Acne and Its Homoeopathic Treatment

Stress is not an obsession but an anxiety for me. Recent research in different fields of diseases is obsessed with stress mania and tends to list this as one of the factors. If the sale is any indicator, anti-stress drugs from alcohol to antidepressant and tranquillizers there is a disturbing trend of rise in sales turnover. Many formulations in a wide variety of conditions have tranquillizers.

Reading an article on acne, I came across the following statement: ‘Over activity of oil glands caused by hormones(androgens), bacteria, emotional stress, corticosteriods are often the main cause’. There are some facts about the disease, that everyone should know.

Acne vulgaris, commonly known as pimples, is a chronic inflammatory disease of the oil glands, characterized by blackheads, pimples, pustules(pus-filled pimples), cysts, nodules and often scars. It affects 90% of all teenagers. The problem may sometimes begin in the twenties and thirties or may persist in adults for many years. Common areas affected are the oily portions of the skin, cheeks, nose, forehead and chin, upper chest, and back; shoulders are also often involved.

Agreeing with the above, the aspect ignored is systemic disorders, modern scientists believe that sebum secretion is increased causing acne. Again this increase is not only due to androgens but also to abnormal keratinisation at the exit of pilosebaceous follicles, the proportion of bacterium acne(if it has a good host with favourable terrain for its spread.), the free fatty acids and the chemical responsible for inflammatory conditions. Sounds good. But the triggering factors remain untouched by the above statements.

Also Read 5 Facts and Myths You Should Know About Acne!

Let us see the situation from another angle. It is the most common disease of the young with an unknown cause. Excessive hormones or bacteria may activate or promote but there is no evidence confirming that they can cause the disease. Anti-bacterial treatment subsides and relapses are known to occur. Scientists believe diet is not vital but some items of diet do aggravate the conditions (contradictory information or should say misinformation). Let’s understand the role of diet and cellular availability of fats(lipids and also their role in the excessive production of hormones) and how homoeopathy plays a positive role in arresting the situation.

Can anyone dispute that capsicum increases blood flow (along with lipids) or cinnamon, cardamom, clove, ginger, peppermint, nutmeg(Myristica used as aphrodisiac turmeric, piper methysticum, or the dry fruits, nuts etc. act as a stimulant to glandular secretions including androgens? Can we ignore that a higher intake of fried food, oils and fats will increase cholesterol levels with the rise in triglycerides and rise in their breakdowns causing pimples

Foods do have an effect on glandular secretion and different lipid levels. If permitted to state my own views, it is a false notion, that is being created by many including those promoting antibiotics. Indian families do not believe the statement that foods have no relation to acne.

For ages, ayurvedic and homoeopathic physicians have experienced the positive role of shaatwick foods in management and cure of acne. It means vegetarian foods, milk, fruits, less of spices, nuts and fats in any form. If we look at the list of homoeopathic medicines normally prescribed we find they have within the umbrella both the modern concept and traditional theory such as:

(a) Asterias rubens, Agaricus, Hydrocotyle, Kalium bromicum with strong mental symptoms

(b) Arsenic iod, Arsenic sulph rubrum, Calcarea car, Hepar sulp, Graphites, Iodum, Psorinum, Streptococcinum and Sulphur with detoxification, strong psoric and skin symptoms

(c) Berberis aquefolium, thuja, and echinacea as strong external antibacterial, antifungal and anti-lipid local actions.

Homoeopaths differ from modern concepts (as promoted) in this respect but they have managed the causes of acne well. They do advise restriction of certain items of diet, which are in consonance with their approach towards the totality of looking to the basic problems from the root cause.