Alternative Therapy for Eczema

Common causes of Eczema

  1. Inflammation in the intestines. This is usually the primary cause because the intestines must eliminate toxins from the body and if they are “leaky” then toxins can leak back into the blood stream and must then be eliminated by the skin. Also, if the intestines are inflamed, they cannot absorb nutrients from our food well, so the body becomes deficient in important minerals and vitamins.
  2. Immune system reaction. Inflamed intestines produce histamine and this triggers the immune system to produces antibodies in reaction to food and chemical allergies. This results in the inflammation and itching characteristic of eczema
  3. Food allergies. The most common are wheat, dairy/milk, eggs, peanuts, citrus fruit and soy

 

Treatment recommendations

  1. Reduce food allergies and detoxify the digestive system. Bio-feedback therapy can help with this as we can test and eliminate the specific substances which may be triggering the reaction
  2. Avoid sugar, wheat and dairy products. These are inflammatory foods and encourage the growth of “bad” bacteria in the gut. So even if these haven’t shown up as allergic (which they invariably do), we recommend avoiding them during the course of the treatment
  3. Avoid food additives – especially colours and preservatives
  4. Avoid contact with chemicals. Use a non-toxic washing powder so that the skin does not come into contact with chemicals in clothes and bedding. Also avoid soaps and shampoo that contain SLS, alcohol, propylene glycol
  5. Supplements
    1. Herbal deworming remedy – to eliminate “bad” bacteria in the gut
    2. High-potency probiotic – to re-populate the intestines with “good” bacteria
    3. Multi mineral /multi vitamin – e.g. Vitamin E and Zinc are especially important for healthy skin
    4. Natural Fish oil or flaxseed oil– this reduces inflammation and supplies nutrients to the skin
  6. Topical application of coconut oil

Try covering the affected skin with organic extra virgin coconut oil several times a day. This helps to kill the bacteria and fungi that may be present. It also keeps the skin moist and prevents dryness