Eczema, or dermatitis as it is sometimes called, is a group of skin conditions which can affect all age groups. The severity of the disease can vary. In mild forms the skin is dry, hot and itchy, while in more severe forms the skin can become broken, raw and bleeding. Although it can sometimes look unpleasant, eczema is not contagious. With treatment the inflammation of eczema can be reduced, though the skin will always be sensitive to flare-ups and need extra care.

Herbal teas and skin washes: Herbal teas like burdock root, Cleavers, and speedwell act as a diuretics and blood purifiers. For weeping eczema, make a strong tea of these herbs and apply the liquid as a compress. ¹

Using Aromatherapy

Oils for eczema :There are many herbal oils that can help with dry, hot itchy skin caused by eczema. When choosing a treatment, choose rich moisturizing herbal oils and apply either alone or in combination with a few drops of essential oils. Added essential oils that are slightly astringent, such as lemon, or cypress well help with "weepy" eczema. Antibacterial oils help can help reduce the secondary skin infections that worsen eczema. To help protect and heal the skin even further, you can use a herbal oil such as tamanu, almond or avocado as a base for making a creamy salve.

Herbs Used for Eczema

Arjuna * Balsam, Peru * Benzoin * Birch * Borage * Burdock * Cacao * Cajeput * Chamomile * Chaparral * Cleavers * Comfrey * Copaiba Balsam * Evening Primrose * Figwort * Fumitory * Goldenseal * Gotu Kola * Jewel Weed * Juniper * Kukui Nut Oil * Oats * Poke Root * Sarsaparilla * Shea Butter * Soapwort * Tamanu Oil * Witch Hazel *

Benzoin For: Dermatitis
Profile	Externally benzoin is of great value in skin conditions where there is redness, irritation, or itching, such as dermatitis, also for skin which is cracked and dry. Robert B Tisserand, The Art of Aromatherapy (1977)

Birch oil For: Skin Care, eczema
Profile	The oil of Birch is astringent, and is mainly employed for its curative effects in skin affections, especially eczema Maud Grieve, Modern Herbal Vol 1 (1931)

Bleach Baths For: Eczema
	A pediatric study published in the online journal Pediatrics showed diluted bleach baths decreased the severity eczema in children. The diluted bleach baths (about half a cup(125 ml per full bathtub of water) helped decrease bacteria responsible for the secondary infections, and patients did show dramatic improvement. . Treatment of Staphylococcus aureus Colonization in Atopic Dermatitis Decreases Disease Severity. (May 2009), PEDIATRICS Vol. 123 No. 5

Bloodroot For: Ringworm, bronchitis, eczema
Profile	For ringworm apply the fluid extract. Also good for torpid liver, scrofula, dysentery. It is applied to fungoid growths, ulcers fleshy excrescences, cancerous affections and as an escharotic. Sanguinaria root is chiefly used as an expectorant for chronic bronchitis and as a local application in chronic eczema, specially when secondary to varicose ulcers. In toxic doses, it causes burning in the stomach, intense thirst, vomiting, faintness vertigo, intense prostration with dimness of eyesight. Maud Grieve, Modern Herbal Volume 2 (1931)

Borage Seed Oil For: Skin disorders,psoriasis, eczema
Profile	Borage Seed Oil has the highest concentration of gamma linolenic acid (GLA) naturally found, higher than in any other plant source! Borage Seed Oil is known to be beneficial for both topical and internal applications. A good choice for skin disorders such as psoriasis and eczema, and sun damaged or aged skin. Regenerating and stimulating for all skin types.

Burdock root For: Acne, psoriasis, and eczema
Profile	Burdock root is recommended for skin diseases where purification of the system is indicated, such as acne, psoriasis, and eczema. Burdock root tea can also be used as a skin wash, or taken internally to protect and support the liver. Adele Dawson, Herbs: Partners in Life (2000)

Cedarwood, Red For: Skin Care
Profile	Cedarwood has a pronounced effect on the skin, and is of value in all types of skin eruptions. Its action is sedative, astringent, antiseptic and it relieves itching. Robert B Tisserand, The Art of Aromatherapy (1977)

Chamomile oil For: Skin care, eczema
Profile	Chamomile reduces inflammation, regenerates skin tissue, and soothes the discomfort and itching of eczema. Chamomile flower extracts are helpful in managing eczema by increasing the numbers of the immune cells that engulf and eliminate infectious microorganisms, but do not stimulate other immune cells that might aggravate the condition. If chamomile is steamed or placed in hot water, a substance called chamazulene, which has markedly anti-allergenic properties, is formed. Phyllis A. Balch, Prescription for Herbal Healing (2002)

Chickweed For: Acne, psoriasis, and eczema
Profile	The plant makes a fine green cooling ointment, that may be employed to treat acne, psoriasis, and eczema Maud Grieve, Modern Herbal Vol 1 (1931)

Cleavers For: eczema, psoriasis and acne
Profile	Cleavers acts as a diuretic and blood purifier. Regular use detoxifies the body, treating an underlying cause of chronic skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis and acne.

Coleus Forskohlii For: Psoriasis,eczema
Profile	The enzyme level actions of Coleus help reduce the inflammation of skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema

Comfrey tea For: Weeping eczema, insect bites
Profile	For weeping eczema, make a tea of comfrey and apply the liquid as a compress. Comfrey relieves pain and speeds healing of pus-filled wounds, and accelerates tissue healing in cases of insect bites.

Copaiba oil For: Skin care, psoriasis
Profile	Arthritis, eczema, gonorrhea, herpes, psoriasis, and syphilis. Copaiba relieves the symptoms of a wide range of diseases that cause inflammation of soft tissue or mucous membranes. Laboratory tests show that the resin acts by reducing the permeability of capillary walls to histamine, the chemical responsible for painful swelling in all of these conditions. The volatile oil is antimicrobial and prevents secondary infections in eczema, herpes, and psoriasis. Phyllis A. Balch, Prescription for Herbal Healing (2002)

Cornflower For: Conjunctivitis,Eczema
Profile	Cornflower is still used as an eyewash in some parts of France. The mild astringent and antiseptic qualities make it particularly useful against conjunctivitis and inflammation around the eyes. In addition, cornflower is often added to shampoos or the infusion used as a hair rinse to help treat eczema of the scalp. A douche made of a decoction of cornflower can be used in cases of candida (yeast infections). Also of important note; the flowers have been used to create a natural blue dye for centuries. . Cornflower Profile. (), mountainroseherbs.com

Evening Primrose oil For: Eczema, pms, GLA
Profile	Research shows that GLA content of Evening Primrose is helpful against arthritis, eczema and premenstrual tension, among other conditions. James Duke, The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook (2000)

Figwort For: Skin disorders and kidney function
Profile	Figwort contains aucubin, a mild laxative that increases the amount of uric acid secreted from the kidneys. The herb has a long history of use in Europe in the treatment of skin diseases. Deni Brown, Encyclopedia of herbs & their uses (1995)

Sarsaparilla For: Eczema, psoriasis, gout blood purifier
Profile	Sarsaparilla helps inflammatory conditions by acting as a blood purifier. Sarsaparilla soothes psoriasis, and eczema most likely by disabling bacterial components called endotoxins that show up in the bloodstreams of people with psoriasis, arthritis and gout. James Duke, The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook (2000)

Sassafrass For: chronic rheumatism, syphilis, and skin diseases
Profile	Aromatic, stimulant, diaphoretic, alterative. It is rarely given alone, but is often combined with guaiacum or sarsaparilla in chronic rheumatism, syphilis, and skin diseases. Maud Grieve, Modern Herbal Vol 1 (1931)

Tamanu Oil For: Psoriasis, eczema, diabetic sores
Profile	Rich, tropical tamanu oil is healing to serious skin problems such as psoriasis, eczema, and diabetic sores and is a luxurious treat for dry, irritated or mature skin.

Yellow dock For: Blood purifier for chronic skin diseases
Profile	It is largely prescribed for diseases of the blood, from a spring eruption, to scurvy, scrofula and chronic skin diseases. It is also useful in jaundice and as a tonic to the stomach and the system generally. Maud Grieve, Modern Herbal Volume 2 (1931)

Eczema Information

• Psoriasis :
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• Scabies :
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