By Catie Coman
Published On: May 25, 2017
Last Updated On: May 25, 2017
Elina’s eczema began when she was 2 months old. By the time she was 4, her itching intensified to the point that she would wake up every single night scratching and was unable to go back to sleep. For months her face was red and swollen. We forgot what she looked like without the eczema flares and inflammation.
We tried several treatments and diets, each with some amount of success in either reducing the problem or the symptoms. A couple of doses of antihistamine at night calmed her down, but we soon saw other symptoms, including tiredness, listlessness, and crankiness.
A three-month course of homeopathy was able to significantly reduce her eczema and restore her skin to normalcy, which lasted for a few days each time. We also tried naturopathy and a gluten- and dairy-free diet, but they did not make much difference. Her body was still very sensitive to various types of food, dust, clothing, chlorine in swimming pools, too much sun, trees, heat, face paint, etc., and would often return to an inflamed condition very quickly, resulting in out-of-control itching all over the body.
We also tried naturopathy and a gluten free/ dairy free diet, but they did not seem to make much difference. Her body was still very sensitive to various types of food, dust, clothing, chlorine in swimming pools, too much sun, trees, heat, face paint, etc., and would often return to an inflamed condition very quickly, resulting in out-of-control itching all over the body. We would sometimes get calls from her school to pick her up because she was helpless and unable to stop scratching.
Doctors insisted that there was nothing that could cure the problem, but that it could be managed (lifelong) through antihistamines at night, Zyrtec during the day, and steroidal creams throughout. However, we were still in search of a solution that we felt was not so harsh.
What are Ayurvedic treatments?
Ayurvedic Medicine, or Ayurveda, is an ancient healing system that originated in India. It focuses on improving overall health and balance based on one’s unique body constitution. Ayurveda treats diseases by fostering a balance in the underlying combination of elements of the universe believed to form our body (space, air, fire, water, and earth). Treatment is usually done via a combination of diet, herbal supplements, and massages with special oils. Trained Ayurvedic doctors can identify the body type and the type of imbalance and suggest corrective herbs. These usually work quite instantly for minor conditions, but take longer for chronic and systemic issues.
Why did you try Ayurvedic treatment for Elina’s eczema?
We grew up in a culture of home remedies, mostly derived from ancient Ayurvedic wisdom. Both of us were aware of — and familiar with — the treatment option. Given the challenges with a child being able to take bitter herbs and sit through massages, we did not try this option until she was 5 years old.
