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Although green tea is now all the rage, thanks to Oprah, there is another tea that is excellent for skin care and general health – Chamomile. Usually considered to be a sleep remedy, chamomile has been used for thousands of years to treat a variety of conditions – including skin problems. It is now used in several skin care products, including a good shielding lotion, to help treat dry skin, eczema and other skin conditions. Here’s what chamomile can do for you.

Most skin conditions have both internal and external causes. Some stem from the digestive system, some from the immune system and some from the nervous system. Externally, most skin conditions are caused by irritating chemicals and environmental pollutants.

Although chamomile doesn’t clean up pollution, it can certainly help with just about everything else.

* It reduces allergic reactions and helps control hay fever, asthma, hives, itchy, dry skin and eczema.

* It reduces inflammation – often a problem for those with dry skin and eczema.

* It helps prevent infection and heal the skin with its natural antiseptic properties.

* Chamomile soothes, balances and nourishes the nervous system and thereby helps prevent itchy, dry skin, rashes and hives.

* It improves the health of the lining in the gastrointestinal tract, thereby reducing dry skin, eczema and other skin-related symptoms of poor digestion.

* It enhances the immune system by stimulating the production of white blood cells.

Chamomile is available in several forms for internal use – teas, tinctures, drops, tablets or capsules – and can also be found in skin care products. However, make sure you check the other ingredients: using a product with toxic chemical ingredients will defeat the purpose of the chamomile. Thousands of doctors now recommend a good shielding lotion for skin care – it locks in natural moisture and locks out chemicals so your skin can heal.