Eczema is a common skin condition. The National Institutes Of Health estimate that as many as 15 million Americans are inflicted with this ailment. Eczema causes your skin to become dry, itchy and inflamed and while it can become quite uncomfortable, there are many treatments you can use to alleviate symptoms whenever they flare up.

The best approach is to go all natural, meaning you would use herbal remedies as they don’t cause side effects the way that prescription medications would. If you would like to treat your eczema at home, there are many ways you can go about it.

TAKE AN OATMEAL BATH

Oatmeal soothes the skin and stops the itching. You can either add it to your bath water or use it as a soap substitute. For the bath, add 2 cups of colloidal oatmeal to a tub of warm water. To use it a soap substitute, wrap colloidal oatmeal in a piece of cloth, secure the top with a rubber band, dunk it in water, wring it out and use it the way you would a wash cloth.

OILS

Coconut oil, when applied to the affected area keeps the skin soft. You can use a drop of diluted peppermint oil to relieve itchiness. Patchouli oil is also great. It acts like an antiseptic and is strong enough to control outbreaks. Tea tree oil is one of the most popular natural remedies for eczema. This is because it can eliminate skin patches and subdue itching. Jojoba oil is very soothing and won’t clog your pores. Jojoba oil can be mixed with tea tree oil or any of the oils mentioned above to make it easier for the oils to penetrate the skin.

PASTES

Mix 1 teaspoon of camphor oil and sandalwood powder to make a paste and apply the mixture. Leave this on for a couple of minutes. You can also make a paste out of mashed papaya seeds to reduce irritation. Or mix 1 tablespoon of turmeric powder and neem leaf juice and this will help clear up your outbreaks. This paste is said to be one of the most effective . If you don’t have these ingredients readily available, a strawberry paste is just as good. Mash 4-5 strawberries, discard the juice and apply the paste. Another method is to mix nutmeg powder with water and leave it on for 30 minutes.

EDIBLES

You can also treat eczema from the inside out using herbs. Simmer 2 ounces of birch leaves in a liter of water for 3 minutes. Add soda water and let it cool for an hour. This mixture can be be used as a drink or as a disinfectant wash. Muskmelon, carrots, watercress and cabbage are also beneficial. Try adding these to your diet.

Although you can’t completely rid yourself of eczema, you can make it easier on yourself with the use of all natural ingredients. Whenever you have flare ups, you can easily treat your eczema at home. And guess what? No harsh side effects.

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