Soap Nuts to Treat Eczema & Psoriasis

By Matthew James Johnson

Soap nuts have a long history when it comes to treating skin conditions such as eliminating freckles, erasing fine lines, and ridding cracks in the skin. Soap nuts have been used for generations in India to treat eczema and psoriasis effectively and in the past few decades have been used in Europe with very positive results. The best thing about using soap nuts is that they are safe and effective for people that are allergic to even the mildest form of astringents or cleansers that are purchased in the stores. In most cases, even the cleansers that are labeled allergy free or for sensitive skin can be damaging to sufferers of eczema and psoriasis. Soap nuts have also been used in the United States for people who have been diagnosed with these skin conditions.

Soap Nuts for Eczema?

It has always been recommended that people with skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis should not use any type of cleansers on their skin. This is almost impossible considering that cleansers are in just about everything that is used commonly around the household and it is said that people who suffer from these types of skin conditions should try to avoid anything labeled as a detergent or soap. Soap nuts are among the list of herbs and minerals in Ayurvedic shampoos and cleansers and they are used in Ayurvedic medicine as a treatment for eczema and psoriasis. Eczema affects both males and females alike and age is not a factor. Common symptoms of mild eczema can include dry, hot and itchy skin but more severe forms of the condition can result in the skin becoming raw, broken and bleeding.

Helping Eczema & Psoriasis

Rather than having to resort to prescription medicine to treat your eczema and psoriasis, first try ground soap nut husks as they provide a totally natural chemical free detergent for treatment. Soap nuts are recommended for babies and for people who develop allergies to conventional washing products, as they contain no allergenic substances. This is extremely important for those who suffer from skin disorders because many times the clothes that are being washed can trigger the skin condition and cause it to worsen. Soap nuts are all natural and have no smell to them which is the main reason that they are so successful in ridding skin disorders and preventing future outbreaks.

Soap Nut Studies

Many studies have proven that some people who have eczema have had their problems diminish after switching to soap nuts as a laundry detergent and as a skin cleanser. Soap nuts lead to stable soapy foam when they come in contact with water. Saponin’s can replace conventional chemical detergents such as sodium laureth sulphate that are becoming increasingly unacceptable to the consumer due to fears concerning the safety of the chemical. Naturally occurring, Saponin’s provide the foaming agent necessary in shampoo or shower gel that are gentler on the body and more environmentally friendly. According to Professor C. Kamaswara Rao of the Department of Forests Environment and Ecology of the Government of Karnataka, the biggest environmental benefits of the soap nuts in conjunction with prevention and elimination of skin conditions is through its anti-microbial and anti-bacterial properties.

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Soap nuts aren’t only environmentally friendly, but they are also friendly to your wallet.  You can actually get 400 loads of laundry for as low as $.08 a load.  Replacing your irritating detergent is a no-brainer!

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In India, the neem tree is known as the “divine tree” and as the “village pharmacy”.  This ayurvedic leaf has powerful medicinal properties, including being an antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and an analgesic.   These properties make neem a very effective natural eczema remedy treatment.

Neem works by preventing bacteria from entering broken skin; it  also strengthens the immune system. Furthermore, neem is  an emollient that keeps dry skin moisturized.

In traditional Ayurveda, a paste from the neem leaves is rubbed directly over the affected areas. However, there are several ways to use this wonderful plant.

• Add neem oil to your bath and soak for 30 minutes.  You can also use a neem leaf extract made from a cup of tea of fresh or dried neem leaves.

• Rub neem lotion or cream on moist skin to lock in the moisture.

• Neem can also be ingested to boost immune system. Fresh neem leaves work best, but if you have yet to acquire the taste, there are neem supplements available.

If you opt to use neem oil, make sure you use cold-pressed oil that is not a refined extract.  You should also stay away from neem soap, as the other ingredients in the soap may be drying to the skin.

]]> http://eczemaremedyblog.com/eczema-remedy-spotlight/eczema-remedy-spotlight-neem/feed 0 http://eczemaremedyblog.com/eczema-remedy-spotlight/eczema-remedy-spotlight-oolong-tea http://eczemaremedyblog.com/eczema-remedy-spotlight/eczema-remedy-spotlight-oolong-tea#comments Wed, 22 Apr 2009 03:42:59 +0000 admin http://eczemaremedyblog.com/eczema-remedy/eczema-remedy-spotlight-of-the-day-oolong-tea We previously wrote an earlier post that briefly mentioned this wonderful healing tea.  Literally translated as “black dragon”, oolong tea is produced by oxidizing the tea leaves for a brief period after picking.  Oolong tea is also known as brown tea, and is less fermented than brown tea. This tea is packed with vitamins and minerals such as calcium, copper, carotin, manganese, selenium and potassium Vitamin A,B,C,E,and K.  It is also rich in antioxidants called polyphenals and flavanoids which reduce cell-damaging free radical activity and is credited for the primary reason of oolong tea’s effectiveness. Oolong tea also contains tannins, which is a type of polyphenal that may reduce inflammation.

According to a study conducted at the Shiga University of Medical Science in Japan , oolong tea is so effective because of the anti- allergenic properties of the polyphenals. The subjects of the study drank three 10ml servings of the tea 3 times a day after meals. After one month, 63% of the tested patients showed improvement, and the effect was noticed as early as 1 or two weeks of treatment.  Another study of 100 patients showed that drinking a liter of oolong tea a day improved itching and inflammation.

Oolong tea is so promising because so many eczema sufferers testify to it’s effectiveness.  There is one word of caution, however: caffeine.  If you find that caffeine is an eczema trigger, try decaffeinated oolong tea, or you can decaffeinate it yourself.  Steep a teabag for 45 seconds in hot water, then pour out the liquid.  Add more hot water and steep normally.  This process releases up to 80 percent of the caffeine and the tea’s aroma and flavor is maintained.

Happy tea drinking!