Want to Stop the Itch Scratch Circle? How To Treat Eczema Naturally
This post contains links to products that I use myself or can recommend. My affiliate policy.
I tend to get eczema in my elbow joints and on my eyelids, especially in winter or if I have been eating honey or too many eggs too often. Hence I thoroughly researched things and found what naturally and effectively helped me remove by far the most of it, and how to best keep my skin moist, calm and beautiful.
First and foremost, and in general, the skin must be nurtured from within. You can relieve and repair a lot with creams and ointments, but the disorder will keep reappearing until you address the underlying problem.
Skin problems, and that includes eczema, have rarely its cause in the skin, but more often it comes from imbalances in the gut, in the hormone system, or in psyche - there are things your body craves, miss or are irritated with so to speak.
Read on and get to know...
What Eczema is
Why you get Eczema
7 Amazing Natural skin Remedies for Eczema
6 Great Diet Tips To Treat Eczema
The best skin care products for eczema
What Is Eczema?
Eczema is a term for a group of medical conditions that cause the skin to become inflamed or irritated. Affected areas usually appear very dry, thickened, or scaly. In fair-skinned people, these areas may initially appear reddish and then turn brown. Among darker-skinned people, eczema can affect pigmentation, making the affected area lighter or darker.
If you have eczema, your skin is most likely producing less fats and oils than it should do, and the ability to retain water is diminished. The space between cells widens since they aren’t plump with moisture, you begin to lose water from the dermis, and irritants and bacteria can enter easier.
Atopic dermatitis is a common skin disease in children, but you can get it at all ages. It most often appears as dry and scaly patches on the scalp, forehead, elbow joints, face, and on the back of the knees.
Why Do You Get Eczema?
Eczema itself is not a disease, but a symptom and the following 10 underlying conditions can trigger it:
Too low stomach acid. Stomach acid is the body's natural weapon against harmful bacteria in food and must be high to ensure good digestion and nutrient absorption. Contrary to what many believe acid reflux symptoms of any type — GERD, heartburn are all major signs that you have low stomach acid.
Leaky Gut – a condition where your digestive tract is damaged, so things that normally can’t pass through, are now be able to, which allows particles of undigested food to pass into the blood stream causing inflammation, and triggers the immune system to overreact.
Food allergies - especially milk allergy and gluten sensitivity are the two most common eczema triggers, because these allergies trigger the immune system to overreact. Typical food allergies that can trigger eczema are: eggs, milk, other dairy products, chocolate, peanuts, soy, shellfish and gluten from wheat, rye, and barley.
Other allergies: Eczema / skin inflammations may be linked to contact with perfumes, cosmetics, rubber, medical creams and ointments, latex, various plants such as poison ivy, metal and metal alloys such as gold, silver and nickel.
Atopic dermatitis can be triggered by cold or hot weather, dry environment, allergies, stress, and infections such as colds. It’s commonly found in families with a history of other allergies or asthma. If other members of the family have Atopic dermatitis, hay fever or asthma, there is an increased risk that the child will also be diagnosed. Mothers who have consumed probiotics during pregnancy have had some success in reducing Atopic dermatitis in their children.
A genetically based defect of the enzyme delta-6-desaturase gene. Which converts the essential fatty acids to anti-inflammatory prostaglandins.
Magnesium deficiency. When magnesium levels are low, the body begins to produce histamines. Histamine creates itchy skin and red blotches, which is caused by swelling blood vessels leaking fluid into the skin and tissues. Along with histamine production, magnesium deficiency also results in lower levels of fatty acids on the skin. This reduces elasticity and moisture and creates the perfect condition for dryness and inflammation.
Histamine Intolerance When high histamine foods are consumed, people with less than efficient histamine tolerance may experience an increase in the severity of their eczema.
Stress and especially chronic tensions aggravate eczema.
7 Amazing Natural Skin Remedies For Eczema
If you have eczema, the space between cells widens since they aren’t plump with moisture, you begin to lose water from the dermis, and irritants and bacteria can enter easier.
The following home remedies will focus on strengthening your skins barrier, filling in those gaps, and retaining moisture, as well as focusing on addressing specific problems like itching and inflammation.
1. Magnificent Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar (and white vinegar to a lesser degree) is incredible at helping reduce the itching and inflammation. There may be several reasons for this:
Vinegars are naturally acidic. The skin is slightly acidic as well in its optimal state so vinegar may help balance the pH of the skin and improve conditions like eczema or even acne.
Vinegars are naturally antibacterial and may help fight skin infections related to eczema or other skin conditions
Vinegar is naturally moisturizing and nourishing with a high concentration of b-vitamins and other nutrients so it may help alleviate some of the dryness from eczema
The antioxidants in Apple Cider Vinegar and other vinegars may help promote healthy skin growth
How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar for Eczema:
Apple Cider Vinegar has immense benefits for body, skin and hair when taken internally, but may be a scratchy shot for many, and especially children can be very reluctant to such schnapps.
Try out these five simple home internal or external remedies for amazing results:
1. Vinegar Spray - for a more acute remedy, ¼ cup of vinegar to 2 cups of water and put in a spray bottle and spray on skin if needed. This is a pretty strong concentration, so you may want to experiment with a lower dilution and add more vinegar if needed.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar Liquid:
This process provides potassium which many eczema sufferers lack.
Mix a tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar and 16 ounces of warm water.
Add a little honey, maple syrup, or blackstrap molasses for flavour.
Drink 3 times daily 30 minutes before meals.
Note: Alternately add Apple Cider Vinegar to fresh fruit or vegetable juice instead of water.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar with Baking Soda. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, a natural substance that is crystalline but often appears as a fine powder. This alkaline substance has antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. It is also a powerful medical tool effective at combating everything from colds to oral problems to skin issues. Baking soda is effective when used for short periods.
Mix 2 tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda, and 1/2 cup of water.
Once the fizzing stops drink the liquid.
Repeat regularly for best results.
Note: You can mix this with tea and honey.
4. Vinegar Bath Soaks. This process restores skin moisture and removes dead skin cells and ideal for sensitive skin or those with widespread eczema sores.
Add 2 cups of Apple Cider Vinegar to warm bath water.
Soak for at least 30 minutes.
Repeat three times weekly for best results.
5. Apple Cider Vinegar for Scalp Treatment. Relieves dryness, itchiness, flaking, dandruff, etc.
Take 1/4 cup of organic Apple Cider Vinegar and add this to a cup of water
Mix it well and pour this mixture in an empty spray bottle
Squirt the bottle all over your scalp and hair
Massage it gently so that it will saturate all over the hair.
Leave it for about 3 – 5 minutes and then rinse it off with warm water followed by shampoo. I previously wrote a post about natural shampoo and healthy hair.
2. Soothing Goldenrod And Calendula
Calendula is known in herbalist circles as the “mother of the skin.” It is a safe and gentle plant, which is particularly popular among those with eczema, psoriasis and itchy or dry skin because it:
Aids in wound healing
Soothes itchy skin
Helps reduce scaring from scratching
Reduces topical pain
Reduces skin inflammation
Goldenrod is also known by its scientific name Solidago derived from the Latin word meaning ‘to make whole’. The herb can help treat inflammatory skin conditions like acne and eczema- and
It has antiseptic and astringent properties that might help clean and tighten your skin (so even if you are not suffering from any particular skin condition, goldenrod may help you look fresher and younger).
It is very moisturizing especially in collaboration with other herbs particularly calendula.
I have had great success with this treatment on my own skin - It calms, soothes and heals:
Compress With Calendula And Goldenrod Tea
Mix:
1-2 cups of boiling water
1-2 tbsp. Goldenrod
1-2 tbsp. Calendula
Steep for five minutes and strain off the herbs
Use:
Dip a folded piece of cotton cloth, flannel or cotton pads into the tea, squeeze out the excess water and place the cloth on the affected area until it has cooled to body temperature then repeat. Do it for 10-20 minutes. Repeat as often as you like – the more the better. You can drink the tea too.
Note that the Chamomile herb also is a very praised herb for eczema relief too that you can mix into his tea, my body though will not tolerate it - my skin reacts with a rash.
3. Colloidal Oatmeal is an Excellent Remedy for Eczema
Colloidal oatmeal softens, moistens, and soothes your skin. Calms irritated skin, has anti-inflammatory abilities, binds to your skin, and strengthens your skin's barrier function.
Colloidal oatmeal is ground oatmeal placed in a liquid medium for better application and absorption into the skin.
Oats are rich in a substance called mucilage and packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, sugars, and lipids that provide moisture and other beneficial things that help make your skin more healthy.
Mucilage is a thick, gluey substance produced by almost all plants. It's anti-inflammatory and enhances the skin's ability to retain moisture and stay hydrated for longer.
Avenathramides, which are potent types of antioxidants found in oats, can help soothe skin.
The high concentration of beta-glucan and starches (sugars) in colloidal oatmeal makes it very water-binding and an effective skin protectant. Even the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) categorizes colloidal oatmeal as a skin protectant.
How to Make Your Colloidal Oatmeal Treatment at Home
Use Uncooked, whole oats (you can get them from the grocery or health food store).
Place them in a clean food processer or blender.
Grind them into a fine, even powder.
To test the results, add some ground oats to a glass of water. They should quickly turn the liquid milky white.
How to Prepare an Oatmeal Bath
Make sure the water is lukewarm, not hot.
Sprinkle the recommended amount or 1 cup of your DIY oatmeal under running water as the tub fills.
Soak for about 10-15 minutes.
After the bath, gently pat yourself dry so your skin still feels damp.
Immediately apply a gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer.
The water should feel soft and silky on your skin. If you soak too long, your skin will dry out. That'll make your itch worse.
For a more concentrated application, make a paste with equal parts water and colloidal oatmeal and smooth it directly onto the skin.
Oatmeal is safe for most people, but test out how your skin might respond to oatmeal before you cover soak your whole body in it. Conduct a patch test on the inside of your forearm.
Also, if your skin is red and itchy after an oatmeal bath, don't try it again.
Tip: Oatmeal in the bathtub can get a bit messy, though, so you can use a cotton muslin bag, dump the oatmeal in the bag and seep the oats in the warm bath water like you would a tea.
4. Healing Sea Salt
Seawater has a healing effect on most people's skin, which is why patients with severe skin disorders for centuries have went for treatments at the Dead Sea. Between the Vitamin D, the magnesium and the minerals in the water, the beach is great for skin health. But if you can’t go to the seawater then seawater must come to you.
Aside from its beauty benefits, this sea spray leaves skin feeling refreshed and light. It can serve as a facial toner or as an all-over skin nourishing spray. If you’ve never tried salt on the skin, try this simple and inexpensive recipe.
Sea Salt Spray:
1 cup of distilled or boiled water
1 Tablespoon Himalayan Salt (or Sea Salt)
Pinch of Epsom Salt or Magnesium Flakes
Optional: 1-3 drops of essential oil of choice (I suggest bergamot, chamomile, or patchouli)
How to Make Sea Salt Spray:
Add salt and Epsom salt/magnesium (if using) to warm water and stir until salt is completely dissolved.
Add essential oils if using and store in a glass jar or spray bottle.
Note: In place of distilled water, the calendula / chamomile tea work really well in this recipe.
To use: Apply to skin by spraying or with a cotton pad.
6. Potent Oregano Oil
Mix an ointment of 2 tablespoons olive oil and 4-5 drops of oregano oil, and apply on the affected area for relief. Oregano is potent stuff so limit the use of this blend to one week maximum. I previously wrote a blog about the superiority of this essential oil.
7. Curative Ghee
Ghee is clarified butter you can get in from most health food stores. It is highly anti-inflammatory and healing. Vanish dryness and itching by applying ghee to the affected area 3-4 times a day.
6 Great Diet Tips To Treat Eczema
Medicine, ointments, creams or salt water can only keep the symptoms away.
If you want to get rid of the problem you have to address the underlying problem - specifically: diet and lifestyle factors that are causing/contributing to the eczema to begin with.
Certainly, eczema and other skin issues are complex conditions with a potential variety of causes, but very often you can find the cause in the diet and lifestyle. An anti-inflammatory diet that focuses on detoxing, soothing and rebuilding a good intestinal flora and to heal the gut lining is extremely beneficial for skin, energy and psyche.
1. Eat A Diet Rrich In Gut Healing Foods
Bone Broth
Bone broth has a high gelatin content, which is very soothing to the gut and also great for hair, skin and nail health - and it delivers a wonderful poo to put it bluntly.
If the soup project is a bit too much to squeeze into the daily schedule, some of the same benefits can be obtained from taking Gelatin as a supplement instead. I use Vital Proteins Gelatin as this company promises that their Gelatin is sourced from grass-fed, humanely raised cows, and as such is higher in nutrients.
I also use Gelatin in recipes like homemade chewable vitamins, probiotic marshmallows, “Gell-o”, and fruit snacks.
These Gelatin supplements are also rich in the amino acid Glycin, which is amazing for muscle recovery, the joints, the skin, the good sleep and much much more. Bone Broth recipe.
Omega 3 foods
Omega 3 foods with essential fats are critical for wound healing and reduce inflammation
Top omega-3 foods: mackerel, salmon fish oil, cod liver oil, walnuts, chia seeds, herring, salmon (wild-caught), white fish, sardines, hemp seeds, anchovies.
Probiotics
Probiotics are one supplement that seems to make a noticeable difference with skin health.
Probiotics and probiotic-rich foods are an element that is often missing from the modern diet. In the past, people often preserved food by fermenting it, which also was a good source of probiotics for them. Now, most foods are dead, and we rarely ferment them in the traditional ways, so we don’t consume probiotic rich foods without a specific effort to do so.
We also make an effort to wash our hands and our food (a good thing with the chemicals on them these days), which also wash off the beneficial soil-borne microorganisms that provide friendly bacteria.
Bacteria makes us strong, is vital and essential for good digestion and healing of the gut. Get plenty of good probiotic either from supplements or through fermented foods like kombucha, water kefir or sauerkraut.
Important: Fermented foods are not an option for someone with a histamine intolerance. Prefer instead probiotics that contains Lactobacillus rhamnosus or Bifidobacterium strains.
Avoid
Reduce hard to digest proteins like casein and gluten - i.e. dairy products and wheat, rye and barley. Consider a gluten-free diet for six weeks, and then gradually add it in again.
Avoid sugar, eggs, yeast, peanuts, colourings, frying and ready meals.2. Op med
2. Increase Stomach Acid
As mentioned above, people who are suffering from eczema, acne, and allergies often also suffer from too little gastric acid. These are natural remedies you can take to improve your stomach acid and digestive function.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Here it is again. There’s no way around it – the vinegar. If you have skin issues a bottle of Apple Cider Vinegar should be a permanent ingredient in your pantry. It is one of the best things you can use to balance pH in the body and to adjust the stomach acid. Drink a tablespoon before each meal, and you will experience a significant positive change of skin, hair, nails, energy and general well being after a relatively short time.
Lemons
Fresh lemons with or without a pinch of Cayenne powder are another good pH-regulating remedy. Cayenne is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and pain relieving. Lemons have cleansing and detoxifying properties, helps to balance the stomach acid and the body's pH, improves digestion, are rich in vitamin C, increases energy levels and many other good things.
Drink a glass of warm water mixed with the juice of ½ lemon added a pinch of Cayenne about 15-20 minutes before each meal. I usually just pour a little boiling water into the lemon juice.
3. Strengthen The Immune System
You can switch between these tips, but make sure you get at least one a day.
Black garlic is fermented garlic. It's long been valued in Asia, and has recently had its debut in Danish shops too. The black garlic has twice as many antioxidants as fresh garlic can help us stay younger for longer and is cholesterol lowering. Its gentle, sweet flavour makes it a versatile super food too. You can add it to any recipe in which you'd use fresh garlic, from pasta dishes to soups and stews. And the best part - No garlic breath.
Fresh raw garlic. Crush and chop a clove of garlic, leave it for 15 minutes, and swallow with water. Eaten raw, preferably in connection with dinner. *
Turmeric. Fresh or powdered turmeric is a strongly anti-inflammatory and has many other health benefits. Eat turmeric as often as possible. Add it to hot dishes and / or make a shot of 1 tsp. turmeric, 1 pinch pepper and 2 tbsp. olive oil. Dilute if necessary with a little water and drink in one mouthful. Tastes ok. Can be consumed daily.
Fresh ginger is also strongly anti-inflammatory. Drink it as tea, or add it to hot dishes, in smoothies, and juices.
Organically grown mushrooms. Some of the most potent immuno supportive agents come from mushrooms, and science is just beginning to tap into this vast natural medicine warehouse. Blends of Mushrooms are More Effective Than any One Mushroom Alone. Mushrooms have a balancing effect on many of the functions of the body including skin and hair.
4. Eat Plenty Of Good Fatty Acids
Good fatty acids thoroughly lubricate the skin from within. Add them to salads, in smoothies and in freshly squeezed juices or drink it clean.
Stay away from oils, which require a factory to manufacture, as they cause inflammation in the body - it's oils like sunflower, canola, grape seed, corn etc. The best and most natural oils are oils, you would be able to make your self such genuine extra virgin olive oil, cod liver oil, extra virgin avocado oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter, organic butter and ghee (clarified butter). Other good sources of fat: soaked chia seeds* and avocados.
*) Nature has set it up so that the nut, grain, and seed may survive until proper growing conditions are present. Nature’s defence mechanism includes nutritional inhibitors and toxic substances that can be removed naturally when there is enough precipitation to sustain a new plant after the nut, grain or seed germinates. When it rains the nut, grain or seed gets wet and can then germinate to produce a plant. So we are mimicking nature when we soak our nuts, grains, and seeds. Nutritional inhibitors and toxic substances found in nuts grains and seed can be minimized or eliminated by soaking. These inhibitors and toxic substances are enzyme inhibitors, phytates (phytic acid), polyphenols (tannins), and goitrogens.
Of the above fatty acids I would like to highlight three
Cod liver oil is especially important to get on a daily basis, as cod liver oil is a natural anti-inflammatory agent, which helps reduce inflammation in the body and to promote healthy cells, hormones and brain. Cod liver oil, which is taken as a supplement, is a nutrient-dense source of essential vitamins including vitamin-D and vitamin-A as well as anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids. Its fatty acids help to prevent many forms of ailments from heart disease to eczema. You can get cod liver oil as a liquid or in the capsules.
Genuine Extra Virgin Olive Oil There are many oils that are good for the skin, but I would especially like to highlight the olive oil, because the health properties of cold-pressed extra olive oil is huge and very well documented. Olive oil is the cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet, and down there you don’t see a fraction of the dry skin problems we have in the cold north. It is said that two tablespoons of this oil daily does wonders not only for the skin, but for circulation and brain too. Hypersensitivity to olive oil is extremely rare; therefore the oil is an obvious allergy-friendly treatment option to these classic skin disorders. I have previously written a blog about this amazing oils brilliancy. Here, four of the most important skincare ingredients it:
Squalane is a unique substance in the olive oil. It is a botanical lipid that mirrors human lipids in molecular structure and weight that promotes healthy, thick and lustrous skin. Olive oil helps to replenish the natural squalane levels lost through the normal aging process, contributing regenerative activity to restore a more youthful appearance, and resistance to inflammatory conditions such as eczema.
Oleocanthal: Olive oil soothes irritated and inflamed skin, and relieves eczema, dandruff and psoriasis through a chemical called oleocanthal - this chemical inhibits the enzyme cyclooxygenase, which causes inflammation in the skin and body.
Vitamin E is considered an antioxidant superstar in its own right. This fat-soluble vitamin works in several different ways to protect cell membranes from oxidative damage and to prevent collagen from being destroyed. It also works in powerful synergy with vitamin C.
Polyphenols: Studies have shown that polyphenols applied to the skin protects against UV radiation and improves skin cell renewal. When you consume polyphenols in the diet the blood flow and oxygenation of the skin increases which purifies, strengthens and improves skin texture.
Ghee: Ghee is clarified butter, which has amazing anti-inflammatory properties. In Ayurvedic medicine ghee is key in eczema treatments. You can make it yourself or buy it from most health food stores. Use ghee in cooking and / or rub pure ghee on affected skin areas 3-4 times daily.
5. Strengthen Your Skin With Vitamins And Minerals
The B-vitamins
Though vitamin-B are quite abundant in most common food, and deficiency is rare, it's still worth noting that stress especially prolonged stress can interfere with the absorption of these vitamins. It may therefore, for a shorter period, be beneficial to supplement with vitamin B-complex.
Note. If you choose to take vitamin B supplements, make sure that B9s are L-methylfolate form and stay away from the artificial manufactured folic acid, which accumulates in the body. I sometimes take these.
A little about the different B's regarding eczema:
Niacin (vitamin B3) is important for healthy skin and good circulation. It supports the production of new cells. Foods high of B3: Chicken, turkey, fish, pork, peas, mushrooms, broccoli, carrots, cheese, corn flour, dandelion leaves, dates, eggs, shiitake mushrooms, potatoes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, alfalfa, cayenne, parsley, mint.
Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) - anti-stress vitamin found in large quantities in salmon, avocado, broccoli, fresh vegetables, legumes, lobster, mushrooms, nuts, pork, rice flour, millet
Pyridoxine (vitamin B6). Deficiency has been linked to skin problems. Find it in: meat, carrots, fish, meat, peas, spinach, sunflower seeds, walnuts, broccoli, brown rice, rice flour, cabbage, melon, corn, potatoes, soybeans, bananas, tempeh, alfalfa, millet.
Biotin (b7, b8) is important for healthy hair and nail growth. Is antiseptic and prevents dandruff. Biotin is formed in a healthy intestinal flora, which easily can be disturbed by antibiotic treatments, sugar, coffee, and alcohol. Cooking, roasting, and blending the food destroys biotin. Foods rich in biotin: Almonds, sweet potatoes, eggs, onions, oats, tomatoes, peanuts, carrots, walnuts, salmon, brown rice, citrus fruits, nuts, molasses, green leafy vegetables, whole grains, soy flour.
B12 supports cell replication and cellular life span. Found in meat, food yeast flakes, herring, milk products, fish, and seaweed.
Nutritional yeast: Also known as "nooch," this longevity food is actually deactivated yeast. Unlike its cousin, it won’t rise during baking, but it's a rich source of vitamin B12, a nutrient that boosts the energy, protects the brain, and promotes healthy skin, hair, and nails. It's also a complete protein (a protein source like meat, eggs, and milk that contains all nine essential amino acids), so it's a great addition to vegetarian and vegan diets. Its cheesy, nutty flavour makes it a great healthy topping for salads or salty snacks and cooked meals.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C inhibits inflammation and stabilizes cell membranes. Food: Berries, citrus fruits, green vegetables, asparagus, avocado, beets, blackberries, sprouts, melons, onions, cabbage, peppers, spinach, chufa-flour
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is also essential for the skin. Natural vitamin D3 is formed in the summertime when the suns UVB rays hit the skin. Vitamin D3 from the sun is the easiest form for the body to absorb, and we store the summer’s vitamin-D in the body for months. If you like me are living in the Dark North where the sun are reluctant to shine in the winter month it will be very beneficial to get recharged for a week on two down South, but if that’s not available to you, then it may be necessary to take a daily supplement. For further reading about the healing rays of the sun read my previous blog.
You can buy vitamin D3 as D-pearls of 20 micrograms in most health store or online.
Vitamin D3 is the natural form.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E eases itching and dryness, it’s found in avocado, olive oil, dark green leafy vegetables, legumes, almonds, hazel nuts, seeds, whole grains, brown rice, eggs, and kelp.
6. Other Good Nutrients For The Thirsty Skin
Spirulina and seaweed contain iodine and other minerals needed for the tissue repairing. - available as a dietary supplement.
Flavonoids inhibit inflammation and stabilize cell membranes. They are found in raw cacao, peppers, buckwheat, black currants, in the white stuff under the of citrus fruits, apricots, blackberries, cherries, citrus fruits, plums, rose hips, sea buckthorn.
Zinc supports the healing process and strengthens the immune system. Food: Eggs, fish, seaweed, Spirulina, tofu, lentils, cashews, lamb, legumes, meat, sardines, soybeans, oysters, pecans, poultry, pumpkin seeds, mushrooms, alfalfa sprouts, fennel, parsley, sage, rose hips.
Fenugreek seeds. The Indian Ayurveda recommends fenugreek seeds to be consumed against dandruff. Fenugreek is part of the curry mixture, you can also eat a teaspoon a day mixed with honey or you can also drink it as tea. According to the Ayurveda it works best for Vatta types (active, nimble, creative types) and Kapha types (sensitive, strong, quiet and often overweight types).
MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) is basically sulphur and it is in our bodies, as well as in some plants. It is composed of sulphur, oxygen and methyl. MSM is a safe, natural, side-effect-free remedy to treat dozens of illnesses, painful symptoms and to heal damaged skin. You can eat it; use it in skin care and as a compress. Read all about this great mineral here.
Soothing, purifying and delicious tea with fenugreek seeds:
50 g. White tea
½ cup liquorice root
1 tbsp. aniseed
1 tbsp. fennel seeds
¼ cup fenugreek seeds
Mix and store in a sealed container.
For a cuppa:
1 tbsp. tea blend
1 cup water (Max. 80°C / 176 °F)
Let it soak for 7-10 minutes.
The Best Skin Care Products For Eczema
You should always use as natural lotions as possible. Water-based moisturizers free of parabens and other endocrine disruptors are to prefer or lubricious homemade oil blends of shea butter and jojoba oil.
Pure Eczema Body Butter Recipe
A super delicious body butter, a little less challenging to make than the above, but also highly nutritious and healing.
Equipment:
Hand mixer
Small steel pot
Bowl
Silicone spatula
Ingredients:
½ cup unrefined shea butter
½ cup virgin coconut oil
¼ cup virgin olive oil
1 tbsp. raw honey
30 drops of lavender oil
8 drops of tea tree oil
Optional: 5 drops of geranium oil and / or 5 drops bergamot
Process:
Melt shea butter and coconut oil over medium heat. Remove from heat as soon as - and preferably a little BEFORE the oil mixture is totally melted.
Pour the mixture into a glass or porcelain dish and add honey.
Stir with the spatula until all is well mixed.
Add the olive oil lavender oil and tea tree oil. Continue to stir.
Cool in refrigerator until the oils are a little thicker, but still soft.
Whip with hand mixer until the mixture is like a stiff whipped cream (about 5 min.)
Put the mixture into a piping bag or in a freezing bag with a small hole one of the bottom corners.
Squeeze the mixture into a container with a screw cap.
Store in a temperature below 23 ° C (otherwise it will melt)
The Best Oils For Eczema
You can get the below oils in most health food stores in Denmark, but I personally think that the Danish prices are too high and the quality not always the best, so I prefer to buy my oils from England in particular these retailers: Naissance and Mystic Moments. When you buy through Amazon UK you save a little on the shipping.
The Best Carrier Oils For Eczema:
Kukui Nut Oil is also a great oil with soothing and healing abilities that is easily absorbed into the skin.
The Best Essential Oils For Eczema:
These oils are healing and soothing. Mix 1-3 together in your carrier oil or cream.
As a rough guideline you can use the following proportions:
20-60 drops in 100 ml of carrier oil / cream
7-25 drops in 25 ml of carrier oil / cream
3-5 drops in a tbsp. carrier oil / cream
Massage
A wonderful and effective way to make the most of the oils is to get them massaged into the skin. It will also provide a comfortable relaxed feeling in the body. Mix 20-60 drops of the above essential oils with 100 ml. carrier oil and loads into the whole body. It is best to get someone else to massage the...
Other
The mind:
Stress can exacerbate eczema. It is therefore good to practise relaxation or devote 20 minutes a day for meditation, which effectively reduces stress and calms the mind, body and skin. There are several suggestions for relaxation techniques in my blog about sleep.
The smell from certain essential oils has a calming effect on the mind and body. Fill the room with scents of one or mix 2-3 of the below oils in a scent lamp mixed with water. Or make a mixture of 1 tbsp. jojoba oil and 8-10 drops of essential oils in a small glass jar and sniff of it when needed.
Calming scents:
I use this blend: palmarosa, bergamot and jasmine.
*) Garlic contains some very beneficial sulfur compounds that affect the formation of signaling molecules in the form of gases such as nitrogen monoxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S), which are produced naturally in the body. These signaling molecules play an essential role in cell communication, and help maintain homeostasis (equilibrium) - you can detect altered levels of them in connection with diseases. Research shows that garlic intake increases the production of these signaling molecules and is believed to be the most basic mechanism for garlic's beneficial effect. Not least, in recent years, there has been increased awareness of the role of H2S in cell division and programmed cell death (apoptosis).
When you let the chopped garlic rest for 10-15 minutes before eating it, you activate enzymes that make the good sulfur compounds more accessible to the body.
Related posts…
Dislaimer:
All information in this blog is strictly for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The statements made in this blog have not been evaluated by The Danish Health Authority. The products linked to in this blog and any information published in this blog are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information provided by this blog is not a substitute for a faceto-face consultation with your physician, and should not be construed as medical advice. The entire contents of this blog are based upon the opinions of Hanne Robinson. By reading and using this blog, you agree to only use this publication for personal informational use and not as a substitute for medical or other professional advice.