The Indian herbs Coccinia indica (ivy gourd) might help with acne. Researchers at the Institute of Population Health and Clinical Research in Bangalore, India, found that ivy gourd reduced blood sugar levels by almost 20%.
Swinging blood sugar levels are the root of many evils - including acne. By helping to control blood sugar levels ivy gourd might also help with acne. Might, I have to stress.
There is also some evidence that ginseng and aloe vera might lower blood sugar levels and therefore help with acne.
Some science speak and more info about the topic, please see:
Systematic Review of Herbs and Dietary Supplements for Glycemic Control in Diabetes
Still, before you get your hopes up and rush to the health store, I have to say the evidence for these herbs is not conclusive. Mostly short-term studies with small sample size.
Like all quick-fixes there’s no guarantee with these herbs. They may or may not help.
Still as these herbs seem to mimic insulin I would classify these as smart use of quick-fixes.
None of these herbs will permanently cure your acne, but combine with clear skin lifestyle, as I teach in Clear for Life, they might help you to get clear faster.
July 18th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
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August 4th, 2008 at 3:54 am
Including a variety of fresh (uncooked) common vergetables in the diet everyday actually does the same trick (to clear up the skin). Besides nt everyone can afford rare high-priced exotic veggies or herbs, so this method is so much more practical, nt to mention cheaper. Do be careful of the fruit servings though- there was a time when i stupidly thought 5 servings of fruit daily can clear up my skin…and you guessed it, my acne actually gt WORSE.. probably due to the high sugar content when taking too much at one go.
August 4th, 2008 at 5:12 am
Yes, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is much better way to get clear than these herbs.
About fruits. They don’t break you out. Sugar metabolism issues (like insulin resistance) does. If fruits breaks your out it most likely means you eat way too much fat.
There’s really no way to eat healthy without eating large quantities of fruits. Because if you don’t eat fruits you have to eat fats or grains to get your calories. Neither of those are healthy - especially in large quantities.
November 24th, 2008 at 12:29 am
Ok, down to business. I have been on this all Raw, 100% fruits and vegetables, low-fat diet for bout 3 1/2 weeks now. At the start of this diet, around the first and second week, i got remarkably clear (hurray!!). But… from the start of the third week i broke out (only on my left side, don’t know Y) waayyy worse than before i started the lifestyle switch (*Sigh*!). Um, any help here, like if this situation happens often? and/or/IF, it will go away, maybe then continue to re-occur off and on? I swear i didn’t flip-flop anything! (I have proudly given 100%! Just that, i don’t know if this diet will really pay off??) Hmmm
November 24th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Simon,
Congratulations! Seems to me you are well on your way to clear skin. Most people have to go through the same thing. As the body starts to heal and detox you’ll often breakout. It’s part and partial of the healing process for many people.
In fact, I get this comment so often that I wrote a blog post to answer it.
http://blog.natural-acne-solution.com/help-im-eating-a-healthy-diet-and-still-have-acne/
Those breakouts will eventually come to a stop. How long it takes nobody can say for sure. But from experience I’d say a realistic time frame is 3 to 6 months.
March 3rd, 2009 at 11:03 am
Ivy gourd is not only useful acne but for it is very effective for some chronic skin conditions like Psoriasis and Vitiligo with some othe herbs.