Natural Eczema Treatment; When You Address Gut Health
What are the Symptoms of Eczema
Did you know, eczema is linked to other respiratory illnesses like asthma later in life?What if we could reverse this -naturally?Picture this.
not worrying about searching and buying lotions that don't work
not worrying about breathing problems and inhalers later in life
feeling confident that you know what is right for your child
Here's the thing.
These Atopic conditions; colic, seasonal allergies, asthma, and food sensitivitiescan change by addressing our children's gut health.
**But don't forget. Read my precautions below for when to call the doctor and never stop any medical treatment without talking to your doctor first.
It all comes down to this.
==We need to address your child's gut health to stop eczema and the Atopic triad: seasonal allergies, eczema, and asthma.
Are you ready?
In this post, we'll talk about the EXTERNAL and INTERNAL herbal remedies needed to heal eczema.
Eczema What Causes it
Children typically develop Eczema in their first year of life and it is triggered by top allergen foods like; milk, eggs, soy, and wheat.
In Chinese medicine, they suggest Eczema is due to the surface of toxic heat from the mother's uterus.²
**When Eczema is triggered by the consumption of peanuts, nuts, or shellfish this suggests a food allergy and you would want to get your child tested.
>>>>You would NEVER reintroduce a true food allergy into your child's diet unless monitored by your doctor!
There are two ways to address your child's allergies:
#1 Have your child tested for allergies.
Even if it is a small food sensitivity, remove the food that is bothering your child.
Typically, it would be gluten or dairy.
If the mom is breastfeeding, she can remove these foods from her diet as well.
#2 Try an elimination diet for 2-4 weeks.
Remove gluten and dairy and see if there is a change. {If there is no change, you'll want to heal your child's gut with the 4R approach when they are a toddler or older}
How do you heal your child's gut? Read this.
Eczema Symptoms
Eczema is defined as dry or weeping skin; characterized by severe itchy and possibly burning, cracked, or red skin that can blister and ooze when scratched.
In atopic dermatitis, conventional medicine typically wants to cover the skin up with vaseline or a steroid, but functional medicine doctors are teaching us otherwise.
Symptoms to look for when your child has eczema:
eczema
Dry, sensitive skin
Areas of swelling
Oozing
Dark-colored patches of skin
Rough, leathery, or scaly patches of skin
Bad itching
External Remedies For Eczema
#1 If you're breastfeeding; you can apply the hindmilk to your child's itchy skin. {The hindmilk is the milk at the end of the feeding}
#2 Use unscented soaps OR eliminate soap altogether - I use to put olive oil in my child's tub! Watch out it's slippery.
You can apply coconut, almond, or olive oil to their skin - they may get greasy so a salve may be better {see below}
#3 Use 100% cotton clothing
#4 Chlorinated water can worsen eczema as well, try a water filter on the shower
#5 Keep fingernails cut and clean
#6 Make an herb paste out of aloe vera gel alone or with chickweed and calendula
#7 Apply an emollient salve made with calendula, comfrey root, or plantain topically. Not internally.
I found this salve: https://mountainroseherbs.com/babys-balm
Or make it at home! Mommy Potamus has a great recipe! https://mommypotamus.com/plantain-salve-recipe/ {skip the tea tree oil for babies!}
Plantain salve is a must when you have little kids in the house. Great for poison ivy, scratches, and ANYTHING itchy!
You can try honey and beeswax - Make this combination at home and caution with children under 1 year of age or make this healing salve at home by Wellness Mama
Try this Salt Bath for your child to reduce inflammation and improve Mg levels- just make sure the salt is stirred up first!
Internal Remedies For Eczema
#1 Add a probiotic with Lactobacillus Rhamanosuslike Klair infant
Add this powder to their bottle or sippy cup
#2 After 2-4 weeks if you haven't seen any improvement, follow the 4R approach to heal your child's gut if your child is a toddler or older
#3 With your doctor's approval, you can add these herbs:
For children over 5 years of age
Add 150mg Quercetin 1-2x a day to heal the gut. Klaire Labs is a great company. Crack open the pill and add it to your child's drink.
#4 Freeze-dried Stinging Nettles act as a natural anti-histamine for kids 2+
Offer 1-2 capsules 2x day to reduce itching and inflammation, I like this company
Caution: watch for an allergic response, especially if mom or dad has allergies
#5 Try a kitcheri fast for mom or child for 5-10 days
>>>Be sure to include essential fatty acids in the mom's your diet to reduce inflammation
What is the 4R approach? Read this post: https://taragregorio.com/how-the-4r-approach-reduces-childrens-food-sensitivities.
Eczema Elimination Diet
The best way to reduce eczema is to practice an elimination diet AND heal your child's gut – together.
Elimination diets will not work until you heal your child's gut and address the underlying problem
How do you do an elimination diet?
Step #1 Remove the top allergens your child has.
The foods to remove are:
milk
If you are breastfeeding, the mom can remove these allergens
If bottle-feeding try goats milk or hydrolyzed formula
eggs
soy
wheat
Step #2 Add in a Probiotic with Lactobacillus Rhamanosuslike Klair infant
Step #3 Follow the 4R approach outlined in this blog post for toddlers and older kids
Step #4 Reduce medications and integrate natural remedies
Step #5 Reduce toxins in your environment
When to call the doctor for eczema
Always air on the side of caution and trust your momma instincts when your child does not feel well
If something doesn't feel right, go to the ER right away
When they're older, always use your child's inhaler; as directed by your doctor
TRUE food allergies; need medical care ALWAYS
Warning signs for allergic reactions:
blue lips
difficulty breathing or speaking
change in voice
swelling of lips and tongue
exposure to true food allergy
fainting, weakness, severe abdominal pain
as well as.. high fevers and screaming sore throats {sign of Strep}
Conclusion
Eczema in children is a result of poor gut health caused during pregnancy {moms gut health}, by birth {higher in C-section babies}, and if your child has had medications in the first few months of their lives.
This is no fault of your own.
Addressing your child's gut health will get to the root cause of itchy, dry skin and may prevent further problems as they get older.
xoTara
References
https://www.amymyersmd.com/2016/04/treat-eczema-inside/
¹https://nationaleczema.org/eczema/
² Tierra, Lesley; Healing with the herbs of life. Pg. 291
