Atopic dermatitis, or eczema, is a chronic skin that causes areas of red, itchy skin. This condition usually starts in early childhood, especially when there is a family history of atopy (asthma, hay fever, conjunctivitis, or food allergies). The skin fails to hold in moisture, becomes dry, then inflamed, itchy and often infected. Various combinations of factors cause the dryness. Allergies leading to an overactive immune system and hereditary dry skin (ichthyosis vulgaris) are the most prominent internal and external factors," so says the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.

Herbal remedies for external use:

• Cover affected areas with raw beans, crushed to powder or thin slices of raw potatoes.


• • Pumpkin juice or mashed pumpkin can be placed on the spots.


• • Rub affected skin with fresh cranberry juice.


• • Combine 1 part of licorice root powder with 1 part of unsalted butter.


• • 1 part of powdered dandelion root mixed with 5 parts of honey.


• • Cover affected spot with fresh cabbage leaf. Keep for 2-3 days, and then change it to a new one. Repeat few times.


• • Cover clean cloth with thick lair of fresh mashed strawberry and place over affected area. Repeat for 3-4 days.

Herbal remedies for internal use:

• • For 2 months take juice of celandine starting from 1 drop a day and going up to 30 drops. Then go back reducing intake from 30 drops a day to 1 drop.


• • Mix together 10 g of bur marigold, 100 g of strawberry leaf and 100 g of chamomile. 1 tbsp of mix for 200 g of boiling water. Drink instead of tea.


• • Drink freshly squeezed lemon juice.


• • Combine 1 part of dandelion root with 1 part of burdock (Arctia) root. Place 2 tbsp of mix in 3 cups of water and leave for the night. In the morning boil it for 10 min, then let stand for 10 more min. Strain and drink ½ cup 3-4 times a day.


• • Every day eat small (the size of a bean) piece of licorice root


• • Place 2 tsp of dry blueberry in 200 g of boiling water. Let stand for 2 hours and drain. Drink equal parts during a day.


• • 1 tbsp of dry nettle put in 1 cup of boiling water. Steep 15 min, filter and drink 1/3-1/2 cup 3 times a day.


• • 2 tsp of crushed chicory root put in 1 cup of boiling water and boil for 10 min, steep 1 hour and strain. Take 1 tbsp 3 times a day. Also use externally to wash eczema spots.

Something interesting I discovered on the ClinicalTrials.gov website is a study that stated, "Dandelion juice has been used in herbal medicine for at least 1000 years. One case report has shown a beneficial effect of this herbal remedy on dyshidrotic hand eczema." It's awesome when clinical trials of herbal remedies take place.

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