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Monday, 11 April 2016

Eczema Natural Treatment Options That One May Consider

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By Anna Lewis


Atopic eczema is an allergic skin condition that is fairly common. It is estimated to affect about 20% of infants born in the United States every year. A majority of them outgrow it by the time they get to puberty. The allergens that may aggravate the condition are found in the environment and in some foods such as gluten, eggs, soy and peanuts and so on. There are several eczema natural treatment modalities available.

The underlying problem in this condition is an abnormally functioning immune system. Bear in mind that one of the places with the highest concentration of immune cells is the gut. The cells here are organized into lymphoid tissue to form what is also known as gut associated lymphoid tissue (or GALT). Stabilizing these immune cells helps avoid most of the problems that are associated with eczema.

A balanced diet helps many body systems including the immune system. As far as this system is concerned, the appropriate diet is that which provides the body with protective nutrients and is devoid of harmful allergens and toxins that may exacerbate the inflammatory response seen with this disease. The general recommendation is that one should increase their intake of raw foods and reduce the proportion of processed foods, gluten, caffeine, dairy and sugar.

A number of vitamins and minerals are beneficial in alleviating the symptoms of eczema. Examples include vitamin B12, magnesium and zinc. These three enhance the activity of the immune system. Others such as vitamin C and E protect cells from attack by free radicals, confer anti-oxidant properties (vitamin C) and reduce inflammation. The vitamins can be easily obtained from fruits, vegetables, fish and seeds.

Make an effort to also include probiotics in your diet. These help by enriching normal bacteria residing in the gastrointestinal tract. The bacteria which are also known as normal flora suppress harmful organisms that cause disease. It has been established that women who receive probiotics in the course of their pregnancy reduce the chances of having eczema in their babies. There are many forms of cultured foods that contain probiotics.

Another effective way of dealing with this problem is to adequately manage stress. Sleeping for at least 6 hours for adults and 10 hours for children less than 12 years gives the body an opportunity to repair itself. Other ways of helping your body to relax include engaging in deep breathing exercises, yoga and regular meditation.

A number of natural extracts can relieve symptoms even as one deals with the main problem which is the allergic reaction. Coconut oil added to the diet or used on the skin as an ointment is one of the most effective. Another important extract is aloe vera which is said to help in moistening and soothing dry skin. Flowers of calendula officinalis are another commonly used product. The general advice is that one should combine several of these ointments to get maximum results.

Eczema, like many other immune mediated conditions, is quite difficult to treat. The widespread use of corticosteroids frequently worsens the symptoms. There are many natural treatments available but most take a long time to produce positive results. A well balanced diet is the cheapest yet one of the most effective treatments that can be used.




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