Eczema-causes | symptoms | prevention | diet | treatment

What is Eczema?

Eczema is a form of dermatitis, or inflammation of the upper layers of the skin. Eczema is an allergic, inflammatory and irritation of skin condition which causes dryness and recurring rashes on the skin. Some of the common symptoms of eczema are redness, skin edema, itching and dryness, crusting, flaking, blistering, cracking, oozing, or bleeding.

Eczema in Ayurveda

The Ayurvedic acharyas have termed eczema as Vicharchika “Sakandu Pidika Sthava Bahustrava Vicharchika” describes the disease aptly.

 

Causes of Eczema

  • Smoke, chemicals, detergents, solvents and even weather conditions could aggravate the condition.
  • Excessive stress, heat and emotional stress also aggravates the symptoms of eczema.
  • Skin is second kidney and liver uses it to expel the toxins which otherwise will damage regular kidney. Hence itching is seen maximum during 1 to 5 am local time.
  • It is during this time when liver, spleen and lungs detoxify their toxins (ama) according to circadian rhythm.

Eczema types.

When the skin is dry, blackish, rough, itching, then it is dry eczema, some experts term it as Kitibha.
The wet eczema causes oozing of sticky discharge in addition.

 

Diet
Take food at regular meal time and not before earlier food is
digested fully.

Eating little less than hunger allows adequate mixing
and processing in the stomach.

Ayurveda recomends cow milk if boiled with ginger powder and turmeric powder, which makes it more digestible and less kapha enhancing. One should avoid incompatible foods Sugar craving can be satisfied by eating jaggery and fruits containing glycosugars.
Avoid sour foods. Sour yogurt, tomatoes, tamarind etc. Amalaki, lemon, pomegranate do not come under sour foods, as per ayurveda.

If you can replace oil by pure cow ghee, better cure.

Avoid legumes and beans which are heavier for digestion. Green gram is most acceptable in India, as easier to digest and causing less ama generation. Ground nut and sesame in any form should be avoided.
Avoid fish, chicken, mutton as well as eggs. Since disease is helped by Kapha vitiation, avoid sleeping during day or within an hour afterdinner.

If blisters are oozing the discharge, the herbal mixture should have emphasis on Guduchi, or one can take Amrutadi Guggulu, the dosage to be decided by Vaidya.

Prevention and Treatment


Avoid indigestion and constipation. Constipation slows down digestion and slowed digestion increases doshas. Such increased unbalances in vaat, pitta and kapha does not allow eczema to cure.

Removing vitiated doshas (ama) by vaman or virechana can provide relief. Drink two glasses (500 ml) warm water every day early morning. Vomiting this water will come out bringing out sticky ama with it. A comprehensive detoxis a better strategy, as it cleans all below diphragm systems.

 

Popular Ayuvedic medicines of Eczema

In skin diseases and also as Raktashodhak medicine, Mahamanjistadi Quath or Ghanvati is normally used. While Mahamanjistadi has more number of herbs, Laghumanjista is also useful. For those whohave no access to herbs, can take Laghu Manjista Ghanvati 2 tablets morning and 2 tablets evening with warm water.

Panchgavya medicines
Panchgavya medicines are prepared by distillation of cow urine alongwith herbal decoctions. Gomutra sava is similar to various asavascontaining natural alcohol. Cow urine mixed with jaggery and otherherbs as needed, is stored in earthen pots and underground for a month. This releases phytochemicals of herbs in cow urine along with natural alcohol from jaggery. Cow urine pungency, smell all vanishes, and it becomes difficult to recognize that medicine is made from cow urine. This Gomutra sava, when taken early morning and also half an hour before meals, causes hunger, good digestion and absorption of doshas also.

The excess doshas are eliminated through stools. When stools start floating in water, you may stop or reduce the dosage. Cow urine is simply distilled and a distillate is made. This distillate can be applied on itching eczema legions. Being pungent, it causes some stinging sensation, inflammation for few minutes, butafter few minutes, it subsides. More important for us is the reduction in itching. This is similar to the stinging sensation when various ointments are used on skin eruptions. Reducing time of stinging will also be noted slowly.

As the disease is stress dependant, the yoga and breathing techniques help. Even if patient is not sensitive to asthma attack, the breathing techniques increase immunity and reduce sensitivity to external triggers in environment. Once doshas of body and mind are balanced, eczema is cured permanently.

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