Such a beautiful quote to wonderfully express our healing process! ❤
Sending healing vibes to all!
Month: April 2015
That dang maddening itch!!!
Just did a lil post sharing info on the Eczema & Topical Steroid Withdrawal -Red Skin Syndrome Support Group on facebook about why we itch and why it’s best to not suppress it…..
Hey guys! Here’s some info I’d like to share with y’all about that dang itching we’re all experiencing and have ever since we got eczema. This is from the book Food is Your Best Medicine by Henry Bieler MD.
We gotta keep in mind that the body doesn’t make any mistakes. All that heat and itching is for a reason. Just like having diarrhea or fever is the body’s mechanism to kill or get rid of germs, there is reasons for itching and heat in the body with eczema.
The following information is what I found to be the most logical explanation of why you should not use drugs to suppress the severe itching associated with eczema, it’s truly a part of the process as maddening as it may be
Henry Bieler, MD, in his book “Food is Your Best Medicine” said that he always explained to his patients that their pain and illness is the result of their dietary mistakes and intake of drugs. He said that when the normal chemistry of digestion is upset because of unhealthy living habits, toxins are stagnated in the blood which can impair the filters and eliminative organs, chief of which are the kidneys, liver, bowels, and skin. He explained that skin problems like eczema is a “terrific attempt” by the body to get rid of toxins since the normal channels of elimination such as the liver is no longer functioning normally. If the bile poisons in the blood come out through the skin, we get the various irritations of the skin and itching is one of these irritations. The itching is necessary so the poisons can come out of the skin. “Thus, the skin is substituting for the liver, or a vicarious elimination is occurring through the skin” (Bieler, pg. 43).
He describes eczema as a hyper secretion of the thyroid gland. “This gland, located at the base of the neck, controls all functions of the body’s three layers of skin: the outer skin… the inner skin… and the middle skin. The normal function of the outer skin is to exhale gases, sweat out water and certain toxic salty substances and oil itself and its hair with special oil glands. The vicarious elimination, which results from forcefully exuding gases, acid sweat, and toxic oils and greases through the outer skin (can be the cause of) chronic eczema…Skin diseases…are really signs of toxic irritation…” (Bieler, pg. 46). To stop the itching, hyperthyroidism must be brought under control through diet changes and complete elimination of offending toxins.
Itching as Henry Bieler explains in his book is a “terrific attempt” by the body to get the toxins out of the body. So itching leading to skin lesions that become infected is nothing more than channels of elimination to remove toxins out of the body. This will only stop when the natural channels of elimination (liver, kidneys and intestinal tract) function normally.
- Natural antihistamine like foods that are high in Vitamin C such as kiwi, pineapples, oranges and bell peppers will help with the itching since one of the main causes of increased histamine levels in the body is a vitamin C deficiency. Black cumin seed oil and using the crushed seeds with a spoonful of honey is also a good natural antihistamine remedy. Also taking plant based digestive enzymes at night such as bromelain will help reduce itching. Here’s the digestive enzymes I take to keep the itching down as much as possible. Bee pollen also helps because it has quercitin in it which minimizes the histamine response.
Vitamin C has an effect on histamine in your system, and your body’s vitamin C levels also regulate your level of histamine release. Adequate vitamin C consumption maintains relatively low levels of histamine in your system, while a vitamin C deficiency can raise your body’s levels of histamine, according to a study published in the “Journal of the American College of Nutrition” in 1996. The abnormal histamine levels as a result of vitamin C deficiency can have an effect on your overall health. SOURCE SOURCE
- I haven’t personally tried this remedy, but taking some activated charcoal can help because it will absorb circulating toxins and remove them quickly from your system. However, activated charcoal is indiscriminate in what it absorbs. Therefore, it should not be taken with food or medicines as it would absorb them too, and it should not be taken over long periods of time. It is, however, good for instant relief of circulating toxins.
- To overcome itching and heat at night so you can sleep, grind fennel seeds and cumin seeds and allow this powder to soak in half a glass of water for 2 hours or longer. Drink this mix and all the soaked powder content and this takes away the heat and itching with the cooling action of the ingredients.
- There is also a product that I’ve found effective to calm down the itching too, it’s an essential oil blend made for allergies called TriEase. You can get it HERE (just click on the “shop” tab and type it in a search). I also did a whole post on it HERE.
Fellow TSW’er Holly, is spreading awareness!
Hey Guys!
My friend and fellow TSW warrior Holly Barrett was featured in her local paper in Chelmsford, UK! I think it’s so awesome that she put herself out there to share her story and spread awareness about topical steroid addiction and the withdrawal process. The more we make ourselves vulnerable to the world, the more lives that can be saved! Cheers to you Holly! ❤
She wanted to mention that she didn’t say there wasn’t any adult eczema in India, but what she actually said was they have big withdrawal problems there due to using a skin lightening treatment. Also that she was only joking about scaring kids, it wasn’t her primary concern, but it came off very serious lol 🙂
click to enlarge
Finally Getting Some Sun!
Sunshiiiiiine! Wonderful, glorious, beautiful sunshine!!!
My skin has been craving some good ol’ vitamin D and a few days ago it was warm enough (55 degrees) to sit on the stoop and soak up some healing rays 🙂 I live in NYC and this winter has been quiet long, and pretty brutal. Being homebound and not being able to put on shoes to get out to take a walk and such has been pretty rough on me, but I’m so thankful that spring has finally sprung and the weather is warming up enough to get some sunlight on my deficient skin. I have no doubt that just soaking in some sun will help along my healing!
Vitamin D is so crucial for the human body and especially for eczema sufferers.
- It can help the immune system reduce levels of inflammatory proteins called cytokines, and it strengthen your skin barriers.
- Vitamin D causes skin cells to make more antimicrobial proteins, which is why people with low levels of vitamin D tend to have more skin infections.
Since I’m darker skinned, I will need to absorb the suns rays longer than someone of fairer skin. The melanin (substance that affects how light or dark your skin colour is) that is in my skin makes it harder for the UVB rays to enter my skin. So with less UVB being absorbed through the skin, less vitamin D is produced each minute.
The paler your skin type the more easily your skin can produce vitamin D. So, if you have skin type I to III, you produce vitamin D more quickly than if you have skin type IV to VI. For example, if you have skin type I, it might take around 15 minutes of sun exposure to get the vitamin D you need, while if you have skin type V or VI, it might take up to six times longer (up to 2 hours).
Because of all these factors – your skin type, where you live and the time of day or season – it can be difficult to work out how much time you need to spend exposing your skin to the sun in order to get the vitamin D you need. A good rule of thumb is to get half the sun exposure it takes for your skin to turn pink to get your vitamin D and expose as much skin as possible.
The best way to get vitamin D is of course through the sun, but you can get it through supplements and small amounts in certain foods. You can find this vitamin in a vegan food source…mushrooms! Just like humans, mushrooms have the capacity to produce vitamin D when exposed to ultraviolet light.
I have been taking a few whole food plant based supplements to help give me a lil boost of vitamin D while I’ve been hibernating this winter. This Premium Mushroom Blend supplement for vitamin D2 and another whole food plant based supplement for Vitamin D3. If you are interested in more info about it just shoot me an email! eczema.holistic.healing@gmail.com .
Here’s some info from the http://www.itsan.org q & a section about sunbathing…..
Q: I’ve heard that getting some sun on my skin may help me heal. Can you describe this in detail?
A: Sun is not promised to speed healing but is often found to help. It is only recommended for those in the later stages of Topical Steroid Withdrawal after flares have stopped, and when the skin is dry, thicker, and not pink or red. UV rays can help restore the dry, steroid-damaged skin to a normal, healthy state. You must be careful to avoid getting too much sun or getting too hot. Start with a short amount of time (10 minutes or less) and work your way up to 20 minutes. Cool sun is recommended.
April 4, 2015
*my skin’s looking quite dry in these photos because I didn’t apply any emollients like coconut oil, shea butter or micro algae lotion before going out. It wasn’t really a conscious thing, I guess I just forgot lol.
Eczema Holistic Healing 