12 Natural Remedies For Eczema, Rashes and a Range of Persistent Skin Conditions
By April McCarthy via
PreventDisease.com
Eczema is a catch-all term for a variety of ailments that cause the
inflammation and irritation of the skin. It now affects more than 20% of
infants and about 5% of adults and children although those numbers
appear to be increasing due to dietary triggers and environmental
pollutants. The standard treatment for the medical community for eczema
is corticosteroid creams which only suppress symptoms without addressing
underlying causes. Chemical creams such as topical immunomodulators are
also associated with cancer risks. Here are some effective natural
remedies which can tackle even severe cases of skin inflammation.
Most doctors will tell you they don’t know the exact
cause of eczema and they’re right because the exact causes are many
(most of which they are not aware of). These include fragrances in
consumer products, soaps, laundry detergent, dust, cosmetics,
environmental pollutants and of course diet and processed foods.
The biggest reason to stay away from corticosteroids and
immunosupressants is that they don’t resolve the problem. Patients also
become addicted to them. The problem is, the moment patients stop using
them, the eczema will flare right back up. Even worse is that many
people will need to continually use stronger and stronger steroidal
treatments on their eczema as time passes and their body develops a
dependency for it.
The only way to effectively treat any skin condition is to allow your
body to heal itself through the assistance of dietary strategies and
natural health therapies which work with your immune system to stimulate
healing.
12 Natural Remedies
1) BURDOCK ROOT
Burdock root is good for reducing inflammation and also destroys inulin
which has been linked to eczema outbreaks. This herb root contains small
quantities of many vital vitamins, including folic acid, riboflavin,
pyridoxine, niacin, vitamin-E, and vitamin-C that is essential for
optimum health. Both vitamin C and E are powerful natural antioxidants
help the human body stave off infections. Furthermore, it also contains
some valuable minerals such as iron, manganese, magnesium; and small
amounts of zinc, calcium, selenium, and phosphorus. You can make a tea
from this which is easy to make and drink.
2) BENTONITE CLAY INFUSED WATER
Bentonite is made up of tiny little platelets, each with a negative
and positive charge. As the clay travels, it expands like a sponge as it
absorbs water as it works its way through our bodies. It soaks up as
many positively charged toxins in its path as it can hold. It helps
treat skin conditions by removing toxins, increasing circulation,
decreasing inflammation and absorbing excess oil.
Significant improvements can be seen after using it twice a week on
problem areas. Please note that some skin conditions may seem to get
worse because after treatment with bentonite clay as the toxins rise to
the surface. This is normal and will subside in a week or two depending
on the severity of your condition. It works really well if you mix the
clay with pure apple cider vinegar or an herb infused vinegar and leave
on overnight.
3) FERMENTED COD LIVER OIL
Modern preparation of cod liver oil involves expressing the oil from the
fatty tissues of cod fish while it is cooked. However, the cooking
process and the subsequent refining will remove some of the bioactive
components of cod liver oil. The traditional manufacture of cod liver
oil, on the other hand, produces a more nutritious and medicinal oil.
This process relies on fermentation rather than cooking to extract the
oil from the tissues of cod fish.
Both EPA and DHA have anti-inflammatory properties. By contributing
to the reduction of inflammation in tissues, omega-3 fatty acids can
relieve certain symptoms of eczema such as blistering and red, inflamed
skin. Besides their anti-inflammatory properties, omega-3 fatty acids
are also incorporated into the skin cells. When the blood levels of
omega-3 acids falls, the skin becomes dry, flaky and easily irritated.
Studies have shown the omega-3 fatty acid deficiency increases the
keratinization of skin cells.
Therefore, without these essential fatty acids, skin cells are increasingly destroyed and dead skin cells accumulate.
4) NEEM OIL
Neem oil, which comes from the neem tree, is a natural
anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-histamine,
anti-viral and anti-microbial. So it kills any bacteria and disease
promoting microorganisms on the skin while reducing redness and swelling
which causes itching. It’s also high in vitamin E and fatty acids, so
it will hydrate your skin and can help restore its natural elasticity.
Neem contains extraordinarily high levels of antioxidants that help
to protect the skin from environmental damage. It also contains
carotenoids (similar to carotene) which provide high antioxidant
compounds that help defend the skin against free radicals. Once
absorbed, these powerful properties work to rejuvenate the skin’s cells
and restore elasticity.
5) OLIVE LEAF
This plant is an excellent antiseptic which means it can help ward
off infection and bacteria. And for those of you with eczema who tend to
scratch that itch, if the skin breaks you become susceptible to
infection. So, olive leaf can keep things clean and contained. As an
antioxidant, it can break this chain of damage before it sets in and
results in eczema.
Traditional remedies made from olive leaf are known for their
antibiotic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties as
well as their ability to stimulate the immune system.
The polyphenols of olive leaf extract are potent antioxidants. In
fact, a liquid preparation made from fresh olive leaves was shown to
have double the antioxidant capacity of green tea and 4 times the
antioxidant capacity of vitamin C.
Olive leaf can help prevent damage to the gut caused by harmful free
radicals. This ensures that foreign substances including pathogens and
toxins that trigger inflammatory reactions never get into the
bloodstream.
6) TRANSDERMAL MAGNESIUM
Transdermal magnesium is a powerful tool in the battle against
magnesium deficiency and very effective against inflammatory conditions
of the skin. Benefits reported by those who use transdermal applications
of magnesium relate specifically to its therapeutic application on the
skin and its direct absorption into the cells.
Though it is commonly prescribed as a treatment by holistic health
practitioners, transdermal magnesium is applied easily and quickly in
one’s own home, either by simply spraying directly on the skin, applying
as a lotion or a gel, or even more effortlessly through the simple
ritual of taking a bath.
7) GAMMA-LINOLENIC ACID (GLA)
This unusual fatty acid is found in evening primrose oil, black currant
and hemp oils, but is very hard to come by in the diet. Beware of
genetically modified safflower oils now promoting themselves as healthy
due to their high GLA content. The human body produces GLA from linoleic
acid (LA) which is found in many oils, butter and egg yolks. GLA at a
dose of 500 mg twice per day for 8 weeks appears to have an excellent
effect on skin, hair, and nails.
8) COCONUT OIL
Consume Virgin
Coconut Oil,
which contains Medium Chain Fatty Acids or medium-chain triglycerides
(MCT). Unlike trans fats, Virgin Coconut Oil provides good fats and
nourishment to dry eczema skin. It also contains lauric acid, which
makes up 50% of the fatty acids. Lauric acid has anti-bacterial and
anti-viral properties.
Virgin coconut oil is very easy to apply with very little
touching/rubbing. You should make sure to purchase coconut oil from
sources which are organic and virgin, not refined, bleached or
deodorized. Many people have found great success using coconut oil as a
treatment to cure or heal their eczema or even their baby’s eczema
without any medication.
9) FERMENTED FOODS AND PROBIOTICS
Fermented and probiotic foods such as kefir, miso soup, tempeh,
kimchi, sauerkraut, pickles, kombucha, microalgae and many more all
contain beneficial bacteria which defend against the illness and
infection caused by harmful bacteria that thrive where beneficial
colonies are lacking.
All these foods help prevent and treat eczema by replenishing lost or
damaged beneficial bacteria, protecting the body from pathogenic
bacterial infections, promoting the balance of alkalinity and acidity in
the intestine and providing overall homeostasis and support to the
immune system
10) KELP
Sea kelp, or seaweed, is a large brown algae found in ocean kelp
forests. Kelp is used in many cultures both as medicine and food. For
medicinal purposes, it can be found in both pill and capsule forms, as a
concentrated liquid, and included in other products.
Sea kelp has a therapeutic effect on the skin and body, greatly
enhancing the condition of skin. You can ingest it or apply a topical
concentration of sea kelp directly to affected areas. Kelp can assist
with the healing of skin cells, helping the eczema-affected skin cells
rebuild and become healthier.
11) COLLOIDAL OATMEAL
Believe or not but in 2003, the Food and Drug Administration ruled
that products claiming to relieve the irritation and itching of eczema
had to contain colloidal oatmeal. For once the agency is acting in the
best interests of the public.
When combined with a liquid, this special form of oatmeal acts like a
colloid (hence its name). This means that when molecules (the tiny
particles of the grain, in this case) spread through another medium
(i.e., the bath water), they permanently change the consistency of that
medium. The beauty of a colloidal oatmeal bath, therefore, is that the
oatmeal particles don’t all sink to the bottom of the tub.
To produce colloidal oatmeal, the oats are very finely
ground–pulverized, in fact. This enables the grain to readily absorb
liquid. When the colloidal oatmeal is added to bath water, it almost
instantly gives a slightly milky, almost slimy consistency to the
water–which then coats the skin, moisturizing, softening and protecting
it.
Colloidal oatmeal exhibits
anti-inflammatory, anti-itch, antioxidant, and protective properties
that make it a versatile cleanser, moisturizer, and buffer that soothes
and protects damaged skin. These properties are a result of the vast
chemical composition of oats: a high concentration in starches and
beta-glucan creates a water-holding barrier on the skin; the variety of
phenols makes it a strong ultraviolet absorber; the saponins act as
cleansing agents; and the cellulose and fiber content of oat create
emollient, or skin-softening, properties.
12) TOPICAL CREAMS AND SALVES
They should contain one or more of the following herbs to help
relieve itching and burning, and promote healing. The best evidence is
for chamomile (
Matricaria recutita) creams. Chickweed (
Stellaria media), marigold (
Calendula officinalis), and licorice (
Glycyrrhia glabra) may also help. Witch hazel (
Hamamelis virginiana) cream can relieve itching. Liquid witch hazel can help with “weeping” or oozing eczema.
FOODS TO AVOID
Night shades- tomatoes, tobacco, eggplant, paprika, all peppers, goji
berries and white potatoes. hard to eat out with this list
night shades all contain toxins which overload our immune system.
All refined sugars (highly inflammatory):
No white or cane sugar, agave, or high fructose corn syrup. Stay away
from all artificial sweeteners (sucralose, aspartame, saccharine,
sorbitol and many more). Chewing gums and diet products contain all
these poisons). If it says diet don’t buy it.
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By April McCarthy via
PreventDisease.com
