Herbal Help for Eczema

Eczema is a skin condition that can be irritating and itchy at best and painful at worst. It can have many causes, and finding the cause is the first step to preventing outbreaks. In the meantime, there are many herbal remedies one can use to help alleviate the symptoms.

Eczema is can be more than painful and irritating, it can be embarrassing as well. Stress is a primary cause, along with allergies. Eczema has even been linked to asthma. It manifests in two basic forms: itchy, red, flaky skin or what is known as 'wet eczema', painful and weepy skin. Both are a trial for anyone suffering the symptoms, but herbal remedies can provide relief.

As stated above, the first step is to determine the cause. Allergy tests can provide information on which substances or foods to avoid, while simply dealing with things that cause stress can reduce that factor. Herbal remedies help bolster these changes so they might be more effective.

Eczema can also be hereditary, so ask relatives if there any history of this condition in your family before making any major life changes. They might even have some remedies to help.

Once the causes are determined and the needed changes are made, the eczema should improve in short order, especially with some herbal help.

There are several remedies listed below that may not only help mitigate the symptoms of an eczema outbreak, but help prevent their reoccurrence as well.

• Nettle: Nettle may not seem like a likely choice, since they are known to sting and irritate the skin, but once dried or boiled, they can be very helpful in curing certain ills. Nettle tea, for example, has been known to alleviate eczema symptoms, and is quite easy to find in markets or health food stores. Enterprising herbalists can even collect their own nettle leaves (with gloves, naturally), then boil them in a liter of water for about five minutes. Once the leaves are soft, it is ready.
  
  
• Chamomile: This is very good for all manner of skin problems and is good for both children and adults to treat eczema. It gives relief to inflammation, redness and itching. Beverages containing tannin or caffeine may only aggravate the symptoms - chamomile tea is far superior. Adding some chamomile flowers to a bath may also have something of a calming effect.
  
  
• Yarrow: Like chamomile, yarrow is good for inflammation, and it also helps with feelings of heat as well. When used on the skin, it has an astringent effect. To use yarrow for eczema relief, boil a teaspoon of the leaves in a liter of water for ten minutes. Once the mixture is cool, strain it and keep the liquid. This liquid should be gently dabbed onto the affected areas, with a soft material such as cotton balls or tissue. This chamomile remedy will keep its potency for two days if refrigerated.
  
  
• Lavender: Boiling a small amount, about a handful, of lavender flowers for ten minutes in a liter of water can create an effective eczema remedy. After boiling, strain the liquid out, and then gently dab it on the affected skin. Like chamomile, lavender has a soothing effect. A bath with rose, chamomile and lavender flowers can both relax the body and soothe the skin.
  
  
• Rose: As mentioned above, rose can be a relaxing agent and offer relief for eczema. Either add rosewater to a bath or apply it directly to the skin. Rose oil as a fragrance can reduce stress, which is often a cause of eczema outbreaks.
  
  
• Echinacea: This herb strengthens the immune system, helping it fight the allergies that sometimes cause eczema outbreaks. Five drops of echinacea tincture in a glass of water, applied topically or taken orally, combined with an allergy diet can be a great help in repairing the skin.
  
  

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