Herbal supplements are used by countless people for many different purposes. Some are believed to offer many benefits such as longer hair, softer skin and stronger nails. Herbal beauty supplements typically consist of helpful herbs, necessary vitamins and other important nutrients that promote healthy hair, skin and nails. Herbal supplement formulas are often sold in drugstores, health food stores and online as tablets, capsules, liquid extracts, powders and teas, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. You can also buy individual herbal supplements in many different forms.
Important Ingredients in Herbal Supplement Formulas
There are many different brand name herbal supplement formulas for hair, skin and nails sold in stores and online. The brand of supplement you choose to buy isn't as important as the specific ingredients found in the herbal supplements. When purchasing herbal supplements, here are the most important herbs and vitamins that you should check for.
Buy a herbal supplement that contains the herb horsetail. Horsetail is rich in silica (silicon dioxide). Silica is concentrated in healthy hair, skin and nails. Taking horsetail will contribute to your skin's collagen formation. Horsetail can also reduce the appearance of scars, wounds and acne on skin. It may also help fight brittle hair and nails.
Your herbal supplement should also contain biotin. Biotin is an important vitamin found in all hair, skin and nails supplements. Biotin is believed to help hair grow healthier, thicker and longer. It may also strengthen brittle nails, preventing them from splitting and breaking, according to Blackmores The Best of Health. A good herbal supplement will contain at least 1000 mg of biotin.
Make sure your herbal supplement contains the herb kelp. Kelp is rich in nutrients, vitamins and minerals that you need to grow healthy hair, skin and nails. It can strengthen brittle nails so that they can grow longer. Kelp is also a key ingredient in many popular remedies for hair growth.
Individual Herbal Supplements
Using individual herbal supplements that are specifically designed to aid healthy hair, skin and nails is a great alternative to buying herbal supplement formulas. Here are a few herbal supplements that you should try.
Buy the herbal supplements horsetail and kelp (mentioned above). These herbs are available in pill form, as a liquid, or as dried herbs used for herbal infusions (tea) and external compresses for the skin. Horsetail can also be added to your shampoo to strengthen hair and keep it looking shiny, according to Holistic Online. Steep horsetail inside boiling hot water and add the horsetail to your favorite herbal shampoo.
Use burdock root to treat hair loss and promote hair growth. Burdock is a powerful herb that stimulates hair root circulation and helps renew the cells of your skin and hair. Massage your scalp daily with burdock oil to help hair growth. You can also apply burdock oil to your nails after doing a manicure. Look for the herbal supplement burdock inside skin and body lotions. Apply the lotion to your skin daily to treat skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and acne.
Use aloe vera herbal supplements. Aloe vera has many uses for the hair, skin and nails. Use aloe vera to treat fungus on your nails, dandruff in your hair, and rashes, scars, eczema and burns that affect your skin. Apply aloe vera or aloe vera gel externally to treat skin conditions. Apply aloe vera to your scalp to treat dandruff. Aloe vera juice and some alow vera gels may be taken internally to promote skin health.
Tags: herbal supplements, skin nails, aloe vera, , hair skin nails
