SKIN
It seems like there’s a new trendy skin care ingredient every week—one that promises to erase your wrinkles, smooth your skin, and give you the glow of a unicorn. It’s hard to keep track. But more often than not, these so-called miracle ingredients tend to stem from plants.
Spanish Chestnut Extract
Let’s face it. It’s not unlikely that you have skin damage under the surface after years of living it up in the sun (no judgement here). Luckily, chestnut extract, also referred to as castanea sativa extract, has been shown to treat signs of premature aging due to sun exposure.
Date Palm Extract
A study published in the International Journal of Tissue Reactions looked at the anti-aging properties of date palm extract. Researches concluded it was effective in reducing surface wrinkles and decreasing their depth. A whopping 60 percent of participants saw visual improvement.
Almond Kernel Extract
We’ve long known that eating almonds can benefit your skin because of their vitamin E content. Recently, Cosmetics, a journal dedicated to publishing skin research, also found that almond kernel extract could help treat pimples and skin conditions like eczema.
Pomegranate Extract
Could plants actually become the new SPF? It probably needs more long-term research, but the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found pomegranate extract to be a powerful agent in protecting skin from UVA and UVB rays.
Pine Bark Extract
In addition to that whole keeping-you-alive thing, trees can also play a role in the TLC of your skin. Specifically, pine bark extract has been shown to increase hydration and elasticity of skin. Researchers believe this is because it helps boost the production of hyaluronic acid and collagen. More research needs to be done on the latter, but they’re pretty certain it has a bright future in the beauty industry.
Aloe Vera Extract
Psoriasis be damned! No one knows what causes it, and treating is proving to be tricky. So, the European Journal of Tropical Medicine and International Health conducted a 12-month study on the ability of aloe vera extract to treat psoriasis. Eighty-three percent of participants who applied the topical cream were cured.
ANXIETY
Several herbal remedies have been studied as a treatment for anxiety, but more research is needed to understand the risks and benefits. Here's what we know — and don't know:
Kava
Kava appeared to be a promising treatment for anxiety, but reports of serious liver damage — even with short-term use — caused the Food and Drug Administration to issue warnings about the use of dietary supplements containing kava. While these initial reports of liver toxicity have been questioned, use extra caution and involve your doctor in the decision if you're considering using products containing kava.
Passion flower
A few small clinical trials suggest that passion flower might help with anxiety. In many commercial products, passion flower is combined with other herbs, making it difficult to distinguish the unique qualities of each herb. Passion flower is generally considered safe when taken as directed, but some studies found it can cause drowsiness, dizziness and confusion.
Valerian
In some studies, people who used valerian reported less anxiety and stress. In other studies, people reported no benefit. Valerian is generally considered safe at recommended doses, but since long-term safety trials are lacking, don't take it for more than a few weeks at a time, unless your doctor approves. It can cause some side effects such as headaches, dizziness and drowsiness.
Chamomile
Limited data shows that short-term use of chamomile is generally considered safe and can be effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety. But chamomile can increase the risk of bleeding when used with blood-thinning drugs. Use of chamomile can cause allergic reactions in some people who are sensitive to the family of plants that includes chamomile. Other members of this family are ragweed, marigolds, daisies and chrysanthemums.
Lavender
Some evidence suggests that oral lavender or aromatherapy with lavender can reduce anxiety; however, evidence is preliminary and limited. Oral lavender can cause constipation and headaches. It can also increase appetite, increase the sedative effect of other medications and supplements, and cause low blood pressure.
