So I have this appointment with my Chinese Herbalist / GP today but my skin is getting better and better every day so I’m not really sure what I’m going to ask of him. I had intended to ask if he’d put me on antibiotics but now my skin is doing such a good job on it’s own I’m wondering if I can actually kick this condition the natural way, which is how I always intended to. I’d like to continue with what I’m doing to see if it works to clear my skin by 100% before I resort to any medications. I feel like I’m close …
What I think has helped my skin a lot
I had a really big breakout and awful PMT over christmas, so I decided that I wasn’t going to go through any PMT again. So I started taking supplements to balance my hormone levels which I assume were fluctuating because of my cycle. This is what I’m taking:
1. Maca root powder
This powder is magical. It’s an ‘Inca Superfood’ and has been around for a very long time. Maca is extremely good at balancing your hormones, and it’s adaptogenic, which means it will work on the body according to needs, age and gender of the person taking it. I’ve been taking maca for two or three weeks now. Maca is also good at mood moderation so that might explain why I’ve been happier as well 
A word of caution about MACA
When I first started taking maca powder I took it in the capsule form, and went straight for the full dose. Now I realise this was a big mistake. Because maca works with your hormones, if you take too much too quickly then it can exasperate your symptoms and make you really emotional, which is what I think happened to me. It wasn’t until 2 weeks of taking the supplement that I started to notice the positive benefits. If taking maca, I advise you to half the recommended maximum dosage for the first 2 weeks, then gradually build up to the full maximum dose.
2. Evening Primrose Oil, Fish Oil and Premular
I went to see a naturopath about PMT years ago and he put me on these three supplements which worked perfectly - they got rid of my PMT. Premular is a supplement made from vitex agnus-castus. I take 3 evening primrose tablets, 3 fish oil and 1 premular daily. I don’t think these supplements have had a lot to do with clearing my skin because I’ve only been taking them for about a week. I think they’ll be really helpful during my PMT time though.
3. The Oil Cleansing Method (OCM)
When I put Benzoyl Peroxide on my face for a couple of months, it cleared my skin by 90% but it also dried the %$^%$ out of my face. My skin was always tight and sore no matter how much jojobar oil or moisturiser I put on my skin. When I stopped using the BP my skin then had a massive breakout! which apparently is normal when you go off BP, and why a lot of people are stuck on it forever. Now the only thing I put on my face is extra virgin olive oil and caster oil and my skin loves me for it. I’ve been using the OCM for about a month now and I love it.
4. Meditation
All ‘how to get rid of acne’ advice book and articles tell you to relax, although it’s never that easy. I’ve found a half hour meditation that’s just right for me. I do it every night before I go to bed and it relaxes me a lot, helps me sleep and makes me happy.
So it’s either the maca powder, OCM or the meditation hat has been clearing my skin. Or, it could be all three. I’ve considered giving each one up at a time to test but I love all three so much that I don’t want to do that. The real test now will be the waiting game to see if my skin continues to clear and if it stays clear during PMT time.
Fran
Fran Kerr is the founding editor of High on Health. To cure your acne, sign up to Fran's FREE acne cure mini-course or download her latest how to guide, Eat Away Your Acne.
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3 responses ↓
Wow! that’s great to hear that things are looking up for you, keep up the good work! 8D
You have no idea how reassuring it is to see your experiences on here. I have been dealing with awful acne for almost 2 years now. I had no idea why it was happening (I am 23) and have tried so many things and spent so much money. I stopped taking the contraceptive pill about 2 years ago as well and have just realized that it is probably the main reason why. I even went to school last year and became a Natural Nutritional Consultant and learned nothing about imbalanced hormones and acne.
I actually work for a company that makes Maca and I have just started taking it about 5 days ago so we’ll see how it goes. I did just have a breakout so I am hoping that it’s not because I am taking too much. I just saw your blog about starting out slow and working my way which I think I will do now.
It has been the worst couple years of my life. Self esteem is non existent right now but I am trying to stay positive. It’s hard to go out and do things when I feel that uncomfortable about how I look, especially when meeting new people.
I’m so glad I find this website and look forward to learning many new things.
Hi Carrie, I’m hearing more and more stories that are just like yours and mine. Adult women especially seem to struggle with clearing their acne.
I’ll be posting a video soon on the results of my maca experiment, so look out of that. I’ll also be talking more about the steps that I took to clear my skin.
You might also want to sign up to my mini course, I outline step by step what I did to cure my acne, which is like a course and there’s things you need to do each week. It’s all natural and I think it’ll help you a lot.
I know what you mean about the self esteem. I had that a lot too. I covered up the mirrors in my house, didn’t like to go to social events, and cringed whenever I had to go in bright daylight or UV lights around friends.
The good news is, there IS a cure, and you won’t have to put up with this forever. It may take a bit of patience and persistence but you’ll get there. Soon you won’t even remember what it was like to have acne.
Take care …
Fran
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