You will find this article on our Did You Know? page also. This information bears repeating so we decided to place it here in the Blog section as well.
I can not stress enough the importance of maintaining a clean system and detoxing your body often. When a person has an affliction such as Rosacea or other skin issues, it is a direct result of internal maladies. The first and BEST way to rid yourself of acne, Rosacea, eczema and other skin issues, is to first and foremost clean up your insides. Reduce your diet to a very clean menu. Whole, raw foods as much as possible. Detox your liver often too. The following article offers a natural approach to curing Rosacea, and will benefit those with other skin afflictions as well.
Rosacea… I Need Help!
Rosacea would have to be one of the most misdiagnosed and misunderstood conditions going around at the moment. But worse than this is the distinct lack of research into this health problem. It seems as though rosacea is not considered to be a “life threatening” disease by the medical profession, so no one is really interested in studying the causes and cures for this condition. But we believe rosacea is a potentially life threatening condition, simply because it’s a strong warning sign on what’s really going on internally for someone who suffers from it!
Your Skin is Trying to Tell You Something…
The fact is the skin is the body’s largest organ and it will always reveal the true state of your body’s condition and internal health.
Think about it?
If someone is anemic (which is an internal problem) their skin will go grey or yellow (warning sign). If someone sufferers from eczema or psoriasis (both of which are internal problems not external as some still believe) their skin will break out in a rash. Even acne is primarily an internal problem because when an acne sufferer cleans up their diet and takes nutritional supplements (improves their internal health), their acne also improves. In addition, we can even look at the herpes simplex virus. This is an internal problem (the virus resides inside the body not outside) yet you get lesions and a rash on the outside.
I could go on and on here but I think you get the picture. The bottom line is this… if you fix your internal health you’ll fix your external health problem… no matter what it is!
Of course, I’m well aware that most skin experts and dermatologists are going to be laughing and saying that all this internal health stuff is a complete load of baloney, but stay with me on this and I’ll explain further…
Common Health Problems Experienced by Rosacea Sufferers…
If you suffer with rosacea then you will have poor immunity, so if there’s a cold or flu virus going around… you’ll usually be the first one to get it! You will likely have multiple food sensitivities and suffer from low energy levels. You can even have other life-threatening health problems such as high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Many rosacea sufferers are also overweight and find it very difficult to shed those unwanted pounds.
So to put it bluntly… you may be about as healthy as a dead horse!
But here’s the important thing though… these are actually all internal health problems. Your rosacea is only showing you your true state of health!
The good news though is you can easily fix all of this and cure your rosacea for good. All you need to do is follow our top 10 natural remedies for rosacea listed below. If you do, we guarantee you will see some amazing results very quickly…
Top 10 Natural Remedies and Treatments for Rosacea…
If you suffer from rosacea then there’s a high probability you’ve already tried some of the orthodox therapies out there, such as oral antibiotics and prescription creams. Although these may initially help, they do nothing to address the underlying cause and long term will actually do you more harm than good. So we believe it’s best to avoid these altogether. You may have also done some research into home remedies for rosacea already. What you will find though is a lot of topical treatments and very little internal treatments. The fact is you need a combination of both to treat, cure and bring relief to your rosacea, so here we list some of the best internal and external treatments in our order of importance…
Rosacea Natural Remedy #1… Eat Healthy (Internal): Again, all external conditions are the result of internal conditions.
If you think that you can eat crap food and still cure your rosacea then you’re living in fairy land. I’m sorry if that sounds harsh but it’s the truth. Eating “sugary” foods, refined and processed foods, fried foods and takeaway foods all the time is not only detrimental to your health, it’s detrimental to your skin! These foods contain some shocking artificial additives, along with deadly toxins and rancid fats such as trans-fats and heterocyclic amines. And these foods make your skin look absolutely horrible!
Think about this…
When you see someone who’s a junk food addict, does their skin ever look nice and healthy?
No it doesn’t does it?
It’s usually full of pimples and blackheads and looks older than it really is. The reason is simple… all of that muck and garbage from the foods their eating is trying to get out through the easiest possible exit… the skin!
So to keep your rosacea (and health) under control and in good condition, you need to eat healthy. Lots of fruits, vegetables and nuts such as almonds are highly recommended, along with drinking plenty of filtered water. And of course stay away from the toxic foods already mentioned, along with all spicy foods, corn, rice, breads, pasta, dairy, gluten foods, peanuts, alcohol and coffee. These foods are also known to make skin conditions such as rosacea much worse and contribute to those unwanted flare ups.
Note: We don’t want to sound like the party pooper here but eating healthy is very, very important. But this doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a treat every now and then. Life still has to be enjoyed! Just try and keep your “treats” to exactly that… a treat. And at least get your rosacea completely under control before you even think about doing this.
Rosacea Natural Remedy #2… Olive Leaf Extract (Internal): This is my first choice and “go to” item.
Olive leaf extract (OLE) is one of the most powerful cleansers and detoxifiers on the planet. You will definitely have a build-up of pathogens and protozoa’s (hidden viruses, worms etc) in your body so supplementing with OLE will get rid of these invaders and give your body a necessary and welcome “clean out”. The first benefit you will notice is a substantial increase in energy after only a few weeks!
Olive leaf extract also gives the immune system a super-charged boost, which is something every rosacea sufferer needs. The one thing that everyone agrees on when it comes to rosacea is that it’s an inflammation disorder. And it’s a known fact that low immunity causes inflammation, so it makes sense that boosting your immune system and getting it up to the “full” mark is going to help get rid of inflammation in the body. This is common knowledge within the health industry, which is why boosting the immune system is one of the very first things you do for other inflammation type diseases (auto-immune diseases) such as osteoarthritis and psoriasis. It could even be said that rosacea is a type of auto-immune disease.
Crooked House Herbals provides an Olive Leaf Extract in the form of a tincture. It is very strong and would be considered a “super strength” variety.
How Much Olive Leaf Extract Do You Need to Treat Rosacea?
Olive leaf extract comes in a variety of different potencies. We suggest you stick with the “super strength” varieties and avoid the cheaper brands. Make sure they contain an Oleuropein content of at least 20-25% (or 14 mg/ml). Oleuropein is the main substance in OLE that gives it its potency so stronger is definitely better! As far as dosages go, you need to take double the recommended amount listed on the bottle (before food) for the first 6 weeks, then drop back to the required amount thereafter. Olive leaf extract is very safe so there is no harm in taking extra. For some people though, they can feel a bit queasy after taking OLE so if this is you, start on the recommended dose listed on the bottle and slowly increase the amount over a period of days or weeks until you’re at the double dose. (You still drop back to the required amount after the 6 weeks is up).
Finally, you will need to take the olive leaf extract without fail every day for at least 4-6 months. This will give your body enough time to completely cleanse and detox itself. Then you can either go on a low maintenance dose (half the recommended amount on the bottle) permanently or do an on off cycle, meaning you take the OLE for 3 months then rest for 3 months then on again for 3 months then rest again for 3 months, and so forth.
Rosacea Natural Remedy #3… Apple Cider Vinegar (Internal):
ACV is a very potent internal cleanser, toxin eliminator and powerful health tonic. The king of holistic medicine, Hippocrates, regularly gave apple cider vinegar to his sick and diseased patients. In fact, ACV was one of Hippocrates all-time favorite home remedies! (And we all know the amazing work this man did). To get your internal health back up to where it needs to be (and cure your rosacea), you simply can’t go wrong with ACV.
Your Friendly Gut Flora are Vital for Treating Rosacea…
ACV also helps to recolonize the digestive system with friendly bacteria, which is very important for rosacea sufferers because most have used/or still use pharmaceuticals to treat this condition. And pharmaceuticals kill off the friendly bacteria in the gut at a rapid rate! Without enough friendly bacteria in the digestive system the bad bacteria (candida albicans) are allowed to grow and thrive and take over, which then causes problems such as thrush.
But this is not the worst of it.
Candida fungus also makes its way into the blood stream. Once there it releases toxic “candida buds” and these buds basically poison the blood and create very severe and dangerous health problems. This is why many rosacea sufferers have multiple food sensitivities. How can your body possibly digest food and nutrients with these internal shenanigans going on!
Choosing the Right ACV…
So your next course of action is to take a good quality organic ACV supplement every day. I suggest you buy a product that still contains the “mother” apple (it will have it written on the bottle). This is crucial as processed ACV doesn’t contain the mother, nor does it have anywhere near the same health benefits as unprocessed apple cider vinegar. Have 2-3 tablespoons mixed in a large glass of water 3 times a day, along with using it as a dressing in your salads. (If you find that you can’t handle the taste of the ACV then add a teaspoon of honey to sweeten, or failing that, take the tablets or capsules instead).
You can also use apple cider vinegar as a topical remedy for rosacea, but you do need to be careful. Some people report excellent results from applying ACV on their rosacea but others say it aggravates it even more so you will need to test this one out. Make sure you dilute the ACV first with some water and apply twice daily.
Rosacea Natural Remedy #4… Probiotics (Internal):
I’ve pretty much already covered the benefits of probiotics and why you need them, not just as a natural remedy for rosacea, but for your overall health as well. And one of the most common signs and a dead giveaway of candida overload (and a probiotic deficiency) is a severe lack of energy. You may even be borderline CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome). You will also suffer with digestion problems such as heartburn, reflux, foul smelling gas, bloating, and of course, poor assimilation of food and nutrients.
Best Sources of Probiotics…
Taking a good quality probiotic supplement every day is absolutely paramount. In fact, I liken it to drinking fresh water every day (yes, it really is that important!). You can also ferment foods to give yourself an extra supply of probiotics. Remember this… you can never have enough probiotics and you can never overdose on them so take in as much as you possibly can.
Rosacea Natural Remedy #5… Green Foods (Internal and External):
Wheat grass, barley grass, chlorella and spirulina are all true marvels of nature. These green foods contain some very potent antioxidants and big amounts of the essential nutrients and co-factors our bodies need every day. They also contain rich amounts of chlorophyll, the green pigment in plants. Chlorophyll is known as a “blood builder” and has a similar molecular structure to hemoglobin (the substance that carries oxygen to the body’s cells). Chlorophyll regenerates our bodies at the cellular level, where all of life is built and maintained. When you ingest chlorophyll rich foods such as the ones we’ve just mentioned, the first benefit you’ll notice is a huge boost in energy. This is a powerful sign that your body is actually starting to work properly!
Chlorophyll is also a very potent anti-inflammatory and has been shown in multiple studies to lessen inflammation in the body quite rapidly. Because rosacea is an inflammatory condition, chlorophyll helps tremendously with this condition. Another side benefit of chlorophyll is it fights off candida and promotes the growth of friendly bacteria as well.
Rosacea sufferers are also known to be deficient in the B group vitamins, especially riboflavin. In fact, a riboflavin deficiency is thought to be one of the major causes of rosacea because it’s needed for healthy capillaries and normal blood flow. Thankfully, all of these green foods are rich in B vitamins, and in particular… riboflavin!
How to Get the Most Out of Your Green Foods to Treat Rosacea Effectively…
When you take one of these supplements (or all) be sure to do so on an empty stomach for maximum benefit. Also go for the dehydrated varieties over the juiced varieties and mix 1-2 teaspoons of the powder in a glass of water and drink 2-3 times a day. Or for the capsules, follow the directions on the container. In addition, make sure you combine your green food with your probiotics for maximum benefit. Healthy bacteria need a good food source to grow and thrive and foods such as wheat grass and barley grass are perfect for them!
Note: You can also mix up a paste of wheat grass or barley grass powder (using a small amount of water) and gently rub it on your rosacea (use it like a face mask). Leave it on for 1 hour then rinse off. Many people have reported excellent results from using this home remedy and one of the big benefits is it doesn’t aggravate the skin at all like some treatments do.
Rosacea Natural Remedy #6… Colloidal Minerals (Internal):
Okay, this one is not actually a direct natural remedy for rosacea as such. But it is still very important never the less. Your body needs at least 60 minerals and trace elements every day to help cleanse, repair and regenerate itself (and this includes your skin!). The reality is there are no longer enough minerals left in our foods today so you absolutely must supplement. Liquid colloidal minerals are the best way to do this. They are highly absorbable and will complement the green food you’ll be taking every day quite nicely.
In addition to this, the trace mineral boron is probably the most important mineral for rosacea sufferers and helps to heal this condition very rapidly. The best (and cheapest) way to get your boron is with borax or boric acid powder. There are reports of great success with this treatment. One Rosacea/ Fibromyalgia sufferer reported that after having these health problems for over 10 years, they were completely cured within just 2 weeks of following the borax regimen!
Rosacea Natural Remedy #7… Vitamin D (Internal and External):
Cathelicidin is an anti-microbial peptide but has been found to actually play a role in the onset and exacerbation of rosacea. It seems that rosacea sufferers have abnormal and high levels of cathelicidin. These high levels cause an inflammatory immune response within the body, which in turn can make the skin inflamed and more vulnerable to infection. Vitamin D normalizes the effects of cathelicidin so it can help greatly with rosacea. Vitamin D is also vital for normal skin cell production and for the formation of our skins “anti-infective barrier”, making it one of the “must have” natural remedies for all rosacea sufferers.
Best Sources of Vitamin D…
The sun is still one of the best (and free) sources of vitamin D. However, rosacea sufferers are usually very sensitive to sunlight so you will need to cover up your face when out in the sun until your rosacea is completely healed and gone. You will also need to take extra vitamin D3 and cod liver oil to make sure you are getting at least 3000 IU of vitamin D just from your supplementation. Vitamin D experts agree that we need – at the very least – 3000 IU of vitamin D per day (we can take up to 10 000 IU a day in complete safety) so you need to go with their recommendations rather than the pathetically low recommended daily allowance (RDA) of 1000!
Rosacea Natural Remedy #8… Green Tea (Internal and External):
Green tea is one of nature’s true wonders and one of the best “overall” home remedies there is. The health benefits of this amazing food really are nothing short of astonishing. It has been found to prevent and cure virtually every disease and ailment in existence. And rosacea is certainly on its hit list!
Green tea contains some powerful chemicals which all possess strong anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capabilities. These benefits are one of the main reasons why green tea helps so well with rosacea, along with the amazing photo-protective properties it contains. These properties help to reduce sun sensitivity in rosacea sufferers, making them far less susceptible to ultra-violet light and therefore able to enjoy our beautiful sunshine without experiencing major pain or discomfort.
Another impressive benefit of green tea is it stops the breakdown and disruption of the body’s skin barrier (protective barrier), which is precisely what all rosacea sufferers need to preserve, along with helping to repair any damage that’s been done. This is yet another reason why green tea is such an effective natural remedy for rosacea.
How to Get Your Green Tea…
To get the most out of green tea it needs to be drank as well as rubbed onto the facial skin. To drink simply make up a pot of green tea using the fresh leafs. Consume 4-6 cups a day. For the facial skin, use a gentle face cream containing green tea several times a day, (Crooked House Herbals is working on this formula and hopes to have it ready to release by June of 2015) and make sure it contains the green tea extract polyphenone…
In a recent study by the University of California San Francisco, they found that a facial cream containing polyphenone produced a 70% improvement in rosacea compared to an inactive cream.
But if you can’t find a cream containing green tea then that’s okay. Using the cold compress method works just as well as a home remedy. With this method you steep a handful of green tea leafs or 4-6 green tea bags in 3 cups of boiled water for 20-30 minutes then refrigerate. Anytime you need a cold compress dip a clean cotton cloth into the green tea and apply to the face.
Note: Green tea contains caffeine, which can make rosacea worse for some sufferers (but not all). So we suggest you try and find a caffeine free green tea if you can and use this, just to be on the safe side.
Rosacea Natural Remedy #9… Niacinamide Cream (External):
Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3. A recent study found that it works extremely well for rosacea sufferers. Used as a topical cream, it improves the skins moisture level, improves the skin barrier and reduces skin inflammation. Look for it in any rosacea skin creams you may purchase.
Rosacea Natural Remedy #10… Oatmeal (External):
Oatmeal is probably one of the least used topical remedies for rosacea, yet it’s actually one of the best. It acts as a very powerful anti-inflammatory on the skin and also cleanses and moisturizes. It also soothes the horrible irritation and itchiness associated with rosacea. Buy colloidal oatmeal if you can and apply 2-3 times a day.
Other Home Remedies for Rosacea Worth Trying…
When it comes to external or topical treatments for rosacea, what works for one person doesn’t necessarily work for another. For instance, you may find you get excellent results from using tea tree oil with no side effects yet another person’s face will flare up like a wild fire! So you will need to experiment when it comes to topical remedies for rosacea. We’ve already given you a few of the top ones, but here are some more that you might want to consider trying (in no particular order)…
Rosacea Natural Remedy… Licorice (glycyrrhizin):
This is a popular natural remedy for rosacea. It was first used for dermatitis (and still is) and then was found to be a viable remedy for rosacea. Licorice contains glycyrrhizinic acid, a very strong anti-inflammatory. Be sure to also look for this ingredient in any rosacea creams that you may be looking to purchase.
Rosacea Natural Remedy… Rosehip Seed Oil:
Rosehip seed oil strengthens damaged capillaries and soothes and reduces redness of the skin due to its astringent qualities. It works very well on rosacea and can be bought online or from most health food stores. I recommend Mountain Rose Herbs for purity and consistency.
Rosacea Natural Remedy… Lavender:
Lavender has excellent anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, but can also be an allergen for some people so you will need to test this rosacea treatment out on your skin first. Simply wash your face and pat dry then apply a small amount of lavender essential oil and watch for any allergic reaction. If you develop any redness then discontinue with its use. If not, soak a cotton ball with the lavender and gently apply to your face. Repeat every day.
Rosacea Natural Remedy… Feverfew: This is a wonderful herb for inflammation.
The feverfew herb is primarily used as an effective anti-inflammatory treatment for severe acne. But it can also be used for rosacea. This is another one you will need to try out, at least over a period of months. It’s not a topical home remedy either. You buy the herb in capsule form to take (and follow the directions on the bottle).
Rosacea Natural Remedy… Tea Tree Oil:
This natural remedy for rosacea is actually one of the most potent antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory treatments going around. Unfortunately, tea tree oil can also come with some side effects that can make your rosacea worse so you need to use this remedy with caution. If it works for you great. If it doesn’t work or makes your skin worse, get rid of it and try something else.
Rosacea Natural Remedy… Chamomile:
This home remedy for rosacea is a terrific anti-inflammatory and skin soother. It’s also considered to be a relatively safe herb and adverse reactions are rare. To use as a natural treatment for your rosacea simply make a cold compress the same as you would for green tea. Steep a handful of pure chamomile or 3-6 chamomile tea bags in 3 cups of boiled water for 20-30 minutes then refrigerate. To cold compress dip a clean cotton cloth into the chamomile and apply to the face (or affected area). As an alternative, or in addition to this, you can also use a skin cream that contains chamomile.
Rosacea Natural Remedy… Camphor Oil:
Camphor oil needs to be used with caution as a natural remedy for rosacea. Even though it can help, it is also a known skin irritant so testing will be required. Dilute and use at concentrations of around 20-25%.
Rosacea Natural Remedy… Azelaic Acid Cream:
Azelaic acid is derived from barley, rye and wheat. In a report published in the Archives of Dermatology back in 2006 they found that Azelaic acid, made up in 20% cream and 15% gel formulations, appeared to effective in alleviating redness of the skin, along with the bumps and pimples associated with rosacea.
Rosacea Natural Remedy… Chrysanthellum Indicum:
Chrysanthellum is a topical home remedy and treatment for rosacea that’s definitely worth considering. A study done by the Academy of Dermatology and Venereology in 2005 found that a cream containing chrysanthellum was far more effective at reducing skin redness than a placebo cream. What’s more, adverse reactions were mild and were no different to what the placebo group experienced.
Rosacea Natural Remedy… Reduce Stress:
You will definitely notice during times when you’re uptight and stressed, your rosacea will be much worse and you’ll experience flare ups. This is because stress lowers your immune response, which in turn allows inflammation to develop. Stress also raises blood pressure. And you can usually spot someone with high blood pressure…. their face is all red! So if you have rosacea and elevated blood pressure, how red and inflamed do you think your face is going to be?
So there’s no easy way around this one. You absolutely must learn to control your stress levels. Meditation and yoga definitely help. Going for a nice walk in the forest or park listening to some relaxing music will also make a big difference.
Crooked House Herbals’ new formula for Rosacea will soon be available for purchase. Please try some of these herbal remedies in the meantime. Because, “Nature heals you best”.
We also have Pure Olive Leaf extract made from organic olive leave and grain alcohol.