Contents
Spring and summer are the seasons when multicolored flowers and wild herbs bloom in the local meadows. Lovers of natural methods of caring for their beauty and health grow their most popular varieties (e.g. field horsetail, mint and nettle) in their home gardens. Their positive influence on the condition of the skin, hair and nails has been known for hundreds of years. Fresh herbs are best brewed in the summer season, but drinks based on the most famous herbs can be drunk all year round.
The influence of herbs on the condition of the skin, hair and nails
Healthy and supple skin, shiny and strong hair and nails are not only the result of proper care. It cannot be denied that good-quality, preferably natural cosmetics with a proven and dermatologically tested composition, allow to strengthen the skin, hair and nails from the outside, deeply moisturizing them and protecting them against harmful effects of factors. However, we often forget to provide valuable ingredients from the inside, along with the daily diet.
Herbs are a remedy for many dermatological problems, including dry skin, acne lesions, loss of radiance, and brittle hair and nails. When drunk regularly, they can visibly improve their condition. However, this is not the end, because natural herbal extracts contain the power of vitamins and minerals that have a positive effect on the well-being of the entire body, e.g. they alleviate digestive ailments, help to calm down before bedtime, soothe frayed nerves or strengthen the body’s immunity.
The top three most popular herbs for skin, hair and nails are field horsetail, nettle and mint.
Properties of field horsetail
Field horsetail is a herb that deserves a special mention. Our grandmothers and great-grandmothers drank decoctions and teas from this valuable plant. Interestingly, for many years, horsetail was considered an unnecessary weed. Scientific research has shown that one of its main ingredients is silicon, which strengthens the skin, hair and nails. In addition, the plant is also a source of calcium, potassium and magnesium. The richness of flavonoids, which are natural and strong antioxidants (fighting free radicals), means that horsetail teas and drinks prevent premature aging of the epidermis.
The other care properties of field horsetail are:
- soothing skin irritations,
- normalization of the work of sebaceous glands (which is especially important in people with oily and acne-prone skin),
- strengthening blood vessels,
- reducing skin inflammation,
- noticeable strengthening of the nail plate and hair (they become thicker and fall out less),
- relieving the symptoms of psoriasis and dandruff.
Field horsetail extracts can be consumed throughout the year, for example in herbal-fruit drinks Herbapol Beauty Skrzyp (with the addition of green tea, citrus, zinc and biotin).
Properties of nettle
Nettle grows on Polish meadows at the end of May. Collecting it, however, can be troublesome, due to the stinging hairs covering the entire plant. Fortunately, you can buy it in a dried form or as a ready-made drink, such as Herbapol Detox Nettle with quince and green tea. Many active biological substances can be distinguished in the nettle, including vitamin C, K, B2, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids (including linoleic and oleic acids), flavonoids, phytosterols, ceramides and carotene. Nettle also provides magnesium, zinc, iron, copper, selenium, zinc, and silicon.
The most important care properties of nettle are:
- improvement of microcirculation in the epidermis,
- protection against free radicals, and thus faster skin aging,
- ability to increase collagen production,
- strengthening hair and reducing hair loss,
- reduction of seborrhea,
- reducing swelling,
- relieving skin inflammation,
- strengthening the nail plate and reducing the effect of splitting.
Properties of mint
Mint is a well-known herb associated primarily with relieving digestive ailments. However, its properties do not end there. There are many varieties of it in Poland, but the most popular is peppermint. The composition of mint includes, for example, peppermint oil, carotenoids, flavonoids, sterols, mineral salts, folic acid, vitamins A, C, B1, as well as iron, phosphorus, selenium, zinc, magnesium and potassium.
The most valuable cosmetic properties of mint are:
- reduction of acne lesions,
- reducing the secretion of sebum by the sebaceous glands,
- gentle softening of the epidermis,
- skin refreshment,
- anti-dandruff and slightly drying action (which can be used by people with a tendency to oily hair),
- slight lightening of the skin.
Refreshing mint can be drunk all year round, in the form of warm teas or drinks, eg Herbapol Activity Mint with the addition of ginseng and mango.