ECZEMA

Soothing Skin Ointment Chickweed Stellaria media herb: 2 ounces Burdock Arctium lappa root: 2 ounces Yellow dock Rumex crispus root: 2 ounces Echinacea Echinacea angustifolia root: 2 ounces Cleavers Galium aparine herb: 2 ounces Prepare a standard ointment using this basic recipe:

Anhydrous lanolin: 1 pound Beeswax (grated): ¼ ounce to ½ ounce Fresh herb: 8 ounces (or 4 ounces dried herb) *Depending on the herb you use, you may need to reduce this amount so that the melted lanolin will cover it. Melt lanolin in a stainless steel bowl over a pot of hot water or in a double boiler. ALWAYS use a double boiler to heat lanolin and oil.

Add herbs and simmer gently for 30 to 45 minutes. Depending on the herbs you use, you may need to do this in two batches or reduce the quantity of herb used. The lanolin should cover the herbs in order to extract the active constituents. Stir occasionally with your chopstick or old wooden spoon.

Remove the lanolin from the heat and let it cool until you can safely handle it.

Place your muslin or cheesecloth inside a colander, spreading it up over the side so no herb escapes into your strained mixture.

Pour your cooled lanolin and herb mixture into the muslin or cheesecloth and strain it into a second bowl. You may need to squeeze the herb in the cheesecloth to extract all the lanolin. This can get messy, so you may want to wear gloves. However, if you don't wear gloves, your hands will be wonderfully soft and moisturized!

Now return your lanolin to your double boiler or bowl over water and add the grated beeswax, stirring occasionally until it is melted and incorporated.

You will need to vary the amount depending on how firm you wish the final ointment to be. This may take some trial and error. You can check the consistency by dipping a teaspoon into the hot mixture and placing it in the freezer for five minutes. If it is too stiff, add more lanolin or oil; if it is too thin, add more beeswax. The consistency can be affected by humidity.

Once you have achieved the consistency you need, pour your ointment into sterile jars. Use a dark-colored or opaque glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. The jar opening should be wide enough to easily get the salve out. Let the mixture cool before putting on the lid.

Store in a cool place, avoiding extreme temperature changes, for example in a car or sunny windowsill.

This ointment is excellent for rough skin, eczema, skin inflammations, psoriasis, and dermatitis.

Essential oils, including lavender Lavandula angustifolia (Mill.), are believed to be beneficial for relief from eczema. You can either apply the essential oil topically (use a 2% dilution with a base oil like camellia or sweet almond) or add a few drops of essential oil to a bath.

A hot Epsom salt bath will help to relieve itching. Add one-half cup of Epsom salts to a full bath of warm water. Cold Epsom salt compresses can also help soothe irritation.

Herbs to Be Used Internally Burdock Arctium lappa (L.), dandelion Taraxacum officinale (F.H. Wigg.), echinacea Echinacea angustifolia (DC), garlic Allium sativum (L.), nettle Urtica dioica (L.), plantain Plantago major (L.), sarsaparilla Smilax spp. root, and yellow dock Rumex crispus (L.)

Herbs to Be Used Topically Aloe vera Aloe barbadensis (Mill.), marshmallow Althaea officinalis (L.) root, and slippery elm Ulmus rubra (Muhl.) can be mixed into a paste and applied locally to soothe and heal.

A study conducted in the United Arab Emirates demonstrated that topical application of an ointment containing honey, beeswax, and olive oil (1:1:1 mixture, for two weeks) can cause significant improvements both in the cases of dermatitis and psoriasis[9].

Licorice Licorice Glycyrrhiza glabra(L.) has traditionally been used in herbal medicine for skin eruptions, including dermatitis, eczema, pruritus, and cysts. Licorice is a part of many Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Kampo formulas used to manage dermatitis. Glycyrrhizinic acid, the major sweet-tasting constituent of the root, is believed to be responsible for the effect.

Licorice topical gel was shown to be effective in reducing skin redness, edema, and itching when used for two weeks[10]. Another study demonstrated that the glycyrrhetinic acid from licorice G. glabra has a similar effect to hydrocortisone, a drug commonly used with eczema, and can potentiate its effects[11].

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Favorable results were achieved with omega-3 fatty acid supplementation (six grams per day of concentrated omega-3 fatty acids). However, since significant improvements were also reported for the group that received placebo (corn oil), there is a possibility that improvement was mostly due to the placebo effect[6].

PROBIOTICS

Inflammatory skin conditions, such as eczema, can be caused by the imbalance of good and bad bacteria in the gut. The balance can be shifted back to normal through the use of probiotic supplements containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium animalis, and other strains. In particular, probiotic supplements were successfully used to manage atopic eczema among kids[7].

VITAMIN E

Skin care products enriched with vitamin E are traditionally recommended to help soothe eczema. In addition, vitamin E can be effective when taken internally. A recent study demonstrated that an increased intake of vitamin E (400 IU per day) can result in almost complete remission of atopic dermatitis[8].