Our skin is wonderfully suited to fulfill a variety of functions.
It is our first line of defense against damage from infection, chemical pollution,
extreme of temperature and light, and physical injury. It secretes antiseptic substances
to ward off invading micro-organism, and is home to beneficial bacteria which discourage
the proliferation of less favorable ones. It has and acid mantle which is vital to the health
of such defense systems, and for this reason it is important that the pH of the skin is not
disturbed by over cleaning, heavy creams, perfumes, deodorant and the like.
When the water is very cold, blood vessels in the skin contract and help keep heat inside
the body. When it is very hot the blood vessels dilate and the blood suffuses to the surface of
the body, losing heat into the atmosphere and keeping the body cool.
The skin is also a major organ of excretion, with several million sweet glands
through which the average adult excretes about the pint (600ml) of liquid of every day.
During vigorous exercise or in hot weather this can increase by ten times or more.
Sweat contains water, mineral salts, nitrogenous wastes and other toxins-in fact it is similar
in content to urine. Diaphoretic herbs such as chamomile, yarrow, linden blossom and catmint
can be taken as hot teas to increase perspiration, and thereby clear toxins from the system,
as well as bring down a fever. Sweat contributes to the function of the protective mantle
covering the body, helping to ward off harmful bacteria, and maintains the balance of
electrolytes and mineral salts in the blood. If you do not take sufficient vigorous exercise
to produce a sweat on a regular basis, a greater burden rests on the other organs of
elimination-the lungs, bowls and kidneys.
The skin is also an organ of sense, it is richly supplied with sensitive nerve endings
which relay messages to the brain about sensations from the outside world, heat or cold,
pleasure or pain. It is the point of contact between our inner and outer worlds, so it is
hardly surprising that many skin problems arise not only through physical abuse of the skin
but also through emotional disharmony. The skin reflects our inner state on both physical and
emotional levels.
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