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5 Natural Basil (Tulsi) Acne Treatments

Hi Angela,

Yes it is true that basil (Tulsi or Indian basil) works well as a natural home remedy for skin that is prone to pimples and acne breakouts.

Basil has been for thousands of years to treat many different skin and health problems such as eczema, arthritis, and high blood pressure. This highly popular medicinal herb is particularly beneficial for acne skin because it has powerful antibacterial and antiviral properties, which help get rid of acne-causing bacteria Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) and heal the acne lesions.

How to Use Holy Basil Leaves to Treat Acne and Pimples

1. Regular application of basil tea (tonic) not only clears up acne and blemishes, but also makes your skin complexion visibly brighter and instantly smoother.

In a small saucepan, add 2-3 teaspoons of dried basil leaves and 1 cup of water. If you are using fresh ones, I would suggest you lightly crush the leaves with a pestle to release the herb's natural oils. Boil for 15 minutes, remove from heat and strain. Allow basil tea to cool completely. Apply onto acne afflicted areas with a cotton ball, 2 times a day, before you use a moisturizer.

You can refrigerate any unused basil tea (covered) up to a week.

2. Facial steaming will open the pores, loosen debris and allow for a deep skin cleaning, leaving your face feeling soft and refreshed.

Steam your face over a bowl of hot water combined with a small handful of holy basil leaves, for about 10 minutes. If your skin is very oily, squeeze half a lemon or lime into it. Follow up with a clay face mask or splash cold water on your face, or gently rub an ice cube wrapped in a towel over your face to close the pores.

3. When combined with gram flour (chickpea flour), this homemade basil acne face mask is very effective at treating facial blemishes and acne. In addition, gram flour has excellent skin whitening properties and is extremely good for lightening acne scars and dark marks. You can omit the gram flour in this recipe but the face mask will be slightly runny in consistency.

Grind together some basil leaves, mint leaves, a bit of gram flour and water to make a thick paste. Apply the paste to acne and pimples. Wash off completely after 15-20 minutes.

4. Using neem in this homemade facial mask recipe will further enhance the healing powers of basil leaves as neem is one of the best Indian Ayurvedic herb traditionally used for purifying and cleansing.

Place equal amounts of fresh basil leaves and neem leaves (about ¼ cup) in a food processor. Add a little water, and blend to create a smooth paste. Gently and evenly spread basil and neem facial mask on your face, making sure to avoid the delicate eye area. Leave the mask on for 10-15 minutes and then rinse off completely with cold water.

5. Acne prone skin will also greatly benefit from both sea salt and egg white. Sea salt acts as a antiseptic to reduce acne inflammation and promote healing while egg white helps tighten large pores associated with oily skin.

Add ¼ teaspoon dead sea salt and 1 egg white to blended fresh basil leaves. Lightly massage on your face, paying extra special attention to areas where you have acne, pimples or blemishes. Relax and leave on for 5-7 minutes and then wash off with water. For best result, you may want to rinse the face mask off with Basil tea.

Aside from using basil as a natural acne home treatment, you can rub finely powdered Basil leaves on your face to control facial oil during hot summer months, and keep your complexion clear. You can also use the Basil tea as a hair rinse to add luster to dry brittle day, or to get rid of annoying dandruff flakes, and stop an itchy scalp. Basil leaves also works as a breath freshener when chewed.

Treating acne with holy basil is not for everyone. The herb may occasionally cause allergic reactions – skin rashes – when applied topically. Always check with your doctor before you use basil in your skincare regimen.

By Tiffany Moore

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