Eczema
Eczema is a skin condition characterized by cracking, redness, possible scaling and occasionally watery blisters.
Causes of Eczema
The views which I have are shared by many in the healing community but not often not by my medical colleagues. For me, eczema always means that the person's body is out of balance. There are at least two aspects to eczema; inflammation and discharge. I would like to separate these two aspects for the purposes of discussion.
Inflammation
Inflammation may result from an imbalance of the essential fatty acids from the diet. When we eat foods that are rich in oils which have been extracted from corn, soy, safflower or sunflower, we are eating foods which, when they are digested contribute to inflammation and smooth muscle contractions. These are the Omega-6 and 9 essential fatty acids.
Eating foods which contain oils from fish or foods which fish typically eat, like blue-green algae which are rich in these oils or foods from plant sources, like evening primrose, flax, borage, we are consuming foods which are anti-inflammatory and which cause the smooth muscles to relax (see asthma). These are the omega-3 essential fatty acid.
To be healthy we need a balance of these essential fatty acid. They are essential to our diet because we cannot create them ourselves. They are rather like vitamins. But they need to be in balance. We need both the inflammatory aspect which is extremely useful in dealing with infections. The smooth muscle contraction from the omega 6 - 9 oils is crucial for us to have normal protective mechanisms in our airways, in our digestive system and in our genitourinary system. The contractions of childbirth depend on the correct balance as well.
On the other hand, in order not to over react to infection and not to have excessive cramping with menstrual periods or the spasm of the airways which comes with asthma, we need the contribution from the omega-3 oils.
In eczema, there is an excess of inflammation which means that the diet needs to shift from less of the omega-6 and omega-9 oils and more of the omega-3 oils.
Discharge
Discharge is a concept which is familiar to those practicing natural medicine and generally unfamiliar to medical science. the body When we are healthy the foods which we eat go through a digestive process and are used by the body. After the energy is used and the growth and repair to the body to which the food has contributed, the waste products are eliminated by breathing, sweating, and in feces and urine. When there is no excess food and the body is able to use all it consumes, and when the elimination processes are working correctly, then the skin will be healthy.
The skin is however one of the back up systems for discharge and gets called into action when the primary discharge pathways aren't working correctly or are overwhelmed by excess.
Almost everyone has had the experience of eating a particular food and several days later, seeing a pimple emerge. When we're smart, we connect the two events. We could say thank you to our skin for helping to get out what would otherwise possibly create deeper problems. So with eczema, which is an expression of the skin acting as part of this backup system of discharge, we need to look to our diet and to strengthen the normal discharge paths.
Foods to Eliminate
- reduce foods that cause stagnation like bread and bread products, cheese and red meats.
- reduce foods which cause excesses like meats and dairy products which contribute excess protein, excess sugar which contributes to infection and weight gain, and foods containing excess oils like fried food, junk food, chocolate.
- although it seems strange, too much fruit juice or fruit, especially apples, oranges and grapes seem to encourage the body to produce more discharge. You will find it improves eczema to reduce these foods.
Foods to Increase
- increase vegetables, either raw or cooked. Cruciferous vegetables - cabbage, kale (seen to the right), Brussels sprouts, Chinese cabbage, bok choy etc. are very helpful.
- increase whole grains like brown rice, millet, barley etc.
- increase certain fruits like blueberries, cranberry, cherries and other stone fruit like peaches. Pears are another good choice.
- fish, especially cold water ocean fish like salmon or cod
- foods containing flax oil or flaxseed
Typical Medical Treatment
The usual way of approaching eczema is to suppress the symptoms using steroids like cortisone. On a temporary basis, making the skin look better by using cortisone or some other suppressant therapy can work. In my opinion however, this drives the excesses deeper and may contribute to the typical conditions of excess like osteoarthritis and the formation of cysts and fatty tumors.
Supplements to Consider
- omega-3 oils. Those coming from fish especially sardine, cod and herring are particularly useful.
- Blue-green algae. Not only does this supplement provides multiple nutrients including chlorophyll which enhances intestinal function and cleansing but it also is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids.
- supplements which increase intestinal elimination which include those with soluble fiber like psyllium.
- supplements which reduce inflammation and support liver detoxification like milk thistle, dandelion and MaxGxl. and or Supersprouts and Algae.