Is There A Home Remedy For Eczema
That Really Works?
Many people are turning to a home remedy for eczema
in response to fears about the effects of taking steroid
cortisone-based medication over a long period of time and
the ineffectiveness of many other commercially-available
creams.
What Is Eczema?
Eczema appears as a skin
disorder that is affecting more and more people in the Western
world. It can appear as dry, itchy red skin that easily
cracks if scratched, hard blisters or weepy pustules that
crack open when dry.
However, it is not really a disease of the skin but an
atopic disorder of the whole constitution, whose symptoms
appear on the skin.
Eczema usually begins in infancy or childhood, although
some people develop it for the first time in adolescence
or early adulthood. The first outbreak may be triggered
by an intolerance for cow's milk and/or other foods, routine
vaccinations, chemicals such as those used in most laundry
detergents, or environmental pollution. A susceptibility
to eczema and other atopic disorders often seems to run
in families.
Natural Remedies: Chickweed and other
symptomatic treatments
If you look in a natural health store you will find many
products designed to ease the symptoms of eczema. One of
the best is a cream based on chickweed, which grows as a
weed familiar to gardeners almost all over the world. This
can soothe and heal any dry, irritated or flaky skin and
is depending on the preparation, is delicate enough to be
used on babies.
Identifying triggers
Although chickweed and other moisturizers can be very helpful
in relieving the symptoms of eczema,
they do not provide a cure or prevent further outbreaks.
For that we need to look closely at the diet
and other factors.
Many people with eczema who are able to follow a raw food
diet find that it completely or almost completely solves
the problem. This may simply be because a strict raw food
diet automatically cuts down or eliminates many of the foods
that people are commonly allergic to or intolerant of, e.g.
dairy products, wheat, food additives, wine.
Food intolerances, where symptoms do not appear immediately,
are harder to pinpoint but it is possible to do it by cutting
out all possible culprits and then adding them back into
the diet one by one. Take advice from a qualified nutritionist
or doctor before attempting this.
Adding back nutrients
Most Western diets are lacking in certain nutrients that
are vital for the body's natural defences against pollution
and other unavoidable irritants. One of these is omega-3
oil, found in oily fish and some seeds. Many people do not
get enough of these essential oils in the diet and they
can be a huge weapon in the body's fight against eczema.
Many people suffering from atopic disorders including eczema,
asthma, migraine,
and allergies
have been found to have major zinc deficiencies. An excess
of zinc can be dangerous, but if you suffer from one or
more of these conditions it is likely that you would benefit
from zinc supplements. Take a simple taste test to find
out if you are deficient.
Detoxifying the system
An outbreak of eczema is often a sign that the body is
failing to eliminate toxins in the best way. Anything that
detoxifies the body can help, but be prepared for the condition
to get worse before it gets better as many toxins are released
from other organs.
A raw food diet
may be used as a detox, or try a juice diet for a couple
of weeks. If you do not want to go so far, at least be sure
to drink plenty of water to flush out as many toxins as
possible through the kidneys.
Consult with your doctor before taking any home remedy
for eczema, to check that it is suitable for you.
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