Used for thousands of years, barberry kills bacteria
and can help reduce acne breakouts.

A Little Bit About the Ingredient Itself

Known scientifically as Berberis Vulgaris, barberry is also called Chinese Goldthread, European barberry, holy thorn, and pepperidge bush. A thorny shrub that can grow to about 9 feet tall, it has small, colorful flowers, and likes to grow along the edge of fields or forests, though it’s often cultivated as a hedge in parks and gardens. Toothed leaves manage only about 4 inches in growth. Small red fruits ripen in the fall, and are considered more sour, but less bitter than cranberries.

Barbery was mentioned in traditional Chinese medicine as far back as 3,000 years ago, and even shows up in ancient Egyptian texts. In Italy, the barberry is called the “holy thorn” because legend states it was used in Jesus’ Crown of Thorns.

Health Benefits

Traditionally, barberry was used to treat stomach ailments, improve appetite, reduce fever, and promote a sense of vitality and well being. It also has a long reputation of combating infections and bacteria, and for stimulating the immune system. Other traditional uses include treatment of respiratory problems, yeast infections, and tuberculosis.

Today, the University of Maryland Medical Center states that barberry is used to ease urinary tract infections, diarrhea, respiratory tract infections, sore throat, and gastrointestinal infections. Early studies have also indicated its potential in treating inflammatory skin disorders like psoriasis and eczema. Barberry compresses are even recommended for treating conjunctivitis or inflamed eyelids.

Considered a “bitter tonic,” barberry can also help in detox efforts, cleaning the system and supporting liver function. This action, along with barberry’s ability to expand blood vessels and stimulate circulation, has also given barberry a reputation as the perfect remedy for a hangover.

Benefits to the Skin

Barberry contains a component known as “berberine,” which is known to inhibit the growth of bacteria, and may help boost the immune system. This makes this ingredient perfect for helping to prevent acne outbreaks, and for taming skin redness and inflammation. In fact, preliminary studies have found that it can inhibit the processes in skin that form acne, and can also suppress oil production. The antibacterial action is also great for soothing burns and preventing infection in wounds, as well as for soothing mouth sores.

Barberry is also a good source of vitamin C, which is great for protecting the skin from free radicals and sun exposure, and also helps “feed” the skin the nutrients it needs to build collagen and elastin. Since we naturally lose these components as we age, barberry can help to firm and tighten skin with repeated use.

Try It!

If you want to try barberry for yourself, we’ve included it in our Herbal Facial Oil for Oily and Acne Prone Skin. Makes sense, with barberry’s acne-fighting powers, right? Let us know what you think.

• Herbal Facial Oil for Oily and Acne Prone Skin

How else do you use barberry? Please share your tips.

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Sources
Reuter, Juliane, Merfort, Irmgard and Schempp, Christoph M. Am J Clin Dermatol. 11(4): Botanicals in Dermatology: An Evidence-Based Review. Medscape Today. [Online] 2010. [Cited: January 18, 2011.] http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/723144_2.

Therapeutic Research Faculty. Oregon Grape (Barberry) Full Monograph. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. [Online] 2011. [Cited: January 22, 2011.] http://naturaldatabase.therapeuticresearch.com/nd/Search.aspx?

The tea comes from the rooibos plant, which is known particularly for its anti-allergy and respiratory benefits. This plant also has natural compounds that encourage healthy skin.

Rooibos leaves are dried and used to make tea, though parts of the plant are now used in skin care formulas as well.

A Little Bit About the Ingredient Itself

Scientifically known as Aspalathus linearis, rooibos is a member of the legume family of plants native to South Africa. The story goes that pioneers who moved away from modern-day Cape Town to the north-western inland territory found the native inhabitants of South Africa; namely, the Khoikhoi. These natives shared their knowledge of rooibos herbal tea.

The plant actually comes in four main categories: red, ash-colored, black, and red-brown. The red is the most popular, however, for making tea. The plant itself grows up to about 6.5 feet, with needle-like leaves about ½ inch long. Yellow flowers appear in spring to early summer, and are arranged in dense groups at the tips of the branches.

Health Benefits

Like regular tea, rooibos tea contains flavonoids which act as antioxidants, similar to the flavonoids in green tea. In fact, one laboratory study found that aspalathin, a flavonoid in rooibos, is even more effective at scavenging damaging free radicals than epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) from green tea. An animal study also showed that rats given rooibos tea had higher superoxide dismutase (SOD—a protein that neutralizes free radicals) levels in their blood than those not fed the tea, and they also had less DNA damage. The study also indicated that rooibos tea had an anti-inflammatory effect.

Other studies have shown rooibos to have potential cardiovascular benefits, in helping to reduce high blood pressure. Animal studies have also indicated that rooibos tea suppresses the increase in fasting blood glucose levels, and may stimulate glucose update in muscle tissues and insulin secretion from the pancreas.

Rooibos tea has also been used historically to treat respiratory disorders, with animal studies showing that the tea is both a bronchodilator and an antispasmodic. Additional animal studies have shown rooibos to have potential in helping to prevent and treat liver diseases, and to prevent oxidation of brain tissues that lead to aging.

Benefits to the Skin

Because of its high flavonoid content, rooibos is a powerful anti-aging ingredient for skin care formulas. Since much of skin aging is caused by exposure to UV rays, pollution, and other environmental contaminants that create free radicals, rooibos’ free-radical-quenching abilities help to protect skin and preserve a more youthful look.

Rooibos is also known to have anti-viral, anti-fungal, and antibacterial properties, making it perfect for those with acne, eczema, psoriasis, and other difficult skin conditions. In fact, people with acne have reported that both drinking rooibos tea and applying rooibos to their skin helped decrease the amount of facial eruptions.

Rooibos is a source of vitamin D and zinc, and has been shown to be protective against damaging UV rays. A 2009 study, for instance, found that topical application of rooibos extract prior to UVB exposure inhibited the formation of tumors, suggesting the ingredient may help protect against sunburn and even potentially help prevent skin cancer.

Finally, rooibos is known to be hypoallergenic, helping to calm reactive skin and soothe redness, itching, and rashes.

Try It!

I’m sold on the benefits of rooibos, so I’ve included in the following products. If you try any of these, let me know what you think!

• Coconut Body & Face Oil
• Anti-Aging Serum
• Anti-Aging Facial Oil
• Herbal Facial Oil for Normal and Combination Skin
• Herbal Facial Oil for Oily and Acne Prone Skin
• Anti-Aging Eye Cream

Did you know rooibos had so many benefits for the skin? Have you used the tea for other health benefits? Please share any tips you may have.

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Photo courtesy seekoh via Flickr.com.

Sources
Snijman PW, et al., “Antioxidant activity of the dihydrochalcones Aspalathin and Nothofagin and their corresponding flavones in relation to other Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) Flavonoids, Epigallocatechin Gallate, and Trolox,” J. Agric Food Chem. 2009 Aug 12; 57 (15):6678-84, http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=19722573.

Baba H., et al., “Studies of anti-inflammatory effects of Rooibos tea in rats,” Pediatr Int. 2009 Oct; 51(5): 700-4, http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=19419525.

Kawano A, et al., “Hypoglycemic effect of aspalathin, a rooibos tea component from Aspalathus linearis, in type 2 diabetic model db/db mice,” Phytomedicine 2009 May; 16(5): 437-43, http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=19188054.

Khan AU, et al., “Selective bronchodilatory effect of Rooibos tea (Aspalathus linearis) and its flavonoid, chrysoeriol,” Eur J Nutr 2006 Dec; 45(8): 463-9, http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=17080260.

Gilani AH, et al., “Antispasmodic effects of Rooibos tea (Aspalathus linearis) is mediated predominantly through K+ -channel activation,” Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2006 Nov; 99(5): 365-73, http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=17076689.

“The Many Health Benefits of Rooibos Tea,” Inhuman Experiment, April 4, 2010, http://inhumanexperiment.blogspot.com/2010/04/many-health-benefits-of-rooibos-tea.html.

Petrova, Antoinette, “Modulation of ultraviolet light-induced skin carcinogenesis by extracts of rooibos and honeybush using a mouse model: elucidating possible protective mechanisms” (2009). CPUT Theses & Dissertations. Paper 91. http://dk.cput.ac.za/td_cput/91.

A Little Bit About the Plant Itself

Blue-green algae, or what is also called “pond scum,” but it’s actually much more… are actually microscopic organisms called “cyanobacteria” that are naturally present at low numbers in many bodies of water. When they get a lot of sunshine in water that is undisturbed and full of phosphorus or nitrogen, they can form blooms that produce floating “rafts” on the surface, which usually occurs between mid-June and late September.

This is an old plant that has been around for billions of years, with fossils found in Australia dated 3.5 billion years old. It’s used as a source of dietary protein, B-vitamins, beta-carotene and iron, as well as biologically active enzymes, cholorphyll, fatty acids, and neuropeptides. It’s also a good source of arginine, known to build muscle tone, and contains all eight essential amino acids, as well as some copper, magnesium, zinc, and potassium.

Finding the Best Source

Though we typically think of algae as green, it can also be reddish-purple or brown, as several different species of the algae exist. Two of the most common include the “spirulina” species cultured in alkaline fresh water, and “AFA” species naturally grown and harvested in the Upper Klamath Lake in Oregon.

The blue-green algae for Annmarie Gianni Skin Care products comes from Klamath Lake. Annmarie and her husband Kevin spent a few days at the lake and they felt it was a magical place. The views of two nearby volcanoes are breathtaking, and the historic activity of those volcanoes is one of the reasons why the algae is so nutritious. They were also delighted to find that it’s not a recreational lake—no boaters, jetskiers, or other machines polluting the water. Just pure nature, undisturbed.

Early Evidence of Health Benefits

So far, there are only a few human studies to prove the health benefits of blue-green algae. Researchers found that a protein called “cyanovirin-N,” for example, which comes from blue-green algae, reduced the ability of the HIV virus to infect cells, and also inhibited infection by the Ebola virus. Promoters also claim it helps with conditions like allergies, depression, digestive problems, a lax immune system, and anemia, and promotes detoxification. Some patients take blue-green algae supplements to help prevent and treat cancer and viral infections.

Benefits to the Skin

Because blue-green algae is high in proteins and fatty acids, it attacks skin aging from two sides. First, it strengthen skin’s fibers to lift and tone. Second, the fatty acids work down deep to help shore up skin’s structure, improving elasticity and firmness.

I explained the action of fatty acid in my article on life everlasting flowers. But what about protein? Protein is made of amino acids, and amino acids are responsible for:

1. constructing new skin cells and tissues,
2. repairing damaged ones, and
3. replacing worn-out or dead ones.

Your skin is literally made up of protein. As you slough off old skin cells, you need protein and important amino acids to grow new ones. Blue-green algae, therefore, helps supply the basic building blocks of strong, firm skin.

Other Benefits

As it is water-based by nature, blue-green algae provides moisturization and purifying hydration, helping to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Research has also found that blue-green algae has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties, making it particularly effective against skin concerns like acne, eczema, dermatitis, and psoriasis. Finally, because it’s so compatible with the skin’s natural properties, it’s easily absorbed so the skin can make good use of it.

If you want to try out blue-green algae for yourself, check out my Purifying Mud Mask. Lay back and relax for about 15 minutes and let the ingredients go to work for you. I’ll bet you notice an immediate difference in the appearance of your skin!

Have you tried the Purifying Mud Mask? What were your results?

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Sources
Information Bulletin: Blue-green Algae, NYS Department of Health, Center for Environmental Health. http://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/water/drinking/bluegreenalgae.pdf.

Cynobacteria Frequently Asked Questions, Washington State Department of Health, http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/algae/faqs.htm.

About Herbs, Botanicals & Other Products, Blue-Green Algae. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/herb/blue-green-algae.

Anti-HIV Protein from Blue-Green Algae Also Inhibits Ebola Infection,” National Cancer Institute, http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/pressreleases/2003/ebola.

Martin M. Kulik, “The potential for using cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) and algae in the biological control of plant pathogenic bacteria and fungi,” European Journal of Plant Pathology, 101: 585-599 (1995). http://ddr.nal.usda.gov/bitstream/10113/45497/1/IND20512371.pdf.