Traditional Chinese doctors have a secret anti-aging treatment for skin. They’ve been using it for more than 2,500 years. This herbal remedy soothes inflammation and infection. It calms itching and burns.
In the 17th century this herb finally made its way to Europe. The great Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus gave it a Greek name meaning “golden flower.”
You know this herb as the chrysanthemum flower (Chrysanthellum Indicum).
Modern healers have used an extract from chrysanthemum for many decades. It relieves diaper rash in infants. It hydrates skin. It even relieves skin breakouts from adverse drug reactions.
But in all that time, no one knew exactly WHY this flower was so effective.
Just this year, scientists discovered a compound in chrysanthemum that seems to explain everything. Here’s what they found.
Chrysanthemum Extract Balances Your Skin’s
Natural Protective Barrier
Researchers found a molecule in chrysanthemum. It’s called apigenin.1 And it helps balance the skin’s protective barrier.
You see, your skin has a natural “hydro-lipid barrier.” It’s a film composed of water and fats. When that barrier is out of balance, moisture escapes. That leaves your skin dry and irritated. And when the barrier breaks down, bacteria can enter the body. That can cause disease and infection.
The researchers found apigenin restored healthy fats to the skin barrier. That helps seal in moisture.
It also boosted the skin’s ability to fight off infections.
And its anti-inflammatory action helped reduce the size and number of skin pores. That can help make your skin appear smoother.
How does apigenin do all of this for your skin? For one thing, it’s a powerful antioxidant.2 Oxidative damage from too much sun or harsh chemicals can weaken the skin’s barrier.3 Antioxidants in apigenin restore the skin’s protective shield.4
Earlier studies showed apigenin helps prevent skin tumors caused by radiation.5 And eating foods high in this compound helped reduce the development of lesions on the skin.6
Boost Your Skin’s Protection With
Chrysanthemum Extract
Chrysanthemum is a rich source of apigenin. Other good sources are parsley, celery, Chinese cabbage, bell peppers, apples, cherries, oranges, and nuts. Wine and tea, especially chamomile tea, are also good sources.
You can find apigenin in supplement form. But I advise patients here at the Wellness Center to eat some apigenin-rich foods every day. It’s easy to do. And keeping a minimal blood level of apigenin may be effective in delaying the growth of breast and other cancers.7
To boost your apigenin levels try drinking chrysanthemum tea. It’s cooling and helps clear the liver. The tea also supports immunity. You can find it easily in health food stores or on the internet.
Chinese medicine teaches that drinking chrysanthemum tea over many years prevents aging. Why? It’s brimming with antioxidants, beta carotene and vitamin C. It increases skin hydration. It repairs the skin’s protective barrier. That adds up to a healthy, younger looking complexion.
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD
1. Hou et al, Topical apigenin improves epidermal permeability barrier homoeostasis in normal murine skin by divergent mechanisms. Exp Dermatol. 2013 Mar;22(3):210-5. doi: 10.1111/exd.12102 Pubmed 2023489424
2. Shukla S, Gupta S. Apigenin: a promising molecule for cancer prevention. Pharm Res. 2010;27:962–978. [PubMed] 3. Sapuntsova SG et al, Status of free-radical oxidation and proliferation processes in patients with atopic dermatitis and lichen planus. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2011;150:690–692. [PubMed] 4. Boyce ST et al, Vitamin C regulates keratinocyte viability, epidermal barrier, and basement membrane in vitro, and reduces wound contraction after grafting of cultured skin substitutes. J Invest Dermatol. 2002;118:565–572. [PubMed] 5. Elmore E et al, Correlation of in vitro chemopreventive efficacy data from the human epidermal cell assay with animal efficacy data and clinical trial plasma levels. J Cell Biochem. 2005;95:571–588. [PubMed] 6. Yano S et al, Dietary apigenin attenuates the development of atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice. J Nutr Biochem. 2009;20:876–881. [PubMed] 7. Mafuvadze et al, Apigenin Prevents Development of Medroxyprogesterone Acetate-Accelerated 7,12-Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-Induced Mammary Tumors in Sprague–Dawley Rats. Cancer Prev Res August 2011 4; 1316 cancerpreventionresearch.aacrjournals.org/content/4/8/1316.short