In response to a multitude of questions from my readers here is a LONG post on treating Eczema naturally...if you aren't in need you may want to skip today's blog :) Please remember that I am NOT a Dr. and that this post contains
my own personal opinions and research which have NOT been approved by, verified by, or probably even heard of by the USDA....so the government would like you to be advised to proceed with caution!
What is Eczema?Eczema is a condition that affects the skin. It may be associated with allergies, nervous stress or even chemical or metal irritants. If it is caused by an irritant it would be confined to certain areas...for instance metal jewelry might cause a reaction where it touches the skin. But allergic eczema can affect any and all parts of the body....even in the creases of skin such as inside the elbows, behind knees or under the breasts. It leaves areas of the skin dry, flaky and red. It can become inflamed and ooze and leave a crusty patch. The cells of the skin become damaged which can cause them to change color or become thick and scaly. Eczema can cause
severe itching. It can also leave the skin open to infections and viruses.
It is interesting that eczema is
less frequent in
children who have been nursed. Children under 3 with eczema usually have food allergies - children over 3 usually have asthma and are especially allergic to dust mites and molds.
Eczema is the result of either atopic dermatitis or contact dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis is associated with allergies such as asthma, hay-fever or hives. It can occur anywhere on the body but seems to be found most often on the face, neck, wrists, hands, eyelids, behind ears and in the creases of the groin, knees and elbows. This usually starts during childhood and will affect larger areas of the body than if it began after reaching adulthood.
Eczema caused by contact dermatitis is associated with a reaction to something that has touched the skin. It is a painful weeping skin reaction to things such as poison ivy or oak, perfume, chemicals, or even latex. Certain metals used in jewelry are often a common cause.
Both forms of eczema cause changes in how the skin repairs itself. The process is permanently activated but never really gets completed. The skin regenerates faster than those without eczema but the skin never begins the normal immune function.
The standard treatment for people suffering from eczema is a steroid cream...but we know that this can also cause problems in our bodies. Especially for young people! Long term use of steroids leaves skin fragile and thin and can have many other adverse side effects in the body. Let’s talk about some other options for treatment both internally and externally including diet to see what we can do to avoid the steroid route....
Topical Treatment for EczemaI am listing these in the order that I would use them....for instance I would reach for the Aloe first...then the Calendula salve and so on down the line. These are my personal choices - they don’t have to be yours :) Each child is different and you may find that something further down the list does a better job for your child...this is the beauty...and the challenge...of herbal medicine. Let’s take a look.....
Aloe Gel - externally the application of Aloe gel relieves inflammation. The gel from a freshly sliced leaf is much better that the bottles of “Aloe Vera Gel” that you find in the store. Check the ingredients on those bottles - they are far from being 100% Aloe - there are usually chemical colorants, scents, preservatives etc. Purchase a plant, keep it on your windowsill and use the leaves!
Calendula salve will reduce the inflammation and redness. You can find a 100% pure and natural Calendula salve, free from chemical colorants and scents, at my web site
here. I have included Lavender Essential Oil to help relieve the itching from Eczema and healing wounds!
Lavender salve helps to relieve itching and has a soothing quality both physically and emotionally. You can also find Lavender salve on my web site
here.
Copaiba oil provides relief of inflammation and is also antibacterial - it also seems to act quickly.
Chickweed salve or oil. Chickweed is soothing, slightly astringent, heals wounds, eases irritation and itching and helps heal lesions. Apply it as a salve as required.
Chamomile or licorice creams can prevent itching and stop the hardening of the skin.
Rosemary Tea - make a cup of rosemary tea (easy...steep rosemary leaves in hot water for 10 minutes covered!) and use as a skin wash several times a day. Rosemary stimulates blood flow to the skin and helps to prevent infections.
Marshmallow root cream helps to form a protective layer over the skin which helps to prevent infection.
Stinging Nettle - salve or cream - use externally.
Turmeric extract - apply as a poultice twice daily. This helps to alleviate pain and promote healing.
Walnut leaf extract - apply a a skin wash 2 to 3 times a day to protect against infection and stop excessive sweating.
Internal treatment for EczemaStinging Nettle is an astringent, a tonic and a circulatory stimulant. It is especially useful if the eczema is associated with poor circulation but it is wonderful for all forms of eczema. Take as an infusion or tincture. You can combine it with other cleansing herbs such as heartsease, red clover, figwort or cleavers to infuse or tincture. (You will be able to purchase organic Stinging Nettle tea at my
website beginning early next week!)
Burdock is cleansing, good for any toxic skin condition and is wonderful for scaling eczema. Take a decoction of the leaves or up to 4 ml tincture three times a day. You can combine Burdock with other cleansing herbs such as Yellow Dock, Figwort, Cleavers, Heartsease and Red Cover. Add flowers and leaves to the decoction for 1 to 2 minutes.
Oregon grape root extract detoxifies the body and reduces inflammation.
Fish Oil supplements an excellent source for GLA (Borage Seed oil or Flaxseed Oil are good sources of GLA but less effective than fish oil).
Zinc - 45 to 60 milligrams of zinc daily during flare ups then reduce to 30 milligrams when condition clears. You need zinc to utilize the GLA.
Evening Primrose Seed Oil. This oil contains essential fatty acids that are needed to maintain healthy tissues. Take 3 g a day in capsule form....1 to 2 g a day for children.
Coleus Forskolin tablets -- take 50 mg. 3 times a day - it is a potent herbal antihistamine (check label for smaller doses for children).
Heartsease is anti-inflammatory, diuretic, and a laxative and it is especially good for weeping eczema. take as an infusion or tincture but avoid high doses.
Diet and other considerationsAdd blackberries, blueberries, cherries and raspberries to the diet. These provide antioxidant compounds that stop production of histamines. Also consider preparations of bilberry and hawthorn for their antioxidant qualities - these can be taken in tea form. (Watch my
website for the addition of bilberry tea!)
There is a burdock cereal called Goboshi in Japanese groceries. Eat 1 dry oz. daily. This regulates the immune system and reduces skin cell destruction.
Add brown rice and millet to the diet
Avoid eggs, peanuts, soy, wheat, and dairy.
Keep the house humidified. take fewer showers and baths...they deplete the skin of natural oil. Use a moisturizing all natural soap that is completely free of chemical colorants, scents and preservatives. A
true Spanish Castile (made only with olive oil!) is the best. You can find a completely pure Spanish Castile on my web site
here.
Avoid bubble baths, these products are FULL of chemicals, which can cause dermatitis and even irritate tissues of the lower urinary tract which may result in urinary tract infections! Instead you can infuse chickweed in a light oil such as sesame and add 1 tbsp. of infused oil to the bath water! Bathe and get out....NO soaking in tubs!!
Avoid moisturizing creams and lotions - they are full of chemicals and inhibit the barrier function in eczema affected skin which encourages infection.
Keep stress levels down - stress irritates the condition by causing the immune system to secrete histamines and leukotrienes, chemicals that damage skin.
Avoid nickel jewelry - it frequently causes skin allergies.
I hope this information gives you many options in treating Eczema. You don't need to try them all and certainly don't need to use them all at the same time. But try a few at a time - especially concentrating on diet - until you find what works for your child.
For those items that I don't carry on my website, you should be able to find most (if not all) at Mountain Rose Herbs. Their link is in my sidebar and if you click through me, your purchase will be helping to support my blog!
If you are at a loss when it comes to words like poultice, compress, decoction, tincture etc.....and if you are interested in learning to treat your family with herbs...you might want to consider taking my
Medicinal Herb Course which will teach you the basics of preparing your own medicine while covering 10 common medicinal herbs. You can read more about it
here! This course also comes with 30 days of mentoring by a special email address privy only to my students. Ask as many questions as you'd like....my desire is to educate you and give you confidence in your own ability to take responsibility for some of your own health care and that of your family! God has lovingly provided for our needs through his bountiful gift of herbs and other plants and trees....join me and learn more about His provisions for our health!
Blessings!
Cheri