| Eczema can be caused by food or airborne allergens or by microbes. Whatever the cause, it can be so very irritating. For serious eczema you need to see a doctor, but if you get the occasional patches like I get you can try the following: Dandelion, Oats or Comfrey (though take care with this).
You need to track down the reason for your eczema – for many of us it is a particular allergy plus a stress trigger. However, once you have eczema you need to have a number of things to try to relieve the itching and pain. Try these
Dandelion
Dandelion contains inulin which improves the body’s ability to dispose of unwanted bacteria, and it’s full of vitamins and minerals some of which help maintain a healthy skin. Eat the young leaves raw (wash them well first but don’t pick from the roadside), or steam them like a vegetable. Or make an infusion of 2-4 teaspoons of dried root in half a pint of water and leave for 15 minutes – drink 1-4 cups a day.
Oats
Because eczema dries your skin you need to keep it moist, and though baths do hydrate the skin, the hot water may aggravate itching. The best thing to relieve itching is to use oats in your bath. Make a solution from 2.5 litres of water and two handfuls of oats or oatmeal and simmer for 15 minutes. Strain into the bath or cool the solution and sponge onto the itchy bits. OR put some oatmeal into a sock and hold under the bath tap when running. Then use the soggy oat bundle to dab itchy bits.
Comfrey
The ingredient in Comfrey that helps the skin is allantoin – found in many skin lotions. It is a powerful healer. Do not under any circumstances apply to broken skin and don’t use when pregnant or breastfeeding. I dip a comfrey leaf or two in hot water until it softens and then wrap in 1 layer of muslin and lay over the itchy parts until it dries out.
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