by Jennifer Poindexter
Do you suffer from severely dry skin? It can be painful and all-around irritating. Are you aware there are herbs you can grow to help with dry skin?
Some people prefer to use natural remedies to treat their ailments. If you’re one of them, you’ll be glad to know that herbs can be a great treatment for this condition.
I’m not only going to share which herbs should help, but I’ll also share how you can grow them around your home.
Plus, how the herbs should be used to help your dry skin. If you’re interested in learning more about using herbs to heal dry skin, these are the herbs you should consider growing.
1. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is one of the herbs you reach for as soon as your skin becomes burned or irritated. It’s known for this. If you’re interested in growing aloe vera, be sure to follow a few basic rules.
This plant can handle full or partial indirect sunlight. It also needs to be planted in loamy soil. In most areas, aloe vera will be an indoor plant as it’s only hardy in planting zones ten and eleven.
When utilizing fresh aloe vera, cut the foliage open to remove the gel inside. This is what you should apply to the irritated or dry skin.
Aloe vera should only be used for external purposes. Also, apply a small amount to your skin to ensure you don’t have an allergic reaction before applying larger amounts. This goes for any herb mentioned in this article.
2. Fennel
Fennel enjoys sunlight, and it also needs well-draining soil. By planting this herb where it will receive these two things, you’re giving the plant the greatest opportunity to succeed.
You should also wait until all threat of frost is over. Though a mature plant can handle light frost, young plants can’t. Take this into consideration when choosing when and where to plant fennel.
Once your fennel is grown, many people use the seeds to treat their dry skin. There are a variety of recipes around the internet, but the idea is to grind the fennel seeds up.
As you rub the face mask onto your skin, the seeds should gently exfoliate the area. Therefore, helping your dry skin to heal.
3. Peppermint
Peppermint is an herb which will take over your growing space if you aren’t careful. Therefore, it’s typically recommended to plant peppermint in a container.
This herb likes full sun and well-draining soil. It’s easy to reseed and will come back for years to come in most planting zones.
When treating dry skin, most people use the oil from the peppermint leaves. Be mindful when doing this as it can be potent. Many recommend diluting it with a carrier oil before applying it to your skin.
4. Calendula
Calendula prefers to be planted where it will receive full to partial sunlight. It can grow in ordinary soil but does appear to grow better where the soil is rich in nutrients.
You should also make sure to plant this herb where the soil is well-draining. Too much water can suffocate the plant before it receives the opportunity to produce.
Once your calendula plant is grown, it’s now time to use it to soothe your dry skin. In most cases, gardeners extract the oil from the plant. It works well in homemade ointments to treat dry skin.
5. Neem
Did you know the neem herb is actually a tree? This tree can prove a little challenging to grow at first. If you try to start the herb from seed, the seeds must be fresh.
Neem seeds are only viable for less than two weeks. Even if you start this herb from an established plant, these trees should be planted in well-draining soil and indirect sunlight.
Until the tree shows that it’s growing, you should avoid any direct sunlight. Over time, the tree can be gently introduced to more sun.
Once the tree is producing, you can use the foliage to treat your dry skin. Some people extract the oil from the plant, they boil the leaves in water to use as a facial toner, or they turn the leaves into a powder for a face mask.
6. Horsetail
You may be unfamiliar with the horsetail herb. This herb is closely related to the fern plant, has a large stem in the center, and its foliage resembles dill.
This is a perfect herb for poor growing conditions. It prefers wet, soggy soil that’s low in nutrients. The herb does like a few hours of sunlight each day. It also thrives in hot and humid conditions.
Use horsetail as a tea to soothe skin. Instead of drinking it, use the water as a toner to cleanse dry or irritated skin.
7. Chamomile
Chamomile can be grown using a variety of gardening methods. It does well in raised beds, containers, and traditional garden beds.
The herb does need well-draining soil and prefers full sun. However, if you live in one of the higher planting zones, providing some shade during the hot afternoons will help this plant thrive.
There are multiple ways to use chamomile for dry skin. One way is to extract the oil. Be sure to mix it with a carrier oil. Then add it to a warm bath to further dilute it. Soak in the bath to heal your dry skin.
Also, you can drink chamomile tea. This herb has many anti-inflammatory properties. By drinking it in tea, you could be helping to heal your ailments from the inside out.
8. Marshmallow
Our final herb is marshmallow. This is a unique herb, not to be confused with the sweet treat most of us like to roast over a fire.
The marshmallow herb can grow to be as tall as five feet, loves consistently damp soil, and desires full sun. It’s also a perennial and hardy in planting zones three through seven.
How do you use this herb to benefit your skin? You create an extract from the root. The root contains a useful ingredient known as mucilage.
When used in homemade salves and ointments, it can soothe irritated skin and moisturize dry skin. If this sounds like an herb you’d be interested in, consider growing it around your home.
This concludes our list of herbs which could help with dry skin. Whether you’re someone who has chronically dry skin or dry skin just seems to bother you during the colder portions of the year, be prepared.
Try growing some or all of these herbs to make your own oils, extracts, face masks, or salves to treat what ails you. It could prove healthier for you and also save money.
Be mindful that all skin is different. Always consult your doctor before using any new herb or supplement. Also, test any new product on your skin in small amounts.
By using great care, you may find that growing your own herbs and using them as a moisturizer is what your dry skin has needed all along.
Learn More About Growing Herbs
https://extension.umn.edu/vegetables/growing-herbs-home-gardens
https://extension.missouri.edu/g6470
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