Doctors still don’t know what causes this condition, which results in dry, flaky, itchy skin, but they do know what will soothe it. Some of the best remedies are also the oldest, commonly used by Native Americans centuries ago. The main treatment for eczema is to pump extra moisture into the skin. Most dermatologists agree that the best way to do this is to apply a moisturizer after taking a bath or shower. This will help trap moisture next to the skin so it can be absorbed, says dermatologist Bruce Bart, M.D. The moisturizer doesn’t have to be fancy, he adds. Petroleum jelly or an inexpensive lotion works just fine.
During an eczema flare-up, you can soothe the skin and relieve the rash by using traditional Native American herbs. Herbalists believe that the best choices are oats (which can be used as a poultice or added to bathwater by the handful), licorice root (which can be drunk as a tea or applied to the skin as a wash), and watercress (also applied directly or drunk as a tea). Other herbs you may want to try, either as a tea or a skin wash, include goldenseal, stinging nettle, yellow dock, and red clover. You can also crush clover leaves and use them as a poultice to relieve itching, says herbalist Ana Nez Heatherley.
This Native American Herbs For Eczema article is taken from :
Healing Secrets of the Native Americans - Porter Shimer
