Folk Medicine for Acne

Wisdom from the generations holds many answers for the treatment of common ailments. Folk medicine is an acquired knowledge by ordinary people who have, according to traditions in their culture, handed down their beliefs that substances in our material world contain healing properties. Many ailments can benefit from this complementary and alternative form of medicine, and acne is one such condition.

Features of Folk Medicine

In "Folklore and Folklife," the author writes that folk medicine is the "substance of all the traditional viewpoints on sickness and the healing methods applied against disease which exist among the people." Folk medicine comes from cultures the world over, and grew especially among people who were isolated from modern medicine. Black Americans are one such group whose rich history of folk medicine has been documented by Duke University. Areas surrounding the Appalachian Mountains are also rich in folk medicine.

Causes of Acne

The exact cause of acne is unknown but it is generally held that an over-production of sebum, an oil secreted by the sebaceous glands--which are small glands in the skin--blocks and inflames pores. Acne occurs in 40 to 50 million Americans and nearly three quarters of the population have experienced it at some point. Acne occurs whenever hormones act up--in adolescence and puberty, and menstruation and menopause. Even stress can result in an over-activity of the sebaceous glands.

Folk Medicine

A wealth of information, gathered by UCLA's Folklore archivists, provides research material about folk medicine. In the treatment of acne, evidence suggests urine therapy as a treatment for acne. In Salt Lake City, an archivist notes that rubbing a wet diaper from a baby, over the face, improves acne. A Finnish woman reported personal experience of using ant urine by breaking up the nest, and spitting on the ants. Once the face is brought close to the ants, they will urinate and initiate a healing response. In Nova Scotia, applying cow's urine treated acne. Authors of "Urine Therapy: Nature's Elixir for Good Health," Peschek-Bohmer and Schreiber, write that chronic or acute acne can be treated with a regimen of internal and external applications.

Remedies in Folk Medicine

Remedies for acne can be found among the annals of folk medicine and many have their origins in herbalism. For example, a quart of stinging nettle tea taken once a day cleanses the blood according to Dr. Alfred Vogel, the renowned Swiss herbalist. He also recommends taking 2 tbsp. of black strap molasses every day.
An old Appalachian folk cure for acne involves rubbing a half lemon on the face, then burying it in the earth or feeding it to a pig.

More Folk Medicine Remedies

An old remedy in "Irish Herbal Cures" by Christine Scallans says to place shredded horseradish in a bottle of wine--leaving it for some time in temperate conditions--resulting in a vinegar to be dabbed on the face.
A 'brew' of meadow-sweet or elder blossoms applied to the face, back or chest will improve acne according to Juliette de Bairacli Levy in "Nature's Children."