What Is Detoxification And How Is It Related To My Eczema?

Detoxification is the process where the body gets rid of substances that are no longer beneficial or even harmful to your body functioning properly. This can be a metabolized pharmaceutical drug, heavy metals or digested food.

Your body developed this system of elimination so that is could safely interact with a complex world.

A caveman 7 thousand years ago could have eaten a poisonous berry or inhaled some burning brush; those foreign molecules needed to be removed from the body so as not to damage DNA or impede biochemical processes.

Unfortunately, a modern society has increased the burden of foreign material that your body needs to eradicate. However, there are ways to naturally support detoxification and encourage safe removal of the offending substances.

The organs of elimination are the liver, kidneys, lungs, colon (digestive tract) and skin. The skin is the largest organ of elimination, which helps your body to remove metabolic waste, noxious chemicals and excess heat.

If the skin is not doing this job efficiently or too much burden is being placed on your organs of elimination, diseases can develop. Eczema in particular is a skin disease of inflammation and immune system disruption.

Read on to discover ways to detoxify your body, which can improve your eczema.

In this article detoxification and cleanse will be used interchangeably although detoxification is more specifically describing the physiological process of elimination and cleanse is a term to describe diet, supplements and therapies to encourage that elimination.

Hydrotherapy And Saunas To Encourage Detoxification

1) Low Temperature Saunas

Low temperature saunas increase sweating and the elimination of toxins by the skin. To get an even greater benefit, use dry skin brushing prior to getting into the sauna.

Dry skin brushing opens the pores, removes epithelial tissue for easier secretion of toxins and promotes circulation and lympathic flow. A low temperature sauna should be between 110 and 120 degrees.

The frequency of saunas should be 3-5 times per week for around 30 minutes during a cleanse. Do not use sauna for detoxification if you are pregnant, have a heart condition or are under the age of 16.

Always consult your health care provider before beginning a detox program with saunas.

2) Drink Adequate Water

Drinking adequate water is essential for proper detoxification. Not only does water carry toxins metabolized by the kidney through formation of urine, it also produces the sweat which removes toxins via the skin.

This is crucial for eczema sufferers whose skin needs proper elimination of toxins. The general rule for water consumption is to drink half your body weight in ounces per day.

If you are a 200-pound person, you should drink 100 ounces of water per day. IF you are a 150 pounds person, you should be drinking 75 ounces of water each day.

3) Wet Sheet Pack

Be warned that the application of the wet sheet pack is not the cushy comfort of a spa treatment but it will reap the rewards of efficient detoxification.

Hydrotherapy using a wet sheet pack will require two full size or larger flat sheets (not fitted) and 1-2 wool blankets depending on the person’s size. Saturate the sheets with cool water and wring them out.

Wrap yourself first in the two sheets and then in the wool blanket(s). Make sure that the wool completely covers the entire sheet. Do not wrap your head.

Stay wrapped until the cool sheet is warmed; your body will dilate blood vessels and open your pores, which will encourage the removal of wastes through the skin.

The wet sheet pack should only be applied if your body is warm prior to its application, a person who is feeling chilled should not utilize this type of hydrotherapy.

Often the wet sheets will change color to reflect the material being expelled. Smokers often have a brownish tinge to their warmed sheets.

4) Epsom Salt Baths

Epsom salt baths have long been used to help alleviate joint pain and muscle cramps.

Epsom salts are made from magnesium sulfate, a mineral complex that can be absorbed into the skin and is strongly anti-inflammatory, by manipulating the NFkappaB pathway.

Both magnesium and sulfur are necessary for biotransformation, the body’s process of changing toxins to make them easier to excrete.

Magnesium sulfate has also been demonstrated in animal studies to reduce stress-induced oxidative damage. Use 2 cups of Epsom salts in a bathtub of water.

Cleansing Foods:

1) Artichokes

Artichokes help support proper liver function. The liver is responsible for biotransformation; the process of making substances more polar and therefore easier for the body to eliminate.

Artichoke leaves have also been shown in research to lower cholesterol levels. They also have benefit in treating indigestion and have evidence for repairing diseased liver when used in conjunction with milk thistle.

2) Lemon

Lemon can influence the pH of your body, prompting secretion of alkalinizing molecules that then make your body overall more alkaline and improve the function of certain enzymatic reactions. These reactions are crucial to detoxification.

3) Garlic

Garlic has been shown to increase the elimination of heavy metals in Chinese coal miners. It also contains sulfur, a component necessary for certain pathways of liver elimination of toxins. Eat 1-2 cloves per day.

4) Rice Bran

Rice bran has been shown in published data to bind to fat-soluble toxins, promoting their elimination. It acts much like a fiber, ushering the potentially hazardous chemicals out of the body via the bile and stool.

5) Oolong Tea

Oolong tea has benefits for elimination of fat-soluble toxins. The polyphenols in the tea inhibit your body’s pancreatic lipase, which increases the fat content in the stool.

Fattier stool can bind with fat-soluble toxins and excrete them when you have a bowel movement. Animals studies have shown better excretion of PCBs with intake of tea polyphenols.

Nutrients For Detoxification

1. Magnesium– Methylation is one of the primary channels for biotransformation, adding a methyl group to the toxic substance so that it can be more easily eliminated.

Methyltransferase enzyme is partially dependent on magnesium, so magnesium deficiency can decrease methylation.

Dosing of magnesium for detoxification is 150mg twice daily, preferably in the magnesium citrate or magnesium glycinate forms.

2. Vitamin C –this famous vitamin is necessary for proper function of Cytochrome P450, which is the first step in elimination of hazardous materials from the body.

Vitamin C reduces the toxicity of heavy metals such as lead, hydrocarbons, PCBs, pesticides and some pharmaceuticals, such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) poisoning.

3. Selenium– this mineral is essential for the formation of glutathione, the foundation of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase, which is crucial for biotransformation of fat-soluble toxins.

Logistics Of Cleansing: How Often And For How Long Should I Do A Detox Or Cleanse?

A cleanse should help a patient to feel better and improve symptoms of eczema. Occasionally, a person will experience a brief exacerbation of eczema as the toxins are leaving the body and aggravating tissues on the way out.

A lower intensity detox will prevent aggravation in most individuals. An overall healthy person would benefit from a yearly 7 to 14 day cleanse.

A person experiencing symptoms of toxicity, including skin eruptions like eczema, should expect to do an initial 3 week cleanse followed by repeat cleanses every 2-6 months depending on the body burden and their living environment.

If a person is able to restore health and clean up their lifestyle, working conditions and living space; he or she may not need to have periods of cleanse.

Instead, incorporating in nutrients and food to support biotransformation and elimination may be sufficient enough to maintain health.

Additional Resources:

Read the ebook Vanish Eczema for additional nontoxic, natural methods of clearing up your eczema.

The simple steps tell you what to avoid as well as what to include in your diet and lifestyle.

Related posts:

1. Eczema And Emotions: Reduce Stress To Improve Skin Health
2. Probiotics And Eczema: How The Bacteria Living In Your Gut Can Help Improve Your Eczema
3. Skin Products And Eczema: How To Choose Healthy Cleansers And Cosmetics For Eczema

It is a well-known fact that the rate of eczema is much higher in more Western, developed countries. This disparity was explained as a difference in diet, climate and hygiene habits.

Research has shown a correlation between eczema and anxiety, which psychologists attributed to increased distress about the appearance and symptoms of eczema.

Plainly, it was thought that having a skin condition such as eczema led to an increased risk of patient’s having more anxiety.

An exciting new study found higher stress and anxiety levels produced chemicals that led to an inflammatory response in the skin, resulting in increased rates of eczema eruptions.

Therefore, we circle back to the higher eczema rates in developed regions and speculate if some of that difference could be attributed to the higher incidence of anxiety and mental illness in those societies.

This article will discuss ways to reduce your stress and anxiety, improve mood and subsequently improve your immune and skin health.

The Science Behind The Mind Body Connection

Mind body medicine is a field of therapy that works to manipulate the psychophysiological connections between the nervous system, brain, hormones and immune system.

When the brain receives a stimulus from the environment such as traffic gridlock on a morning when you’re already late to work or a fight with your spouse; it then transmits that information to your body so that it can respond with a coordinated, appropriate response.

This stress response, commonly referred to as flight or fight, was intended to keep humans safe from mortal dangers such as fleeing from a carnivorous animal or avoiding injury in a confrontation.

Fast forward to modern times and the flight or flight response can be elicited dozens of times in a single day!

Final exams, project deadlines, family drama, financial strain, childcare duties and chronic illness can all take a toll on your body’s ability to cope with stress, by constantly stimulating your psychophysiological pathways.

The placebo effect is another well documented feature of the mind body connection.

Placebo effect occurs when a person believes they have received a therapy that they have not actually received, and they have an improvement in symptoms despite the fact that nothing therapeutic was actually administered.

Some studies have reported placebo benefit upwards of 70% and others have had cases of complete, permanent resolution of symptoms. Typically, placebo is measured by giving patients dummy pills.

Eczema And Anxiety: Understanding The Relationship

The higher rate of anxiety among eczema sufferers was thought to be a result of stress and embarrassment from the skin lesions. Now, new research suggests more of a vicious circle of anxiety actually exacerbating eczema.

The dermatology study group at Yonsei University College in South Korea demonstrated that eczema patients had higher levels of neuro-peptide Y and nerve growth factor in their epidermis and dermis (skin layers) as compared to healthy controls, people who did not have eczema.

Those patients with the highest levels of neuro-peptide Y and nerve growth factor had more pruritis (itching) and also reported more stress and anxiety on their questionnaires.

When your body experiences stress it activates the HPA axis, which is comprised of your hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal glands. They in turn produce signals that tell the immune system to manufacture Type 2 T helper cells (Th2) which release neurotrophin and neuropeptide.

The neurotrophin and neuropeptide create changes in the skin barrier and lowering the itch threshold.

In summary, stress and your body’s response to that stress leads to a chain of biochemical reactions in the body which lead to an environment more at risk for developing eczema and worsening eczema symptoms, specifically itchiness.

Ways To Reduce Stress Naturally

1) Meditation is a way to slow down the processing in the frontal lobe of your brain, where higher thinking and active mind takes place.

Many people will mull over their problems and worries, keeping the brain active and sending those psychophysiologic messages to other parts of your body, including your immune system and skin.

During meditation people focus on their breathing, a visualization, a phrase called a mantra or a positive feeling. Meditation trains your brain to keep from wandering into negative thinking or anxious worry.

2) Tai chi, qi gong and yoga are gentle exercises that promote activation of your parasympathetic nervous system and halt your sympathetic nervous system (flight or fight).

When you are in a parasympathetic state your body can digest, relax, rest and repair. All of these exercise forms have an emphasis on breathing and some elements of meditation.

3) Biofeedback is a treatment administered by a trained professional that teaches your body to stop the stress response when presented with a stimulus.

It is a form of reconditioning that can help with anxiety or depression and is also useful for helping to control hypertension and ADD/ADHD.

Non-invasive heart rate and brain wave monitors are used to help modify physiological patterns. The patient can watch visualizations and then alter their breathing and thinking patterns to change their heart rate, brain waves and even pain perception.

4) Psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy can help people learn how to modify their reactions to stressors.

A primary principle of cognitive behavioral therapy is for the patient to be able to observe and recognize their thoughts and mood, so that they are then able to make adjustments towards a healthier emotional response.

For example, if a person were to get a bad review from their boss they might feel angry, disappointed, nervous and embarrassed.

Psychotherapy teaches you to validate those feelings but then recognize that they will not improve the situation, enabling a shift to problem solving instead of stagnant negative thinking.

Nutrients And Herbs To Reduce Anxiety And Improve Mood

1) Theanine is a molecule found in green tea that reduces stimulation of glutamate receptors in the brain, promoting relaxation and improving mental focus.

The structure of theanine is similar to amino acids. It has been discovered to reduce the death of neurons (nerve cells inside the brain) from overstimulation and oxidative stress.

The dosing for anxiety is 50 to 100mg twice daily.

2) Inositol is a nutrient often classified in the B vitamin, although the body can synthesize it, so it is not considered essential.

Inositol is both calming and hormone balancing. It’s also been shown to help women with polycystic ovarian syndrome, indicating possible deficiency or genetic utilization difficulties in that population.

Inositol is found in food, especially citrus fruits and melons. Dosing is 1 gram taken three times per day.

3) Passion flower (passiflora incarnata) is an herb long used to calm the nerves of anxious people.

The flowers and leaves of passiflora have constituents, including indole alkaloids and coumarins, which are anti-spasmodic and mildy sedating.

The dose for anxiety is a tea of 1 teaspoon per cup of water, 1ml of a 1:5 tincture, or 2 grams of solid herb taken three times daily.

Passion flower should not be used long term or in high dose during pregnancy as it contains harmoline, which can stimulate the uterus.

Additional Resources

Vanish Eczema is an ebook with natural, easy to follow recommendations to improve and even eradicate eczema.

Decreasing your stress response will improve your health and can improve your eczema.

In addition it is also essential to learn proper nutrition, learn how to detoxify your body and natural methods to calm your immune system.

Related posts:

1. Detox For Eczema: How To Cleanse To Improve Your Skin Health
2. Skin Products And Eczema: How To Choose Healthy Cleansers And Cosmetics For Eczema
3. Probiotics And Eczema: How The Bacteria Living In Your Gut Can Help Improve Your Eczema

Having eczema can make it even more difficult to navigate all of the products at the beauty counter. There are ingredients in skincare products and cosmetics that can aggravate eczema, particularly on the face.

Read this guide to learn not only what ingredients to avoid but also what ingredients can be beneficial for eczema sufferers.

When using a product for the first time, it’s a good idea to patch test on a small area of your skin before applying it generously.

Even hypoallergenic, naturally derived ingredients can potentially trigger an immune response in sensitive individuals.

Labeling laws in the United States and European Union require manufacturers to list the ingredients in their beauty and hygiene products.

If you can’t find an ingredient list on the label or product insert, then check the manufacturer’s website as ingredients are often listed there as well.

AVOID THESE INGREDIENTS:

1) Phthalates – synthetic chemicals man-made to soften plastic, phthalates are used in cosmetics, cleaners and body creams.

Phthalates are strictly regulated in Europe and have been banned in baby products by the European Union but in America there is still little oversight.

Beauty product manufacturers continue to use phthalates as emulsifiers and stabilizers—phthalates are basically utilized as fillers in the beauty industry.

Pthalates have been demonstrated in research to aggravate eczema, possibly because of disruption in immune system function or alternatively, because they are directly inflammatory to the tissue.

2) Parabens – are chemicals used in beauty products, which have been shown to mimic estrogen in the body, activating estrogen receptors.

Studies have found parabens in breast cancer tissue and animal studies have shown disruption in hormone signaling the presence of parabens.

Other names listed on ingredients for parabens are butyl, isobutyl, propyl and isopropyl parabens.

Patients with eczema that is aggravated with hormonal events such as the menstrual cycle, puberty, menopause, pregnancy or the post-partum period should be especially careful to avoid parabens.

3) Methylisothiazolinone And Methylchloroisothiazolinone (MIT)– these preservatives found commonly in beauty products are known to have a neurotoxic effect to animal brain cells.

They are irritants and commonly provoke allergic response in users, including contact dermatitis, a form of eczema.

Manufacturers put MITs in products as preservatives but also because they have anti-microbial properties, inhibiting growth of bacteria and mold.

4) DMDM hydantoin And Bronopol – these preservatives used in cosmetics and body products break down into formaldehyde, a known human carcinogen.

These compounds are antigens that are known to provoke an allergic response in many people.

DMDM hydantoin has been demonstrated to irritate sensitive skin and its predecessor formaldehyde is a neurotoxin, meaning it can damage nerve tissue in the body.

5) Fragrance – this term can refer to the thousands of different synthetic and naturally derived aromatic chemicals that are added to products to give them a characteristic scent.

Fragrances are among the most likely ingredients to cause an allergic response in a person with eczema.

Many artificial fragrances are also hormone disruptors, interfering with the proper signaling of hormones in the body.

BENEFICIAL INGREDIENTS:

1) Cocoa Butter – Emollient and nourishing, cocoa butter is indicated for dry, scaling eczema.

The culinary world is familiar with the use of cocoa butter in chocolate treats and bakery but this vegetable fat extracted from the cocoa bean is also a potent moisturizer and anti-pruritic, decreasing itchiness.

A 2008 publication in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science found the polyphenols in cocoa butter to improve skin elasticity and tone by improving the integrity of glycosaminoglycans and collagens I, III and IV.

2) Honey – Antimicrobial and healing to epithelial tissue, the outermost layer of the skin, honey is nature’s answer to a variety of skin conditions.

It has been shown to benefit diabetic foot ulcers, radiation burns and mucositis (mouth sores).

For eczema, lotions and creams with honey can help prevent secondary infections and promote healing of ulcerated or raw lesions.

Manukaderm is a product of medical grade honey with research backing its efficacy.

3) Cardiospermum Halicacabum – a viney plant native to southeastern United States, Cardiospermum is strongly anti-inflammatory and has been demonstrated as beneficial in eczematous conditions as well as psoriasis and xerosis (dry skin).

Commonly called Balloon Vine or Heart Vine, Cardiospermum is used as an ingredient in lotions and gels but it also diluted into a homeopathic preparation to make eczema creams.

Florasone is a 10% Cardiospermum eczema cream that is all-natural and does not contain any artificial fragrances or irritating fillers.

4) Mineral Makeup – cosmetics made from minerals are naturally derived and non-occlusive which allows the skin to breathe and reduces the risk for irritation.

This non-occlusive property, called non-comedogenic by the cosmetics industry, also means that pores are not blocked and the risk for acne breakout is also lessened.

Rejuva Minerals makes purified mineral cosmetics that are screened for trace heavy metals and other contaminants.

Bare Minerals, a popular mineral makeup line, has some products that contain aluminum powder, artificial fragrances and retinyl palmitate; ingredients that have known health risks.

Avoid these ingredients when purchasing mineral makeup.

5) Oats And Oatmeal – the seeds of Avena Sativa, commonly referred by breakfast eaters everywhere as oatmeal, are used topically to soothe inflammation and decrease pruritis (itchiness).

Oatmeal can be applied to the skin in a variety of forms – as oatmeal baths, poultices and compresses.

It is also added to commercially available lotions and creams.

For an oatmeal bath add one tablespoon of oats for every gallon of water.

Trader Joe’s makes great oatmeal and honey soaps safe for eczema sufferers.

Coastal Classic Creations has an oatmeal facial cleanser and mask that can help soothe facial eczema.

Additional Resources:

1. The Environmental Working Group is a non-profit organization with a website dedicated to giving consumers information about the health risks of beauty and hygiene products.

The website is called Skin Deep. You can search for brand, ingredient, or individual product information.

2. Vanish Eczema is an ebook with natural, simple steps to help eliminate eczema.

It’s an easy read and based on methods that work quickly and safely to reduce the severity and incidence of eczema.

Related posts:

1. Detox For Eczema: How To Cleanse To Improve Your Skin Health
2. Eczema And Emotions: Reduce Stress To Improve Skin Health
3. Atopic Dermatitis Treatment

Traditional Chinese Medicine, commonly referred to by its acronym TCM, is a two thousand year old system of medicine that utilizes herbs, acupuncture and diet to correct imbalances in the body.

TCM methods can help treat eczema by identifying the pattern of symptoms. TCM methods take into consideration not only the appearance of the rash but also the constitution and overall health of the person.

First you need to identify the Chinese diagnosis of your eczema as the treatment is individualized to both the presentation of the eczema and the constitution of the person.

Follow the instruction below to discover your TCM eczema diagnosis and select the appropriate acupuncture points, herbs and foods for natural healing.

A Short Lesson In Chinese Diagnosis:

In TCM a diagnosis is made by interviewing a patient using an outline of 10 questions.

The answers, in combination with the appearance of the patient’s tongue and the type of wrist pulse are used to determine a diagnosis and then the subsequent treatments.

Jot down your answers to the following questions to help yourself identify your TCM diagnosis.

TEN QUESTIONS:

1. Pain

Does the person have pain and what is the location of that pain? What is the quality of the pain; is it sharp, dull, throbbing, stabbing or aching?

2. Cold/Heat

Are you a person who is generally warm or do you have a tendency to feel cooler than most people in the same environment? Do you kick the covers off at night or are you reaching for your Snuggie?

3. Perspiration

Does the patient sweat easily or never sweat? Where does the person sweat—is it only on the head or feet or is it all over? Is there an odor to the sweat: sour, sweet or putrid?

4. Appetite

Since the eczema began, has the person been more or less hungry? Has there been any change in weight? Any particular new food cravings or aversions?

5. Thirst

Is the patient thirsty or thirstless? Are you gulping down ice cold water or do you prefer to sip warm drinks?

6. Urination And Bowel Habits

Are you more constipated or do you have diarrhea? What is the color and consistency of the stool? Is the urine pale or yellow, is it clear or bright yellow?

7. Sleep

What are the sleep habits of the eczema patient? Does the eczema patient have a tendency towards insomnia or are they overly sleepy?

8. Menstruation

For ladies, this question asks about the appearance of the menstrual period as well as the flow.

Are her periods typically light (called scanty in Chinese medicine) or heavy? Is the menstrual blood bright red, dark or very light?

9. Hearing

Do you hear ringing in your ears or are you hard of hearing?

In TCM, hearing tells the practitioner much about the ears but also refers to kidney health as the kidney opens to the ears according to Chinese medicine principals.

10. Emotional Health

Is the patient angry, sad, depressed or frightened?

Different emotional states correspond with disease in an organ. For example, in TCM, depression is associated with problems in the heart or liver.

Eczema Chinese Diagnoses

Using the answers from the previous questions will help you discover which Chinese diagnosis most fits your eczema and lead to the proper selection of foods, herbal medicines and acupuncture points to treat your condition.

For advanced methods of diagnosis, using tongue appearance and wrist pulse please reference to a Chinese medicine text such as Between Heaven and Earth: A Guide to Chinese Medicine or The Web that Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine.

1. Damp Heat

‣ Eczema sores have pus or fluid discharges

‣ Eczema that is painful, red and swollen

‣ Health conditions are aggravated by sugar, alcohol and fried/fatty foods

‣ People have a tendency to have cystitis (bladder irritation, infections) and bronchitis

2. Blood Deficiency

‣ Pale, anemic individuals with eczema

‣ People with blood deficiency have a weak pulse with pale tongue

‣ Blood deficient individuals have dry, itchy skin and dry, scaling eczema

3. Wind

‣ Symptoms appear without warning and change often

‣ People are prone to neurological conditions such as jerkiness, poor coordination or dizziness

‣ Eczema caused by a wind condition is particularly itchy and sore

4. Qi Stagnation

‣ Not a primary eczema Chinese diagnosis but can accompany other diagnoses of heat, damp heat, blood deficiency or wind

‣ People with qi stagnation often have gas: belching and flatulence

‣ Qi stagnation can manifest as a feeling of pressure or fullness. This can affect any body part but is most frequently the extremities (arm & legs), head or abdomen

It’s important to note that a person can have a combination of more than one Chinese diagnosis at a time.

If a person has signs of both wind and heat then they should look for an herbal formula and acupuncture points that address both of those conditions.

Chinese Herbs For Eczema

In Traditional Chinese Medicine herb combinations are used instead of single herbs. They are often called patent medicine or Chinese patent herbs.

1. LIEN CHIAO PAI TU PIEN – good for conditions with Chinese diagnosis of heat, wind. Contains scutellaria, jasmine, forsythia and red peony.

2. DANG QUI YIN ZI WAN – works well for anemic people (blood deficiency) with wind signs. Contains angelica, ligusticum, licorice and astragalus among other herbs.

3. XIAO FENG WAN – eczema sufferers with signs of wind and damp would benefit from this formula.

Contains the following herbs: sophora , gypsum, rehmannia, articum lappa, sesame, angelica and licorice root.

4. BI XIE SHENG SHI WAN – use this formula for eczema if you have damp heat signs. It literally translates to “subdue the dampness.”

Herbs in this formula include dioscorea, phellodendron, plantago, paeonia and gardenia fruit.

5. JIA WEI XIAO YAO SAN – the herbs in this formula are indicated for those with qi stagnation and heat signs.

Herbs commonly in Jia Wei Xiao Yao San are paeonia, poria, atractylodes, gardenia, bupleurum, ginger, mint and licorice.

ChineseNaturalHerbs and ChineseHerbsDirect are online vendors of Chinese combination herbal formulas.

None of these formulas should be taken by pregnant or nursing mothers without the advice of an acupuncturist or physician trained in traditional Chinese medicine.

What Is Acupuncture And How Can It Help My Eczema?

Acupuncture is a medical treatment that involves penetrating specific points on the skin with very thin needles.

The points correspond with different organs of the body as well as different body functions.

Depending on how the needles are inserted, the acupuncturist is working to either tonify (build up) or release energy to improve health and treat diseases.

If you do not have access to an acupuncturist then an alternative is to stimulate those points by either rubbing, applying pressure or by using acupressure beads that stick to the points.

These are different forms of acupressure and patients can reap considerable benefit. Seeing a licensed acupuncturist for treatment is the best option if you are able to do so.

Acupuncture For Eczema: The Most Important Points

All of these points are bilateral, meaning that they are found on the same place on both the right and left side of the body.

These descriptions will help guide you to the general location of the eczema points but please consult an acupuncture text, acupuncture mannequin or a web resource such as acupuncture.com’s point finder or pointfinder.org to help you more precisely locate the indicated point.

Lung 4

This point helps regulate qi and blood, particularly in the chest. It’s used for congestion, cough and asthmas in addition to eczema.

Location: This point is found on the inner aspect of your biceps muscle on your upper arm. Lung 4 is located 5 thumbwidths (use your own thumb for best accuracy) above the crease your arm makes when your elbow is flexed.

Lung 11

Use this point to heal wind eczema conditions. It can also help with nose bleeds, asthma and fainting.

Location: Just below the lower thumbnail, in the cuticle. It’s the side of the thumbnail farthest away from your pointer finger.

Heart 9

This point is used to treat both heat and wind eczema. It’s often used to treat emotional problems including hysteria and mania.

Location: Located on the little finger, just below the nail, in the cuticle on the side closest to your ring finger.

Spleen 2

Stimulating this point helps to clear heat from the body. Use it in eczema with a diagnosis of heat or damp heat.

It’s also used in fevers, gout, constipation and stomach pain.

Location: This point is on the big toe, just behind and slightly below the first joint. It’s on the side closest to the midline of your body (closest to your other foot, too).

Look for the section of skin which transitions from whiter (or darker depending on ethnicity) skin to pinker skin as Spleen 2 is located on this transition point.

Spleen 6

An essential point for women’s health and digestion, Spleen 6 is also a major acupuncture point for skin conditions. Use it in eczema with blood deficiency or dampness.

Location: Spleen 6 is located just above the inner ankle. It is directly 3 thumb widths above the medial malleolus, which is the boney bump of your inner ankle.

Urinary Bladder 54

Also abbreviated as UB 54, urinary bladder 54 is a point that helps with lower back pain, urinary problems, hemorrhoids and constipation.

For eczema, it works to move stagnation and promote elimination of toxins.

Location: UB 54 is located in the lower part of your sacrum, which is the boney structure connecting your spine to your hips.

It’s 3 thumb widths away from the midline of your spine. You’ll feel an indentation/depression, which is your 4^th sacral foramen (a hole that nerves and other vessels can pass through).

UB 54 is on the hiatus of the sacrum, therefore, it’s located in the last indentation (the lowest, closest to your tailbone).

Liver 11

This point is used to regulate the blood and is used in menstrual difficulties in addition to eczema. Use it for eczema diagnoses of blood heat or qi stagnation.

Liver 11 is often stimulated in eczema conditions aggravated by hormonal fluctuations such as puberty, pregnancy, the menstrual cycle or menopause.

It is also useful for eczema secondary to a sluggish liver function and environmental toxicity.

Location: This point is located on the beginning part of the thigh. Trace along your pubic bone and find the point where it bulges up a little (called the pubic tubercle).

Liver 11 is two thumb widths below the pubic tubercle, on the edge of a muscle called the abductor longus.

Kidney 12

This point is used to tonify qi. It’s indicated for people who are depleted and exhausted. Kidney 12 is used to treat eczema but it’s also recommended for impotence and uterine prolapse.

Location: Find your belly button and then go four thumb widths down towards your feet and ½ of a thumb width to the right and left.

The right and left Kidney 12 points are only one thumbwidth away from each other.

Large Intestine 4

This point is traditionally used to decrease pain and for conditions affecting the face. It is also a great mover of qi and blood in the body.

Use it for eczema on the face or neck. Also very important to use it for eczema with wind heat or qi stagnation.

Location: LI 4 is found on the hand in the fleshy mound of tissue between the thumb and pointer finger when you are holding the thumb firmly against the hand.

It’s anatomical location is between the 1^st and 2^nd metacarpal bones.

Large Intestine 11

LI 11 is the abbreviated name for large intestine 11. It is a huge point in TCM, helping to clear wind heat, heat, blood heat and dampness.

It is used with many skin conditions but is particularly good at clearing up eczema with any signs of damp heat.

This point is also used to clear redness, help reduce hypertension and improve symptoms of arthritis in the upper body.

Location: Flex your elbow with your palm pointed upward and LI11 is located at the very outer edge of the crease (lateral).

TCM Diet Recommendations for Eczema

1. Black soybeans: Helps to detoxify and move blood. Benefits the kidney and spleen.

2. Egg yolks (chicken): Nutrition for the blood, benefits the heart and kidneys.

3. Clams, freshwater preferably: Detoxifies, benefits the kidney and liver.

4. Mung beans: Cooling bean, benefits eczema with heat signs. Helps detoxify and benefits the heart and spleen.

5. Potatoes: Decreases inflammation, builds up qi. Benefits the spleen (digestion in TCM).

6. Olives: Beneficial to the lung and stomach. Helps build up qi and blood.

7. Fresh young coconut, including the firm meat and shell: Brings moistures, improves dry eczema.

8. Fava beans in their pod: Decreases swelling and builds up qi. Good for the stomach and spleen.

Additional Resources:

The ebook Vanish Eczema is a great resource to find additional natural strategies to eradicate eczema. It’s an easy read and offers clear, simple suggestions that actually work.

Two easy to read TCM books are Between Heaven and Earth: A Guide to Chinese Medicine and The Web that Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine.

Related posts:

1. Eczema And Nutrition: The Nutrients Your Body Is Lacking Could Be Contributing To Your Eczema
2. Protecting Yourself When Trying Out New Eczema Therapies
3. Eczema Cure – Natural Cure for Eczema

It might seem bizarre on first glance to conceptualize that billions of tiny organisms living inside your digestive tract could influence the itching sensation of an eczema patch on your leg or the redness and oozing of an eruption on your cheek.

After reading this article you will understand the complex relationship between gut health, microorganisms (the probiotics) and eczema.

You will also be able to select foods and supplements to consume probiotics in the correct forms and amounts.

The first clue that gut bacteria could play a role in risk for developing eczema came with the discovery that breastfed babies have a reduced incidence, prolonged onset and decreased severity of eczema.

Initially these benefits were attributed to the passage of immune cells called antibodies but research has shown that breastfeeding moms taking probiotics created an even greater eczema protective benefit in their children.

Fortunately for eczema sufferers the benefits of probiotics can be achieved long after infancy.

What Are Probiotics?

Probiotics are bacteria that are native to your digestive tract, which means that they are normally found in a healthy small and large intestine.

The population of good bacteria living in your gut can fluctuate depending on diet, antibiotic use and even stress. Most traditional cultures around the world had some forms of probiotic bacteria in their diet.

For Indians this was yogurt added to curries. The South Americans aged cheeses and the Asians fermented vegetables.

The bacteria in your digestive tract affect the way you digest and assimilate nutrients. Good bacteria help the body process and remove toxins.

They also influence the mucosal barrier (the inner lining of the digestive tract), which in turn can affect immune system function.

This last duty is where we see the most powerful relationship between probiotics and eczema.

If there is not a sufficient mucosal barrier then food and environmental antigens can cross over into the blood stream, habitually activating the immune system and leading to hyperactivity.

This hyperactivity is the hallmark of eczema conditions.

The Best Probiotics For Eczema

There are over 500 different strains of bacteria in the average colon but only 30 or so comprise the bulk and dominate metabolic activity and gut health.

The following are the top 3 of good bugs to promote health and decrease incidence and severity of eczema.

1. Lactobacillus Acidophilus

This probiotic strain is the most well-known as it is used to culture yogurts and other dairy foods.

A recent Japanese study showed intake of lactobacillus significantly improved symptoms of eczema and created a decline in cytokines, which are inflammatory immune cells.

2. Bifidobacterium

Not as well-known as lactobacillus, bifidobacteria are actually more prevalent in the colon and several large studies have recently shown superior benefit in regulating symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

Children at high risk for eczema who took a blend of bifidobacteria species in the first 3 months of life had decreased incidence of eczema compared to those in the placebo group.

3. Sacchromyces Boulardi

This beneficial bug is actually a yeast strain instead of a bacterium but don’t get it confused with pathogenic yeast like candida.

Sacchromyces boulardi increases the secretion of IgA in the intestines; this protects the immune system from being over stimulated by antigens such as food allergies or environmental toxins.

Sacchromyces has also proven effective in eradicating clostridium difficile, an infection of the colon that is extremely virulent.

Eczema And Probiotics: What To Look For In A Probiotic Supplement

If you are going to purchase a probiotic supplement, check to see that the vendor has quality control measures to ensure that what is claimed on the label matches what is inside the capsule.

This information should be on the package or insert paperwork. If it isn’t then you will need to contact the manufacturer to request it.

If a manufacturer does not do quality control testing by a third party then you do not want to buy their probiotic.

For maintenance, daily probiotic intake to help with eczema or for general health you need at least 5 billion cells of each bifidobacteria species and lactobacillus, taken twice daily.

The dosage of sacchromyces boulardi is typically given in milligrams. Take 250mg twice daily.

Generally, probiotics are taken for a period of 3-6 months so that a healthy population can be established in the digestive tract.

Some practitioners give high dose probiotics for one month and then wean down to the maintenance dose for the following months.

There are some patients who need probiotics indefinitely if they are not able to get them through diet.

High dose probiotics can range from 10 billion cells twice daily upwards of 50 billion cells three times daily.

These mega doses should not be done without clinical supervision because it is possible to get bacterial overgrowth of beneficial bacteria.

Eczema And Probiotics: Consume Prebiotics For Added Benefit

Some probiotic supplements now advertise that they contain prebiotics.

Prebiotics are the food source of the beneficial bacteria. Carbohydrate complexes called oligosaccharides are added to probiotic powders and capsules.

Common oligosaccharides include polydextrose, galactooligosaccharides (GOS), and fructooligosaccharides (FOS).

Soluble fiber and even some types of insoluble fiber also provide nutrition for the probiotic microbes to flourish.

Food sources of prebiotics:

• Onions
• Asparagus
• Garlic
• Dandelion greens
• Chicory root
• Artichokes
• Wheat bran

Foods With Live Probiotics For Eczema:

1. Yogurt in any form: soy, cow’s milk, goat’s milk or coconut. Check the label to see that it says the product contains live cultures.

2. Kefir: like yogurt but more liquidy since the extra fluid is not drained off.

3. Saurkraut

4. Sour cream

5. Kim Chi (Korean pickled and fermented cabbage—it tastes better than it sounds!)

6. Raw milk, although this is not readily available in all areas and needs to be cultivated in such a way as to avoid food-borne illness

Recipes To Incorporate Good Bacteria Into Your Diet:

1. Healthy Start Yogurt Smoothie

For your yogurt smoothie you can either purchase commercially available yogurt or you can make your own using a yogurt starter base.

If you buy your yogurt from the store, make sure that it says it contains live cultures; the two species to look for are lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacterium.

Activia is a brand of yogurt that advertizes its content of both strains of good bacteria.

If you have a food allergy or sensitivity to cow dairy products you may be able to tolerate goat’s yogurt, which is available at many health food stores.

Non-dairy yogurts such as soy, rice or coconut can also be substituted as long as they say on the label that the product contains live cultures.

Blend the following ingredients together:

• one medium frozen peeled banana

• ¾ cup frozen strawberries

• one tablespoon flax seeds for fiber and essential fatty acids

• 1/2 cup unsweetened plain yogurt

• one cup orange juice or ½ cup orange juice with ½ cup milk (you can use cow’s milk or a dairy alternative such as soy, hazelnut, coconut or almond milk)

• optional sweetener: 2 tablespoons agave nectar or one teaspoon stevia

2. Killer Coconut Kefir (Vegan)

To make homemade coconut kefir you will need a starter culture of the good bacteria kefir grains, sugar and a young coconut.

If you don’t have access to fresh coconuts you can substitute for coconut milk.

1. Pour the juice of two fresh coconuts into a mason jar.

2. Add 2 tablespoons of kefir grains.

3. Cover with cheesecloth or dishtowel and let sit on the counter at room temperature for approximately 24 hours.

4. Kefir clumps will rise to the top and the mixture should smell somewhat similar to yogurt: sour and tangy.

Drain mixture through thin-wired colander or sieve to remove clumps. Alternatively blend clumps into mixture.

5. Flavor with natural sweetener such as honey, agave or maple syrup.

You can use coconut kefir with granola, on top of fruit salad or blend into a smoothie. It can be whipped with a mixer to make a healthy topping for desserts.

Additional Resources:

Cultures for Health is a website with a variety of kefir grains.

Probiotics Supplements is a website that carries a large variety of different products, including supplements that have all of the strains discussed for benefit with eczema.

Vanish Eczema is an excellent ebook for learning additional natural methods to treat and prevent eczema.

Related posts:

1. Detox For Eczema: How To Cleanse To Improve Your Skin Health
2. Eczema And Emotions: Reduce Stress To Improve Skin Health
3. Your Genes and What It Means For Eczema

Your skin is the largest organ of your body and its involved in temperature regulation, immune system protection, detoxification and sensation.

To operate properly in all of these roles it needs proper nutrition and hydration.

When it does not get these nutrients it can be more difficult for necessary biological reactions to take place, for healing to occur and for proper signaling to keep immune reactions in check.

It is this later process that is so important to reduce the hyper reactivity characteristic of eczema rashes.

Listed below are the most common nutritional deficiencies associated with eczema, recommended daily intake of these nutrients and good foods sources to increase your intake through diet.

Eczema And Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency

Essential fatty acids are fats that the body cannot make so it needs to consume them through diet.

They are used to form cell membranes, the outside edge of the cell that acts as the gatekeeper, communicator, and structural support.

A modern western diet is often deficient in essential fatty acids as animals fats are used frequently in convenience foods.

This is particularly relevant to eczema sufferers as essential fatty acids are vital to skin health.

1) Omega 3

ALA (Alpha Linolenic Acid)

● ALA is the precursor to EPA and DHA. Therefore, if you consume foods rich in alpha linolenic acid your body can manufacture EPA, and from EPA it can synthesize DHA.

For some people, this conversion does not happen as readily so it is wise to use an omega 3 supplement that contains DHA & EPA.

The conversion requires Vit B3, Vit B6, Magnesium, Zinc, and Vitamin C as co-factors.

● Food sources: Flax seeds, red and black currant seed, walnuts and canola oil

EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid)

● Can be synthesized from ALA. Have been found effective for improving mental disorders such as bipolar disease and depression.

Researched for anti-cancer properties and ability to maintain lean muscle mass (improve ratio of muscle to fat).

● A recent Swedish study took blood samples of pregnant women to test for levels of DHA and EPA.

They followed the babies of these mothers and found that there was an inverse relationship between the level of these fatty acids and the incidence of eczema in the children.

This means that a child born from a mom eating food sources or supplement of omega 3 fatty acids had the lowest chance of developing eczema.

DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid)

● Important fatty acid for eye and brain development. Can be synthesized from EPA but this is a one-way reaction as DHA cannot be turned back into EPA.

● A 2008 study published in the British Journal of Dermatology showed a 23% improvement in symptoms of eczema after taking a DHA supplement for 2 months

Food source of DHA and EPA include: cold water fatty fish such as sardines, salmon, halibut and snapper.

If taking a supplement, the ideal dosage for skin health would be at least 3 grams of total Omega 3 per day, containing at least 1500mg of EPA per day.

Reputable brands of Omega 3 supplements include Nordic Naturals, Carlsons and Pharmax. These companies screen their fish oil for mercury and other contaminants.

2) Omega 6 (Linoleic Acid)

GLA (Gamma-Linolenic Acid) or (DGLA) Dihomo-Gamma-Linolenic Acid

● Gamma linolenic acid is used to treat female disorders such as PMS, fibrocystic breast and menstrual disorders. Its other main application is to improve skin disorders.

● A review paper published in Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology found that several placebo-controlled studies showed benefit on itch/pruritus, crusting, edema and redness after 1-2 months of taking evening primrose oil.

The authors did note that this benefit was diminished if patients were taking higher dose steroids, suggesting that EPO (evening primrose oil) may work by decreasing inflammation.

● Food sources: borage oil, black currant oil and evening primrose oil. Supplement dosing should be 500mg twice daily.

Arachidonic Acid or AA

● Fatty acid that must be consumed through diet but is more prevalent in Western diets.

Arachidonic acid can actually stimulate the inflammatory cascade as it acts as the precursor to inflammatory prostaglandins (messenger molecules that signal the body to swell, itch and redden).

Therefore, it is not recommended to supplement AA to a patient who has eczema.

● Food sources: Red meat, white meat, eggs and dairy.

3) Omega 9

Omega 9 fatty acids are not essential as the body can make them.

For this reason, supplementing with Omega 9 fatty acids and purposely seeking out foods rich in Omega 9 is not recommended for eczema sufferers.

Eczema And Vitamin Deficiency

1) Vitamin A

● Vitamin A helps epithelial cells, the skin’s outer most layer of tissue, to replicate as intended. It helps to heal excoriated skin and decreases the risk of secondary bacterial infections.

● Typical dose for eczema is 50,000 IU per day. Some individuals can get headaches and other toxicities at this dose if using it long term.

Mixed carotenoids (Vit A precursors and related molecules) can be used instead and are much safer for sensitive individuals.

Vit A precursor dosing is 150,000 IUs per day. Pregnant women should not take Vitamin A beyond 5,000IU per days as this can cause birth defects.

● Food sources: Cod liver oil, sweet potatoes, greens, squash and carrots

2) B Vitamins

● The B vitamins have a crucial role in energy production in the body. They are necessary to synthesize and utilize ATP, an energy molecule utilized by the body.

Proper function of immune function and skin health also requires adequate intake of B vitamins.

● Several studies have shown that pregnant women with lower intake of folic acid have children with higher incidence of eczema as well as asthma and allergies.

● Biotin deficiency manifests as a rash nearly identical to eczema and completely resolves when biotin is supplemented in the diet.

● A complete B Complex supplement is an easy way to ensure that daily needs of B vitamins are being met.

There should be at least 10 mg of biotin and 1000mcg of B12, preferably the methyl form of B12, which is called methylcobalamin.

● Food sources of B12: seafood, fish, and meat

3) Vitamin C

● Vitamin C plays a key role in the formation of collagen in your body.

Without Vitamin C your skin would not have the elasticity and flexibility that it has. This nutrient also acts as an antioxidant and immune system regulator.

● An interesting New Zealand shower placed Vitamin C in showerheads to see if it would decrease the irritating effects of chlorine from municipal water supplies.

The Vit C showerhead study participants had a three fold greater improvement in symptoms of eczema than the regular showerhead group.

● Preferable intake of Vitamin C for skin health and to regulate immune function is 500mg to 3000mg (3 grams) per day.

In higher doses Vitamin C can cause stool softening and even diarrhea in some individuals.

To avoid this unwanted side effect divide up the timing of taking your Vitamin C so that you take half the amount twice per day or even 1/3 the ideal dose three times per day.

● Food sources of Vitamin C: Bell peppers, citrus fruits, broccoli, kiwi and papaya

4) Vitamin D

● Vitamin D both topically and orally has been studied for benefit in eczema conditions.

● Daily oral dosing ranges from 400 to 1000 IU daily.

To go above 1000IU daily it is a good idea to get a blood test from your physician to access need. Vitamin D toxicity can occur with long-term high use.

The most common side effect of toxicity of this vitamin is kidney stones.

● Food sources: Vitamin D fortified milk, cod liver oil

5) Vitamin E

● Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin and antioxidant that has a special role in both preventing and repairing damage to your skin.

It works by neutralizing free radicals (molecules with electrons wanting to form bonds unscrupulously and reek havoc with structures).

This antioxidant effect can reduce the damage from sun exposure, cigarette smoke and even stress.

● Therapeutic dose for skin health: 400-800 IU per day

● Food sources: Olives & olive oil, sunflower seeds, blueberries, almonds, spinach, Swiss chard & other greens

Eczema And Mineral Deficiency

1) Zinc

● A survey of Chinese children found that lower blood levels of zinc were associated with greater risk of eczema as was a higher ration of zinc:copper.

● Therapeutic dose for eczema is 25-50 mg/day.

Zinc can cause nausea if taken on an empty stomach so it is best to take with food.

Long-term use of zinc can lead to copper deficiency so it’s best to take a multiple vitamin with copper if a person is to supplement zinc for longer than 3 months.

Copper deficiency is not commonly seen with this dosing of zinc as copper-rich foods are ubiquitous in Western diets. (Copper is used as a fungicide on many grains therefore breads and cereals tend to be higher in copper.)

● Food sources of zinc: meat, yogurt, beans, cashews and fortified cereals

2) Selenium

● Eczema sufferers have low levels of an enzyme called glutathione peroxidase, which depends on selenium for reactions to take place.

Glutathione peroxidase is involved in detoxification and elimination of harmful substances.

Studies have shown healthy people to have higher blood selenium levels than those with eczema.

● Selenium rich food sources: Brazil nuts, mushrooms, egg, meat, fish, sunflower seeds and onions

Additional Resources:

Good nutrition and adequate intake of vitamins and minerals is essential to health and proper immune function.

In addition to the recommendations in this article, eczema sufferers have found relief in an all-natural program called Vanish Eczema.

It’s an easy read and offers tangible, proven advice.

Related posts:

1. Little Known Natural Remedies For Eczema
2. Eczema Treatments – Natural Treatment for Eczema
3. Natural Eczema Cream: Topical Applications Proven To Work

An estimated 30-50% of people with eczema have a food allergy.

As a naturopathic physician I have seen the devastating effects food allergies can have on patients’ health but I have also seen the truly amazing restoration of health when the offending foods are removed from the diet.

There are simple, natural ways to restore digestive health and reduce the incidence and severity of food allergies.

This article will give you information on the close relationship between eczema and diet; you will learn how to identify your food trigger and get your eczema under control without the use of harsh pharmaceuticals or invasive interventions.

It is also important to be aware of the connection between celiac disease, an autoimmune disease triggered by grains containing gluten, and dermatitis herpetiformis, a rash that very closely resembles eczema.

The Most Common Food Allergens

The most common eczema foods to avoid are wheat, corn, soy, citrus fruits, chocolate, shellfish, cow’s milk (dairy), peanuts and tree nuts.

However, there is no definitive eczema diet as I’ve had eczema patients with less common allergens such as blueberry, mustard and oregano that improved by avoiding their food triggers.

A common misconception is that food allergies are permanent – once a person is allergic to sesame seeds then they can never eat a hamburger bun or side of tahini ever again.

While it is true that some people no not overcome their sensitivities, many others will have complete resolution or be able to tolerate small amounts of the food.

The key to recovering from food allergies is to first identify the offending foods, then remove them from the diet for a period of time while healing immune & gut health, and then slowly reintroduce those trigger foods.

Food allergies that have the potential for causing anaphylaxis should not be reintroduced without the careful supervision of a physician.  Luckily, the majority of food allergies and sensitivities do not fall under this category.

Patient story: Daniel, 33, chronic eczema sufferer

Daniel first came to my practice a few years ago with concerns about his eczema, a condition that he had since childhood.

We ran some blood tests looking for nutritional deficiencies and also ran a food allergy panel looking for both IgE and IgG allergens.

Daniel had some minor reaction to almonds and soy but his +3 (highest on this test’s scale) reaction was to corn.

The patient eliminated his allergens and returned to my office a month later for a follow up.  His eczema was improved but not the same marked improvement that I see with other patients when allergens are removed.

At first I thought perhaps he had not been able to follow the dietary restrictions and was cheating but I quizzed him and he honestly said he had stuck to the diet.

Daniel was asked to record his diet for another week and then fax it to my office for evaluation.  The record revealed that he had diligently removed corn chips, cheetos, tortillas and all almonds & soy foods from his diet.

What he still was eating with regularity were packaged bakery items that he ate working the night shift as a security guard.

I was able to get an ingredient list from the manufacturer of these sweets and found that the 2^nd and 3^rd ingredient was often corn syrup!

After removing foods manufactured with corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup, Daniel’s eczema improved dramatically.

We worked to restore his gut health and he is no longer as sensitive to small amounts of corn but he still will have an outbreak of eczema if he eats large amounts of corn such as an entire piece of corn bread, popcorn or a soup with corn kernels.

Different Types Of Food Allergies

There are several different types of food allergy and sensitivity.  Understanding which type you have can help guide treatment options.

An allergy can present as a problem with various immune components reacting to that antigen (offending substance), these different immunoglobulins are called IgA, IgE, IgG, IgM and immune complexes.

For food allergies, the primary immunoglobulins involved are either IgA or IgG.

1) IgE allergies are immediate, causing the release of histamine and causing the patient to swell and itch.  Patients with IgE allergies often report intestinal distress and difficulty breathing.

A severe IgE allergy is very dangerous because of swelling that could lead to airway blockage. 

2) IgG allergies have delayed onset—from several hours to several days—and they can present as headaches, skin rashes including eczema, asthma, mood disorders and joint pain.

They create problems by depositing allergen-antibody complexes into your body’s tissue, provoking chronic inflammation.

Methods To Identify Your Eczema Food Allergies

1) Food Elimination Diet For Eczema And The Oral Food Challenge

This method of identifying food allergies requires the most effort but it costs nothing and can pick up food sensitivities missed by lab testing.

The shortcomings of the elimination and oral challenge are that it can take a long time to test all of the possible foods and it can be difficult for patients to complete if they are not highly motivated.

There are two methods for identifying food allergens through this method:

The first method is to eliminate all suspected allergens for a period of 9 days to 2 weeks and then reintroduce one food at a time, noting any change in symptoms of eczema.

A new food can only be reintroduced every 3-4 days as some allergic responses are delayed.

The second method is to eat a normal diet and eliminate one food at a time, primarily testing the most common allergens.

A food, wheat for example, is eliminated from the diet for 2 weeks and the patient keeps a symptom journal to record any improvement in eczema appearance and symptoms.

Then that food is reintroduced to see if any aggravation takes place.  If there is an aggravation then that food is identified as an allergen and should be restricted for a period of time during gut restoration treatments.

Next, another food is eliminated for 2 weeks and the cycle is repeated until all suspect foods have been tested.

2) Blood Testing: Two Different Types Of Tests To Identify An Eczema Food Allergy

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) can identify both IgE and IgG food allergies.

The ELISA test is able to pick up food allergies that other tests can miss, so it is called highly sensitive.

Radioallergosorbent Test (RAST test) only detects IgE food allergies, the kind of allergy that causes anaphylaxis.  It can be expensive but requires only a simple blood collection.

Unfortunately, RAST testing is not very sensitive and can miss some food allergens.

3) Skin Prick

This method of testing involves injecting very small amounts of antigen (potential allergen material) into the surface of the skin.

They are typically performed by an allergist and are widely available.

While skin prick testing is good at picking up inhalant allergies, it can often miss food allergies and sensitivities.

4) Applied Kinesiology (Muscle Testing)

Some alternative practitioners use muscle testing—cues from the patient’s body—to help identify problem foods.

The most common method is to place various foods in the palm of the eczema sufferer’s hand and then the practitioner puts pressure on the opposite raised arm to try and lower the extremity.

This is repeated with several other foods and when the extended arm is least able to hold up against downward pressure, it is presumed to signify some adverse reaction to that food.

Healing The Gut:  How To Restore Your Intestinal Health To Reduce Immune Reactivity To Foods

Leaky gut is a condition where the increased spacing between cells in your gut allows for greater passage of antigens (food molecules) across the intestinal barrier and into the bloodstream.

This amplified permeability prompts more immune hyper response, leading to antibody-antigen complexes synthesized in the intestine which are then leaked across the gaping barrier.

In essence, a condition of leaky gut snowballs until the patient has more and more food allergies, resulting in chronic inflammation.

Probiotics

Probiotics work by increasing the secretion of IgA, the immunoglobulin that is prevalent in the intestine.

L-Glutamine

L-glutamine is an amino acid that is essential for proper function of all cells of the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus.

Licorice (DGL)

Licorice acts to soothe irritated gastrointestinal tissue and to heal area of ulceration or inflammation.

N-Acetyl Glucosamine

N-acetyl glucosamine is a sugar-like molecule that forms structures in the body.  In the intestine it can help to form proper gap junctions (space between cells) and heal the structural component of leaky gut. 

Gamma Oryzanol

Gamma oryzanol is sourced from rice bran and is strongly anti-inflammatory and has been shown to decrease ulcers, allergies and cancer.

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS)

Fructooligosaccharides are constituents extracted from fruits and vegetables that act as prebiotics, providing a food source for probiotics to flourish in the intestine.

Instead of popping 8 different capsules and 3 different powders, it’s a good idea to purchase a supplement that contains a combination of these gut healing nutrients.

Integrative Therapeutics makes a product called Permeability factors for leaky gut and Douglas Labs has one called Ultra GI.

Celiac Disease And Eczema

Celiac disease is a condition where the body makes antibodies against gluten, a protein found in certain types of grains.

The immune system then begins to attack the inner lining of small intestine, causing bloating, diarrhea and gas.

Unfortunately the side effects of celiac disease are not limited to the digestive system as people with the condition also often have intense fatigue, irritability and skin rashes.

Iron deficiency anemia and autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s) are also conditions often associated with celiac disease.

The celiac skin rash presents as itchy bumps and blister that can appear anywhere but are typically found on the knees, elbows, hands, back and buttocks.

Many people have sought treatment for eczema only to find out that they actually have celiac disease.

Your doctor can test for celiac disease using a blood test to screen for the antibodies or by taking a biopsy from your small intestine. The treatment for celiac disease involves avoiding gluten-containing foods.

They are found primarily in grains but are often added to processed foods as a thickener and to increase the fluffiness of bakery items.

Gluten Containing Foods To Avoid If You Suspect Celiac And Gluten-Free Alternatives

Patient story: Rosalyn, 42, new adult onset of eczema

Rosalyn is the mother of 3 young boys and works long hours in her family business. She came to our clinic looking for recommendations to increase her energy.

In the past 6 months Rosalyn felt increasingly more tired and would sleep 10 or even 11 hours per night without waking rested.

She also had starting getting patches of eczema on her legs and a small spot near her elbow.

The patient’s primary care physician ran tests and told her that she was healthy. He gave her a prescription for a topical steroid but her eczema did not resolve entirely.

I listened carefully as Rosalyn described her symptoms, which included abdominal distention and indigestion following breakfast.

Patient thought she may have lactose intolerance but switching to soy milk did not improve her symptoms.

I gave Rosalyn a blood test that checks for antibodies to gliadin – the protein found in gluten. She tested positive so I referred her to a gastroenterologist where a small bowel biopsy proved Rosalyn had celiac disease.

She now avoids any gluten-containing foods and feels great, with her eczema resolved and her energy has returned.

Her case highlights that food allergies and autoimmune disease such as celiac can present at any age.

Unlike most people with food allergies, Rosalyn will not likely be able to eat gluten-containing foods after gut restoration, as the risk for autoimmune destruction is too great.

Additional Recommendations: Learn More About The Relationship Between Eczema And Diet:

Celiac Information Website. This is the National Institute for Health’s information page on the signs, symptoms and treatment options for celiac disease.

Lab Tests Online. Learn more about various lab tests available, including food allergy testing.

Vanish Eczema. This is a great website offering an ebook of natural methods to eliminate eczema.

Identifying food allergies and improving digestion will go a long way to addressing eczema, but this is a sound resource for other proven methods to eradicate eczema.

Related posts:

1. Contact Dermatitis Treatment – Controlling Irritants and Allergies
2. Eliminating the Scars Left By Eczema
3. Eczema And Nutrition: The Nutrients Your Body Is Lacking Could Be Contributing To Your Eczema

Atopic dermatitis, or eczema as it is commonly known, is an inflammatory skin condition caused by a hyper immune response.

Conventionally, steroid creams are usually prescribed to treat eczema as they act to suppress your immune system which decreases the swelling, redness and itching.

Although they do often work, the downside of steroid creams is the side effects: increased risk for secondary infection, skin thinning and poor wound healing.

Additionally, steroid creams often eventually stop working as your body develops tolerance to them, as the underlying cause is not being addressed.

Naturally-based over the counter eczema lotions, gels and creams can offer relief without the same risk for adverse side effects.

Botanical Creams

1) Chapparral Eczema Salve:

Long used by Native Americans of the American southwest, chapparral is a shrub with anti-cancer, anti-microbial and cleansing properties.

It was traditionally used both internally and externally to treat skin cancers, parasitic infections and menstrual disorders.

Other names for chapparral include its Latin moniker, Larrea Tridentata and it’s common name, Creosote.

Used externally, chapparral is safe but taking it orally for extended periods of time could lead to liver or kidney damage.

Internal use should always been overseen by a trained herbalist or naturopathic physician.

For eczematous conditions, chapparral leaves are combined with an emollient base such as beeswax, oils or Vitamin E.

Reevis Mountain makes an excellent and inexpensive chaparral salve that’s paired with Apricot kernel oil, an ingredient also lauded for its ability to decrease unwanted eczema cell proliferation.

2) Calendula Eczema Lotion:

Calendula lotion is made from a soothing plant extract and is applied liberally to cuts, scrapes and burns.

It is indicated in eczema rashes that are dry, cracked and irritated as it will add moisture to the skin.

Calendula is also very calming to irritated skin and will decrease the urge to scratch. It is easy to cultivate and commercially available in most areas.

Marigold is the other name for calendula. Many people know this plant’s bright yellow flower used to decorate gardens in temperate climates, but its petals are also edible and used as garnish in salads.

The species used for medicinal uses is calendula officinalis and the one used for decorative purposes is a member of the Tagets genus.

Calendula is believed to help eczema by decreasing inflammation and trapping moisture into the epidermal (outermost) layers of the skin.

The wound healing properties are attributed to water soluble flavonoids.

Flavonoids are compounds in plants that give them their flavor and scent, they also can have health benefits to humans including anti-oxidant activity and supporting blood vessel health.

Topical or internal preparations of calendula should not be used if a person has an allergy to plants in the Asteraceae family, which include daisies, ragweed and chrysanthemums.

Calendula preparations are the best eczema lotion for people who have dry skin with dry outbreaks.

3) Chamomile Eczema Lotion:

Chamomile, known by its herbal medicine name Matricaria chamomilla, is popularized the world over as a sweet, slightly apple flavored tea.

Taken internally it can help with nervous tension, indigestion and irritable bowel syndrome.

Its soothing and tummy-taming properties made it a favorite choice of midwives and new mothers to calm colicky babies.

The flowers of the herb work just as well externally as they do internally.

The essential oils and chemical compounds called sesquiterpene lactones, act to decrease inflammation and promote healing.

A widely available over the counter chamomile lotion is called CamoCare.

Chamomile is a safe eczema cream for babies. They also make anti-aging and skin cleansing products with chamomile as an active ingredient.

You can make your own healing soak at home with just a few chamomile tea bags.

Chamomile Soak:

• You can make your own chamomile soak by adding 2-3 organic chamomile tea bags to 12 ounces of boiling water.

• When the tea bags are done steeping (the color should be pale yellow) immerse a clean towel in the liquid.

• Let the towel cool to a hot but not scalding temperature and then apply it to area affected by eczema.

• Leave the chamomile-soaked towel in place for 10-15 minutes.

4) Licorice Eczema Cream:

Licorice has been research proven to heal stomach ulcers, inhibit virus growth and influence steroid hormone metabolism.

It is used topically to heal eczema, melasma (darking of skin pigmentation) and herpes.

Glycyrrhetinic acid derived from licorice root decreases inflammation by decreasing the enzyme responsible for breaking down cortisone.

Think of it as nature’s own steroid cream but without the same risks for immune suppression and infection. In fact, licorice root has some constituents that actually inhibit bacterial and viral growth.

Several studies have shown it to reduce the redness, swelling and itching of eczema after both 2 weeks and 5 weeks of use, showing a sustained effect.

Products containing licorice are the best eczema cream for people susceptible to herpes outbreaks.

Vitamin Creams

1) B12 Eczema Cream:

Two research papers have found using a topical B12 cream twice daily reduced both the symptoms (itching, burning, irritation) and signs (redness, swelling, scaling, oozing, bleeding) of eczema.

The preparation contains a small amount of biologically active B12 (less than 1%) and is marketed under the trade name Regividerm.

The manufacturers speculated that B12 could inhibit a signaling molecule called nitric oxide that tells the blood vessels to swell, bringing immune cells to the region and creating the hyper immune response.

Results from this placebo-controlled study show that it can.

2) Vitamin D Eczema Ointment & Creams:

Your body’s Vitamin D synthesis starts in the skin and it is a well-known fact that UVB light improves symptoms of eczema in many people.

This previously was thought to work by decreasing pruritis (itchiness) and by suppressing immune activity in the skin but it now appears that there may be a secondary action of increasing Vitamin D synthesis.

The vitamin can be safely taken orally at 400IU to 1000IU daily without testing blood levels, but beyond 1000IU daily, your physician or dietician should monitor it using simple blood tests.

While Vitamin D is a fantastic nutrient that is pivotal to mood, skin and immune health, it is fat soluble and therefore can accumulate in your body to toxic levels when supplemented in high doses.

Kidney stones are the most frequently reported side affect of Vit D levels beyond the normal range.

If you don’t want to mess with taking Vit D orally, there are over the counter eczema creams containing Vit D available.

They have been prescribed to treat psoriasis but are now gaining in popularity for eczema as well.

A 2005 reports showed improvement of hand and foot eczema with use of the Vit D3 cream. This study involved only 5 patients but several more are currently underway.

Be cautious to avoid ointments and creams with any irritating preservatives or filler ingredients. Xymogen makes a Vit D3 cream of high quality.

Additional Resources

● You can find reliable information on botanical medicines from the American Botanical Council including monographs detailing information about individual herbs, a database detailing herb quality and links to recipes for making homemade salves, creams and lotions.

● The book Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy: Modern Herbal Medicince is a wealth of information on the individual constituents of the plants and herbs, their indications and contraindications.

● The Herbal Medicine-Maker’s Handbook is a great text explaining how to make your own salves, gels, lotions and creams.

Finally, I would highly recommend any person suffering from eczema read the eBook Vanish Eczema, which details natural methods to reduce or eliminate the condition.

Natural creams and lotions have been proven by both traditional use and modern research to work for eczema.

However, it is also vitally important to address the body’s internal environment, whose condition allowed for eczema to develop in the first place.

Related posts:

1. Natural Remedies For Eczema
2. Eczema Treatments – Natural Treatment for Eczema
3. Eczema Cure – Natural Cure for Eczema

An Introduction To Homeopathy

Homeopathy is a gentle system of healing that uses very diluted naturally occurring substances to stimulate healing in the body.

Samuel Hanneman, an 18th century physician and the founder of homeopathy, noticed that he could use small amounts of natural substances, such as plants or minerals, to cure illness in patients.

Curiously he discovered that the best results came from using a substance whose anticipated side effects mimicked the same symptoms which the person was experiencing.

For example, the potentially deadly herb belladonna can cause salivation, dilated pupils, headache and sweating.

Dr. Hanneman would give minute amounts of belladonna to a feverish patient who displayed these same symptoms and the patient would begin to get better.

Using very small amounts of the herbs and minerals eliminated the risk of toxicity and adverse reaction, but Samuel Hanneman also noticed that the more dilute the remedy, the faster and better the patients responded.

When you purchase homeopathic medicines, the higher doses have a decreasing amount of actual active ingredient. Typically homeopathic medicines come in the forms of lactose pellets, liquids or creams.

The most common commercially available doses are referred to as potencies and are a number followed by an X, C or M. X is the lowest and M is the highest.

Increasingly larger numbers signify a more potent medicine but the letter signifies an even greater jump in strength. (It’s kind of a cross between the Roman numeral system and the Richter scale used to measure earthquakes)

For example, a remedy with the potency of 6C is stronger than 2X and a remedy with a potency of 10M is stronger than one of 200C strength.

Why Should I Try Homeopathy To Treat My Eczema?

Homeopathy is the most popular alternative therapy in the world and is used by more people than herbal medicine, chiropractic or even acupuncture.

Even though it has been in widespread use for several hundred years, the science to prove its efficacy is just now being revealed.

A 2010 study completed at MD Anderson showed that breast cancer cells in a petri dish stopped growing and some even were killed off when exposed to the homeopathic remedies

Carcinosinum and Phytolacca. This effect did not happen to healthy breast tissue.

An article appearing in 2009 in the journal Dermatology found homeopathic eczema treatment to be as effective as the standard conventional therapy.

Given the low cost of homeopathic medicines and their even lower risk for adverse reaction, homeopathy is a sound treatment approach for people with eczema.

Learning To Be A Homeopath: Find The Characteristic Or Unusual Symptoms

Homeopathic principles are unique in that not all people with eczema will see their symptoms improve with the same remedy. It is a system of medicine that works by individualizing the remedy to the person.

The best tool to find the correct remedy is to identify the strange, individual or peculiar symptoms of your disease.

Most eczema sufferers will describe their skin as feeling itchy or wanting to scratch.

This common symptom might help lead to the diagnosis of eczema but it will not by itself identify the proper homeopathic remedy.

Now, if the itchiness is worse after a hot bath you have a more specific, and less commonly experienced symptom to narrow down the list of possible homeopathic medicines that would be appropriate for you.

Or if you only get the urge to scratch during the night, this would also be specific enough to use in selecting the right remedy for you.

Skilled homeopaths will inquire in depth about the appearance, distribution (what areas of the body are affected), and sensations of the eczema presentation.

You do not need to be an experienced homeopath to come to the best remedy but you will need to be a careful observer.

The following are some questions to help differentiate between the more common homeopathic remedies for eczema:

1. Is my eczema better or worse in warm weather or cold weather? Likewise, is it better or worse on rainy days or in dry climates?

2. Does scratching the area make it feel better or worse?

3. What is the appearance of my eczematous lesions? Are they bright red, pink, silvery, more raised or flat, do they bleed or ooze when picked?

4. What foods or beverages aggravate my skin?

5. Have I felt more anxious, angry, sad or apathetic since the eczema started?

This last question is obviously easier to assess if the eczema is newly developed but sometimes I’ve had patients who can even recall 10 years later that their eczema started when their beloved pet died, they started a new job, or got a divorce.

These mental emotional clues also can help identify the individual characteristics of homeopathic remedies.

Homeopathy is holistic in the sense that it treats both physical symptoms as well as a person’s mental and emotional health.

Below you will find the most common homeopathic remedies used to treat eczema and their individualizing characteristics but first I want to give some tips for being a successful homeopath.

1) There Can Be More Than One Appropriate Homeopathic Remedy to Get Improvement In Your Eczema

While most classical homeopaths feel that there is usually one remedy most aligned with a person’s particular constitution, there will often be improvement of symptoms if the selected remedy is even a close match.

If you get some results, but you aren’t continuing to improve, you might want to try another remedy with similar characteristics.

Earlier this year I treated a woman in her early thirties who had acne since she was a teenager. I confidently prescribed homeopathic Sulphur as she was generally warm-blooded, craved bacon and her acne was worse from bathing—all Sulphur characteristics and a strong correlative factor. Six weeks later Diane came back and her acne was only marginally improved but she reported better energy and focus. So I got more symptoms and we tried again, this time with a remedy related to Sulphur called Pulsatilla and fortunately after the new remedy Diane’s face was the clearest it had been in years.

2) Your Symptoms May Temporarily Get Worse Before Your Eczema Improves

Sometimes an aggravation is possible before you notice improvement.

While I said earlier that homeopathic medicines are very safe and are not known to interact with other medication, they can cause a temporary aggravation of symptoms.

In the case of eczema I have seen where a remedy is given and for the next few hours up until a week, there is worsening of itching, redness or swelling followed by steady improvement.

This type of aggravation was written about in the time of Samuel Hanneman and was speculated to be a release of sorts.

I always warn patients that this can occur but see it happen only 5-10% of the time in practice. More commonly this occurs in persons with a history of being hypersensitive to other therapies.

If a person does not improve after a suspected aggravation then the correct remedy was not selected and a different remedy should be given.

One way to minimize risk of aggravation is to start with a low potency. In sensitive patients I start with 6c for eczema and other skin conditions.

3) Follow These Dosing Strategies for Best Outcomes

There are times when a person will react to a remedy and that improvement wears off.

If this is the case, it is time to either re-dose the remedy (if it hasn’t been taken in awhile) or increase the potency of the remedy.

Generally, I increase only to the next potency level but some homeopaths do increase more rapidly. It is appropriate to continue increasing in potency as needed and discontinue when symptoms resolve.

There are also differing opinions on how often to administer remedies. The two most popular dosing strategies are either a daily dose for a prescribed period of time or a single large dose.

The single dose is given only once and then repeated if there is relapse. In the real world I find it easier to give remedies daily so as not to miss the window of when symptoms are recurring.

OK, now that you’ve completed a mini course in homeopathy, it’s time to apply what you’ve learned and compare the list of your specific symptoms to the ones listed below for each remedy.

If you continue to have trouble or none of the remedies below seem to match your case, then consulting a formally trained homeopath is a good idea.

The North America Society of Homeopaths has a list of clinicians in your area and many are willing to do phone consultations as well.

In addition to using homeopathy for eczema, I also recommend people read Vanish Eczema, a book designed for people looking for natural, easy to follow steps in order to eradicate their eczema.

Whereas conventional therapies merely suppress eczema, Vanish Eczema has practical solutions to address the underlying cause.

The 15 Most Common Homeopathic Remedies For Eczema And Their Characteristic Symptoms

1. Agaricus Muscarius: burning, biting, extreme itching, prickling as from needles, electric like sensations in the skin; small nodules in the skin, worse in winter.

Persons needing Agaricus often have reddened ears or noses. They are prone to anxiety, especially about their health.

2. Alumina: dry eczema, patients tend to be very irritable with constipation. Eczema is worse in winter.

Ulcerated lesions secrete yellowish brown, smelly pus. This remedy is often prescribed in the elderly, pale persons or frail individuals.

I once gave homeopathic Alumina to a fussy 11-month-old baby boy who had eczema on his cheeks. The clue to use this remedy was his persistent constipation despite his mom giving him plenty of fibrous foods and fluids.

People needing Alumina can crave non-edible food as was the case of this boy who liked to munch paper and chalk.

3. Antimonium Crudum: thick, hard, honey colored scales, itching when warm. People often report burning, worse at night; stomach problems; sensitive to cold bathing.

4. Arsenicum Album: itching, burning, swelling, worse in cold and from scratching; dry, rough, scaly skin; between fingers and cracks on tips of fingers; scaly eruptions on scalp and face with acrid, fetid discharge; intense burning and ditching.

Like Agaricus, persons needing Arsenicum also tend to be highly anxious, especially regarding their own health.

5. Calcarea Carbonica: violent itching at all times, worse in the early morning while in bed; sometimes people have the sensation as if wearing cold damp socks from cold sweating of the lower extremities.

This patient also perspires easily on the head. People needing Calcarea Carbonica are often overweight.

6. Calcarea Sulphurica: dry eczema in kids; yellow smelly crusts and scales; pimples on the hair, which bleed when scratched.

7. Chrysarobinum: behind ears; violent itching; filthy-looking, scabby condition with tendency to form thick crust.

I used this remedy successfully with a patient who was in the lichen phase of eczema, where his lesions had thickened almost to a leathery texture.

8. Graphites: weeping, sticky honey-like fluid; on hands, face, lips, behind ears, worse from becoming overheated at night (such as having overly warm bed covers); moist in folds of skin with itching on bends of joints; suppurates easily and pimples form; sensitive to touch, worse in dry, cold wind, better in damp and warm weather.

9. Kali Sulphuricum: vesicles with thin, yellow pus; distribution is often the inside of hands and fingers; lips cracked, eczema worse from eating sweets.

10. Petroleum: yellowish, green thick crusts on face and neck which profuse discharge; bloody cracks with no discharge; dry, scaly or moist better in summer, worse in cold or winter; on hands or behind ears.

11. Psorinum: dry, scaly on scalp and face; crusts over the scalp; hair falls out, oozing lifts the crusts and exposes new vesicles, worse at night from warmth of bed.

The person needing Psorinum is often depressed, unhopeful; their eczema has a strong odor from oozing fluid.

12. Rhus Toxicodendron: dry with redness, swelling, intolerable itching made worse by warmth; on scalp in infants; vesicles suppurate thin watery dark colored secretion.

The personality of Rhus tox is typically quite restless.

13. Staphysagria: yellow, acrid fluid oozes from under crusts; humid itching, fetid eruptions on head and behind ears; scratching place of itching but increases oozing.

The personality of a person needing Staphysagria is often timid and they report feeling suppressed by others or their situation. Rarely will they show anger but when they do, it will be explosive.

I saw a patient recently where I prescribed Staphysagria for her mental emotional state during a divorce from a controlling and sexually perverse man.

The remedy did help her mood but it also simultaneously improved the deep, itchy cracks in her hands.

The patient jokes that she no longer needed to “purchase a case of hand cream every time I go to the grocery store.”

14. Sulphur: intense burning, itching is worse from washing or scratching; rough, course, dry scaly skin; redness around orifices (mouth, anus).

Sulphur types are deep thinkers and quite intellectual but they also have a tendency towards laziness at times. Food cravings of this remedy include bacon, beer and spicy foods.

15. Thuja: occurring after suppression of gonorrhea (this was a problematic disease in Samuel Hanneman’s time but it could be said that Thuja is indicated if eczema started after any untreated sexually transmitted infection), also indicated for eczema occurring after vaccination; appears as dirty brown skin covered with itching vesicles.

Related posts:

1. Natural Remedies For Eczema
2. How To Treat Eczema In Children
3. Eczema Cure – Natural Cure for Eczema

In many developed countries the rate of eczema has now reached a staggering rate of 20% or 1 in 5 people. This is more than triple the incidence in less developed nations.

Such a gap in the numbers of individuals afflicted with eczema begs the question; what is causing an increasing number of people to develop eczema and why only in certain regions?

This article will help you identify triggers in your environment that could be contributing to your eczema and give simple ways to modify your exposure and your body’s reaction to that exposure.

It is written from the perspective of a doctor who spends much of her time educating patients about the role their surroundings can play in their health. This relationship is particularly strong for skin conditions, including eczema.

What Is Eczema And How Can My Environment Cause This Skin Condition?

Eczema, medically referred to as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic skin condition characterized by itchy, inflamed skin.

The skin is usually reddened and dry with weeping of fluid and raised vesicles (fluid-filled bumps) during the acute stage.

If it is chronic it can develop into lichen eczema, which is a thickening of the skin that can occur from habitual scratching and rubbing.

Your genes play some role in the risk for developing this condition but so does the air you breathe, the food and beverages you consume and the objects you come in contact with.

An eczema patient once said to me, after a discussion of describing the inner workings of eczema physiology, “so basically you’re telling me I have a freaked out immune system and it’s getting angry, swollen and irritated.”

This was actually a pretty good and simple description because eczema is the result of a “freaked out” immune system and an effective treatment strategy is to stop bombarding it with “freaky” substances.

First we need to understand the different types of eczema, then identify its triggers and finally take steps to reduce exposure.

Contact Eczema: Don’t Reach For The Hand Sanitizer Just Yet

Contact eczema happens when a person touches a chemical or substance that stimulates an immune reaction resulting in the reddening, scaling and swelling common to all types of eczema.

However, contact eczema is unique in that it only affects the skin that was touched, whereas other forms of eczema can appear anywhere, but mostly do so on the face, hands, fronts of elbows and backs of knees.

Contact eczema is broken down into two types: irritant and allergic.

Irritant Contact Eczema occurs when it is the offending substance that directly caused the skin inflammation such as when someone uses caustic cleaning solution without gloves.

Allergic Contact Eczema is the result of your immune system overreacting to a signal from coming in contact with the substance. Latex, poison ivy and metal allergies are the most common suspects when looking for an allergic cause of contact dermatitis.

As much as possible, I recommend patients use naturally derived products in their home and at work.

The chemicals found in laundry soap, copy machine toner and air fresheners can launch an assault on your immune system and contribute to eczema or an aggravation of existing skin lesions.

Physicians saw a spike in office visits of patient with hand eczema with the popularization of hand sanitizer.

Not only do most hand sanitizers contain alcohol, which is extremely drying and increases susceptibility to eczema, they also frequently utilize benzalkonium chloride, a chemical that has shown to be an allergen, carcinogenic (cancer-causing) in animal studies and a known immune system disruptor.

Not exactly the ingredient people are looking for when they are trying to stay healthy by avoiding germ exposure. Instead, I have patients wash their hands the old fashioned way with natural, non-drying soap and water.

If they don’t have access to a sink I recommend a hand sanitizer based on herbal preparations such as those made by EO. They include ingredients to moisturize as well as anti-microbial essential oils to kill viruses and bacteria.

Chronic Eczema: What Or Who Is Assaulting My Immune System?

With chronic eczema it’s essential for people to examine the air they are breathing, the water they use for drinking and bathing as well as the products they use for personal hygiene, cleaning and even decorating.

Read on to discover how purchasing a shower curtain could potentially exacerbate your eczema.

Air Quality And Eczema: How To Breathe Easier If You’re Suffering From Eczema

Several large studies have shown increased rates of eczema as well as asthma in urban areas where air quality is worse.

Researchers in Lima, Peru measured the levels of particulate matter (pollution indicator) in both urban and rural households.

There was a greater amount of pollution in the city dwellers’ homes with a corresponding increase of eczema in the people living in those poorer air quality regions.

Cigarette smoke also played a role in the worse air quality but it did not account for the entire difference.

In addition to environmental pollution, airborne allergens can exacerbate eczema. These substances trigger the release of immune cells and lead to a hyper reactivity in the body.

Besides eczema, they have also been linked with increased rates of asthma and hayfever (allergic rhinitis).

The most common ones include:

• dust mites
• pollens
• animal dander
• tobacco smoke

It is often difficult for most people to move to an area of better air quality. What can they do if they live next door to a coal-fired energy plant?

Here is a list of ways to breathe easier without consulting the real estate section of the classifieds or sending Fido off to the pound.

1. Install an air filtration system in your home. These filtration systems are designed to reduce the amount of particulates (tiny pieces of outdoor pollution), dust and mold spores.

Many modern homes already do have such systems but older homes may not. Consult an HVAC professional to see if your air filtering system is adequate for the size of the home and health needs of the occupants.

Also, remember to frequently replace the filters that are busy collecting the dust and dander. For most systems this is every 1-2 months.

2. If you don’t own the home you are living in or you want a more inexpensive way to clean up your home’s air then invest in a stand alone air filter that is portable so that you can place the unit in the room where you sleep or spend most of your time.

When purchasing an air-filtering machine, make sure that it has both a HEPA filter for larger particles (dust, danger, pollen and mold) and also a carbon filter (odors and chemicals).

I’ve recommended the Austin air purifier brand to patients with good reviews, but they can be pricey. So if someone is on a tight budget I recommend the Honeywell machines, which are also a good buy.

3. Buy houseplants to help clean up the air quality in your home. Not only can a potted plant increase the oxygen in your living space, it can absorb formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene as well.

Research has shown that plants from tropical regions are better able to process these chemicals, but even everyday houseplants will offer some benefit.

I suggest patients place 1-2 plants per room but I do not recommend having plants inside the house if an eczema patient is allergic to molds. Fungus can grow in overwatered plants.

Read on to the story below to hear how mold can trigger eczema eruptions.

Humidity, Mold & Eczema: Playing Detective Yields A Valuable Lesson

As most eczema suffers can attest, dry winters and arid climates can often aggravate the scaling, itchy patches of eczema.

Physicians, including myself, often recommend patients in temperate climates utilize a humidifier in the bedroom to reduce eczema aggravations.

While this tip is helpful to many people, I want share a story of a young eczema patient where a discussion of her humidifier revealed the underlying cause of her eczema.

Emily was a beautiful and bright 7-year-old girl brought in by her mother because she was suffering from debilitating eczema since the age of 2. The girl would scratch continuously on her arms, knees, neck and cheeks until her skin would bleed. At times a quarter of her body was covered in lesions.

Emily had been treated with all of the conventional therapies but the eczema always returned when her steroids were tapered off. This patient, like many others, had significant side effects from high dose steroids including thin skinning, mood changes and poor immune function.

We made dietary changes, gave nutrient support including essential fatty acids, and utilized homeopathy. The patient had some marginal improvement but then she, her mother and myself were left feeling disappointed and frustrated– the things that worked for all of my other patients were falling short with Emily.

During one follow up visit I inquired about Emily’s humidifier use as the patient lives in Phoenix, Arizona. The arid weather in the desert can intensify eczematous rashes.

Her mother said they had recently stopped using the humidifier because some mold had grown in the storage canister and the mother noticed that Emily’s skin was better the day after the humidifier was removed from her bedroom. I asked if there was any other mold in the home. Emily’s mother said, “just in the garage, there’s a big patch on the ceiling that’s been there since we moved in. But nothing inside the home.”

Then I asked, out of curiosity, but also because I had a hunch, “who’s bedroom is above the garage?” The answer, of course, was Emily’s bedroom.

The family had the mold remediated and found that not only was the sheetrock saturated but so too were the floorboards and subfloor of Emily’s room. In the following weeks and months Emily’s eczema continued to improve and she also continued eating her healthy diet and taking her supplements. Today she has a rare patch of eczema if she eats excessive amount of dairy, but overall she is feeling great and is no longer self-conscious about her skin.

Treating Emily was a great lesson that sometimes it’s not what is given to patients but what is taken away that leads to cure.

Emily certainly had a pre-disposition to eczema with a strong family history and a brother with hayfever, a condition often related to eczema.

The severity and unresponsiveness to her therapies suggested something more was going on with Emily.

Now I have all of my patients on their initial visit detail a history of when their eczema started and any changes in living, school or working environment that may have occurred at that time.

All humidifiers need to be maintained to inhibit growth of mold in the water reservoir. This can be done by dropping a filter into the water. Most filters contain a silver component to prevent microbial growth.

If you don’t have a filter, then it is recommended to rinse out the water daily and to clean out the tank weekly with either soapy water or a 50:50 white vinegar and water solution.

Pthalates And Eczema: Plastic Goods May Offer Inexpensive, Convenient Options But It Can Come As A Cost, Especially To Eczema Sufferers.

Phthalates are compounds found in soft plastics that have been implicated in causing changes in the human body’s reproductive and hormone systems.

Additionally, elevated blood levels of phthalates have been found in people with eczema. Other research has shown an aggravation of eczema with use of hygiene and beauty products containing phthalates.

Experts have speculated that the phthalates either directly stimulate the immune system, which creates inflammation in the skin or that they indirectly affect hormone signaling, involved in swelling, reddening and itching.

I often advise pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers to be especially careful about their exposure to phthalates as they can be passed on to infants in the womb or through breast milk.

Infancy is a crucial time when eczema can develop and it’s important for a baby to be protected from chemical compounds that could trigger skin reaction as well as asthma and hayfever.

Products often containing phthalates:

• Soft plastic toys
• Cosmetics
• Shampoos, lotions and powders
• Shower curtains
• Teething rings, pacifiers and baby bottle inserts

Many manufacturers have already begun removing phthalates from their products and will often advertise on the packaging “phthalate free.”

Several websites have good information and databases to help consumers seek out phthalate free products.

The non-profit Environmental Working Group has a site called Skin Deep that lets users search for a product to see if it contains any potential harmful chemicals.

Consumer Reports raised some concerns about the safety of phthalate use in medication capsules.

Health food stores are a good resource for finding brands that are committed to not using phthalates in their products.

Look for the Natural Products Association seal, as members of that organization pledge not to use phthalates in their products.

Body product and cosmetic brands that are committed to being phthalate free:

• Aubrey Organics
• Burts Bees
• Dr. Hauschka
• Jason Natural Organics
• Juice Organics
• Origins Organics
• Pangea Organics
• Weleda

Additional Recommendations And Resources

I encourage patients to minimized their exposure to plastics overall and use glass food storage containers, stainless steel water bottles and cookware that is either ceramic, stainless, iron or glass.

Reducing exposure to immune system disrupting chemicals and antigens can greatly help patients with eczema but it is not always the entire answer.

I also recommend eczema sufferers read the book Vanish Eczema and follow the natural strategies to eradicate eczema.

It’s an easy read that seeks to address the underlying cause of eczema, rather than suppress the symptoms.

Related posts:

1. Eczema And Emotions: Reduce Stress To Improve Skin Health
2. Eczema Causes – What Causes Eczema?
3. Common Household Eczema Traps