Dr. Stephanie Rubino, ND, offers helpful tips on how to use tea tree oil for acne.

The uses for tea tree oil are endless! It can aid in treating athlete’s foot, eczema, cuts, burns, lice, dandruff, and many other conditions due to its antiseptic, antibacterial and antifungal properties. A must have first aid home remedy, tea tree oil is an essential oil produced from the leaves of the plant, Melaleuca Alternifolia. 100% Pure Tea Tree Oil by Holista® complies with Australian standards for “Oil of Melaleuca” and is standardized to contain a minimum of 30% Terpinen-4-ol, the key constituent responsible for tea tree oil’s healing and antimicrobial properties.

Tea tree oil can also be used to treat acne as it is thought that tea tree oil can destroy Propionibacterium acnes, the bacteria that is involved in the development of acne. It may also act as a solvent, stopping oily matter from clogging up sebaceous glands and forming pimples.

Research into the use of tea tree oil is limited, however, one randomized double-blind clinical trial performed in 60 patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris treated one group with 5% tea tree oil gel, while the other received a placebo. The patients were followed every 15 days for a period of 45 days and there was a significant difference between the tea tree oil gel and placebo in the improvement of the total acne lesions and the acne severity index. The researchers concluded that topical 5% tea tree oil is an effective treatment for mild to moderate acne vulgaris.

Another trial involving 124 patients evaluated the efficacy and skin tolerance of 5% tea-tree oil gel in the treatment of mild to moderate acne when compared with 5% benzoyl peroxide lotion. The results of this study showed that both 5% tea-tree oil and 5% benzoyl peroxide had a significant effect in ameliorating the patients' acne by reducing the number of inflamed and non-inflamed lesions. Although the onset of action of the tea tree oil was slower, it provided fewer side effects.

How to Use:

Using tea tree oil for acne is easy! Simply apply a small amount on blemishes 2-3 times per day to help prevent outbreaks and acne-related infection. If undiluted tea tree oil causes any skin irritation, you can make a diluted solution. For example, a 5 percent tea tree oil solution can be made by mixing 5 mL tea tree oil to 95 mL of water.

Other natural remedies for acne include eating a healthy diet which provides sufficient amounts of vitamins A, C, E and zinc; drinking plenty of water throughout the day; and engaging in regular exercise. Regular exercise may be one of the best remedies for acne.

References:

Bassett IB, Pannowitz DL, Barnetson RS. A comparative study of tea-tree oil versus benzoylperoxide in the treatment of acne. Med J Aust. 1990 Oct 15;153(8):455-8.

Enshaieh S, Jooya A, Siadat AH, Iraji F. The efficacy of 5% topical tea tree oil gel in mild to moderate acne vulgaris: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2007 Jan-Feb;73(1):22-5

Image sources: http://teatreeoilusage.com/tea-tree-oil-acne.html

It's Shape Up Thursday and we're looking at post workout snack, chocolate milk!

Is chocolate milk really a good post workout snack? Webber Naturals investigates...

You may have heard somewhere before that chocolate milk is a good snack to have after your workout and probably thought, "That can't be right! Chocolate milk?!" Chocolate milk lovers: start exercising because it looks like your drink of choice makes for an excellent post workout beverage!

The best part about this snack is that you will not get fat from having it as a replenishing drink after a workout. Of course, let me say that you should probably not over indulge and drink chocolate milk within moderation to obtain the most benefits. I also suggest getting a chocolate milk that is made with dark chocolate and natural ingredients rather than the processed, sugar-loaded ones, you'll get even more out of your glass.

So how does chocolate milk help you recharge your batteries? Unlike regular sports drinks, chocolate milk has the ideal combination of carbohydrates and protein that help your muscles replenish energy stores and repair much faster. Most sports drinks alone do not have enough protein to be beneficial. Another extra bonus of chocolate milk is the level of antioxidants, which are excellent for helping your body deal with the oxidative stress associated with exercise.

Get more details from nutritional consultant, Mike Russell, PhD, at Shape.com to learn more about how chocolate milk can help you recover and maximize your workout.

Want to see how other drinks level up to chocolate milk? Visit Recharge With Milk for an interactive visual comparison! 

Enjoy your post workout chocolate milk!

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Image source: Shape.com

Welcome back to Webber Wednesday, with Part II of how to choose the right omega-3 products for your toddlers and school-age children from Webber Naturals' expert, Dr. Stephanie Rubino.

Toddlers & School-Age Children:

• Benefits of Omega-3: Continues to develop a fully functional nervous system, including a healthy brain, healthy eyes and visual acuity, improves behaviour and learning disorders, including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), promotes maturation of the immune system, reduces inflammatory conditions such as asthma, childhood depression, & type 1 diabetes, and supports a healthy weight and metabolism.
• Dosage Recommendation for Toddlers and School-Age Children:
  • For children ages 2 to 3, at least 400 mg of EPA and DHA per day.
  • For children over 4, at least 600 mg EPA and DHA per day.

• Product(s) Recommendation for Toddlers and School-Age Children :
  • Lemon Meringue Liquid Omega-3, Plus Vitamin A and 1000 IU Vitamin D (EPA 300 mg, DHA 400 mg)
  • Liquid Omega–3, Super Concentrate with Vitamins A & D (EPA 980 mg, DHA 545 mg)
  • Omega–3 KIDS, Orange Flavour (EPA 100 mg, DHA 50 mg)

Visit us again next Wednesday for Part III of Dr. Stephanie Rubino's tips on how to choose the best omega-3 product for adolescents, adults & seniors!

Image source: Serge the Concierge