Ayurvedic Treatment For Eczema -2

Diet for People with Eczema (Vicharchika)
Since food is one of the causes of eczema, it is important to be cautious about the diet. Generally a person with eczema can have a normal diet, but without the specific allergic factor. Depending on the constitution of the person, he or she can be allergic to just about any kind of food. Hence, one of the steps of diagnosing eczema is to identify if any foodstuff is the cause of the eczema. If so, then that food must be eliminated from the diet.

Furthermore, people with eczema must keep away from the following foods:-

• Salad vegetables like cucumbers and radish must not be used.
• Fruits like oranges, watermelons and papayas must be avoided as they are contra-indications to eczema.
• Ice-creams and cold drinks must be strictly avoided.
• Several spices and oils can aggravate eczema. Hence they must be taken with moderation.
• Nuts are harmful to eczema, especially cashew nuts.
• Foods with a high mineral content such as ginger, onion and ladies finger (okra) must be curtailed in the diet.
• Salt must be reduced in the diet.
• Sour foods must be avoided. This includes all pickles, curds, etc.
• Mustard is a strict no-no.
• Bitter tastes are useful. These are obtained from vegetables such as bitter gourd, bitter drumstick and flowers of the neem tree.
• Turmeric has a soothing effect on the skin. It must be used liberally in flavoring the food. Turmeric is also useful if it is applied locally over the affected parts.

Ayurvedic Medicine for Eczema

Several Indian indigenous herbs are found to be very effective in the treatment of this problem.

Alsi (Linum usitatissimum) Linseed
The oil of the linseed is mixed with an equal amount of lime juice and applied on the inflamed region. This is effective in the treatment of many skin ailments including eczema.

Arka (Calotropics gigantica) Dead Sea Apple, Swallow Wort
The juice of the arka is mixed with sesame oil and turmeric. This is applied externally over the affected skin.

Babul (Acacia arabica)
The bark of the babul tree is potent in the treatment of eczema. It is boiled in water and the fumes are used to foment the affected areas.

Butea (Butea monosperma)
In the treatment of skin diseases such as eczema, its the seeds of the butea tree that are useful. The seeds of the butea are mixed with lime water and are applied on the affected regions to get the required benefits.

Mahua (Madhuca indica) Madhuca
The leaves of the madhuca are ground into a paste and applied as bandages on the affected regions. This provides immense relief to the itchy pains. However, the bandage must be changed regularly, i.e. after every three to four hours.

Karanja (Pongamia pinnata) Indian Beech
The oil of the karanda made into an emulsion with lemon juice has very good soothing properties for the inflammations of eczema.

Palasha (Butea monosperma) Butea
The seeds of the palasha are ground, mixed with lemon juice and applied on the affected region. This is especially beneficial on dhobi’s itch, a type of allergic contact dermatitis with tight clothes.

Eczema is a constitutional disease. Its cause is deep-seated within the body. Hence external medications are not effective in eczema. With such medications, the outer symptoms may disappear, but the underlying cause remains. Ayurveda attempts at curing eczema from its roots. The method used is an elaborate process to purify the blood of the individual.

The different steps involved are:-
a) Snehana - This method oleates the skin, i.e. makes it smooth using oily preparations.
b) Swedana - This method induces sweating which removes the toxins from the blood.
c) Panchkarma - These are the five steps to improve the blood. They include vamana (emesis), virechana (purgation), vasti (enema), siro-virechana (errhines) and rakta mokshana (blood-letting).

The following Ayurvedic preparations are used in the treatment of eczema:-

• For all types of eczema, cleanse the liver. Take 250 mg. of tab. Arogyavardhini 3 to 4 times daily followed by hot water for 2 months.
• One teaspoonful of Mahatikt ghritam twice a day is prescribed to all patients of eczema.
• In addition, a dosage of 50 milligrams of Chaturmukha rasa with gold is prescribed to be taken twice a day along with 15 ML of Khadirarishta or Saarivadyasava thrice a day. All treatments must be continued for one month.
• Physicians would suggest massaging the area with Mahamarichyadi taila or Guduchyadi taila. After meals, take one teaspoonful of Panchanimbadi choorna,

Home Remedies for Eczema