How Herbs Support the Health of Our Skin
Working with herbs is a profound and gentle way to work with the many systems in our body to help us achieve our self-care and wellness goals. Those goals may include:
getting clearer, healthier, radiant skin
reducing stress, anxiety and inflammation in the body
upleveling our nutrient intake
improving our digestion
supporting our detox pathways
reducing cholesterol and blood pressure
or simply finding a way to deepen our connection with nature (which helps with most everything on this list!)
Getting improvement in any of these areas is incredibly supportive for our skin and overall health. As skincare professionals, we often describe the skin as the external expression of the nervous system and the digestive system (gut) - when we are nervous, anxious, stressed, struggling with digestive health, not sleeping or eliminating well, it shows up in and on the skin. We also refer to the skin as “the canary in the coalmine” - if inflammation and sensitivity are appearing on the skin in the form of acne or other congested breakouts, redness, extreme dryness, or puffiness, it can be the result of underlying health conditions that may not be so obvious to us externally, but the skin is letting us know that something is out of balance in the body and is need of our attention and support.
So how do herbs support and improve the health of our skin? In a multitude of ways - medicinally, energetically and constitutionally. For the purpose of this blog, we are going to focus on one aspect (perhaps a more Western medicinal approach) of how herbs support our health by looking into the wide range of actions they can have in the body. Also consider that a single herb likely has multiple actions which may be beneficial for multiple systems in the body - helping to restore balance, improve function and conditions necessary for healing. Many herbs are nutritionally dense, loaded with antioxidants, minerals, and gut healing prebiotics, supporting the gut-brain connection and the gut-skin connection.
For example, let’s look more closely at holy basil or tulsi, ocimum tenuiflorum. If our goal is to help reduce redness and inflammation in the skin, we may consider holy basil for its adaptogenic actions, meaning that this plant helps to normalize the body during times of stress by bringing the body systems into a state of balance. Holy basil is also worked with for its anti-inflammatory actions. Since experiencing too much stress is known to be a major underlying factor in creating inflammation in the body, supporting the body’s ability to reduce stress and inflammation is beneficial for improving the appearance and health of the skin. Loaded with antioxidants (vitamins A, C and K), and minerals including calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and iron, holy basil is a nutritive, nutritional workhorse that may help to heal our skin from the inside out.
Holy basil, or tulsi, ocimum tenuiflorum
When formulating our custom b. Theory Aesthetics teas, we consciously selected organic herbs that address specific skin-related conditions, knowing that these herbs also have numerous additional actions which benefit multiple systems in the body. Drinking an intentionally crafted tea daily is a simple, yet effective way to work with plant medicine to support and strengthen the health of your skin and much more.
Herbal actions found in b. Theory Aesthetics tea blends:
Adaptogenic - helps to normalize the body during times of stress by restoring function and bringing the body into balance. Adaptogens have been shown to prevent mitochondrial dysfunction and support adrenal health.
Alterative - considered blood purifiers, enhancing the repair of bodily tissues and the process of nutrition for promoting health and vitality. Generally they are alkalinizing, helping to reduce acidity in the body.
Analgesic - relieves pain.
Antibacterial - destroys or suppresses the growth of bacteria.
Anti-inflammatory - assists the body in lowering inflammation.
Antiviral - effective against viruses.
Anxiolytic - eases and reduces anxiety.
Astringent - has a tightening effect on the tissues. Helps to strengthen tissues against infection.
Bitters - trigger the digestive process, stimulating digestive juices and aiding the liver in the detoxification process.
Cardiotonic - has a tonifying effect on the heart and cardiovascular system.
Carminative - increases peristalsis of the digestive system and relaxes the smooth muscles of the stomach. Helps to release gas from the stomach and bowels.
Cholagogue - stimulates the flow of bile from the gallbladder. Has a laxative effect on the digestive system.
Demulcent - rich in mucilage. Helps to soothe, hydrate and protect irritated tissues.
Diuretic - increases the flow of urine.
Emollient - helps to soften and soothe irritated tissues, providing a protective barrier.
Hepatoprotective - supports normal liver function and protects the liver cells from damage, stimulates the flow of bile.
Laxative - promotes bowel movement.
Lymphagogue - lymph movers. Increases and supports the movement of lymphatic fluid through the lymphatic system. Aids the body in detoxification, especially during or after an infection.
Nutritive - contains highly concentrated quantities of micronutrients at relatively low doses.
Nervine - strengthens and tones the nervous system, helping to alleviate stress, depression and anxiety.
Neuroprotective - aims to slow disease progression and secondary injuries by halting or slowing neuron loss.
Restorative - returns a system to normal function and metabolism post disease.
Sedative - reduces stress, used for sleep, calmness (easing anxiety and nervousness), and relaxation.
Stimulant - increases the energy of the body.
Tonic - strengthens and tones either specific organs of the whole body through nutritional stimulation.
Vulnerary - promotes healing of external wounds and cuts.
So as you can see from this list, our teas are packed with a multitude of beneficial actions. Let’s look more closely at the specific herbs we chose from each formula to see how these herbs complement each other and target numerous systems with their different actions.
Our b. brilliant herbal tea is a warming and nutritious blend that is formulated to help clear and brighten the skin by supporting and strengthening the function of the liver, one of the body's major organs that is involved with detoxification. When the liver function is sluggish, the body struggles to eliminate hormones which impact our skin’s clarity and pigmentation. This organic blend includes:
🌿Stinging Nettle - nutritive, lowers blood pressure, warming, hepatoprotective (protects the liver), detoxifying.
🌿Tulsi (Holy Basil) - anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, adaptogenic, nutritive.
🌿Burdock Root - hepatoprotective, vulnerary (wound-healing), alterative (purifies the blood), cooling, bitter, laxative, prebiotic.
🌿Dandelion Root - cholagogue (liver-cleansing), cooling, alterative (removes stagnation), bitter, diuretic, laxative, prebiotic.
🌿Ginger Root - warming, anti-inflammatory, lowers LDL cholesterol, stimulant.
🌿Schisandra Berry - hepatoprotective, adaptogenic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, energizing.
🌿Rosehips - anti-oxidant, nourishing, high in vitamin content.
Our b. bold herbal tea is a heart-opening and gentle clearing tea blend formulated to help nourish and tone the skin by supporting and strengthening the circulatory system and supporting our detox pathways (think skin, lymph, kidneys and liver)! This cooling organic blend includes:
🌿Hawthorn Leaf and Flower - cardiotonic, lowers blood pressure, antioxidant, cholesterol-reducing, nutritive.
🌿Lemongrass - carminative (supports digestion), supports sleeps, anxiolytic (eases anxiety).
🌿Hibiscus - antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, carminative.
🌿Elderberry - increases health and vitality, anti-inflammatory, expectorant, antiviral, carminative, nervine.
🌿Raspberry Leaf - astringent, nutritive, uterine tonic.
🌿Calendula - hepatoprotective (liver-protective), lymphagogue (stimulates lymphatic flow), vulnerary (wound-healing).
🌿Marshmallow Root - relieves coughs, demulcent, emollient, pre-biotic.
Our b. beautiful tea is formulated with calming and soothing ingredients to help calm inflammation and irritation (redness, over-dryness) in the skin by supporting the nervous and digestive systems. This delicious, eye-appealing and nurturing organic blend includes:
🌿Lavender - vulnerary (wound-healing), relaxing nervine, cardio protective, antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory.
🌿Chamomile - relaxing nervine, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, vulnerary, anti-microbial, bitter, sedative.
🌿Lemon Balm - relaxing nervine, antiviral, carminative (supports digestion), sedative.
🌿Rose petal - astringent, anti-inflammatory, carminative, eases grief, nutritive.
🌿Linden - demulcent, mild astringent, cardiotonic, nervine.
🌿Spearmint - carminative, antioxidant, balances hormones.
🌿Oatstraw - demulcent, nutritive, vulnerary.
🌿Rosehips - nutritive, demulcent, antioxidant.
🌿Tulsi - adaptogenic, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, immune balancing, neuroprotective.
So next time you are sipping on a cup of tea (and we hope it’s one of our delicious blends!), think about how much you are nourishing your body, reducing stress levels and boosting your overall health. It’s a beautiful, bold and brilliant thing!
Statements made on social media and our website regarding the herbal and natural products offered have not been evaluated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the FDA does not evaluate or test herbs. This information has not been evaluated by the FDA, nor has it gone through the rigorous double-blind studies required before a particular product can be deemed truly beneficial or potentially dangerous and prescribed in the treatment of any condition or disease.
This information is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered as a recommendation or an endorsement of any particular medical or health treatment. Please consult a health care provider before pursuing any herbal treatments. Do not use herbal products of any kind if you are nursing, pregnant, taking medications or undergoing treatment for any medical condition without first consulting your health care professional.