soaps, and if any remains on your clothes it can act just like soap in the shower and remove your skins protective barrier. I personally use a fragrance free, hypoallergenic, biodegradable soap. For most basic washing, I use half the recommend amount of soap. Again, how dirty do our clothes get with day-to-day use; usually not very dirty. For certain items, like bed sheets and baby clothes, I set the machine for an extra rinse to remove any left over soap.
.....I supposed you have guessed by now that this part of the article will answer the question, “Are there any supplements that will help?” One of the studies I read used Oolong tea to help treat eczema. In this study, subjects drank a brew made with a teabag, containing 10 grams of dried oolong tea leaves, that was steeped in 1000 mL of boiling water for five minutes. The tea was divided into three equal parts |
and was drunk after the three daily meals. After one month of drinking the tea, 17% of patients had a marked improvement and 46% had a moderate improvement in their symptoms of eczema. There were no side effects reported. Oolong is a form of tea that is semi-fermented, and can be found in most grocery or specialty tea retainers. I find its taste to be a little stronger than green tea, but still milder than the black teas like Earl Grey.
.....Various forms of Acidophilus have been shown to help with eczema in children. It is known that supplements that contain the good bacteria that line ones digestive tract (collectively called probiotics) can have a positive effect on the immune system. While it is not entirely clear how these probiotics can help eczema, I do have a few ideas. Probiotics have the ability to stabilize the mucosal barrier and decrease |
intestinal permeability. It is thought that excessive permeability of the intestine may allow allergic food proteins to enter the body and cause allergic reactions. Probiotics also have been shown to modulate the immune system, meaning they can reduce an over-reactive immune system and strengthen a weakened one.
.....There are few health concerns with the use of probiotics, even for infants. Studies have shown efficacy and safety in newborns and one year olds. My little daughter has been taking it since she was twelve months old. One study showed improvements of eczema in children who had allergies to cow’s milk after they took probiotics supplements. Doses range from about 6-10 billion live cells per day.
Other supplements that show promise are Evening primrose oil,
Ian Lloyd...Continued On Page 6 |
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