Natural solutions for Eczema

May 15, 2009 by Monica
Filed under Healthy Family

This is the second post of a series for Natural Solutions for Common Health Problems. Make sure to visit the blog these days for more natural remedies.

Eczema presents as a red, scaly rash that itches and sometimes oozes when it blisters and breaks open, being very uncomfortable for kids in severe cases. Thankfully eczema can and often does respond very well to natural remedies, sometimes to the point of clearing up completely.

photo credit: kthrn

Here some natural suggestions:

Many natural minded physicians are convinced that eczema is mostly due to food allergies. If you can identify the allergen you can avoid it or pursue some other method of healing the immune system to the body doesn’t react to it. The most common allergens would be dairy products, wheat, soy and corn. However, switching to raw (unpasteurized) milk has cleared up some cases of eczema.

Essential fatty acids have been associated with relief from eczema. Examples of this are the types of fats in fish, Evening Primrose Oil, Vitamin E, coconut oil, organic butter from grass fed cows, and Cod Liver Oil. Talk with your health care practitioner about proper doses of these nutrients for your child. I myself am a big fan of Cod Liver Oil both for kids and adults.

Oatmeal baths can be helpful to ease the child’s itching. You can make your own colloidal oatmeal by grinding oats in your blender and then putting them in muslin tea bags. Place one in your child’s bath water, and use tepid to warm water. Don’t over bathe your child or use soap. Then while your child’s skin is still wet, apply an organic lotion.

Avoid using harsh detergents when washing your child’s clothing. Soap Nuts might be the best choice since they are all natural and not irritating to the skin. If you use any type of detergent, do a double rinse to remove residues.

Probiotics can be helpful in healing a child’s gut imbalance. Foods such as naturally fermented and cultured vegetables (sauerkraut, kim chi, etc), kefir, yogurt and kombucha might help your child’s immune system to normalize and heal. A good resource for fremented recipes is the book Nourishing Traditions, by far my favorite cook book.

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