Faculty members from Hamdard University in New Delhi, India have published a review on Medscape of treatment options for acne, with emphasis on herbal treatment options.

Here’s a summary of the herbal section.

Sunder Vati

• An ayurvedic formulation.
• Effective and well tolerated to treat acne vulgaris when taken by mouth.

Purin tablets and Clarina cream

• The combination was effective for mild and moderate acne with papules and comedones and for severe acne with papules and pustules.
• Well tolerated.
  • Clarina cream contains A. barbadensis, P. amydalus, A. sessilus, R. cordifolia, borax, and zinc oxide.
  • Purin tablets contain extracts of A. indica, T. cordifolia, E. ribe, C. longa, E. alba, C. fistula, A. paniculata and Triphla.

Ocimum gratissimum

• Used in many herbal formulations.
• A topical preparation of 2% ocimum oil in cetomacrogol blend base was a more effective and well-tolerated treatment of acne vulgaris than benzoyl peroxide 10% lotion in one study.
• 2% ocimum oil used with aloe vera gel have a synergistic effect against acne.

The bottom line?
The authors discuss other herbals, but these appear to be the best studied.

For more information, read the article or find an Ayurvedic physician.

4/18/08 21:36 JR