To a holistic practitioner, eczema can have many causes. Generally people accept
that there is such a thing as "stress-related" eczema; or some sufferers will admit
that stress makes their eczema worse. Eczema has been linked with allergies, food
intolerances, and drug reactions. There also appears to be an inherited predisposition
to develop eczema. In Homeopathy we talk about the 'Law of Cure' and the hierarchy
of organs. The Law of Cure is that the body heals itself from the inside out; from
above down and from a more important to a lesser important organ. In the hierarchy
the organs can be listed in order of importance to those that sustain life downwards.
So, the most important organ is the brain and central nervous system, then the heart,
lungs, kidneys and other internal organs; then the bones, muscles and finally the
skin. The skin is also an organ of elimination. Everything in the body is connected
in energy flow and systems are inter-dependant. An outward expression of disease
is usually a display of an inner imbalance or disharmony. In the same way suppressed
skin disease can cause internal problems e.g. asthma and arthritis. So, with the
bigger picture in mind, we can see that eczema is multi- factorial and needs a multi-
factorial approach to true, sustained, from the inside out, cure. A whole health
approach is needed with what Homeopaths would call 'Constitutional treatment'. Everyone's
eczema is different and it is necessary to take a full case history to tailor the
remedy to the individual person. There are lots of ways, however, to support your
body in it's efforts to heal itself of eczema and I would recommend the following
self-help suggestions.
Nutritional support
I recommend patients with skin conditions to take a good quality multi-vitamin and
mineral support once daily I also recommend a good quality
B-complex and
Vitamin C 1 Gram with breakfast and evening meal. (It is important to take supplements
with food so that they are recognised by the body and absorbed correctly). This
will 'feed' your skin from the inside and help it to heal. Children particularly
need extra vitamins to fight infections and promote healing.
Cracked, itchy or inflamed skin.
Calc Sulph Tissue salts (by New Era) help soothe and heal weeping, sore eczema
and can sometimes prevent the need for topical anti- fungal creams or steroids.
Starflower oil has been shown to be effective in relieving symptoms and promoting
healing.
Propolis products have natural anti-bacterial properties that can help fight
infection.
Rescue cream from Bach flowers has a soothing effect and may help relieve irritation.
In my experience, some people swear by one particular brand of topical support cream
but often it's a case of trying different products until you find one that suits
you.
Homeopathic remedies
Eczema requires professional management but support remedies include:
Apis mel
30c. For allergic reactions, hives, puffiness and swelling, hay fever. One tablet
as required and every 5 minutes in allergic reactions.
Arsenicum
30c. For reactions to food. Use after ingesting food that you know you are intolerant
to or a flare-up on the skin after eating when you're not sure what caused it. One
tablet every 15 minutes.
Sulphur
6c. Can help relieve extremely itchy skin that you want to scratch till it bleeds,
which is worse with heat and after bathing. Take one as required. Please note that
the above are suggestions only. The products are available over the counter on a
self-help basis. If you have severe eczema or allergies you may wish to take professional
advice before trying any of the products.
