Are you interested in holistic treatment for eczema? Many people are these days. Often it’s because they want to avoid the potentially harmful side effects of prescription drugs, but sometimes there’s more than that. People want health care providers that care about them as a whole person and they want treatment plans that address all their concerns. For instance, if you’re seeking holistic eczema treatment, in addition to relief from pain and itching, you may want a treatment plan that addresses your difficulty sleeping due to severe itching and your feelings of self-consciousness when you go out in public when your eczema is at its worst.
Holistic Treatment For Eczema
The American Holistic Health Association describes the holistic treatment as a treatment that honors the whole person, body, mind, and spirit. It’s also a treatment modality that encourages the patient to take an active role in his or her treatment. Here are some aspects of a holistic treatment plan to consider and to discuss with your health care providers.
Lifestyle – Simple lifestyle changes can lead to significant improvement in eczema symptoms and should be an important part of any holistic eczema treatment plan. The Mayo Clinic recommends reducing stress if possible and limiting your exposure to triggers like extreme temperature changes, wool clothing, harsh soaps and detergents, and skincare products with dyes or perfumes. While exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, excessive sweating can exacerbate symptoms of eczema, so exercise indoors in the air conditioning on hot days.
Nutrition – Good nutrition is an important part of a holistic treatment for any condition, including eczema. In addition to all the basics of nutrition, like eating plenty of fruits and vegetables and whole grains and limiting fat and sugar in your diet, try to include essential fatty acids (found in things like cold-water fish, nuts, seeds, and olive oil) and antioxidants (found in things like berries, apples, apricots, pears, black beans, and pinto beans) in your diet. Here is more about the impact of nutrition on eczema.
Sleep – The severe itching and discomfort of eczema often make it hard to sleep and when you’re sleep-deprived, everything in life seems to suffer. Sleep deprivation can lead to depression, suppress the immune system, and even have a negative effect on relationships. Of course, treating eczema so that you experience less itching and discomfort should lead to an improvement in sleep. In addition, some natural treatments for eczema, such as certain essential oils, will promote restful sleep as well as relieving itching and discomfort. Here is more about treating eczema with essential oils.
Emotional and Social Support – While medical doctors often overlook emotional and social issues when prescribing treatment, emotional and social support should absolutely be considered an important component of holistic treatment for eczema. Stress can make symptoms of eczema worse but simply living with eczema can be stressful. If you’re having trouble coping with stress, seek support, including professional counseling if necessary. Talk to friends and family members about what you’re going through and consider attending a support group, as well, if you feel you need more support than you’re currently getting.
Natural Treatments – People interested in holistic treatment for eczema often prefer to try natural treatments before turning to prescription medications. While there is certainly a place for prescription drugs in the treatment of eczema, in many cases the condition can be adequately managed with natural treatments and lifestyle changes. One of our favorite natural treatments for eczema is Wild Naturals Eczema and Psoriasis Moisturizing Skin Cream. The Mayo Clinic recommends using a good moisturizer after showers or baths, to lock in moisture and relieve dry, itchy, irritated skin. Wild Naturals Eczema and Psoriasis Moisturizing Skin Cream is made from natural ingredients and contains no perfumes or dyes that might trigger additional symptoms of eczema. For more information, just follow the link.