Let’s talk about skin health and the top 4 herbs for supporting it! This is just based on my personal research and experience and what seems to be most popular in regards to widely available, skin supporting herbs. I love that these herbs can also all be found right here in South East Missouri! Let’s get right into the top 4 herbs for supporting skin health!!
Let’s get started.. in no particular order
Chickweed gallium aprine.
This herb is cleansing and soothing to skin. An ointment of chickweed is very common, especially after you have been in the woods or fields without bug repellent. It is suggested as a hair rinse for a calming and soothing rinse. Some take it internally as a hair tonic to make hair grow long and it is no wonder when you take into consideration it’s high silica content. It also contains cumerins, which is the constituent that has made the Ayruvedic herb, Turmeric, famous. Harvest early in spring before flowering.
A nice tea can be made with chickweed herb. It can also be eaten fresh in the spring like sprouts on sandwiches, in soups or salads.
Chickweed can be found in these Shawnee Moon products: SM’s Miracle Tattoo Balm, Healing Salve, Colonaid, Relief, Sun Dance, Kid Stuff, Eczit, BurnAway, CCC, P.I. Flex, Inflamease, Arthease.
Mullein verbascum thapsus
This plant is high in iron, magnesium and potassium, making it very nutritive. It is an emollient so it is is softening and soothing to the skin. There is a constituent found in Mullein that is called rutin which supports elasticity in tissues, making this a great herb for supporting skin through natural aging process. The health benefits of this herb taken internally are numerous and very effective, but we’ll get into that perhaps in a future article. You should harvest leaves before flowering in the second year, and harvest flowers individually. Often found in ‘disturbed’ areas, along road sides and sunny hillsides.
Add this herb to ointments, balms, salves, and tinctures or teas.
Shawnee Moon products that contain Mullein: Cough Tincture, Healing Salve, Colonaid, Wart Whip, Sniff, Cough Syrup, CCC, Breatheasy.
Yarrow achillea millefolium
This herb is handy in a first aid kit. Google “yarrow properties” and do some research for yourself to see how this pretty little plant could help your family in a pinch. As an astringent tonic, it is nutritive and cleansing to the skin to support normal, healthy, clear skin.
Yarrow is typically only used in preparations for topical application; ointments, poultices, fomentations, rinses, washes, dry packs, fresh application, etc.
Shawnee Moon products that contain Yarrow: DEP Spray, Healing Salve, Diarrest, Cold Weather Tonic, Arthease.
Plantain plantago major (common or broad leaf) or plantago lanceolata (ribwort or narrow leaf)
Shown above is young, broad leaf plantain growing in the drive way near home. This is a very common ‘weed’, but provides a great use in first aid. I like to utilize it’s handiness (being that I can find either variety growing nearly anywhere, even in cities and suburbs) to make an instant poultice by chewing a leaf and spitting it out on the skin where I need some extra support. This plant also contains silicic acid, or ‘silica’ mucilage, glycosides, tannins and minerals. It is supporting to skin and very soothing.
Again, this herb is great added to your ointments and salves. Great all purpose topical skin herb. It also makes a wonderful, if not bitter, tea that supports the blood and digestion.
Shawnee Moon products that contain Plantain: SM’s Miracle Tattoo Balm, KAP Off, Burnaway, DEP Spray, Relief, Diuraid, Yeast Formula, Kid Stuff, Itchease, Hemorrid, Eczit, Ear Oil T, CCC, P.I. Flex, Arthease.
So much more could be said!
These are just 4 of many herbs that could support the skin! And so much more could be said about these 4! Do your own research or share your experience here in the comments below! Which herbs did I miss that you would add to ‘the Top 4 herbs for Supporting Skin Health’ list?
