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Eczema can be an embarrassing, uncomfortable, and even painful skin condition without an exact cause. But ayurvedic treatments for eczema (also known as “Vicharchika”) have been scientifically found to be successful. All three types of doshas (Vata, Kapha, and Pitta) must be in balance, and eczema in Ayurveda is often considered to be caused by an imbalance of the doshas, particularly the Kapha and Pitta doshas.
Eczema presets with inflammation, itching, and redness. It may appear as localized patches or across large stretches of skin. While eczema is not contagious, it can involve a burning sensation and even discharge that can certainly affect the quality of one’s life.
While there is no one cause for eczema, in one study, they found that individuals may be more likely to develop it due to variations in a certain gene. It can be triggered by diet issues, environmental contaminants, and stress.
There are several methods of treating eczema, but many deal with the symptoms (such as inflammation or itching) more than the cause. Several of the treatment options, particularly steroid creams and antihistamines, have negative side effects and may not work whatsoever with certain individuals.
Ayurveda deals with the whole person instead of the symptoms of one condition. Ayurvedic lines of treatment have been positively shown to drastically improve/resolve eczema symptoms. In Ayurveda, eczema is called “Vicharchika.” Vicharchika is often seen to be caused by digestive problems that do not expel necessary toxins. To see more about treating eczema holistically instead of just a skin problem check out the video below:
If this is a problem you have, start first by addressing your diet.
Here are some tips for you to start:
- Decrease the amount of sugar and salt you consume.
- Drink at least eight glasses of water a day.
- Increase the amount of fiber you eat.
- Avoid sour, spicy, or oily foods (like pickles).
- Avoid all processed and fried foods.
- Cut back on how much alcohol you drink.
- Consider cutting down on potential food allergens, like dairy, gluten, eggs, and peanuts.
- Focus on eating whole foods with a wide variety of nutrients, including Vitamin A and C.
Next, consider your lifestyle and how you may need to change that.
Try to avoid:
- Wearing too-tight clothes (which can exacerbate the condition)
- Taking long hot baths (which can dry out the skin too much)
- Being too stressed out (since unaddressed emotional issues can cause an imbalance in the doshas).
Lastly, here are six ayurvedic treatments for eczema you can use either internally or externally as indicated:
6 Ayurvedic Treatments For Eczema
Neem
Neem is taken from the seeds of the neem tree. It has antibacterial and antifungal properties. You can either use the leaves in your cooking or rub it in an oil form over the problem areas.
Honey
While being both sweet and delicious, honey has many healing properties for the skin, including being anti-inflammatory. Like neem, you can rub this over the problem areas, but be aware that it’ll be very sticky!
Turmeric
Turmeric is a common medicinal herb with some fantastic health properties. An easy way to take in Turmeric would be to drink “Golden Milk” before bed. Here is an Ayurvedic recipe.
Shatavari
Shatavari is a type of asparagus that can help “regulate the body’s systems and improve resistance to stress.” Since eczema can be caused or exacerbated by stress, taking Shatavari could be very helpful. You can purchase a Shatavari powder and add it to a drink at bedtime.
Licorice root
Licorice root has been used as a medicinal product dating back to the Ancient Egyptians. There has been evidence that licorice root can do well to stop bacteria at the exterior level. You can purchase a licorice gel (must have at least 2% licorice topical gel to be effective).
Aloe Vera
Most of us already know the skin benefits of aloe vera, but for eczema in particular, aloe vera can deeply moisturize the affected patches and relieve the obnoxious itching and burning. While you can purchase Aloe gels at most stores, consider purchasing an Aloe Vera plant for your home instead. After washing the problem area with mild soap and warm water, break off a stalk of the aloe plant and rub that onto the area. It will be sticky. You can also drink Aloe Vera. You can buy it prepackaged or you can make it yourself.
Not only can the ayurvedic diet, lifestyle, and herbal treatments listed above help reduce the itching, burning, and inflammation, it can actually stop eczema altogether by potentially addressing the actual cause of the condition instead of just the symptom.