Natural Acne Remedies

One of the acne solution is acne cure. If it doesn't cure, reducing the development of acne is a big step towards victory in winning the acne war.


The subject of natural or homegrown acne remedies is a broad one to cover as one must be able to separate the effective options from those that really amount to little more than old wives’ tales. Yet, with this said, someone searching for successful remedies for acne would be foolish to overlook the benefits of those natural remedies that have been passed on in families. These sorts of remedies based upon common sense practices or herbs are typically successful for most mild cases of acne. It is when these cases grow more severe that one should consult a physician or dermatologist.

For centuries, civilizations relied exclusively upon herbal and natural remedies for the treatment of every ailment. No, there were no convenient drive-up pharmacies to get a prescription for manufactured medications. In order to find ways to help treat sickness one had to venture into the woods and search for cures there. And for the most part, nature provided for these needs through the various herbs that were found to have medicinal value.

The earliest physicians were nothing more than what we today call herbalists or at a certain point in time, apothecaries. Either way, the natural remedies they discovered were the basis for scientists who later found ways to create synthetic substitutes for these herbs and distill the innate properties down into a form that can be amplified or augmented by other elements.


A List of Common Natural Remedies

Hot/Cold Compresses
A chief natural remedy that is recommended more often than not is the usage of hot and cold wet towel compresses to reduce swelling and eliminate clogged pores--the major culprit in the production of acne.

Drinking Water
This natural remedy for acne is simple enough. The premise behind it the idea that if you drink a sufficient amount of water per day, typically 7-8 glasses of water a day, your body is cleansed of elements of toxicity that can actually contribute to the development and spread of acne. It also should be noted, that many natural remedies not only recommend to merely drink plain old ordinary water, but actually adding herbal ingredients by boiling fenugreek seeds and corn into the water.

Oils and Juices
Though it can seem odd, the benefits of using natural substances like almond oil - which can actually help with the removal of acne scars - cannot be ignored. Apricot juice helps to alleviate the presence of cysts by cutting through them.

1. Cucumber juice - Used as a topical application, either alone or combined with carrot juice, alfalfa or lettuce.
2. Citric fruit juices - These types of juices, such as lemon juice, serve as a natural exfoliate, removing dead skin cells which might cause clogging of the pores. You should allow it to dry on the face for approximately 10 minutes before rinsing it away with cool water.

Fenugreek leaves
This remedy provides great prevention of breakouts and involves taking the fenugreek leaves, crushing them, and making a paste out of them. You should then apply it to infected areas every night, then wash it away the following morning with warm water.

Honey Mask
Because honey has naturally occurring anti-bacterial qualities it is often applied to the face as a mask, killing surface bacteria. Typically, the mask should be applied once or twice weekly depending upon the results of usage.

Distilled white vinegar
Apply the vinegar as a topical solution, letting it sit on the infected area for at least 5-10 minutes. Then rinse it thoroughly with cool water. Often the vinegar can be a little too strong so it is recommended that you dilute it, though not too much.

Make-up or Cosmetic Usage
Simply put, this is a common sense remedy for acne. Just avoid using these products because more than likely the chemicals and oils used to manufacture them will clog the pores, which, in turn, leads to more breakouts.


Further Remedies

Beyond the common natural remedies for acne, there are a few other interesting options available and worth mentioning at this time.

Diet and vitamin supplements
Unlike former days, when the diets of civilizations included only naturally occurring food from the ground, the usage of fertilizers and pesticides has taken a toll on the nutrient content of much of the food that we eat. Add to this the fact that our food is further manipulated by chemical preservatives and you have some further explanations for the occurrences of some acne breakout. To combat this, observing a proper and balanced diet and taking a hearty multi-vitamin can actually go a long way towards preventing certain bio-chemical conditions which provide fertile ground for acne.

Echinacea and Oregon grape
These herbs are both useful for boosting the body’s immune system and also combating many forms of acne-causing bacteria.

Vitamin A
Used in large quantities, vitamin A has actually been used to successfully treat some severe forms of acne. But it must be clear that if you plan to use vitamin A as a possible remedy you should consult a physician because, if used in large enough doses, it can be toxic.

Zinc
This vitamin, if added to one’s diet, can actually aid in the healing of acne lesions and help in the prevention of scarring.

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Severe Acne

One of the acne solution is by knowing how bad is the situation and use the right way to deal with the acne.

There are at least four types of acne that are recognized by many dermatologists and others in the medical field as severe regarding both the type of lesions that it produces on the body and long term effects it can have for the sufferer including scarring. This extreme acne affects more than just the body; it can affect every aspect of a person’s life. The pain and heartache of dealing with these potentially disfiguring forms of acne cannot be overemphasized but this does not take into account the emotional and psychological aspects that can lower quality of life and permanently destroy self-esteem.


Acne conglobata

Acne Conglobata is the most severe form of acne vulgaris. This form of extreme acne, generally characterized by the appearance of large and numerous nodules, often interconnected, along with widespread blackheads. Because theses lesions can become ulcerated, they can cause severe, irrevocable damage--even disfiguring scarring--to the skin. Acne conglobata is commonly found on the face, chest, back, buttocks, upper arms, and thighs.

The age of onset for acne conglobata is usually between 18 and 30 years of age and it is more likely for males to get the condition than it is for females. It should also be noted that acne conglobata can stay active for many years, lying dormant until something causes it to resurface. As is true with all types of acne, the cause of acne conglobata is not known.


Acne fulminans

This type of severe acne is actually an abrupt onset of acne conglobata that typically afflicts young men. The symptoms of the severe nodulocystic, often ulcerating acne, are readily apparent. As with normal cases of acne conglobata the lesions cover large portions of the extremities and the facial region, including the disfiguring scars that can eventually develop. Yet what makes acne fulminans unique in that it also includes fever symptoms, aching of the joints, particularly the knees and hips, and varying degrees of weight loss that depend upon the individual.


Gram-negative folliculitis

Gram-negative folliculitis is a form of extreme acne caused by an inflammation of the follicles that is caused by bacterial infection: This condition is characterized by pustules and cysts. It has been determined in some cases of the disorder that its development is caused by a complication resulting from a long-term antibiotic treatment of acne vulgaris.

The reason that this form of acne is called “gram-negative” relates to the fact that gram is a type of blue stain used for laboratory testing for microscopic organism. Bacteria that do not stain blue are referred to as “gram-negative.”

Like other forms of extreme or severe acne, gram-negative folliculitis is a rare condition, and we do not know whether it is more common in males or females as it has been documented in both.


Pyoderma Faciale

This type of severe acne affects only females, usually between the ages of 20 to 40 years of age. It is characterized by large painful nodules, pustules and sores that may leave scarring. Forming abruptly, pyoderma faciale may occur on the skin of a woman who has never had acne before. Generally, this type of extreme acne is confined to the face, and though it usually does not last longer than a year, it can cause a great deal of damage in a very short time.

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Types of Acne

One of the acne solution is to know what is out there. By understanding what are the different types of acne, you will know what type of acne war you are up against and get the correct acne solution.


Acne Vulgaris

Acne vulgaris is another name for common acne. This is the type of acne that mainly affects adolescents but may persist and become more severe as one reaches adulthood.

Mild to Moderate acne vulgaris is characterized by the following lesions:

Whiteheads
Whiteheads result when a pore is completely blocked, trapping sebum, bacteria, and dead skin cells, causing a white appearance on the surface. Whiteheads have a shorter life span than blackheads.

Blackheads
Blackheads result when a pore is only partially blocked, allowing some of the trapped sebum, bacteria, and dead skin cells to slowly drain to the surface. The dark color associated with its appearance is not caused by dirt. Rather, it is a reaction of the skin's own pigment, melanin, reacting with the oxygen in the air. As a whitehead has a short life cycle, a blackhead is a firmer structure, and can often take a long time to clear.

Papules
Papules are inflamed, red, tender bumps with no head.

Pustules
A pustule is similar to a whitehead, but is inflamed, and appears as a red circle with a white or yellow center. (This is what is commonly called a “zit.”)
Severe acne vulgaris can be distinguished by the presence of nodules and cysts:

Nodules
As opposed to the lesions mentioned above, nodular acne consists of acne spots which are much larger, can be quite painful and can sometimes last for months. Nodules are large, hard bumps under the skin's surface. Scarring is common. Absolutely do not attempt to squeeze such a lesion. You may cause severe trauma to the skin and the lesion may last for months longer than it normally would have left untouched.

Cysts

An acne cyst is often similar in appearance to a nodule, but it is pus-filled, and has been described as having a diameter of 2 inches or more across and is often very painful. Again, scarring is common with cystic acne. Squeezing an acne cyst may cause a deeper infection and more painful inflammation which will last much longer than if you had left it alone.

Adult Acne

Adult acne is a form of acne vulgaris that can affect adults over 30 years of age. Those who had no problems with acne as a teenager have found that they are having breakouts. But because acne is normally associated with the hormonal fluctuations that occur during puberty, its appearance in an adult should be investigated to determine the underlying causes--especially if it appears for the first time in adulthood.

The following are at least three reasons why acne appears after 30 years of age:

1. Often the acne that one had as an adolescent resurfaces later in adulthood. It is not always clear why this happens, but it is one reason for its presence in adults.
2. In women, acne often reappears during pregnancy where there had been no activity for months, if not years. This could also be true in the case of woman during their menstrual period.
3. Thirdly, acne can appear in adults for the first time who have never had it before. Now with this third reason, it might be more obvious that something unusual is going on and it might be wise to talk to a dermatologist or at least your family physician.

With some reasons established, we can now mention some of the possible causes of adult acne:

1. Medication. As has been stated previously, some medications can induce acne. Anabolic steroids, anti-epileptic medications, anti-tuberculosis drugs rifampin and isoniazid, lithium and medications that contain iodine.
2. Chronic physical pressure on the skin. Whether chaffing from wearing a helmet or carrying a backpack, such pressure against the skin can lead breakouts. (See acne mechanica)
3. Chlorinated industrial chemicals. Working in certain types of industrial environments can cause acne-like symptoms or even chloracne, an occupational skin disorder caused by prolonged exposure to chemicals like chlorinated dioxins.
4. Metabolic changes. With changes in the body’s hormonal balance, such as those present during pregnancy or menstruation can produce acne in adults.

Rosacea

Though often misdiagnosed as acne, rosacea is, in fact, not acne. Rosacea affects thousands of people in the U.S. alone, mostly those over the age of 30. It generally appears as a red rash confined to the cheeks, nose, forehead and chin. This redness is often accompanied by bumps, pimples, and skin blemishes--the reason it is so commonly mistaken for acne. Further, this redness is also linked to the fact that blood vessels may become more visible on the skin. Rosacea has been shown to be more prevalent in women than in men, but often if found in men it tends to be more severe. If you are seeking treatment and you think it may actually be rosacea, you need to be aware that the treatments differ quite a bit from those used in the care of acne vulgaris.


Acne Mechanica

This form of acne is caused by external mechanical forces like constant pressure, constant and repeated friction, covered skin, and heat. For those involved in sports, in the military or in high-activity jobs, this is nothing new as the condition is common with many athletes and in professions where factors like tight-fitting, even restrictive clothing is worn for extended periods of time. These sort of jobs may include certain kinds of factory work where an employee may be busy with repetitive tasks that may irritate the skin and lead to break outs.

For soldiers who must wear uniforms much of the time and may be carrying backpacks with straps that bite into the skin and cause friction with each step or straps on weapons that can also rub again the body this can become a real issue. Operating in the extremes of temperatures that these soldiers often do can also often complicate existent acne by causing inflammation and further breakouts.

Further examples of possible causes may include:

1. Wearing head bands that can rub the forehead and irritate the skin
2. The kind of friction caused by physical contact with musical instruments for extended periods of time
3. Wearing tight clothing period; whether it is blue jeans or types of undergarments made with synthetic materials
4. Even bra straps if they happen to fit snuggly against the skin

Acne Cosmetica

Often women who regularly wear make up or cosmetics find that they are getting breakouts on the forehead or cheeks. It may be what is called acne cosmetica. This form of acne is generally caused by the type of cosmetics that a person is using.

Pomade Acne

When hairstyles change, it is not uncommon for teenagers and young adults to adopt new styles. But, sometimes a new style requires the use of a thick, oily hair cosmetic called pomade. Pomade is generally used when a hairstyle requires that curly hair be straightened or hair be molded into various shapes.

One of the undesired effects of pomade use may be pomade acne. Pomade acne occurs on the scalp, forehead, and temples where pomade comes into contact with the skin.

Most, if not all, pomades fall into the category of comedogenic – or pore clogging - cosmetics. The heavy oils used in pomades can clog skin, setting the stage for the formation of comedones. In addition, some of the other chemicals in pomades may irritate the skin, contributing to inflammation.


Excoriated Acne

The term excoriated means to scratch or abrade the skin. Now when we bring this term into the context of acne we have what is called excoriated acne. This type of acne is defined by the behavior of the person suffering from it. When such a person obsessively picks and scrapes at every pimple and blemish on their skin, they are said to have excoriated acne. Because of the excessive nature of the attention given to the sufferer’s skin, deep irritation can result as well as scarring.

Though it may appear to others as a mild form of acne, without pustules or nodules, to the person dealing with it, this condition may be intolerable. This almost psychological urge to get rid of one’s skin lesions or blemish can become very damaging. As such, it is recommended that a dermatologist be sought for treatment.


Infantile Acne

This form of acne occurs in newborns and is concentrated on the nose and cheeks. It is caused by the hormonal changes that have occurred will the fetus was developing in the womb. Typically, the acne clears up in matter of weeks without treatment.

However, infantile acne has a serious aspect that must be considered. If simple cleansing with mild soap and water will not clear the acne up then a mild topical agent (such as a prescription form of benzoyl peroxide for infants) helps both the current situation and prevents scarring. If this does not help, then a dermatologist may need to be consulted.
Things to note:

1. Family History. Genetics might be a factor in the development of acne in the infant. Do the child’s parents or siblings have acne or did they have it in the past?
2. Early hormone production. It may be that the infant has a condition that causes early production of sex hormones--especially androgen which is linked to acne. If this is the case, then medical help should be sought to avoid problems with the child’s development.
3. Growth and developmental abnormalities. Acne at such an early stage in the child’s life could indicate developmental problems that might not show up until later. A pediatrician should be consulted to find out if this might be a possibility.
4. Drug-induced acne or acneiform eruption. It could be that the child has been exposed to certain medications that can cause acne or acneiform lesions. Examples of such drugs include corticosteroids and those that contain iodine.

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Acne Causes

One of the acne solution is by knowing what causes it in the first place. If you could prevent or stop more acne from developing, you win the acne war.

It must be stated at the beginning that an exact cause of acne is unknown. Despite the endless research that has been done to date, nothing has ever been isolated as a primary cause for the development of acne. Keeping this in mind though, doctors and researchers have at least come to some conclusions as to what sort of risk factors are involved and ultimately contribute to acne’s development. According to some researchers, the primary causes are hormones and genetics, but this cannot account for every case. No, in some instances, factors like medication, types of cosmetics, and certain aspects of personal hygiene (i.e. methods of cleansing skin) are more likely to create the conditions for acne’s formation. Environment, too, can be a catalyst. Those working with chemicals or who are exposed to oils and greases, have a greater chance of getting acne because the materials themselves can clog pores.


Hormones

With the onset of puberty, the human body starts to produce hormones called androgens or male sex hormones, increasing in both boys and girls. These androgens cause the enlargement and over stimulation of the sebaceous glands which are found in the hair follicles or pores of the skin. The extra sebum or oil that the sebaceous glands produce mixes with dead skin cells and bacteria on the skin's surface and this blocks pores. Within the blocked pore, the bacteria multiply and cause inflammation. All of this leads to the lesions that are associated with acne.
Teenagers are the most common sufferers of acne, purely because of the hormonal shifts that are associated with puberty. Current figures indicate nearly 85% of people will develop acne at some point between the ages of 12 and 25.
It is also important to note that the hormonal changes associated with both the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and even menopause have been shown to be culprits in the creation of acne. Also, when women are either beginning or ending their usage of birth control, the hormonal fluctuations that can occur at this time can cause acne in some women.
Furthermore, fluctuations in the hormones of adults, both men and women, can cause spikes in the production of sebum in the sebaceous glands. This opens wide the range of those susceptible to acne, due to hormonal changes.


Genetics

Another factor is heredity or genetics. Many researchers now believe that the tendency to develop acne can be inherited from parents. In studies conducted by a number of scientists, links have been found between those presently suffering from acne and the presence of acne in their family history. Strictly speaking though, acne is not an inherited disease, at least not in the medical sense of the word. However, it is also true that acne is much more common in children of parents who have had or still have acne than those who do not. While the research is still ongoing, there is no doubt the research will continue to yield new results and perhaps, deeper genetic causes might be unearthed.


Other Factors

Medication
As was stated before, the side effects of certain drugs can cause acne. Examples can include: barbiturates, anti-depressants, anti-anxiety medication, lithium and certain forms of steroids.

Heavy or oily costmetics
In the case of certain cosmetics, their ingredients can affect the structure of hair follicles and lead to over-production of sebum, which in turn clogs the pores.

Over-abrasive cleansing
Astringent facial products can dry the skin out and also causes the body to overproduce sebum to compensate. The use of harsh exfoliators can damage existing spots and spread infection.


Flare Up Factors

There are also a number of other factors which can cause existent acne to flare up and create more problems. A small list of some of these factors is included in the following pages so that our picture of acne becomes clearer and we shall, hopefully, obtain a greater understanding of the causes and elements that make this disorder such an inconvenient and uncomfortable thing to endure.

Pressure from helmets or hats, backpacks, tight clothing
If there is pressure against the skin, as is the case when wearing hats, and helmets, or when a backpack is pressing down against shoulders, then the potential for irritation and acne breakouts are real. Either friction, as is true when someone is wearing tight clothing, or pressure as in the aforementioned hat or helmet, can go a long way towards affecting the pores and causing acne to flare up.

Environmental irritants
If a person works in a garage or in a factory, certain chemicals present in such environments can actually cause acne flare-ups, if not lead to its appearance. Oils, for instance, when brought in contact with skin over a long period can clog up pores, or at least irritate the skin.
Pollution can have much the same effect upon the skin, clogging pores and creating infections.

Heavy scrubbing of skin
Picking or squeezing blackheads and/or whiteheads can cause the infection to move deeper into the skin and which will lead to scarring.

Diet
While no foods actually have been linked to the cause of acne, it is proven that certain foods can be responsible for acne flare-ups.

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Acne Myths

One of the acne solution is to determine what is true and false about acne. Getting the facts right and you will do the right thing.


Many of the problems facing those who are trying to deal with acne are the pervasive sources of misinformation out there regarding the causes of acne. Despite the numerous valid sources of information on and about acne that are now available, these myths persist and are passed on by word-of-mouth to those unfortunate enough to suffer from the disease. Rather than finding solutions and treatments to alleviate the symptoms, problems are often compounded. Ill-advised treatments based off these myths can have less than effective results and can often do further damage in the case of severe acne.

In light of the influence that these myths can have on both understanding acne in general and the courses of treatment in particular, it would be wise to start with a quick overview of some of the more common myths that are out there, dispelling the misinformation with the truth about them. After this we can move on to the question of what the actual causes of acne might be.


Myth #1: Acne is caused by poor hygiene.

It doesn’t matter how often, how ritually, you scrub your face and other areas affected by acne; this has no bearing on either the status of current a breakout or the creation of new problems. In fact, this sort of rigorous regimen of washing and scrubbing can actually irritate skin and make the acne worse, not better. Though you may have heard so from well-meaning parents growing up or some other misinformed person, acne is not caused by poor hygiene. This doesn’t mean that hygiene isn’t important. In fact, good hygiene can help reduce the effects of acne if used in conjunction with acne treatment products. Rather than frequent, harsh washing, it is generally recommended that you wash your face twice to three times a day with mild soap and then pat it dry - don’t scrub dry.



Myth #2: Acne is caused by diet.

“Don’t eat chocolate, it will give you pimples!” “They say that eating greasy foods can give you zits.” Most of you have heard these and other similar statements before, right? What they are saying, in effect, is that what you eat can cause acne. But, what they are saying isn’t true. It is a myth, one of the more popular ones actually, about the causes of acne. Extensive scientific research has been conducted, searching for possible correlations between one’s diet and a possible cause of acne, and have not found anything conclusive.

However, each of us is different. Some people notice that breakouts are worse after eating certain foods--and the kinds of food differ with each person. For example, some people may notice breakouts after eating chocolate; while others have no effects with chocolate. Instead, they notice breakouts occurring after they drink too much coffee or caffeine. These are just examples but they might be worth heading. If there is some sort of food or drink that might be affecting your acne, then cut back and see if that helps.



Myth #3: Acne is caused by stress.

Stress is not a direct cause of acne but it is true that some types of stress can cause the body to produce a hormone called cortisol, which can irritate existing acne. Indirectly, some medication that we take to alleviate or control extreme stress or emotional problems like depression can be factors in the production of acne. In fact, some medicines have acne listed as a possible side effect.



Myth #4: Acne will go away on its own.

This is generally not true and acne needs treatment in order to be cleared up. With the selection of acne treatment products available today there is no reason not to investigate and find what has the best results for those concerned. In some cases, a dermatologist should be consulted and other forms of treatment can be pursued.



Myth #5: Tanning clears up skin.

In fact, this has the reverse effect. At first it may seem that the latest bake in the tanning bed or sunbathing has improved your complexion, but in fact the tan may only have masked or covered the acne. In reality, the sun can make the skin dry and irritated and this can lead to more breakouts. On another note, if you do tan, make sure that you are using a sunscreen that doesn’t contain oils and other chemicals that might clog up your pores and cause acne to get worse. (Look for noncomedogenic or nonacnegenic on the label.)



Myth #6: Popping Zits Will Make Them Go Away Faster

Again, though this seems true, it is another myth. Rather than speeding up the process of healing, this action actually prolongs the situation as popping the whitehead caused the bacteria inside to be pushed deeper into the skin, which allows more infection to grow, and ultimately leads to scarring.



Myth #7: Only Teenagers get acne.

The truth is that about 25% to 30% of all people between the ages 25- 44 have active acne. So the idea that acne is only a problem for teens is yet another myth.


Myth #8: Washing your face often would prevent acne for good.

Washing your face regularly would definitely help remove oil and dirt from your skin. Although oil and dirt can be factors why acne breeds, they are not the only cause of acne. Hormonal effects on one’s sebaceous glands basically cause acne breakouts. Remember that washing your face too much can lead to dryness and skin irritation, which can lead to further breakouts. It is safe to wash your face twice a day with a mild soft or a gentle cleanser.


Myth #9: Don’t ever use make-up if you want to achieve a perfect skin.

There may be an exemption to this. There are several cosmetics that you can purchase that wouldn’t induce breakouts. Look for the terms “nonacnegenic” or “noncomedogenic” in the manufacturing labels of the cosmetics you buy. These should be safe to use. Some concealers now come with benzoyl peroxide, which can effectively prevent pimples.


It is important to note, that these are not all of the myths that are out there, circulating in the popular health magazines and on the Internet. No, not by a long shot. There are dozens more where these came from. The topic of acne has grown more complicated as new sources of information, both good and bad, have become available and that one must be very careful about researching the topic and deciding what sources to trust.

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What Is Acne?

One of the acne solution is by understanding what acne is all about. Knowledge is king, winning the acne war isn't hard if you know your enemy well.

What is acne? Certainly, most of us know what it is, simply because we have had to experience it at one time or another in our lives. But, in case a definition is needed, here is a short one. Acne is a dermatological term that includes clogged pores, pimples and lumps or cysts that occur on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders, and upper arms. Acne occurs most commonly in teenagers, but is not limited to any age group, afflicting even adults in their forties. This disease has many varieties, and although none are life threatening, the more severe cases of acne can be disfiguring, leaving permanent scars on effected areas.

The physical changes in body tissue - or lesions - which acne causes are described in five ways: comedos, papule, pustule, nodule and cyst. Further, these terms denote range or severity with comedo (also known as blackheads and whiteheads) at one end and nodules or cysts at the other.

As stated above, acne is most common among teenagers, affecting teens between the ages 12 and 17. Usually, these mild cases are cleared up with over-the-counter treatments and the acne goes away by the early twenties. It also should be noted that although acne affects both girls and boys equally, there are some distinctions. Young men are more likely to have severe, long-term acne while women can have reoccurring or intermittent acne well into adulthood due to hormonal changes and cosmetics.

From Wikipedia: Acne Vulgaris is an inflammatory disease of the skin, caused by changes in the pilosebaceous units (skin structures consisting of a hair follicle and its associated sebaceous gland). Acne lesions are commonly referred to as pimples, spots, or "zits". For more about acne from Wikipedia visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acne

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Hypnotherapy and The Alchemy of Healing

Paradigms of Disease Formation
A culture's approach to treating disease is based largely upon the belief system through which that culture regards the origin and meaning of illness. Whatever that belief system (or paradigm) is, there are some diseases that respond extremely well to the treatments dictated by the existing paradigm, and others which appear to defy the existing treatments, and thus call upon that society to create a new definition of the origins and purpose of disease. For example, pre-civilized native cultures frequently regarded illnesses as the curses of dark spirits, or the result of breaking some social taboo. The treatments based upon this model, including exorcism rituals, direct communication with spirits, aggrieved ancestors, and the angry Gods, were often sufficient (perhaps in conjunction with healing herbs that are the foundation of most modern medicines) to heal the diseases and infections usually encountered by the tribe. This paradigm breaks down, however, in the face of the mass infectious diseases (i.e. smallpox) of western civilization.

Modern allopathic medicine has its own paradigm of disease, based largely upon the treatment of these same diseases. This paradigm suggests that disease is the result of the invasion of the body by viruses, bacteria, and other parasitic organisms. This paradigm allows for highly successful treatment of infectious diseases, but provides very little help for a new generation of disease processes (including most commonly, cancer, but also multiple sclerosis, arthritis, and other degenerative diseases), which do not fit into the common paradigm.

Oriental medicine, whose paradigm of disease is that the patient suffers from an imbalance of energies in the body, or a blockage of such energies within the etheric pathways called meridians shows a remarkable agility in treating those very diseases for which the modern allopathic physician can do so little.

Naturopathic medicine has its own paradigm of disease, in which disease processes are regarded as the result of toxins and stress accumulating in the body and causing a breakdown of the bodily systems. Naturally, fasting, nutritional supplementation, herbs, and lifestyle changes are the recommended treatments.

It's my belief that it is a mistake to assume that any one paradigm of illness is correct or scientific and others are false or superstition. All of the systems of healing have proven their worth over years (sometimes centuries) of successful application, thus proving that each paradigm of healing holds some measure of the truth.

The Hypnotist's Paradigm

The question then becomes: What is the hypnotherapists belief system about disease, and what techniques, based upon that belief system, can help hypnotherapists to activate the healing power of the subconscious mind, as an adjunct to medical treatment?

Hypnotists assume that the operations of every part of the body, including digestive processes, respiration, and the activities of the immune system are under the direct control of the subconscious mind. We can therefore make the assumption that a client's disease process is to some extent created, controlled, and ultimately eliminated, through the power of the subconscious mind. This refers not only to the so-called psychosomatic illnesses, but to all disease processes, including bacterial and viral conditions.

Illustrations of such a mind/body connection fill the literature. Changes in attitude and feeling have been reported by thousands of sufferers from AIDS, cancer, polio, etc. to have had profound effects on their physical condition. The fact is scientific research accepts that at least 35% of patients experience a placebo effect that is, a completely ineffectual substance, when presented as a healing medicine, stimulates the patient's subconscious mind to improve or eliminate the condition. Some research in fact indicates that this so-called placebo effect may affect up to 60% of research subjects'a success rate comparable to that of the most effective modern medicines. The placebo effect is nothing less than the power of post-hypnotic suggestion!

The Alchemist's Paradigm

The Alchemical Hypnotherapist takes the subconscious creation paradigm of disease one step further: we suggest that the client's subconscious mind creates a particular disease process in order to serve a unique purpose for the client's internal world. Thus healing world consists of finding a new, healthier way of getting this purpose served or this need met. Once this goal is achieved, the immune system can be mobilized to eliminate the disease and restore the internal balance of the body. While this work is no substitute for appropriate medical treatment, we can vastly increase the immune system's ability to create healing, by eliminating the subconscious processes of disease formation.

So how do we access these subconscious motivations for disease and eliminate them? First, we need to point out to all our clients that their conscious mind is not and has never been the source of disease. It is both bad psychology and bad medicine to say to an ill person: I wonder how you created this disease? The origins of the disease lie well beneath the patient's conscious intentions and control, and cannot be accessed by laying a guilt trip upon the already suffering patient. Rather, what I say to them is this: It's possible that subconscious patterns of feeling and belief may be contributing to the disease you are suffering. To the extent that I can help you discover and alter such patterns through hypnotherapy, I can help you to accelerate the healing process, in conjunction with appropriate medical treatment. Thus we lay the groundwork for healthy, guilt-free explorations.

The Alchemist's Methods

The next essential step is to induce a hypnotic trance in order to access these subconscious motivations. The client's subconscious disease-maintaining patterns are not easy to access, because of deep pain and denial. Therefore, I recommend a gentle, long induction in which we speak very softly and gently to the client. It may take a number of weekly sessions to access the deepest, most frightening, and most important motivations.

One can utilize trance to enter the affected body part as if it were a room, and then address the contents of the room as the symbolic content of the disease process. William Reich's research in the 1930's suggested that the unexpressed pain and trauma of our past is stored in the musculature and connective tissue of our bodies, creating tension, blocks in circulation and ultimately pain and disease. Such memories can be stored in my experience in internal organs as well. By entering this room of the illness in hypnosis, we may be able to identify both the external persons who are connected to this stored pain and the specific memories in which the pain originated. We can then utilize emotional release and child rescue processes to alter the memories stored in the body and thus release the pain and tension contained therein.

The memories unlocked through this process are likely to be very traumatic in the case of serious diseases. One should not attempt this kind of uncovering without a thorough background in regression therapy, emotional release, and inner child healing.

For example, a client enters a fibroid tumor in her uterus and discovers there a fetus that she aborted years before. After she expresses her grief and remorse about the abortion to this child and receives the child's forgiveness, the tumor disappears. Another client discovers in his chronically swollen knee a memory of childhood abuse. He needs to rescue his inner child from that abuse, including expression all of the feelings that remain unexpressed, and thus stored in his body, from the incident. This will help him release the trauma stored in the knee.

Another technique involves talking to the disease entity as if it were a person or an animal and finding out in what way it is serving the client. For example, the client's hypnotic search for the cancer entity turns up a green monster that says: I'm here to make you leave this miserable marriage one way or the other! Now the choice is no longer perceived as surgery vs. radiation, but more importantly as divorce/marriage counseling vs. death. This technique allows us to directly access the purpose which the disease is serving at a subconscious level for the client.

A related technique involves asking in the inner landscape of the client: What part(s) of the client have hired this disease? (Or want this disease?) We may, for example, discover that the client's inner critic is punishing them for carnal sins with allergic reactions, or that an inner romantic has hired multiple sclerosis because it doesn't want to live a lonely, loveless life any longer. The hypnotherapist who has a background in sub-personality work (sometimes called voice dialogue, psycho-synthesis; or parts therapy) can help clients through this labyrinth of self-destructive behavior by helping these parts of the client to get their needs met in other ways. For example, the critic can perhaps be persuaded that the client can achieve more to atone for his sins by loving others selflessly than he can by suffering allergies. Or the inner romantic can be persuaded to join other parts of the client in actively pursuing a lover rather than suffering a disease. While sub-personality work is sufficiently complex as to be beyond the range of this article, it remains a powerful and significant aspect of the healing process. It is often essential to discover and remove the secondary gain that often stops or slows recovery from illness.

A number of regressive strategies may be used to address the emotional causes of illness. One of them is asking the client to go back to the time that the disease entity was first hired at the subconscious level. This allows us to explore whatever incident triggered the onset of the disease process. It is important not to confuse the time the disease is hired with the onset of symptoms or the arrival at a diagnosis, as these things may occur a year or more after the disease process begins. The initial trigger event could be a major loss, a divorce, a period of unemployment, or any other major life change.

A different regressive strategy will take us deeper into this initial pain by asking when these feelings first began. This allows us to explore childhood and past life incidents, which set the stage in the subconscious mind for the client's extreme reaction to this trigger event. For example: the client's loss of a beloved wife may subconsciously re-stimulate the loss of the mother's love in infancy and thus elicit a terminal illness as the result of a reactivated death wish from childhood.

One of the most powerful strategies for the advanced client is the exploration of karmic deeds, crimes we have committed against others in the past, which follow us to the present life seeking retribution. This karma may directly affect the client's present health challenge. The instructions I give to the client are these: Let's go back to a time long ago when you did something that created this pain and suffering for yourself This process not only allows us to identify the reason for this suffering at the spiritual level, but allows us to establish an atonement which eliminates the need for further karmic retribution in the form of an illness. This process is especially valuable for clients who have a spiritual orientation to their therapy.

Another of the Alchemical strategies is to assist clients in contacting an inner healer. This resource state within the inner world is available to the client twenty four hours a day in addressing both the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual origins of the illness. The inner healer also provides daily meditations of healing which can be anchored directly through hypnotic suggestion to the pain and symptoms of the illness.

These are some of the many techniques used by the Alchemical Hypnotherapists to discover the underlying purpose of disease processes and help create alternative ways to meet that purpose. Thus we not only help restore the body's health, but help our clients to experience that profound empowerment that comes when one has discovered the meaning of an illness, learned its lesson for us, and consciously and lovingly released it.

It would be a mistake to assume that the subconscious motivation model of disease and treatment modalities outlined in this article represents the only legitimate paradigm of disease, or even necessarily the best. As a health care professional, we are both ethically and legally required to refer our clients to both mainstream physicians and other alternative practitioners so that the illness can be addressed from as many perspectives as possible. Nevertheless, as hypnotherapists we offer an invaluable perspective to all other health professions by addressing the clients illness from the perspective of subconscious motivations the perspective of the soul.

Contact David Quigley at the Alchemy Institute of Hypnosis by phone at 800 950-4984, or through the website: http://www.alchemyinstitute.com

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Acnezine

Living with acne is something the majority of teenagers and many adults deal with throughout their lives. Statistics show that almost 70% of all teenagers will have problems with acne. They also show that 25% of all adult men and 45% of adult women will have a problem with acne at some point in their lives. Whether its body acne or facial acne, both forms are frustrating to deal with. Body acne can often be hidden by clothing, but the most embarrassing form to deal with is facial acne.

Living with acne is difficult for many people, and whether it's an adult or teenager it causes a loss of self confidence as well as depression and anxiety. Chronic acne sufferers know the frustration of trying to find the cure for their problem. They've tried numerous creams, topical applications and prescriptions to combat their problem, and in most cases they still haven't found that magical cure. Many acne sufferers are resigned to the fact that they will always have a problem with acne and just give up trying to find a fix.

For chronic acne sufferers, the wait is over. Our research has found an all-natural form of acne relief that will clean up pimples and over time will also improve any scarring. It's taken once daily in a pill (gelatin capsule) and claims to "treat acne from the inside out". It works for both teenagers and adults and it will help to fight off inflammation and will eliminate spots, blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples. When used over time, acne will begin to clear and older scars will begin to heal.

Acnezine is rich in anti-oxidants and because it's all-natural it's very safe to use. No prescription is needed and it can be taken without dermatologist supervision. Unlike some prescriptions which have side effects it is safe to use, even when pregnant.

Acnezine cannot be bought in stores; it's only available on line. The manufacturer is so confident in how their product performs that they offer a 6 month money back guarantee. Simply stated, if you're not satisfied with the results, they will refund your money.

We highly recommend using this product. Thousands of users have seen the benefits of using Acnezine and it has greatly enhanced their lives. What have you got to lose?

Jim McMenamin is an online product reviewer. For additional information about Acnezine, please visit: http://www.acnezine.reviewmedic.com

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Effective Acne Treatment

For an acne treatment to be effective it needs to treat the reason for the outbreak. Acne is most often associated with teens, but in fact anyone of any age can be inflicted with the problem. Although acne is not considered to be a severe disease, it does have serious and negative effects on a person's self esteem and confidence.

If you have acne you know what it's like to spend almost every waking minute worrying and wondering about the treatments you are using. Many people can not feel good about themselves if they have blemishes and they find it difficult to socialize at all if they suffer from acne.

A lot of the acne treatments you buy without prescriptions are formulated to suit young skin, so if you are suffering with adult acne, they probably won't be ideal for you. Some products can provide short term improvements, but they fail to deal with the underlying causes deeper in the skin.

It is important to be aware of what is in acne medications you are using. This will make it easier to know which products are the same as past ineffective ones.

If your skin is sensitive, try natural products before stronger medications. Sometimes all it takes is regular cleansing with the right ingredients for your skin and your acne will be gone for good.

Just because someone you know recommends a product that has worked well for them doesn't mean it will provide the same results for you.

When you take a medication internally there will often be side effects such as dry skin, itching and irritation which can sometimes even lead to more breakouts. Quality acne products will often offer a money back guarantee if you don't see results within a month, which proves they have faith that it works.

Benzoyl peroxide is a common and popular acne fighting ingredient in a lot of products. It will dry up pimples and kill bacteria, but excess drying can cause more breakouts as well.

The real answer to treating acne lies in nutrition: natural foods like green vegetables, whole grains foods rich in essential fatty acids can rebalance hormones, sebum production and vitamin levels.

A good way to work out which foods could be contributing to your acne problem is to make a record of everything you eat. Eliminating different types of foods for a month or two at a time will help you work out what is best for you. Women should also track menstruation to determine if the problem may be related to hormones.

Water is also extremely important to eliminating acne. Your skin is attempting to excrete toxins from the body that could otherwise be washed out with water. Drinking plenty of water and sweating through exercise will eliminate toxins from your skin.

Some people may notice when they are worried or feeling stressed, they have an outbreak of acne. This is due to the hormonal changes that occur during times of stress and staying healthy is the best way to combat this as well.

There are so many different acne treatments on the market and if you have tried over the counter products and find they haven't worked your next step is to visit the doctor for a prescription. Alternatively there are skin specialists who deal with laser therapy, micro dermabrasion and other effective, yet costly procedures.

Harleen makes is easy to understand your acne treatment needs. Learn about this skin condition and the treatment options in the market. To receive a Free Acne Treatment Guide visit website.

http://www.uacne.com

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Acne Treatments That Don't Work

The majority of acne products don't work. Every month, more and more companies decide selling acne products to acne sufferers is very profitable, so they quickly come up with a product, mix a few chemicals, add a little benzyl peroxide, and label the product as a guaranteed cure to acne.

It's true. Acne treatment companies are making a killing, selling us acne suffers promising products that don't work. More and more of these come up each day hoping to earn a shilling from the pot. Acne suffers are so vulnerable, because we are constantly desperately searching for the latest acne treatment products that work.

So, how do these companies do it? The most common approach is to take Proactive, remake their three-step treatment, and market it as a different brand and label the treatment as better than Proactive. We've all seen this common marketing scheme. Other companies come along, take a few two dollar vitamins here and there, place them into a bottle, and market the pills as kills acne inside out, and they sell it for forty dollars. These acne products have very low success rates and have come to dominate the acne treatment market. Affiliates are promoting these rip-off products hoping to earn a share from the million dollar pot and guess what? These affiliates never suffered from acne in their lifetime and they're recommending us acne treatments.

There are a few e-books (digital books emailed to you) out there today which also claim to cure acne. These authors claim that if you detoxicate your body for three days (or in essence, starve yourself for three days), you'll be completely acne free. All you need to do is to eat apples and drink many glasses of water everyday, and you'll be free of acne. This is a very promising statement, but in reality, starving yourself for three days doesn't equal becoming acne free. Your acne will probably slightly diminish, but it will come right back after you start eating again. Acne is somewhat related to diet, but to completely cure acne requires a consistent healthy diet kept over a period of a year. Definitely not three days.

Almost, not all, of the acne products claiming to treat your acne inside out naturally don't work. They send you a load of vitamins and foreign herbs which may smell nice, but they are just giving a placebo effect they make the skin healthy and soft, but do not treat acne. Their success rates are very low, and they treat only the mildest of mild acne situations if they actually work. It's obvious why these treatments do not work they are vitamins, not acne treatments.

An effective acne treatment is one that:

#1: Keeps pores clean clogged pores lead to acne

#2: Kills skin bacteria bacteria causes inflammation in acne, which leads to moderate/severe acne

#3: Solves the problem inside out no, it's definitely not vitamins and herbs

Thankfully, each year a decent acne treatment does get produced which involved years of research. Electronic acne treatments have taken a leap over acne creams and medications these devices took years of research to perfect. Zeno and blue light therapy (light bulb) are both highly researched devices that are commonly used to treat acne.

The main purpose of electronic devices out there today is to kill the bacteria that causes inflammation in acne. Bacteria often get trapped in the pore, which provides a favorable location for the bacteria to reproduce. This causes inflammation in the pimple. By killing off the bacteria, this prevents the acne from getting worse, allowing the pimple to quickly heal when the pore is clean again.

Why should you use electronic devices when acne creams do the same thing? Benzyl peroxide in acne treatments should kill bacteria, but after applying benzyl peroxide to the face for a few months, the bacteria that causes inflammation in acne start to resist it. By using blue light therapy or Zeno, you can provide an uninhabitable environment for the bacteria, specifically p.-acne, which kills 99.9% of the bacteria within a week. Benzyl peroxide's effectiveness is never this high.

There are a few topicals currently on the market that doesn't use benzyl peroxide to kill the acne causing bacteria. These products are more worthwhile to purchase, and if these acne treatments help treat your acne, they will work for much longer than any benzyl peroxide product out there.

Overall, you just shouldn't try out new acne treatments that nobody has used. There are no new miracle acne treatments being produced, so don't get your hopes up. Be sure to research the chemicals used in acne products, and make sure the chemicals in your acne treatments aren't skin irritants - these lead to further breakouts.

See examples of bad acne treatments. http://www.10acnetreatments.info

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Fight against ACNE

Acne is a common skin problem not only in the USA but in many parts of the world. For many, they resort to the use of medicines in order to get rid or even prevent acne. It has to be taken note of that there are natural and easy ways to get rid of such a skin problem. We would be pleased to share with you tips that would let you be acne-free.

The following are the steps to take in order for you to keep your skin free from skin problems:

· Water therapy

You could prevent acne by drinking at least 2 liters of water a day, this would keep you hydrated and let you overcome having too much clogged up pores. When you drink this amount of water, you could shed dead cells properly.

· Healthy diet

Eating vegetable and fruits would not only keep you healthy over-all but it would let you have healthy skin specifically.

· Natural for beauty

With so many beauty products, you would be tempted to try them with the hope that their promises to make you look great or keep your face smooth and healthy. Without you knowing it, they could harm your skin. They could even lead your skin to some disorders. Instead of using such chemical-based, you could try the natural things or products with natural components. One great example is soaps with tea tree oil.

· Stress? Out!

As shown by studies, there is a greater chance of having ACNE especially after puberty. This is a stage when hormonal changes are at their peak. The more you get stressed, the more your body would react to it. Relax, when you control stress, your body could produce more cortisol, which is helpful against acne or its agents.

· Not much coffee

Caffeine is identified to cause more stress by producing stress hormones in the body. This is not healthy for your skin, stress would aggravate acne.

Take these as reminders; you would surely be acne-free!

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