Today, we’re discussing gentle herbal allies that soothe irritation and support your liver, bringing you a healthy glow from the inside out.

I. Liver, Lymphatic & Skin Connection

• Your skin is a mirror of your internal balance. Your skin reflects your overall health. The liver and kidneys play a major role in filtering waste from the blood, and the lymphatic system supports immune function and fluid balance. When the body is under systemic stress—from inflammation, hormonal imbalance, nutrient deficiency, or poor recovery—those imbalances can show up in the skin as dullness, congestion, or irritation. Healthy internal regulation often supports a healthy glow externally
• Per Maria Noel Groves, clinical herbalist and author of Body Into Balance,  when the liver, kidneys and/or lymphatic system are overwhelmed your skin can react in any of the following ways:
  • Acne, eczema, rashes
  • Dull or lackluster skin color
  • Slow wound healing and/or prolonged infections
  • Other signals include brain fog, constipation, asthma, food sensitivity, highly reactive seasonal allergies, water retention, migraines, arthritis and chronic pain
• Bitter, alterative herbs like dandelion and burdock support the liver and promote detoxification, which also benefits the skin. Bitter herbs stimulate bile production, helping remove waste from the blood and eliminate toxins stored in fat. Sometimes this can cause a short “healing crisis,” where symptoms temporarily worsen as the body clears these toxins
• Lymphagogues are herbs that help support the flow of lymph, such as calendula, red clover, echinacea, and burdock. I recently learned that nothing actively “pumps” lymph on its own which is why it can become sluggish or stagnant, leading to chronic swelling and inflammation. Things like exercise, sweating in saunas or steams, massage, skin brushing (daily brushing with a stiff-bristled brush – an Ayurvedic practice), baths, and using lymphagogue herbs can all help support lymph flow, detoxification, and healthy vibrant skin

II. Internal & External Herbal Allies for Skin Health

• We’ll focus on 5 classic skin care herbs that support balance from the inside out – literally you drink them AND apply them to the skin!

• Burdock – Sipping burdock as a gentle, nutritive, and tasty tea supports liver function by helping move metabolic waste out of the body. This alterative herb helps promote clear, balanced skin. Brewed strong and cooled, it can also be used as a mild astringent wash to tone the skin and ease congestion.

• Dandelion – Enjoy dandelion tea as a bitter tonic to stimulate bile flow, support detox pathways, and brighten the skin from the inside out. Applied externally as a soft wash or compress, it gently tones and refreshes the skin.

• Calendula – Savor calendula as a slice of sunshine in your cup –  its soothing, lymphatic-supporting properties and uplifting, warming energy. Topically, it’s a celebrated wash or salve that calms irritation, supports tissue repair, and promotes healthy, glowing skin.

• Chamomile – Sip chamomile as a tea to calm the nervous system, support digestion, and reduce stress-related skin flare-ups. Used externally in a wash or salve, this astringent soother gently relieves redness, irritation, and inflamed or reactive skin.

• Rose Petals – Enjoy rose petals as a fragrant, calming, cardiotonic tea that supports the nervous system and lifts the spirit. Brewed strong and cooled, rose makes a beautiful astringent and antimicrobial facial rinse that refreshes, tones, and enhances vibrant skin.

Other wonderful herbs for skin care that deserve a shout out: comfrey, marshmallow, and yarrow; oatmeal, lemon balm and lavender!

III. Calm and Clear Skin Bundle

• Calm and Clear Cleansing Scrub
  • Directions: Mix equal parts of the powder with water and gently massage into skin in place of harsh soap. Rinse with warm water, or the brewed cooled and strained Calm & Clear Skin Tea as a bonus gentle and cleansing herbal astringent.
  • Ingredients: Ground oatmeal, ground organic almonds, Dead Sea mud, organic rose petals, organic chamomile.
• Calm and Clear Skin Tea
  • Directions: Infuse 1 heaping tablespoon of herbal blend in 6-8 oz boiling water. The longer the infusion the better! Brew for a minimum of 30 minutes before straining and consuming or using as a skin toner (be sure its cooled before applying externally!) 1-3 cups per day is recommended.
  • Ingredients: Organic burdock root, organic dandelion root, organic chamomile, organic calendula flowers, organic rose petals
• Calm Skin Salve
  • Directions: Gently apply to clean, irritated skin throughout the day to relieve inflammation and support healing. Do not apply to open or oozing, bloody wounds.
  • Ingredients: Organic calendula, organic chamomile, organic yarrow, home grown comfrey leaves, organic lavender essential oil, organic avocado oil, organic coconut oil, organic beeswax
• Email me at becca@kawaoka-coaching.com to place your bundle order. Depending on the size of tea and salve you’d like, bundle cost can range from $13.50-24.50 (before shipping- often $5-8). I can ship anywhere in the US!

IV. Recipe of the Week: Calendula Salve 

• Ingredients:
  • Dried calendula flowers (ideally with the green base intact)
• • Carrier oil of choice (grapeseed, avocado, and/or jojoba recommended)
• • Beeswax
    • Use 1.5 oz of grated beeswax per ½ cup of herbal oil
  • Gentle essential oil if desired
    • I typically omit this when working with extremely sensitive skin patterns
• Directions:
  • Tightly pack a sterile jar with calendula flowers and cover with oil.
    • Slow Infusion: Place the jar in a cool, dry place and allow the oil 2-4 weeks for infusion. Strain well before combining with melted beeswax and essential oil to make salve.
    • Simmer Method: Place jar in a double boiler on low heat for 4-8 hours (or over the course of a day or so). Strain well before combining with melted beeswax and essential oil to make salve.
• Store salve in amber glass jars or tins. Apply to clean, dry skin as needed. This remedy should remain potent for 1 year if you use dried calendula (check for signs of spoilage and discard)

V. Takeaways + Conclusion

• Herbal allies [Actions: bitter, astringent, lymphagogue, alterative] working together to calm inflammation, support liver, restore skin radiance from the inside out: consumed internally as a tea then applied topically!
• Skincare as a daily ritual viewed from the lens of self-love vs a chore.
• I invite you to experiment and explore your own herbal rituals and remedies!