Herbal Medicine and Eczema

Eczema is a common itchy skin disease, which is either constitutional or endogenous. This compares to dermatitis in which outside agents are involved. There are various types, of which atopic eczema is associated with asthma and hay fever.

Conventional treatment is with synthetic corticosteroids, which are more often just referred to as 'steroids', and which reduce inflammation by blocking the action of prostaglandins, and which also suppress the immune system. There are many side effects associated with corticosteroids such as peptic ulcers, diabetes and increased susceptibility to infection.

But does this pharmaceutical approach get to the root of the problem or or does it just address the symptoms?

Herbal Medicine offers a more complex holistic solution.

A Medical Herbalist will spend an hour with a person, by way of a consultation. They will look at the whole person, at the function of each body system e.g. digestion, elimination, the immune system (which triggers the reaction), the lymphatic system (which helps to cleanse the body) the nervous system (the immune system is affected by stress) and strength and hypersensitivity of the skin and mucus membranes.

The Herbalist will then decide on and dispense a prescription made up of a number of herbs. Unlike pharmaceutical medicine, the herbs are perfectly and naturally designed. They act as catalysts for the body rather than imposing an action upon it, so that the body can rectify itself. Hippocrates said, over 2,000 years ago, that it is more important to know what sort of person has a disease, than what sort of disease a person has. So each person is treated differently. This is why a consultation is always more beneficial, in order to get the most benefit from the herbs. In this case, and depending on the patient's constitution, the herbs might include Berberis to stimulate elimination, Plantain to strengthen the skin and Oats to support the nervous system. A topical cream may also be prescribed, containing for example Calendula or Chickweed.

The Herbalist will often also offer dietary and lifestyle advice, and in the case of Eczema, this might include linseeds for Essential Fatty Acids which reduce inflammation and pumpkin seeds for zinc which heals the skin.

To ensure that the Medical Herbalist is properly trained, look for the letters MNIMH after their name - this confirms that they have undergone a 4 year degree course in Herbal Medicine and are registered with the oldest professional body of Medical Herbalists, the National Institute of Medical Herbalists.