, India have a review of Ayurveda on Medscape.

    There’s evidence that many Ayurveda medicines should be effective (ie, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties), but let’s focus on those with studies in people with acne.

    Tree oil

    • 5% tea tree oil gel was better tolerated than 5% benzoyl peroxide lotion.
    • Tea tree oil is associated with development of linear IgA disease (blistering under the skin) when applied topically.

    Aloe barbendis, Azardirachta indic, Curcuma longo, Hemidesmus indicus, Terminalia chebula, and Withania somnifera

    • The combined treatment using tablet and topical formulations showed better results than the tablet alone.
    • Tablet and cream showed better results than tablet and gel therapy.

    Clarina cream and purin tablet

    • The combination was effective for mild and moderate acne with papules and comedones.
    • Also effective for severe acne with papules and pustules.
    • No significant adverse reactions.

    Ocimum gratissimum

    • The topical preparation containing 2% ocimum oil in cetomacrogol blend base was more effective and well-tolerated vs benzoyl peroxide 10% lotion.
    • Preparations containing 5% oil produced skin irritation.

    Aloe gel

    • 2% ocimum oil in 50% aloe gel was effective acne treatment and recommended for not less then 7 days for effective treatment of acne vulgaris.
    • Adverse effects included mild, dose dependent irritation.
    • When administered with insulin or oral antidiabetic drugs, aloe gel produced additive blood sugar lowering effects.
    • Aloe probably increases skin penetration.

    The bottom line?
    Mainstream pharmacologic treatments for acne are effective. In the lab, these and many other herbals have shown antimicrobial activity against the bacteria, Propionibacterium acnes — thus, suggesting effectiveness.

    Effectiveness is expected, better tolerability is the area where improvement in acne treatment is needed

    8/11/08 21:37 JR

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