Eczema is insane! Ideas?

[Hippo2Hippie]

My eczema on my feet is flaring up again big time. Same thing happened when I was raw in '10. The spots on my feet are getting really bad and new spots are forming on new areas of my feet and my wrists and thumb on the palm side. Id love to move to natural treatments but I don't know of hats possible. Everything I've tried hasn't worked. I'm open to suggestions, though. Should I see a naturopath? How do you even find one? I'm in pain.

I'm not too familiar with detox, could this be that?

[Raw Angel Mom]

Your kidney seem to need the attention here. Is this on one leg only or both?

Those below are great herbs for to detox the kidney, you absolutely don't need to use everything, just try to see what is available in your area. I love making smoothie with parsley. You can juice dandelion with oranges, it is bearable and quite good. Some, you can try to get at your health food store

* Cornsilk (Zea mays)
* Juniper Berries (Juniperus communis)
* Goldenrod Herb (Solidago canadensis)
* Couch Grass Root Agropyron repens)

* Horsetail Herb (Equisetum arvense)
* Nettle Herb (Urtica dioica)
* Dandelion Leaf (Taraxacum officinale)
* Plantain Leaf (Plantago lanceolata)
* Gravel Root (Eupatorium purpureum)

* Parsley Root & Leaf (Petroselinum crispum)
* Uva Ursi (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)


Try to eat semi acid fruit such grapes in the morning or what ever is in season. If you kidney cannot filter, it will be express with your skin. Some recommend to do the liver but your kidney has to be address first.

All the best.

p.s If you didn't have this before raw, then yes it is raw, the stuff is coming out and it won't stay. This is healing crisis and totally normal. This was in you already, you want that out. Raw coconut oil, will help, just apply on the area. I am not a doctor, please research.

[The Sproutarian (Mr Raw)]

Lots of things can be said about getting rid of Eczema, but i'm sure people here will talk about detox and wheatgrass and many other things here.

Don Tolman mentioned something interesting about Eczema. He said to rub lemon on the Eczema 5 times a day and to get 30 minutes of sun on it each day. lt is supposed to get rid of it after a very short time.

[MysticTree]

I would certainly agree with the sunlight thing. I would be interested to see if the lemon thing works too. It wouldn't work on my nephew as citrus is one of the things that causes it in the first place but for those without a sensitivity to citrus it could be interesting.

[Hippo2Hippie]

Oh so much info, thank you all so much! I really appreciate it.

I've had the cracks on my feet for years, I'd say 8 (I'm 28) but new spots are forming on my feet now, and now my hands. I'm going to print these suggestions and save them. I think I'll start with the citrus thing, now I know what to use those nasty grapefruits for. *wink* I don't knowt hat i can get 30 minutes of sunlight on the bottoms of my feet until it cools off a bit. I can lay on the trampoline. I'm all about a little relaxation time for just me. (I have 6 children under 11, lol) which reminds me, a lot of what i read about eczema is about stress.

Raw Angel Mom- Are those mostly things used in teas? I can search the HFS for some when I go this weekend. :)

eta- i love Coconut Oil for everything, but it doesn't work for this.. seems to actually make it worse. weird?

[Raw Angel Mom]

Raw Angel Mom- Are those mostly things used in teas? I can search the HFS for some when I go this weekend. :)

eta- i love Coconut Oil for everything, but it doesn't work for this.. seems to actually make it worse. weird?

For the raw coconut oil (must be raw), try just a little bit in one area to test. My daughter would have diapper rash and within the same day, it would be gone. Regular coconut oil, wouldn't work. only raw. I tried it on my skin and amazing.


You can have tincture herbs but i suggest that you go in your backyard and try to find the wild one such plantain, dandelion, nettle etc.... Parsley is easy to get. It is best fresh but it won't hurt to do tea if you wish, it is more powerful fresh.

You can do a lemon water in the morning, it flushes the liver. Continue your 100% raw food. AVOID nuts for now, only to give a chance to your kidney to recover. Your body is eliminating toxin through your skin but it cans be reverse.

Also, look into emotionally. How we feel, manifest in our body. If you aren't comfortable in your skin, you could have skin problem. If you cannot digest what others says about you, you can have digestion problem. I know it sounds crazy but you may want to look into that. Louis Hay has a very economical pocket book "Heal your life" i think. Or you can certainly find free affirmation on line for certain physical condition.

The power of the mind has no limitation, you can manifest and it is up to you to manifest balance or discomfort. What i use for myself is that "What others think of me is none of my business", forgive and focus on my own well being. Remember always who you are. It doesn't matter how others may make you feel because you are unique, beautiful and already perfect (spirit).

Here is an affirmation for you say it everyday 3x: I am beautiful and powerful. I am love. I is safe for me to be myself and walk my path. I feel safe and i am grounded. I am loved.

You will get well, don't give up!

If your condition manifest on one side of the body, it is most likely the kidney of that side, if both side, then both kidney are struggling.

[Hippo2Hippie]

oops, I forgot to mention that it is both sides!

I'm willing to give up nuts for a period of time for sure, if it will help. this is no fun! deep cracks that are painful to walk on. when I sleep they start to heal and then I have to get up and walk again. I have raw nutiva brand coconut oil that I've used on my feet, it burns, and almost makes the cuts feel fresh and open at all times. but I'll use it on the smaller spots on my wrist and thumb on opposite hand.

so. gosh, I will have to relearn raw.. I guess I'm doing more of a fruitarian diet for a small amt of time? am I letting fats go too, or just the nuts because they are harder on the kidneys? (I'm learning, I love learning about this stuff!)

I'm scared to pick stuff out of the yard, for fear that I'll get the wrong thing. :/ even dandelion greens. now that it's so late in the year (or too hot?) there are no dandelions at all. I see what I think are DL greens, but if it doesn't have a dandelion attached to it, how can i be sure?

[Raw Angel Mom]

oops, I forgot to mention that it is both sides!

I'm willing to give up nuts for a period of time for sure, if it will help. this is no fun! deep cracks that are painful to walk on. when I sleep they start to heal and then I have to get up and walk again. I have raw nutiva brand coconut oil that I've used on my feet, it burns, and almost makes the cuts feel fresh and open at all times. but I'll use it on the smaller spots on my wrist and thumb on opposite hand.

so. gosh, I will have to relearn raw.. I guess I'm doing more of a fruitarian diet for a small amt of time? am I letting fats go too, or just the nuts because they are harder on the kidneys? (I'm learning, I love learning about this stuff!)

I'm scared to pick stuff out of the yard, for fear that I'll get the wrong thing. :/ even dandelion greens. now that it's so late in the year (or too hot?) there are no dandelions at all. I see what I think are DL greens, but if it doesn't have a dandelion attached to it, how can i be sure?


If in doubt, don't, lol.... About parsley, lol....

All the best. Are you 100% raw vegan????

[SunshineMN]

I've also read that full spectrum UV lights will help. In fact, I've seen some where you actually need a doctor's prescription to get one and they mentioned eczema specifically. I think it said insurance companies sometimes help pay for it.

[Hippo2Hippie]

rAm- I guess you could say that I'm about 95% raw vegan? the only things that aren't raw are
occasionally EVOO, occasionally my walnuts aren't raw- depends on when I can get to the hfs that is 45 minutes away, nutritional yeast, kelp noodles.. I think my ebay almonds aren't really raw like listed, because the skins don't pop off after they've been soaked for a long time.. I do have balsalmic vinegar occasionally also. that kind of thing.

that's interesting about the UV lighting. I'm looking into that!

[Raw Angel Mom]

What is EVOO? About replacing balsamic vinegar with apple cider vinegar????

[Raw Angel Mom]

I just have an idea that pup up, about the aloes gel from the plant directly? It is quite miraculous this plant. Free Sun light outside, lol...

[streetsurfer]

Lay thick slices of cucumber over the spots.

[lafsalot]

Google grapefruit seed extract. Love this multipurpose stuff!

[Hippo2Hippie]

Evoo is Extra virgin olive oil.
Cucumber. Thanks for the heads up!
I'll google grapefruit seed extract too, thank you!

[solarliving]

Hi there, Are you still experiencing eczema?

I elminated red bell pepper, tomatoes, and eggplant but still didn't see a complete recovery until I removed anything that could be contaminated with gluten. This includes shampoos, conditioners, herbal teas. Not sure if nutritional yeast has it, but I'm not fond of anything that says yeast. Also I know I have a peanut allergy so I have to be careful with oils as there could be cross contamination or even perhaps other oils added to the olive oil. I muscle test everything. I rarely use oil, but now I try to use mainly coconut oil if I'm preparing something. Topically Shea butter is the best. Pure unrefined.

For relief of itching a little peppermint oil with some water in a spray bottle can be helpful as well as ice packs. The only soap I use is Apterra olive oil soap but i try not to wash the area that is broke out too much.

[Arky]

Check for sources of toxic exposure (which, as well as needing to be excreted, may additionally suppress or upset immune function, potentially leading to systemic inflammation). Pesticides, mold spores within the domestic or work environment, mercury dental fillings, occupational exposure to industrial chemicals or metals, formaldehyde (commonly emitted by office dividing panels), contaminated water supply (either the water supply itself, if one uses a well, for example, or metals released into the domestic water supply by outdated or poorly fitted plumbing - e.g. copper, lead etc.) exposure to pesticide / herbicide / anthelmintic substances if living on a working farm; the list of potential exposure goes on and on (a baby may even be exposed to many of the above whilst in the womb, if the mother has been exposed to them during her lifetime). Also consider chlorine sensitivity, which is not uncommon in these days of chlorinated water supplies.

Check for possible sources of infection (parasites, for example). Also consider fungal issues (which, as well as producing toxic byproducts, would also be suggestive of suppressed immune function).

Toxins, parasites, fungal overgrowth, etc. may affect the skin not just directly (on the skin surface), but by virtue of interfering with the function of internal organs such as the liver, bowel, kidneys, and by giving rise to systemic inflammation etc., so please don't just assume that because they are not apparently involved on a skin surface basis that they may not be causing skin issues indirectly, from internal origins.

In addition to the above (which should not be cursorily dismissed or overlooked), also make efforts to cleanse the liver and the bowel.

The liver and bowel are major detoxification organs. Anything which they cannot handle, for some specific reason, will have to be dealt with by the body in some other manner. This could include sequestration in subcutaneous fat cells, deposition in cells, tissues, or organs, or attempted excretion via the skin (the skin is the body's largest organ of detoxification).

In skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema, there can be a considerable amount of overlap of symptoms, so accurate diagnosis isn't necessarily immediately obvious. In any skin condition resembling psoriasis or eczema, one should at least consider the possibility of infection, toxicity, or inflammation.

If you can afford to see a specialist, then great, but whatever diagnosis they, or your family doctor, arrive at, do please remember that there will be a specific cause of the skin condition, and therefore it is not the wisest course of action to attempt to simply suppress the condition with lotions or pharmaceutical anti-inflammatories or steroidal creams etc. Even natural topical treatments are of limited utility, even though they may provide welcome relief. Instead, always consider what might be occurring within the body to give rise to the skin condition, which is what I'm driving at in the opening paragraphs of this post.

Also consider possible nutritional deficiencies, such as zinc (not easy to get a full RDA of zinc, which you'll soon appreciate if you investigate the actual levels of zinc, even in renowned sources such as pumpkin seeds), EFAs, sulphur, silicon, etc. Going back to the chlorine issue for a moment, it is worth noting that the body uses bile as the primary method of excreting chlorine, so, if chlorine sensitivity does happen to be relevant in your case, then ensuring good intake of nutrients that support bile synthesis would be a wise approach. These would include lecithin, glycine and taurine. Also useful, under such circumstances, would be cholagogues (herbs that stimulate release of bile), though, as always, if you have other health conditions, allergies, sensitivities, or or are on other herbs or medications, it is always prudent to first check with a qualified medical professional before taking new herbs. As I outlined in another post, recently, here on RFT, options for stimulating bile release include many of the bitter herbs such as hercampuri, gentian, andrographis paniculata, picrorhiza kurroa, celery (seed or edible vegetable part), turmeric, coptis, artichoke, licorice, aniseed, cardamom, cinnamon, etc. Milk thistle is also excellent for stimulating bile release and may meet with the least resistance from conventional medical doctors, since it is one of the few herbs that has been embraced by conventional medicine for the purpose of liver protection (it is even used in acute care of death cap mushroom poisoning). One of the very best options to consider is that of commercial 'swedish bitters' preparations, although please note that many of these are made using strong alcohol so for someone in your situation it might be wiser to seek out one based primarily on vegetable glycerine rather than alcohol.

Generally, the digestive organs benefit profoundly from regular consumption of carefully fermented vegetables such as cabbage ('sauerkraut'), so please consider introducing these to your diet if you do not currently consume them. Please understand that commercial sauerkraut is entirely inappropriate - it will invariably tend to be made with distilled vinegars and/or be pasteurised. Such products would not only be non-beneficial but also, potentially, worsen one's health, since distilled vinegars tend to be deleterious to health. To benefit from sauerkraut (or indeed any fermented vegetables), it must be artisan-made and not pasteurised, or, (more ideally) be made in your own home. There is loads of free information out there (e.g. Youtube) on how to do this. Sandor Ellix Katz is also a good source of info on the topic, as are Amanda Love and Donna Gates. Many people will assert that it is not necessary to purchase a starter culture in order to make sauerkraut, and of course there is some truth in this, since people have been successfully fermenting vegetables for centuries. However, I do recommend using a starter culture anyway, since it massively improves your chances of a successful batch that contains a minimum of deleterious yeasts/fungi/bacteria. Again, it's not essential, but it stacks the odds strongly in one's favour. 'Caldwell's' or 'Body Ecology' (Donna Gates) are the main players for these starter cultures. I do appreciate that you may be inclined to dismiss all this as irrelevant to your skin condition, but I can assure you that fermented vegetables (and bitter herbs/foods for the stimulation of bile/liver) can be profoundly supportive of digestive and systemic health, and each is enormously detoxifying, too. Fermented vegetables are also very rich in easily-assimilable minerals (sulphur etc.) and other nutrients, due to the microbial activity during the fermentation process. They even promote favourable conditions within the intestine and bowel (largely due to the lactic acid and lactobacilli content) for organisms which, on top of their detoxifying abilities, actually synthesise B-vitamins within the digestive system. Also note that the enzyme-rich juice from fermented vegetables can be healing to the skin when applied topically. If you are OK with the taste of seaweeds, a small amount of seaweed added to your mixture, prior to fermenting, can boost the levels of assimilable minerals in the final product and your thyroid (also relevant for healthy skin) will thank you for the minerals and iodine. Humic/fulvic acid mineral complexes are also viable mineral sources. Minerals are vital for thousands of different enzymatic and metabolic processes and skin health relies upon their proper function.


useful thread on fermenting vegetables:

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?71549-Sauerkraut-in-mason-jars

.

[Arky]

I urge you to carefully consider if you have any other bodily symptoms such as headaches, poor digestion, greasy skin, floaters in vision, ringing in the ears, chronic flatulence, pale or greasy stools, undigested food visible in stools, bad breath, coated tongue, unusually poor energy levels, or erratic energy levels etc. You needn't discuss these here, since I acknowledge that they are rather personal in nature, but at least carefully consider them yourself. They can be very valuable clues which may triangulate with your skin issues. They may indicate possible issues with the function of the aforementioned organs (liver, bowel, intestine, kidneys, etc.).

Avoid excessive salt intake.

Also avoid heated oils/fats, since they are invariably Omega 6 (e.g. sunflower or canola) and (regardless of their molecular length) will tend to be damaged by their exposure to heat. Omega 6 fats/oils (and all heated fats/oils - even saturated ones such as coconut/palm/butter/lard) will be damaged, to varying extents, by high cooking temperatures. I know this is a raw food forum, but the point is relevant because not everyone here actually consumes 100% raw, and might therefore be consuming heated fats/oils in some way (e.g. potato chips or whatever). Heated fats/oils are potentially problematic for skin because cellular membranes may take them up and, owing to their molecular structure having been damaged and oxidised, they can thus lead to increased issues with free radicals, and to compromised cellular function (the lipids in cellular membranes need to function appropriately in order for the cell to maintain good intake of nutrients and excretion of metabolic wastes; the lipid layer is the 'gateway' through which these must pass. This is one reason why one cannot fully compensate for ingestion of damaged fats by simply increasing intake of anti-oxidant nutrients). On the unheated side of things, even for someone consuming 100% raw, too much omega 6 may be potentially problematic for the reason that fats/oils of this molecular length promote synthesis in the body of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins, and I noted at the beginning of this post that inflammation can sometimes be a component of certain skin conditions. Other foods can promote inflammation, too, so examine your diet for such foods (foods rich in arachidonic acid, and in phytic acid, for example). If you're eating nuts, seeds. grains, beans etc., then this is a significant reason to be disciplined in soaking them before consumption.

Provided you tolerate them, you should make a point of including plenty of anti-inflammatory foods in your diet, such as green leafy vegetables*, ginger, turmeric, grapeseed, etc. Hopefully, you'll already be eating plenty of green leafy veg, if you're on a raw food diet. Avoid consuming excessive fruit since this can potentially promote bowel/intestinal dysbiosis and can also be potentially pro-inflammatory, owing to all the fructose. Fructose and other sugars can also undermine skin health due to their effects upon insulin levels, which might sound odd but it's true. On the flip-side, fruits are relatively rich in potassium and potassium is very beneficial for the skin. Still, there are plenty of sources of potassium other than fruit (e.g. seaweeds, live apple cider vinegar or, of course, that non-fructose fruit, avocado). Be careful with vinegar (and definitely avoid all distilled vinegars), but you might tolerate natural, enzyme-rich, live apple cider vinegar, and may benefit, both by consuming it internally, and by applying it topically.
You also need to check that you have sufficient intake of vitamin A and, if you don't get much sun exposure, vitamin D, since both these vitamins are important for healthy skin.

You would also be very wise to begin keeping a detailed food diary, also noting any symptoms that arise. This can build a picture whereby one can begin to see patterns that certain foods may be exacerbating certain symptoms - either skin-related or related to other bodily functions which might provide clues that relate back to the skin issue. Food sensitivities can very often lead to skin issues. Common culprits can include nightshades, grains, dairy, fungi, citrus peel, etc., but there are many, many possibilities. This is why a food diary can be so much more powerful than it outwardly appears. Believe me, for a few years, I myself was guilty of ignoring the usefulness of keeping a food diary. It was only as I learned to acutely observe my symptoms and food intake (specifically in relation to bowel inflammation, at that time) that the value of documenting it all gradually became apparent, because it allows one to go back and cross-reference the entries, spanning many weeks, months, or even years. It is startling what unexpected gems one can unearth from such a resource. Patterns between symptoms and food intake can emerge which were 'invisible' to one's previous perception. Because of this, a humble $2 diary can potentially be a vastly more valuable tool than a thousand bucks worth of supplements, in some instances, and I say that in absolute seriousness.


Lastly, be sure to avoid commercial soaps, shower gels, shampoos, perfumes, deodorants, biological washing detergents/powders, fabric softeners, air fresheners, carpet fresheners, carpet cleaning products, furniture polishes, harsh domestic cleaning products etc., and if you happen to be on medication (even if for psychiatric rather than physical issues) please remember to check if the known side effects tally with your skin issues. Even check similarly if you have been regularly taking certain herbs, for whatever reason.

One supplement which you might consider trying (as always, check first with your healthcare provider...) is astaxanthin. It's great stuff for internally nourishing the skin, and it's also a powerful anti-inflammatory.

Also consider trying saunas, as these can be great for flushing toxins out of the skin, and, of course, the body in general. They're very detoxifying.

The point of this entire discussion is to carefully consider and investigate many possible factors which may relate to your skin condition. Do not make the mistake of casually dismissing anything because "oh, it can't be that!". As anyone who has been through a health issue with a non-obvious cause can confirm, sometimes it is the seemingly-trivial and overlooked things which can turn out to be culprits, and these may have been repeatedly overlooked for years - even decades, due to presuming they can't be relevant.


This is one of those interesting topics where I keep remembering things, sporadically, after posting, which is a bit irksome since I keep having to come back and edit my post, but I'll leave it at this, for now. Certainly plenty of things for you to consider.


Incidentally, a rather unorthodox, but quite interesting, book about foods and their relationship to certain bodily functions is David Wolfe's self-published book, from a few years ago, 'Eating For Beauty'. It's not a full-on naturopathic book, by any stretch of the imagination, but it's an interesting and worthwhile read, all the same, if you can pick it up for a reasonable price. Mikhail Tombak's books are also somewhat similar. These books are 'lite' introductions to the interrelationships between the foods we eat and their effects upon the body.


__________________________________________________ ___________________________




*focus upon consuming lots of chlorophyll, and even apply chlorophyll topically to the skin - even BATHE in chlorophyll. Seriously.



.

[Arky]

I forgot to mention a very, very relevant book. In literally the last couple of pages of this particular book, Bernard Jensen describes the case of one of his patients, including dramatic photographs.

Just get the book (or read it in your local library) and you'll see why I suggest reading it; it's a real eye-opener.

It's called 'Dr. Jensen's Guide to Better Bowel Care: A Complete Program for Tissue Cleansing through Bowel Management'



Thanks Bernard; your legacy lives on...

[streetsurfer]

I think you are a great teacher Arky and thank you from my heart.

[Arky]

You're most welcome, streetsurfer, and thankyou, too, but I'm really the most average, ordinary, mundane person..

Like you, I simply enjoy sharing what little I've learned in my limited life experience, and life never stops teaching me - there's an endless amount to learn!

Still, it's nice to go through life with the sincere intention of helping each other, as best we can, I guess.

[CurvySexyRaw]

If you're up for it, maybe you could try cutting your fat and increasing your raw fruits and greens. I believe the body heals itself if we just get out of its way. Eat mainly raw fruits and greens well give your body the break it needs to heal.

[Arky]

I neglected to mention the lymph system. Rebounding isn't going to be an option if the OP has painful feet, but massage would be helpful, and of course there are herbs supportive of lymph flow, such as clivers / cleavers, calendula etc.

[rawmiss]

My daughter gets those sores on her hands and she says the best thing she has tried has been Bentonite Clay (I add water to the powder to make it into a paste).

[streetsurfer]

Thank you for that tip. A cousin was just asking what some of all the benefits of using bentonite are. We'll share that with her.

A slippery elm poultice might also be worth a try. It has worked well for me with healing some wounds, but I've not used it on an open sore like eczema; more in the line of blisters, cankers, cuts, splits/tears.

[streetsurfer]

I neglected to mention the lymph system. Rebounding isn't going to be an option if the OP has painful feet, but massage would be helpful, and of course there are herbs supportive of lymph flow, such as clivers / cleavers, calendula etc.

In that case a person might benefit from rebounding while sitting on their bottom and bouncing a little with the feet stationary and placed forward.

[PeachyLove]

If you include honey in your diet.

I have had amazing results with a local raw wildflower honey.

I was therapeutically taken 1 tablespoon of raw wildflower honey a day, to increase my hemoglobin. As a side effect, I notice the eczema started to clear.

So, I decided to use honey as my main sweetener and I am now about 95% clear.

Honey can also be used topically.

Research honey and eczema.


Something interesting happen this past summer.

I was preparing an elixir for my mother and I accidentally poured very hot water on my hand. I treated the burn with cool water, baking soda and then alcohol.

This year the eczema did not return, in the areas that were burned. I was wondering did the hot water or the treatment provide the cure.

Also,

While I was researching Hempseed and Oil, I came across the Amazon reviews for Nutiva hemp oil. There are about 109 reviews and most of them are personal testimonial of how hemp oil healed and restored health and some are eczema related.

After researching, reading various reviews and testimonial I am picking up my hempseeds and oil this Monday.


I hope this help

[Arky]

While I was researching Hempseed and Oil, I came across the Amazon reviews for Nutiva hemp oil. There are about 109 reviews and most of them are personal testimonial of how hemp oil healed and restored health and some are eczema related.

After researching, reading various reviews and testimonial I am picking up my hempseeds and oil this Monday.




Yes, this is absolutely to be expected, since a large proportion of the population, these days does not eat sufficient leafy green vegetables, and eats excessive Omega 6 fats, their fat intake in general being oxidised/rancid (packaged foods) and/or heat-damaged (fried etc.). The net result is a pro-inflammatory state arising from both insufficient intake of Omega 3 and excessive intake of Omega 6 and various damaged fats (as described earlier in this thread, Omega 3 supports synthesis of anti-inflammatory prostaglandins within the body, and Omega 6 supports synthesis of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins). In addition to the deleterious effects of continual inflammation, the lipid membranes of the bodys cells cannot function correctly when they are built from damaged fats - they cannot properly ingest and excrete what they need. Poor skin is therefore entirely to be expected under such circumstances, and that's without even considering the negative effects of such dietary failings upon internal organs of the body.

As I'm sure you are aware, hemp oil contains a fairly healthy balance of Omegas and therefore the people with eczema who have reported positive results from consuming it were very probably in dire need of undamaged Omega 3 EFAs prior to consuming it.



Interesting anecdote you provided, about the honey. One could speculate for hours on just how it may have exerted the positive effects upon your eczema that you observed. It has so many properties - antibiotic, nutritive, immune-modulating etc. etc.

[Arky]

Taking a quick glance at the nutrient profile for honey, it's intriguing that it has relatively poor levels of most major nutrients. However, as we in natural health know all too well, it is often the rare trace elements and as-yet-unidentified components present in certain natural substances that can have surprisingly powerful positive effects upon the human body.


http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/sweets/5568/2


Manganese does appear on the nutrition data, though, and there is some discussion of managanese here:

http://mauriziosalamone.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/manganese-and-skin-health.html

...wherein, it is said:

BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY:
Manganese(II) ions function as cofactors or a number of enzymes in higher organisms, where they are essential in detoxification of superoxide free radicals. It aids in the formation of connective tissue. It enables the body to utilize vitamin C, B1, biotin as well as choline. It is a cofctor in metabolism of fat, sex hormones and breast milk in females.


Make of that what you will. Whether or not manganese was a significant factor in the positive effects you noted from honey, in relation to your skin, is anyone's guess. It might just as well have been an unidentified component or some immuno-modulatory effect.

.

[raweater]

I'd also recommend making sure you're avoiding gluten, my dad was able to cure his eczema by eliminating gluten and dairy products.

[Arky]

I'd also recommend making sure you're avoiding gluten, my dad was able to cure his eczema by eliminating gluten and dairy products.

This potentially offers some support to their having been an immune component to the condition, in your dad's case, raweater, although it's not the only possible interpretation (e.g. maldigestion).

[raweater]

This potentially offers some support to their having been an immune component to the condition, in your dad's case, raweater, although it's not the only possible interpretation (e.g. maldigestion).

Are you saying that in the sense that there may be another underlying condition that should be considered before "another disease pops up"? I'm not sure I understand what you're saying...

[Arky]

Are you saying that in the sense that there may be another underlying condition that should be considered before "another disease pops up"? I'm not sure I understand what you're saying...

I'm not implying that there's something 'bad' or 'worrysome' occurring, but I am saying that reactions to foods don't happen for no reason. It's fantastic that eliminating gluten and dairy from the diet has resulted in your dad's eczema clearing up. That's wonderful, and it may be all he is concerned about.

But, personally, I am inclined to look deeper.

I view every bodily symptom as a clue. It is a specific result of a specific process occurring within the body.


I could give you so many examples, but one that is readily-available to mind is that of mercury amalgam and gluten sensitivity. I don't necessarily mean that specifically in relation to your dad; I'm just using it as an illustrative example. Many people with gluten sensitivity find that removal of mercury from the mouth, cells, tissues and organs of the body results in their gluten sensitivty vanishing forever. Mercury disrupts liver function, immune function, gut flora (gut flora is an integral component of the human immune system, though very few people realise this), and cellular metabolism, amongst other (numerous) deleterious effects. Gluten sensitivity can be an immune response. Therefore, in a person with gluten sensitivity and dental amalgams, one potential hypothesis could be that disruption of normal immune function might, perhaps, be a common factor linking the two factors. Even without amalgams, chronic dental infections (which, surprisingly, are not necessarily apparent to the patient) can play havoc with the immune system, digestive tract, and internal organs - the pathogens are, unfortunately, very potent (so potent they can also give rise to heart disease, for example, due to their damaging ability to give rise to inflammation and lesions on the endothelial lining of the arteries).

The conclusion from such examples is that, truly, one should never underestimate the possiblity of an issue in one part of the body being able to influence an issue in a seemingly unrelated other part of the body. This is a strength of the naturopathic approach to medicine, and a shortcoming of many aspects of modern medicine, which, sadly, tend to specialise in individual organs or areas of the body, or focus only on suppressing an obvious symptom. Having said that, I am heartened to see that there are, very occasionally, some exceptions to this, as evidenced by a recent advert on UK television.


Coming back to your father, he may be disinclined to look any deeper, and I would quite understand this - few people are inclined to look any further than the bare minimum that's necessary in order to alleviate obvious symptoms (eczema etc.).

But, aside from the now-under-control eczema, if he does have other bodily symptoms, then it'd be worthwhile considering if there might be a common underlying process linking the symptoms.

My remark to you wasn't a 'call to action', it was just my habit of looking deeper. Owing to many years of my own health challenges, I have become naturally curious about what's going on underneath obvious symptoms. I do it habitually! ;-)


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[laughalways]

I agree with Arky...its better to keep looking for the root cause. I found that to be true as I have developed food allergies that I never had before so I am still searching for the cause.