Soothe Eczema Itchyness with Essential Oil

Soothe Eczema with Fresh Herbs and Essential Oils

March 21st, 2002

Eczema is a type of dermatitis. There are many of types of eczema. This article is written about the most common form of eczema called Atopic Dermatitis. The symptoms can include any of the following: itchy skin, dry skin, thickened skin, inflamed skin, red patches, crusty sores, oozing sores, scabs, pimplelike eruptions and lesions. Eczema most often appears on creases of knees or elbows, ears, face, wrists and hands. If you touch someone with eczema you will not get it yourself, as it is noncontagious. Eczema is commonly associated with some type of allergy. Your medical doctor or naturopathic doctor can run tests to determine what the offending allergen is and come up with a personalized plan for you. Other factors that may contribute to the appearance of eczema include stress, a weakened immune system, asthma, low stomach acid and heredity.

There are a variety of herbal remedies that are thought to soothe the itching, swelling and inflammation of eczema.

Prepare a lukewarm bath with 8 oz each of the following ingredients: baking soda, oatmeal and strawberry leaves. The oatmeal and strawberry leaves can be placed in an extra large muslin drawstring bag to minimize the mess in the tub. Soak for 20 to 30 minutes.

Prepare a cool compress with 8 oz of water and 1 drop each of essential oils of geranium, lemon and German chamomile. Soak a cotton cloth in the water, wring it out and apply to the eczema. Place a towel around the cloth and leave it on until the cloth is warm. Repeat this process up to 20 minutes. You may also want to try a whole milk compress following the above instructions.

Wear 100% cotton clothing to keep cool and avoid wool and synthetic fiber clothing which irritates the skin

Use natural laundry detergent and avoid synthetic fabric softeners, which irritates the skin

Sleep on 100% cotton sheets to keep cool and allow your skin to breathe

Do not use soap to cleanse your skin. Look for a mild cleanser that includes ingredients like organic aloe vera gel, glycerin and essential oils of sandalwood, geranium and lavender.

Keep your fingernails trimmed short to minimize scratching the eczema, which makes it vulnerable to infection

There are a variety of herbal remedies that can moisturize the eczema and promote healthy new skin cells

Apply fresh organic aloe vera gel to the eczema

Apply a small amount of neem seed oil or emu oil to the eczema

Apply a small amount of cold pressed oil high in Gamma Linoleic Acid (GLA) such as evening primrose oil, rosehip seed oil or hempseed oil

Apply a small amount of a medicinal herbal salve that has ingredients such as infused oils of calendula or st johnswort, fixed oils high in GLA, vitamin E oil, neem seed oil, emu oil and essential oils such as lavender, carrot seed, myrrh, patchouli, geranium, palmarosa, rose, frankincense and atlas cedarwood.

If you suspect you have eczema or another form of dermatitis make an appointment with your doctor for a comprehensive exam to determine the underlying cause.

At Black Pearl Botanicals LLC, we sell a nail hand and foot balm Visit us on line at http://www.blackpearlbotanicals.com

References Include: Herbs For Health and Healing by Kathi Keville AND Aromatherapy: A Lifetime Guide To Healing with Essential Oils by Valerie Gennari Cooksley