Americans are shelling out big bucks for expensive cosmetics to treat skin problems such as acne, wrinkles and dryness, but most consumers are overlooking the cheapest, safest and most effective remedies: healing foods. A host of healthy, natural foods offer potent healing and preventative powers to remedy a wide range of skin troubles. These foods can dramatically improve skin for a fraction of the price of costly cosmetics or dermatologist visits:

Green Tea — Green tea is rich in antioxidants that reduce inflammation and protect cell membranes. It has been proven to reduce the damage of sunburns and overexposure to ultraviolet light, which in turn reduces the risk of skin cancer. Green tea is also high in polyphenols — compounds that eliminate cancer-causing free radicals.

Recent research by scientists at the Medical College of Georgia shows that the polyphenol most abundant in green tea — EGCG — also acts as a “fountain of youth” of sorts for skin by reactivating dying skin cells. In addition to its skin-healthy properties, green tea is also high in vitamins C, D and K, as well as riboflavin, zinc, calcium, magnesium and iron.

Salmon — Salmon — along with other fatty fish, walnuts and flaxseed — is high in healthy fatty acids that are key for achieving healthy skin. Essential fatty acids such as omega-3s help keep cell membranes healthy by keeping out harmful substances as well as allowing nutrients to enter cells and exit with waste products. Omega-3s also reduce the body’s production of inflammatory agents that can damage the skin. Increasing consumption of omega-3 fatty acid-rich foods such as salmon will help keep the skin supple and youthful. A 1:1 ratio of omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3s is ideal, but the ratio in the typical American diet is more like 20:1, so boosting consumption of salmon and other oily fish can help bring that ratio closer to 1:1. Salmon is also rich in protein, potassium, selenium and vitamin B12.

Blueberries — Blueberries are considered by many experts to be the highest food source of antioxidants, which target free radicals that can wreak havoc on skin cells. The antioxidants and phytochemicals (plant sources of nutrition) in blueberries neutralize DNA-damaging free radicals, reducing cell damage. When skin cells are protected from damage and disintegration, the skin looks younger for longer. Blueberries are also an excellent source of soluble and insoluble fiber, vitamin C, manganese, vitamin E and riboflavin.

Carrots — Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A, which is a required nutrient for healthy skin. They also contain high levels of antioxidants, which prevent free radical damage of skin cells. Vitamin A is required for developing and maintaining skin cells, and a deficiency of the vitamin can cause dry skin. Carrots are also a superior source of fiber, biotin, vitamins K, C and B6, potassium and thiamine.

Water — Drinking plenty of water — at least your individual minimum intake — will help keep your skin young and healthy-looking. Water in caffeinated or sugary beverages does not count; water intake must be from pure, clean water, which rejuvenates skin cells. Water both hydrates cells and helps them move toxins out and nutrients in. Nutrition expert Liz Lipski, PhD, CCN, says when the body is properly hydrated, it sweats more efficiently, which helps keep the skin clean and clear. In addition to consuming therapeutic quantities of green tea, salmon, blueberries, carrots and water, consumers should avoid certain foods that trigger bad skin reactions. Such ingredients include sugar, white flour, saturated fats and fried foods, which are especially bad for the skin, since they can trap oil and bacteria beneath the skin, causing acne and other skin ailments.

The skin is considered the outside indicator of inside health, and putting expensive creams, lotions and treatments on the outside of the skin can’t alleviate problems that stem from inner nutritional deficiencies. Consuming the right foods and avoiding the wrong ones can reveal beautiful, youthful-looking skin without the high price tag of expensive cosmetics.

Note from Mike Adams, aka “The Health Ranger”: An important “overlay” factor on all this concerns raw foods versus cooked foods. Raw food juicing is the surest way to healthy skin, and I recommend juicing fruits, vegetables and nuts (soak them first) in a Vitamix to create superfood smoothies. People who drink raw juices on a daily basis have skin that absolutely glows. On the other hand, those who eat mostly processed, refined or cooked foods have skin that ages rapidly. So be sure to include raw food smoothies in your diet on a daily basis if you want great looking skin!

Yes, if you:
Smoke
Are regularly exposed to environmental toxins
Drink less than a litre of water daily
Drink soda pop, coffee or alcohol
Eat processed foods such as white flour baked goods and candy
Crave junk food
Are tired, constipated, bloated and lack focus
Have sticky or malodorous bowel movements
Have pasty skin or dark circles under your eyes
Have blood sugar problems
Have unstable emotions
Have unsatisfactory libido or sleep
Are over or under-weight
Use prescription or recreational drugs regularly

If you peruse natural health news, you certainly have read the word “detox” lately.  You may have heard about how “body burden” of unnatural chemicals is higher than ever before. Industrial run-off into our rivers, pharmaceutical pollution flushed down toilets, burning fossil fuels belching into the air, fake food, plastic everywhere — all of this and more comprises an enormous burden for our internal self-cleansing systems.

The amazing human body has several mechanisms by which to rid itself of non-nutrients which come in daily through our nose and mouth.We process food across the entire mucous membrane from the mouth to the rectum.  The enzymes in our saliva, the all-important stomach acid, the pancreatic enzymes, and the bile from the liver all prepare our food for digestion then absorption into the bloodstream.  Elements of our meals which are deemed unsatisfactory for absorption will be eliminated, via the large intestine.  In case you haven’t heard: pooping at least once daily is crucial to optimal health.  It is unhealthy to allow waste products to linger in the colon. Once in the bloodstream, we have several other methods of screening for “toxins” which is defined as anything our cells can’t use for energy.  As the blood passes through the kidneys, they are “strained” by hundreds of super fine sieves.  Of important job of the kidneys is to remove nitrogen from the blood, which we pee out as ammonia. The lymphatic system, which has a vast network traveling alongside the blood vessels all over the body, also picks up “goop” in the blood and funnels it to the “master” lymph node, called the cisterna chyle, which is located between the heart and the left kidney.  From there, the lymphatic fluid passes into the renal system (kidneys). Last, but not least, the skin is a large and important organ of elimination embedded with sweat glands.  Ideally, strenuous exercise would induce free-flowing and non-odorous perspiration.  Smelly sweat and drenching sweats at rest are signs of elimination difficulties.

Other signs of toxic congestion (and therefore need for “detox”) include constipation, bad breath, irritable skin, fatigue after eating, poor sleep quality and moodiness. A body which eliminates properly will stay healthy.  It’s as simple as that.  I approach “detox” with my patients as an opportunity to change bad dietary habits, and to become enamored of feeling great.  The first order of business is to open the “emunctories” which is an old naturopathic word meaning the portals of elimination.

Start with the skin: I encourage everyone to take up the habit of dry skin brushing every morning.  This is a marvelous “bath” which removes the outer layer of dead skin and not only cleanses but invigorates.  Brush the entire body, fairly firmly, except the face, always towards the heart.  See the sidebar for a more detailed description.

Next, the renal system:  during cleansing it is advisable to drink lots of water.  Pure water is the very best drink.  I don’t agree with the idea of alcohol being “therapeutic”.  It is toxic to the heart, liver and kidneys.  Sure, it will help some folks relax — but there are better ways to relax!  And if you are after the deep pigments of red wine, for example, you can take resveratrol in capsule form or simply eat lots of deeply colored fruits and vegetables.

Do whatever it takes to enjoy the daily poop.  Three times a day, after each meal, is ideal, but many of us just can’t make time for that.  I like using a stool, or “Welles step”, under my feet while at the toilet because it helps simulate a squatting position, which is how we were designed to poop. Cold stewed prunes (just put some prunes and water in a small covered jar and keep in the fridge) or 500 mg of Magnesium at bedtime are simple, non-addictive laxatives.  Avoid cascara sagrada — it is too harsh.  Digestive aides such as fennel seed, ginger root and mint leaves, in teas or whole form, can help improve digestion and elimination.

I advise my patients to avoid cleansing or fasting during cold weather, when we are directing energy towards staying warm..

It’s a good idea to cleanse or fast with at least one “buddy” if possible — so you can cheer each other and help maintain your mutual commitment to optimal health.  I advise against advertising to all your friends and family that you are undertaking a cleansing project because they might not all be supportive.  If they ask, you can tell.  Figure out a good time and how much time you can commit.  Remember, this is not a crash diet.  It’s a chance to open the emunctories, enjoy some deep internal cleansing, and explore the possibility of healthy eating and healthy living every day for the rest of your life.  The most important part of detox is coming off the program.  Your stomach will be smaller and your internal organs more sensitive to “junk.”

Please go slowly in the week after a detox program.  Do not plan or attend a gastronomic extravaganza soon after cleansing.

Three Day Plan
This is an all-fresh fruit cleanse.  Fruits are high in water, fiber and slow-releasing sugars.  They are tasty!  Neither juice nor dried fruit is allowed — too concentrated.  Eat whatever fruits appeal to you, one serving every two hours while awake.  A serving means 1 large or 2 small apples, 6 apricots, 1 medium banana, 1-2 cups berries, cherries or grapes, 2 oranges or nectarines, 1 cup of pineapple, 1 large pear, 2 kiwis, 3 plums or tomatoes, 2 cups of cubed melon.  Mix it up!  Eat only fruit.  For a complete description see “Fruit Flush” by Jay Robb.

Seven Day Plan
This involves 2 days of preparation, 3 days of “fasting” and 2 more days of slowly re-introducing your regular (but hopefully transformed) diet.  During the first 2 days, eat only raw food: mixed salads, fruit, steamed veggies.  Drink plenty of water between fruit or veggie meals.  Avoid juices.  However, during the 3 “fasting” days you will drink diluted juices and broths and tea and plenty of water.  No solid food because the idea is to give the digestive system a rest.  Sip on fluids all day long.  Fresh juices are best.  Green drinks or protein powders are fine.  The last 2 days are like the first 2: raw fruits and veggies only.  I recommend fruit only in the morning and veggies after noon.  For a complete description, see “Prescription for Nutritional Healing” by James and Phyllis Balch.

Fourteen Day Plan
This allows 3 days of preparation with raw food only, and also using a bulking drink (1 T psyllium husk or other fiber such as ground flax seeds, mixed with water) three times daily, ½ hour before eating.  Next follows 5 days of liquid only: broths, fresh juices, tea, water.  You should be able to go to work and do your normal day, you will have good energy, but don’t plan extra activities.  Allow for more rest in your schedule.  If no stool is produced during the liquid-only days, an enema is strongly recommended.  Colonics are fine too if you are squeamish about giving yourself the treatment!  The last 6 days are the most important.  You will SLOWLY re-introduce foods one day at a time.  For a complete description of this plan see “The Fasting Diet” by Dr. Steven Bailey.

Twenty Day Plan
This is a slightly longer but less rigorous cleansing plan.  The rules are simply to eat foods high in beta-carotene (sweet potato, carrots, spinach, cantaloupe, pumpkin, kale, winter squash) and high in Vitamin C (citrus fruits, broccoli, strawberries, tomatoes, melons, potatoes, bell peppers, Brussels sprouts, cabbage) for 20 days.  Additionally you will drink plenty of water between meals and snacks.  You are allowed to eat anything in moderation except for the following:
Wheat and other gluten-containing grains        
Milk and dairy products        
Eggs, meats or farmed fish        
Sugar        
Artificial sweeteners        
Alcohol        
Caffeine        
Soft drinks        
Foods containing artificial flavorings, colorants or preservatives        
High-fat foods        
Salty foods

The idea is, you will feel so good after this program that you’ll decide to eat this way for the rest of your life!  For a complete description see “The 20-Day Rejuvenation Diet Program” by Dr. Jeffrey Bland.
Detox Super-Tool:

Skin Brushing

Brushing your skin with a long handled dry skin brush (I like Bass or Yerba Prima brushes) each morning before or instead of showering is the finest “bath” your body could ask for.  Nearly 80% of ordinary household dust is shed skin cells from the outermost layer, a completely natural process.  Brush in long firm strokes towards the heart.  I start standing next to a chair or bathtub so I can put one foot up at a time.  Brush firmly under the sole of the foot then up and all around the leg.  Repeat on the other foot and leg.  Then gently brush the hips and buttocks, which should turn a bit pink.  Brush the hands and up the arms.  Stroke the belly in a clockwise direction (to follow the flow of the colon) and up the side ribs.  Brush up under the breasts (and, ladies, be aware of the consistency of your breasts as you do this).  Brush under the chin and down the top ribs, then reach behind with the long handle and scrub the back as thoroughly as possible.  Don’t forget the shoulders.  You may want to get a small soft brush for your face.  This feels absolutely divine and is marvelous for your skin.
Detox Reactions

When you give your body a rest from the daily onslaught of processed food, elimination begins to progress immediately.  This can “stir up” toxins that have been stored in the colon or in fat cells and create a variety of reactions such as depression, headaches and fatigue.  Your skin may break out as toxins are eliminated.  Here are several ideas that can help:

1) drink more water to flush toxins through the kidneys more quickly

2) increase Vit C to up to 10 grams for tissue repair and to hasten the ridding of toxins

3) use bentonite (clay) baths to pull toxins out through the skin.  These baths may be taken twice daily: use ½  cup liquid clay in a tub of warm (not hot) water and soak for 20 minutes

4) eat steamed organic beets, which will turn your stool deep purplish.

The modern use of milk thistle extract began in 1949 when animal studies showed that it could protect the liver against carbon tetrachloride poisoning.  Since then over 100 clinical trials have been performed on this miraculous medicine and it is carried in the Emergency Department pharmacies of most major European hospitals.  Milk thistle has successfully saved lives by reversing acetaminophen (Tylenol) and Amanita mushroom (one of the most deadly) poisoning. 

Milk thistle is thought to work in three main ways: first as an antioxidant, “quenching” free radicals created from poisoning or environmental pollution.  Folks living in a smoggy area are well advised to take 600-750 mg daily of standardized milk thistle.  The best quality milk thistle is standardized to contain 70% by weight of the major ingredient silybin.  The other mechanisms of action are by protecting the cell membranes (most studied in liver cells) and by stimulating production of new liver cells (hepatocytes).

While the most prevalent uses of this potent plant medicine are for liver diseases (including all type of hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and liver toxicity) milk thistle is also useful as a venous tonic (protects and strengthens weak veins), including, for example, reducing bleeding tendency in folks with thin gums or nasal passage mucous membranes.  

If your gums bleed when you brush your teeth, you may need more Vitamin C, and folic acid (1000 mcg daily) and CoQ10 (100-200 mg daily), but milk thistle will also help.  For nose bleeds, have your doctor check if you have an open blood vessel that needs cauterization (very easy and quick fix); otherwise extra Vitamin A (25,000 IUs daily) plus milk thistle may help reduce the sensitivity of nasal mucous membranes. 

Milk thistle is also helpful to promote circulation, particularly in the pelvis, so would be good for many aspects of PMS (cravings, bloating, irritability).  Because one of milk thistle’s actions is “anti-fibrotic” it can help to improve blood flow through fibrous tissue, such as in fibrocystic breasts.  It is important to remember that fibrocystic (lumpy) breasts are completely normal — almost all women have them.  This does not put you at higher risk for breast disease or breast cancer.  However, fibrous breasts may be more tender premenstrually.  Vitamin E also helps with PMS breast tenderness.  

Milk thistle is especially useful to women because it can reduce or prevent organ prolapse after childbirth.  Milk thistle also stimulates breast milk production (along with goat’s beard, fennel and hops).  Milk thistle is well tolerated and very safe, with no known contraindications.  It may produce darker or slightly looser stools, since it stimulates the flow of bile in the liver.  Furthermore, many chronic skin disorders are due to suboptimal liver clearance of toxins, “bad” fats and excess hormones. 

Milk thistle is often key to resolving pesky skin problems ranging from acne to eczema to psoriasis.

One the most important uses of milk thistle in my office is to support patients going through chemotherapy.  While chemo can save lives, it is very toxic and can permanently damage heart, kidneys, brain, bone marrow and the liver.  Using milk thistle during and after chemo is not thought to undermine the effectiveness of the chemo drugs, and has been shown to reduce likelihood of permanent organ damage

References:
Ogletree RL and Fischer RG “Physician’s and Pharmacists’s Guide to the Top 10 Scientifically Proven Natural Products”, Natural Source Digest, 1997

Tilgner S “Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth”, Wise Acres Press, 1999

Oregano loves hot dry weather and grows well at high altitudes also. The active ingredients, found in the leaves, are the volatile oils thymol and carvacol. These oils have a complex, strong, and pleasant odor. Oregano is often thought of as a “pizza” herb.

The medicinal qualities of oregano fall into two major categories: bronchial dilation and anti-microbial activity. Many volatile oils will help to clear congested sinuses or even a chest cold. You could drop a few drops of the concentrated oil into the bottom of a large bowl, put in a few cups of hot water and situate yourself over the bowl, under a large towel, so you can breathe in the “fumes” of the oil coming up in the steam. Be very careful never to put concentrated volatile oils, and this certainly includes oregano, directly against mucus membranes (inside of nose, mouth, vagina and especially not in the eyes). You could also make an oregano tea (1 tsp dried leaves to 2 cups piping hot water; allow to steep 5 minutes or more before drinking) which will probably require some mild sweetening. Stevia, licorice extract or raw honey are good choices.

Oregano is a very potent anti-fungal. In my clinical experience, oregano is much more effective at combating mold and yeast overgrowth than Tea tree (Melalucca). For example, if you have moldy car carpets, or mold around the edges of your shower or bathroom window, spray these areas with thyme oil (put a small amount in a small spray bottle – dilute with a bit of water to create enough volume to make the sprayer work) then wipe up with a clean towel. That yucky black mold will come right up, make your car (or bathroom) smell great, and keep the mold away for months!

For chronic candidiasis, my current protocol (which has worked reliably for nearly 10 years now) involves Oregano. First, most patients need tightening up of the gut cells (enterocytes) which have lost their integrity and tight junctions over years, usually due to injudicious dietary choices, leading to chronic inflammation and inadequate elimination of waste matter. A bad case of candidiasis is when overgrowth of this normal gut flora “leaks” into the blood stream through the damaged mucus membranes of the gastrointestinal tract. Candida albicans, and about a dozen other “bugs” (both bacteria and fungal species) are supposed to live in the gut, distributed in specific regions according to optimal gut pH (acid-alkaline balance), to help with digestion and absorption of micro-nutrients (glucose, essential fatty acids and amino acids). Often, however, the optimal environment of the gut gets thrown off by too much sugar, not enough water, too much food in general, greasy food, and yes, donuts are absolutely horrible food. When the gut environment is chronically compromised, the bugs can go haywire. Sometimes the good bacteria can’t survive, and this allows the fungal organisms (such as Candida albicans) to proliferate. That’s what happens when you take antibiotics – all the gut bacteria, good, bad and indifferent, are blasted, allowing the fungal species to rise up and create further imbalance.

So, the enterocytes need to be “tightened up” first, and I like to use tannins for this job. Tannins are high in black tea and other astringent foods. Next, when the risk of Candida die-off getting into the bloodstream is minimized, I apply the anti-fungal. That’s where Oregano comes in. I prescribe gel-caps of Oregano (sometimes along with Thyme or Lavendar volatile oils as well, in a mixture) for at least 3 weeks, until rectal itching, ear canal itching, under-the-breasts itching, spaciness, and sugar cravings resolve.

Finally, to finish up the treatment for Candida overgrowth, I’ll give excellent probiotics for 2-4 weeks. I generally advise patients to take a month a year to “repopulate” their gastrointestinal tract with the healthy bugs that belong in the intestines (probiotics) since we are chronically exposed to chemicals and pollutants that compromise the delicate balance of symbiotic organisms that live on and inside us.

Oregano has also emerged as a very effective non-resistant anti-bacterial. There have been studies published recently about the use of Oregano oil in a topical salve effectively healing MRSA infections. MRSA (methycillin resistant staph aureus) is a huge problem in hospitals, and also in communities through the US, as antibiotic resistance becomes more common. J Med Microbiol. 2007; 56(Pt 4):519-23 Typically these “super bugs” are not just resistant to methycillin, to but all penecillin type antibiotics. You or your pharmacist can put some volatile oil of oregano in some kind of plain hand lotion, a 2 or 3% compound would probably suffice, for placing directly on the skin over MRSA infections, as long as the skin is not broken, which requires immediate medical attention.

Simple, inexpensive ($2.44) shoes for the beach would seem to have mass appeal. Unfortunately, what they have caused is mass peeling because of an as yet unidentified chemical reaction between human skin (maybe sun screen?) and the chemical composition of the sandal. The area of irritation on the tops of the feet, which you can view in the pictures below, corresponds exactly to the thong portion of the plastic sandal.  Clearly the chemical burns are linked to wearing the sandals.

Since September of this year, Walmart has reportedly sold “over a million” of these colorful plastic
Sand ‘N Sun sandals, which has been supposedly now recalled because they have burned the skin (first and second degree burns) on the feet of at least a dozen consumers.  The flip-flops were made in China.

One shopper recently reported that she presented the sandals at a Midwest location Walmart check-out register and the scanner didn’t recognize the code because the flip-flops had been recalled.  Nevertheless, the helpful cashier over-rode the blocked sale, and one more pair of nasty Chinese sandals went home with an unsuspecting consumer.  Why are these plastic sandals still even in the stores?

A Walmart representative, when questioned about this fiasco, asserted that “consumer safety is our utmost concern.”  However, there has already been a major flap this year about Chinese-made Walmart goods: not only the date-rape drug in children’s beading kits, but also toys painted with lead-laced dyes.

This is not an urban legend. Snopes has verified this report: (http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/flipflop.asp)

To view some of the feet that have been burned, here is a website that was launched in September, and which has received over 140 emails and photos from Walmart consumers similarly burned (http://www.lamanaphotography.com/walmart6.htm)

This website was launched in September by Kerry Stiles of Ocklawaha, Florida, in order to “help Walmart keep track of folks injured by their sandals.”  Walmart has asserted that it will test the flip-flops to try to determine what chemicals are responsible for the caustic irritation.  As yet, no results of such testing have been publicly announced.  Meanwhile, Ms. Stiles says she is mounting a class-action suit against Walmart.  She claims that her own feet are still “raw and tender” two full months after wearing the Sand ‘N Sun sandals twice, each time for only 10 minutes.

 (http://news.independent.co.uk/health/article3104663.

Scientists in England have discovered a new and highly effective weapon against deadly superbugs like the MRSA sweeping through dirty hospital wards – green French muck.

The dramatic antibiotic success of agricur, a clay made from ancient volcanic ash found in the mountains of central France, marks it out as a potential rival to penicillin, the wonder drug of the 20th century. In experiments, the clay killed up to 99 per cent of superbug colonies within 24 hours. Control samples of MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) grew 45-fold in the same period.

The clay has a similar effect on other deadly bacteria tested, including salmonella, E. coli, and a flesh-eating disease called buruli, a relative of leprosy which disfigures children across central and western Africa. Buruli has been classed as “an emerging public health threat” by the World Health Organization (WHO).

MRSA is also a growing concern. Since the early 1990s, deaths in the UK have risen sharply from fewer than 100 annually to more than 1,600 in 2005.  The Government recently announced new measures to deep clean all hospital wards in an attempt to cut the number of infections.  US annual deaths from MRSA recently surpassed AIDS deaths – 18,700 people died from this aggressive bacterial infection in 2005.  (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5220692.html)

Many other bacteria have also developed resistance to medicine’s arsenal of antibiotics, largely because patients stop using prescribed drugs when they begin to feel better rather than finishing their course of treatment, allowing the hardiest bugs to survive and spread. Some bacteria are now resistant to a spectrum of drugs. As a result, the developed world is starting to see the return of diseases, such as tuberculosis, that had been all but wiped out a few decades ago.

Scientists have been searching for new antibiotics to replace penicillin, methicillin and their relatives but until now have had only limited success. Agricur’s discovery could lead to a whole class of antibiotics to which bugs such as MRSA have no resistance, according to scientists.

Dr. Lynda Williams and Dr. Shelley Haydel of Arizona State University presented the results of their research on agricur and other clays to the Geological Society of America’s annual meeting in Denver last on October 28, 2007.

“We have found several antibacterial clays,” said Dr. Williams, a mineralogist who is trying to work out the chemicals that make them special. “We have multiple working hypotheses. Our primary hypothesis is that the clay minerals transfer elements, not yet identified, to the bacteria that impede their metabolic function.

“It is entirely possible that it is not one single element that is toxic to the bacteria, but a combination of elements and chemical conditions that attack the bacteria from different angles so as to overwhelm their defence systems,” she said.

Another possibility, less likely but potentially more significant, is that the clays work through a physical rather than a biochemical process. In that case, bacteria might never develop resistance.

Clay has long been used as a health treatment in spas, but that is because it holds heat longer than water, and draws toxins out of the skin. Clay is also sometimes eaten as a folk remedy for nausea. “It’s fascinating,” said Dr. Haydel, a microbiologist. “Here we are bridging geology, microbiology, cell biology. A year ago, I’d look at the clay and say, ‘Well, that’s dirt.’”

The effectiveness of the French green clays, which are mostly made of minerals called smectite and illite, was first demonstrated by Line Brunet de Courssou, a French doctor fighting buruli at clinics in Ivory Coast and Guinea.

When she approached the WHO in 2002 with 50 case studies showing how the flesh-eating disease had been halted by her clay poultices, the organisation described her work as “impressive” but denied her funding because of a lack of scientific evidence. After de Courssou’s death, her son, Thierry, went looking on the internet for scientists willing to test Agricur and found Dr. Williams, who has specialized in the study of clay.

If human trials prove successful, it could save thousands of lives a year.

Prior to the 20th century, fragrance was made from natural ingredients derived from plants and animals. After World War II a chemical revolution occurred and synthetic fragrance bloomed. Natural fragrances are more expensive and more elusive than synthetic ones, and were quickly replaced. How does one capture the scent of ‘morning dew,’ after all, without some laboratory wizardry? The National Academy of Sciences reports that 95 percent of the chemicals used in fragrances today are petroleum-based synthetic compounds, including known toxins capable of causing cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders and allergic reactions. So while our brain is registering ‘lavender’ our bodies are absorbing petroleum—isn’t that a nifty little trick?! Manufacturers are only required to print “fragrance” on the label—it’s their free pass to tuck in some secret ingredients. As well, a product marked “unscented” might contain a masking fragrance, it must be marked “without perfume” or “fragrance free” to indicate no fragrance has been added. Since fragrance is anonymous on most labels, the best thing to do is to buy soap made from responsible manufacturers. Check out the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics for a list of companies that have signed a compact pledging not to use hazardous chemicals in their products.

Sodium Laurel Sulfate

SLS is used not only for products to clean hands and body, but in products used to clean garage floors, greasy auto engines, and for carwash soaps as well. Also regulated as a pesticide, SLS is a suspected gastrointestinal and liver toxicant, and according to the National Toxicology Program it has shown moderate reproductive effects in experiments. SLS is not a recognized carcinogen. However, the chemical is frequently combined with other substances can cause the formation of the carcinogenic substances nitrosames. SLS is the predominant chemical used for clinical testing as a skin irritant – that is, they use it to hurt the skin to test healing solutions.

Triclosan
In the United States, 75 percent of liquid soaps and nearly 30 percent of bar soaps are antibacterial. The main ingredient used to make a product antibacterial is triclosan—a chlorophenol compound from a class of chemicals that is suspected of causing cancer in humans. The structure of triclosan is similar to that of some very poisonous chemicals such as dioxins and PCBs, and has been shown to both depress the central nervous system and be hypothermic. The EPA claims triclosan can be a risk to both human health and the environments. The EPA has registered triclosan as a pesticide. (And last time I checked, my hands weren’t infested with insects.) But let’s face it, we are a highly germophobic country. Perhaps we suffer from a collective unconscious memory of the Black Plague—or maybe we just believe the ads and think that using antibacterial soap really will keep those insufferable cold germs at bay. Yet more than one study has shown that antibacterial soaps are not significantly more effective at combating germs than regular soaps. Cleanliness is incredibly important—and plain old soap wages an admirably potent fight against germs. More than just ineffective, these products are dangerous—triclosan has been linked to a variety of health and environmental problems. When washed down residential drains (as 95 percent of it is) it is delivered to streams and rivers, where it destroys aquatic ecosystems by killing beneficial bacteria in soild and waterways. (Antimicrobials can’t differentiate between good and bad bacteria.) Triclosan is persistent in the environment– and has now even been found in 3 out of 5 women’s breast milk. So as it turns out, the superhero antibacterial soap is actually bad for you, bad for the environment, and potentially bad for the population as a whole. Laboratory evidence suggests that if the widespread use of anti-bacterial soap continues, stronger strains of bacteria can emerge — and we could be introduced to antibiotic-resistant super germs. In fact, the World Health Organization has launched a global campaign against the overuse of antimicrobials. By trying to avoid a cold, we could be faced with something much worse. On that note, let’s follow Cleopatra’s lead and cleanse with natural, luxurious ingredients. In addition to being all-around healthier products, makers of natural soaps do not remove the glycerine (as is done with many commercial soaps), resulting in a much gentler and less drying soap.

“So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.”
~ Christopher Reeve

Top Four Treatment Approaches for Acne

1. Clean Up Your Diet To Improve Bowel And Liver Function
   We all know that fatty foods are implicated in pimples – so make your best effort to completely eliminate pizza, fries and dairy products from your diet. What is less well known is the negative effect on the skin (and your health in general) from eating processed carbohydrates (candy, soda, commercial baked goods). Many dermatologists have noted insulin seems to help acne, which suggests that high refined carbohydrate diets contribute to the problem. People in a variety of cultures all over the world who eat only what they hunt or grow rarely have acne. While you are cleaning up your diet, you could increase the benefits by using a cleansing or detox program. Get a colonic 3-4 times yearly, and drink 16 ounces of liquid acidophilus right afterwards. Increase your daily consumption of green leafy vegetables. Use papaya enzymes to improve your digestion. Your digestive tract contains much of the highly active immune tissue in the body: Eating right and eliminating toxins daily will help not only your face, but your energy and well-being for the rest of your life. Figure out what it takes (vigorous exercise, prune juice, more water, ground flax seeds, etc.) to have a complete, easy-to-pass bowel movement at least once daily. Work with a nutritionally-oriented health care provider to sort out possible food allergens.

2. Take Healing Vitamins
   High-dose Vitamin A is the most important. The prescription variety (Retinol) can damage your liver. Even natural Vitamin A, in high doses, can pose risks, it can be very effective in treating acne. It is imperative for women using high dose Vitamin A therapy to avoid pregnancy because of possible fetal malformation. Also, be forewarned that high dose Vitamin A will probably cause drying of lips and skin, and should not be used for longer than 3 continuous months. A recommended dose is 100,000 IUs daily for 4 weeks, then 75,000 IUs daily for 2-4 weeks, then 50,000 IUs daily for 2-4 weeks. This therapy works by reducing the fat (sebum) build-up in the pores. Another important fat-soluble vitamin for the skin is Vitamin D. Think of it as liquid sunshine. Acne is typically worse in the winter, and tends to be more severe in climates with lower levels of UV light. Sunburns are certainly not good for your skin, but lots of fresh air and a light tan from daily sun exposure generally improves the complexion. For those of you who live in climates with low or variable amounts of sunshine, or who have photosensitive skin, you can get Vitamin D in a bottle – good old Cod Liver Oil. Several companies make very tasty varieties (lemon/lime, orange, and even peach flavored). One teaspoon of Cod Liver Oil usually provides the requisite 400 IUs of Vitamin D daily. Cod Liver Oil is also an excellent source of Vitamin A. The importance of Vitamin C, as usual, cannot be overstated. It is the single most important agent in connective tissue healing, which includes skin repair. Use at least 2 grams of Vitamin C daily, ideally in a powdered form. All the B vitamins, including folic acid, help with both skin and nerve function, but niacin (Vitamin B3), applied topically, may be the most important of the B’s for treating acne. This is a new therapy, and probably works by enhancing local breakdown of androgens. Your local pharmacist should be able to provide niacin or niacinamide in a gel or spray form, which is applied after cleansing, twice daily until your skin improves.

3. Take Healing Minerals
   Zinc is a co-factor in more than 75% of repair systems in the body. Use 50 mg twice daily or until the zinc tastes really metallic – a sign that your body has plenty of zinc on-board. Sulfur is a potent natural anti-microbial, and the main reason that garlic and onions are useful foods in speeding the healing of flus or infections. They are naturally high in sulfur compounds. Unless you are sensitive to sulfur (for example to the “sulfa” class of antibiotics), this bright yellow mineral may be an important adjunct to your skin healing routine. Look for a skin care multi that contains sulfur. I particularly like PhytoPharmica brand “Nature Derm” that provides 200 mg sulfur daily. Chromium (to stabilize blood sugar, which will help keep you out of the cookie jar), 200 mcg daily, and Selenium 200-400 mg daily, are two other important trace minerals, critical for optimum immune function.

4. Try To Avoid Harsh Chemicals Or Abrasive Scrubbing Agents On Your Skin
   Minimize make-up, especially foundations. If possible, wash your face with water only: start with a warm washcloth, then splash with briskly cold water. You can close up your pores with a natural skin toner made with lemon/lime or rosewater. Aloe gel is nice if the skin feels hot or raw. For deep cleansing and rehydration consider an application of a beaten raw egg yolk. Leave on for 15 minutes before rinsing with water only. Occasionally you could use an over-the-counter benzyl peroxide product to “dry up” zits overnight. Be cautious about over-doing topical applications, however. It bears repeating that washing the face with water only is best, but if that doesn’t feel clean enough, use a gentle exfoliant (something oatmeal based is gentler than fruit seeds or fruit acids) followed by a light toner. Avoid soap because it is too drying for the skin.

Selected References

• “Is Acne Fed by the Western Diet?” Archives of Dermatology. Dec 19.2002, Cordain and Berson.
• Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, Murray and Pizzorno. Acne chapter.
• Archived discussions on acne: Clinical Support Network (CSN)
• Naturally Clear Skin Care Acne Control Treatments (or call 1-888-24-CLEAR) for topical niacin spray.

A typical course of treatment consists of eight visits to the dermatologist or salon over a period of four weeks. Most people sustain a 70% or greater improvement after a course of treatment, which continues for up to 8 months. Maintenance programs using the ideas in this article can help the skin stay clear for even longer.

The Lumenis company says these treatments offer an alternative to antibiotic treatment. About 40% of acne is estimated to be antibiotic resistant. To find practitioners closest to your area, go to the “Skin and Health” web site’s Find a Practitioner page, choose your appropriate search area (inside or outside the United States), then select “acne” where the form asks for “Application of Interest.”

Both the top layer of skin and the underlying fatty layer are constructed mostly of fats. Besides eating “good” fats to preserve skin integrity, use plenty of Vitamin C. Good old Vitamin C is the primary nutrient in connective tissue repair. Skin is the largest and thinnest connective tissue “organ” of the body, and uses a high percentage of the available Vitamin C for upkeep and repair. Vitamin C is very safe in doses high enough to cause loose stools; at that point you’re wasting nutrients, so cut back to a dose that normalizes the stool. This is called taking Vitamin C “to bowel tolerance.” Fats would be ideally from fresh baked, broiled or steamed fish, or plant sources such as olive, flax and safflower. Avoid margarine, fatty meats including “lunch meats” and Canola oil. Avoid mass-produced baked goods, which tend to use poor quality fats (like Crisco or margarine).

The best approach to stretch marks is, of course, prevention. Keep in mind that skin quality is at least 50 percent genetics, and some women are more prone to stretch marks just because of hard-wired information inherited from parents and grandparents. If your family history points to a greater possibility for stretch marks (during pregnancy, for example), you should apply the prevention tactics described below as faithfully as possible.

As with all preventive approaches to optimal health, good food (organic if possible) is critical. Minimize red meat and other saturated fats, avoid caffeine and excessive alcohol, get lots of greens and fresh fruits, plenty of pure water, and of course, regular moderate exercise. Balancing work with play is essential. Don’t forget sleep: America’s most ignored vital nutrient. Please don’t skimp on sleep.

Skin Brushing

Daily brushing of the entire skin surface (except the face) with a stiff, dry, skin brush is a Scandinavian beauty secret. Skin brushing takes off the top layer of dead cells. First thing in the morning, firmly stroke the brush over the skin towards the heart. Start with the feet, moving up the legs, be extra firm around the thighs and buttocks (get them pink and glowing!). Gentler on the belly, move in a clockwise direction as you look down at your navel; this is the direction which waste travels out of your body in the colon. Use the long handle to get the whole back. Gently up under the breasts and down the neck and throat. Go up the arms starting from the hands. Go once again over “problem” areas. With time, the skin becomes healthier and much less susceptible to irreversible stretching. One warning – this habit can be addictive!

Contrast Hydrotherapy

The alternating application of hot and cold water to the skin is a fundamental health tool for naturopathic doctors and, hopefully, their patients. Hot water encourages blood flow to the skin, cold contracts the tiny vessels, pushing excess fluid or debris into the natural “garbage collection” system of the body – the lymphatic channels. The basic approach to contrast hydrotherapy is bathing in warm or hot water, then chasing with cold. Ideally the temperature differential would be at least 60 degrees F. The treatment must end with cold water, and make sure to get under the armpits and the groin area. Also turn around to reach to kidneys which are protected by the lower ribs in back, to encourage waste elimination.

Not Losing or Gaining Weight Quickly

This is usually the reason stretch marks occur. You can improve the elasticity of the skin with good diet, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and the skin care measures described above, but preventing skin stretching is best. A pregnant woman should be prepared to gain 25 to 40 pounds slowly and steadily and take a full 9 months to regain her pre-pregnancy weight. Crash diets are notoriously bad for the skin; and they don’t work for permanent weight loss either.

Vitamin E Topically and by Mouth

I personally attribute getting through my pregnancy with not a single stretch mark on my belly to high quality Vitamin E. I slathered it on daily during the third trimester, and sporadically before that, from neck to knees! I ingested 400 IUs of Vitamin E daily throughout my pregnancy, always breaking open the gel cap with my teeth and letting the oil start to absorb right in my mouth, tossing the empty gel cap. I learned this trick from a nutrition instructor: if you can possibly chew your supplements like food, the thousands of nerve receptors in the mouth signal the brain what’s coming down the pike, and start to prepare the digestive tract with the proper enzymes for optimal digestion and absorption. Try to thoroughly chew anything you plan to swallow, including juices. A fair amount of cheating goes in with Vitamin E manufacturing. Please consult a qualified specialist to determine which brand is reputable. It makes all the difference.

Stretch-Mark Treatments:

Castor Oil

Castor oil has a long history of use as a topical healing agent. One common name, Palma Christi (meaning the “hand of Christ”) gives you an idea about the extent to which this substance has been revered. Castor oil has a wide range of topical applications including arthritis, constipation, sprained joints, sluggish liver function, sinus headache cure, lymphedema (swelling in the limbs due to poor lymphatic drainage), wart removal, and wound healing. Cosmetically, Castor oil has shown good effect in preventing and treating wrinkles, and lightening “age spots.” It can certainly help prevent stretch marks (applied regularly to breast, thighs and belly during pregnancy, for example) and may also reduce the prominence of stretch marks after the fact. Place a substantial layer of the thick oil onto the treatment area, cover with saran wrap and apply heat (hot water bottle or heating pad work well) for at least 20 minutes daily for a week. Continue with the treatment several times a week (leaving the heat on for up to 45 minutes if time is available) until you are satisfied with the result.

Thiosinaminum

This is an obscure but extremely effective homeopathic remedy based on a chemical derived from oil of mustard seed. Thiosinaminum is particularly indicated, in the homeopathic literature, for “dissolving” scar tissue. You will need to contact a licensed homeopath or one of the distributing houses (Dolissos, Boiron, Hahnemann) to obtain the remedy. A potency of 6C, 2 pellets two or three times daily for several months should reduce the shiny, irregular, scar-like appearance of stretch marks.

Seaweed Wraps

Our food has become abysmally depleted of vital minerals, which help run the thousands of biochemical pathways churning in our cells every moment of life. Eating seaweed, bathing in seaweed, fertilizing your garden with seaweed, and yes, seaweed wraps — all can help re-mineralize our bodies, which will improve our detoxification capacities and enhance our energy levels. Does topical mineral application remove stretch marks? The short answer is “No.”

“Glyco” Acids and Alkaloids

Fruit and flower acids and alkaloids have been used cosmetically to beautify skin for centuries. Victorian ladies were said to bathe (at least their faces) in strawberries and cream. Cleopatra is said to have enjoyed being wrapped with the petals of hundreds of roses. Many skin care products on the market today contain fruit acids or alkaloids. The most potent can take off the top layers of skin with persistent application. Be aware! Skin may blister. Do not try to remove moles or recently growing spots – please check with your family doctor or a dermatologist first. Glyco- or fruit acids/alkaloids may work well for “age spots” (usually from sun damage) but probably aren’t the best choice for stretch marks.

Laser Dermabrasion

This process is costly, and can hurt for several days after the treatment. As with the glyco acids, the top layer of skin is removed, allowing fresh tissue to grow back. If your stretch marks are superficial, this technique may help. If the stretch marks are wider than 1 centimeter, a good cosmetic result from dermabrasion is unlikely.

Skin Creams

So what about those “magic” skin creams reputed to eliminate stretch marks? Let’s face it, ladies, the basic structure of the skin has been altered, the cell layers pulled apart, and no cream is going to knit those layers back together again. Creams containing Vitamin C and Vitamin K will probably help to build fresh skin over the top of stretch marks, and improve the elasticity of the skin in the area treated, but will not magically make the stretch marks disappear. However, you may be rewarded with a more “blended” appearance of the skin with creams that really do contain C and K.

Bibliography

• Pizzorno JE, Murray MT, Joiner-Bey H. The Clinician’s Handbook of Natural Medicine, Harcourt Publishers Ltd, 2002
• Taber’s Encyclopedic Medical Dictionary, 14th Edition, FA Davis Co, Philadelphia PA, 1981
• Boericke W., Homeopathic Materia Medica, B. Jain Publ., 1988
• Aykroyd B, “Thalassotherapy; Special Issue,” Soap/Cosmetics/Chemical Specialties, NY, NY, Sept. 1998
• Watson WC, “Studies on the Digestion, Absorption and Metabolism of Castor Oil,” Biochem Pharmacol. Vol II p 229-236, Great Britain, 1962
• Grady H. “Summary of Castor Oil Pack Physiological Effects,” Townsend Letter for Doctors, p 384, Port Townsend, WA, July 1989