Guest guest Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 I always start eczema treatment in adults with a bowel cleanse, as I find results much better this way. My key herbs are Arctium, Mahonia, Gotu Kola, and in this case, with the stress link I'd be looking at adaptogens too. She could try applying evening primrose oil directly for it's anti-inflammatory properties, and don't forget oat baths, as they are soothing and moisturising. Hope that helps. Sara signature Sara Southgate BSc., ND, Dip Herb, MURHP Naturopath and Herbalist 07773 392 449 www.sarasouthgate.com " I haven't been ill at all - it's amazing - you're a genius Sara. " Alison Critchlow, Leicestershire, January 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 Hi Sue, Eczema/skin can be so tricky, can't it. Finding the triggers can be complex and I have found that it is often a whole series of things that have to be looked at/tackled - from diet, to gut health, to stress, to liver function.... Apart from the herbs you've used, I would think that her gut is in a bad way from the abxs prescribed and a probiotic and gut healing regime would also be beneficial alongside the herbs. For the probiotics, I always recommend my patients take them when they are on abx (2 hours apart) and for some weeks after - at a dose of at least 10 billion per day. If I think the gut has been damaged, I usually use a supplement of glutamine (at bedtime) as well as gut healing herbs such as gotu cola, comfrey leaf, calendula... You also say that you suggested an omega 3 supplement. I've certainly found these helpful for my eczema patients - but it varies. Some have responded well to fish oil capsules but others have actually got worse when taking them. Symptoms included increased redness and itchyness. When I looked into this, I thought there might be a problem with histamine (fish oil can have this effect on some people) and the skin improved very well when they switched to linseed oil capsules and reduced histamine-containing and histamine stimulating foods. I just wonder if high histamine is a problem for your patient (asthma, allergies)? Don't know if anyone else has come across this? Anne > > Hello everyone, I would really appreciate some collective insight/wisdom, with a 41yr old female patient who's been coming to see me for 2 months, with eczema. At her first visit, she described her eczema as very dry, extremely itchy and exacerbated by being hot/central heating, dairy and gluten (she was on a dairy and gluten free diet), the transition from inside to outside and vice vera, being emotionally upset or stressed, coffee and red wine. Relieved by being calm, steroids, sleeping well (the pruritis had been severely disturbing her sleep) and summer weather. On examination her facial skin was extremely dry and flakey, her elbow creases were erythematous and oozing thin yellow liquid. Her skin felt hot to her, but she felt cold inside. She said that her skin was at it's worse on waking in the morning when it was very tight, sore, dry and flakey especially around her eyes.This was a flare of the eczema that she had experienced intermittently since her early teens - she only had slight eczema in childhood. She was currently on her 3rd course of anti biotics since the condition had flared in October 2010 following a career change. In the past she had always been able to get it under control, but couldn't on this occasion. Family history of asthma and allergies. Good diet. Allergic to animal hair and powder on latex gloves. Usually upbeat person, but tired due to poor sleep and tending to low mood regarding skin condition. Nothing else notable in her general health which was very good. No adverse digestive symptoms. BP 120/80. Tongue thin, with red tip, pale body and pale coating at the back. > After starting new career teaching English as a foreign language in Oct 2010, she became very tired and felt " wrung out " Had blood test to check Hb and Ferritin, these were fine but raised LFT's found - at this stage the patient didn't know the details of the abnormal test. But found out from the surgery that her bilirubin levels were raised. I feel this was significant in this flare. > Initially I gave the following Rx > Echinacea blend > Chamomilla > Plantago > Carduus > Glyc 5ml tds ex aq ac > > I also advised that she take Omega 3 capsules. > > I didn't give a cream as she found that creams tended to make her skin worse. I advised on diet - ie keep sugars to minimum/avoid, keep diet to simple fresh foods and no processed foods, consider a trial of avoiding orange juice and members of Solanacea family, change laundry liquid to hypoallergenic non bio, avoid fabric conditioner, avoid alcohol. > > She adhered to the advice and took the Rx - skin improved for short period, then worsened and lesions spread, pruritis intensified. Over the following weeks, I used a variety of different herbs including Smilax, Tarax rad, Hydrocotle, Curcuma, Azadarichta, Scut baical. Skin generally worsened with just a few episodes of improvement. I felt that the lesions showed signs of fungal infection and she took a course of anti fungal meds from the GP -skin improved whilst taking the meds, then flared again before finished course. She went to visit a GP specialising in skin conditions last week and by that time her skin was quite badly infected. She has started taking a high dose of Erythromycin and applying a steroid cream sparingly. > > I really feel I failed here, but would really appreciate other people's insight and advice so that I could learn from this. > > Sue Salmon, Huddersfield > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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