I recently came across a website advocating herbals to treat or prevent acne.
The website isn’t important, but the results of my PubMed searches might be useful.
Black currant
- A laboratory study revealed that black currant inhibited the inflammation-causing bacterium in acne, Propionibacterium acnes
- No studies in humans with acne.
Primrose oil
- No studies in humans with acne.
Teas made from echinacea, tea tree oil, goldenseal, nettles, or calendula
- Tea tree oil is available in over-the-counter acne treatments, but no studies confirm its benefit.
- A homeopathic preparation of calendula reportedly improved acne after 3 to 4 days of treatment.
- It was not possible to distinguish between the effects of calendula and the alcohol it was dissolved in.
Teas made from lavender or chamomile
- One review lists lavender as having anti-inflammatory actions.
- No studies in humans with acne.
- Caution, there’s also a report topically applied lavender acting as an allergen.
- No studies of chamomile in humans with acne.
Chinese herb: cnidium seed or honeysuckle flower
- No studies in humans with acne.
Teas made from cumin, coriander, and fennel
- No studies using this tea or its individual components to treat acne.
Beta-carotene
- No studies in humans with acne.
The bottom line?
Acne is frustrating enough without telling people to do things that have no basis in fact.
12/28/08 19:06 JR