Many people classify eczema as an annoyance at worst. But for those who have to live with it, day in and day out, "annoyance" doesn’t even remotely begin to cover it. For those who have never experienced it, it is hard to imagine the constant itching, discomfort, even burning. At times it may seem like there is no relief to be had, especially for the worst cases, but there is relief. There are many things that can be tried, which bring varying levels of relief depending on the variety and severity of the eczema, even without the harsh chemicals doctors would recommend.
What Causes the Eczema?
Always keep in mind why one suffers from eczema; it is rarely "just there." It is most commonly perhaps a result of a food allergy, the most common among those being milk and eggs. There are also contact allergies, such as to dyes, perfumes and even laundry detergents. Finding out and neutralizing the cause can do more for eczema than any treatment.
Basic Eczema Treatment
Avoid scratching at all costs! It may itch, it may itch terribly, but far more damage will be done by scratching than is worth it for the little bit of relief to be had from it.
Chamomile is probably the most common natural treatment for eczema. A strong tea can be made with the flowers and used as a compress on the affected areas; alternately, use the essential oil, alone or in conjunction with others. One recipe for this is one drop each of Roman chamomile, lavender and geranium in two tablespoons of sweet almond oil; this recipe is gentle enough to use daily on a baby.
Be sure to use only lukewarm bathwater, not hot, as hot water kills skin cells more rapidly and dries the skin out; it can aggravate eczema terribly.
Unfortunately, even in cases where eczema is triggered by dry skin, many commercial dry skin products are not only not helpful, they can actually make the itching and burning worse, as the skin has become too raw.
Eczema Products to Try
There are dozens, if not hundreds of other treatments and remedies; the following is just a small sample.
- Try and remove all fragranced items in the house, and replace with fragrance free (not just unscented, as this is not necessarily the same thing).
- Replace most if not all artificial cleaning agents and instead use natural products, including vinegar and/or baking soda.
- Oatmeal baths are considered invaluable for eczema sufferers; put unground oatmeal in a bag made from old pantyhose and soak it in the bath (this method can also be used as a compress on affected areas while in the bath) or grind it finely and either put in a bag or directly into the bath.
- Use tea tree essential oil on affected areas, especially if it may be a fungal-caused reaction (avoid it, however, if it is dry-skin based, as it can dry the skin out even more).
- Lavender essential oil is often touted as indispensable for eczema sufferers for its soothing and healing properties.
- Emu oil can be invaluable for most skin irritations, eczema included.
- Use shea butter and/or camellia oil on affected areas regularly to help with dryness.
- Use a good, gentle skin moisturizer (even plain olive oil will work well for this).
- Try a lactobacillus supplement; this can usually be found with other vitamins and supplements. It can even be found in chewable cherry flavored tablets for children.
- Take a flaxseed oil supplement, also found in most vitamin/supplement aisles.
- Take evening primrose supplements, and/or break open the capsules and apply directly to affected areas, or add to an oil/salve recipe (breaking open the caplets is recommended for children).
- Take cod liver oil as a supplement (about 3 tbsp daily for an adult).
- Consider using a humidifier in winter if it is dry-skin related.
Recipes for Eczema Treatment
For eczema treatment, blend avocado and castor oils (both good for eczema, as is wheatgerm oil) infused* with nettles, chamomile, calendula and red clover, then blend it with shea butter. Be careful blending shea butter with oils, as it forms grains if heated.
Make one cup of herb-infused olive oil* (or other base oil of choice) with the following herbs:
- 3 tbsp Burdock Root
- 2 flowers Calendula
- 3 tbsp chamomile flowers
- 2 tbsp comfrey leaf
- 2 tbsp fenugreek
- 1 tbsp red clover
- 1 tbsp rue
- 2 tbsp sarsaparilla root
- 4 tbsp lavender
Add beeswax if you wish to make it a salve instead of an oil. Use two to three times daily.
Another option is to combine the following:
- chamomile 10 drops
- yarrow 5 drops
- tagettes 5 drops
- vegetable oil 2 tablespoons
- jojoba oil 30 drops
- evening primrose oil 10 drops
Apply to affected area twice daily
*To make an herb-infused oil/salve: get dried herbs, or dry fresh herbs out somewhat in the oven on the lowest setting. Cover them with the oil of your choice, plus about an inch, and heat to between 100-120 degrees (this can be done in the oven on the lowest setting, in a double boiler, or in a crockpot) for two to five hours. To turn into a salve, grate beeswax and microwave until it melts, then add to your oil. A good rule of thumb for amounts is an ounce and a half of beeswax to a pint of oil, or one teaspoon beeswax to an ounce of oil (there are five teaspoons in an ounce of beeswax).
Sources:
Aromatherapy for Women, by Maggie Tisserand (Healing Arts Press, 1996)
The Complete Book of Essential Oil & Aromatherapy, by Valerie Ann Worwood (New World Library, 1991)
Prescription for Herbal Healing, by Phyllis A. Balch (Avery, 2002)
The Green Pharmacy, by James A. Duke, PhD (St. Martin's Paperbacks, 1998)
Genevieve Kiger - Genevieve is passionate about all manner of natural subjects; herbs, herbalism, aromatherapy, and general natural health and body care.
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