Herbs and Supplements to Help Heal Eczema

A compounding natural pharmacy can easily make up a lotion containing some of the following herbs: Pau d’arco, Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice root), Arctium lappa (burdock root), Arnica montana, Calendula officinalis, Commiphora myrrha (myrrh), Hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal), Hypericum perforatum (StJohn’s wort) or Plantago major . All of these are anti-inflammatory agents and would help with the pain, redness and itchiness of eczema.

Borage oil  and olive oil can also be very helpful both as anti-inflammatories and as soothing and moisturizing oils.

Aloe vera gels are especially soothing (especially when you keep the bottle in the refrigerator!) These lotions should be hypo-allergenic and contain Vitamins A and E to promote healing. Many compounding pharmacies add  Shea butter or Jojoba oil as carriers for the herbs and vitamins—either Shea butter or the Jojoba oil is hypoallergenic and very soothing.

Taking 3-5 grams of omega-3 oils, either as fish oil, evening primrose oil or flaxseed oil can help you improve your condition.   These oils have also shown great benefit for your heart, reducing cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood.  These oils are also anti-inflammatory and support your immune system to return to a normal state. While the evidence is still mixed, ⁵   a number of clinical studies have indicated a positive response of eczema to probiotics . Probiotics replenish the normal bacterial growth in the intestines—and the intestinal system is a major player in a normal immune system. ⁶

Other supplements that you should consider including in your routine are Vitamin A, Vitamin E, zinc, and quercitin .  Quercitin is a supplement that stabilizes the cells that produce histamine—often the cause of the itchiness of eczema.  Zinc levels have been found to be deficient in many patients with eczema—normal levels of zinc are also required for a healthy immune system.

I will often recommend oatmeal baths or poultices for patients with eczema.  Fill a knee-high nylon sock with oatmeal (steel-cut), fill the tub with hot water, drop the sock in and take a hot bath.  You can also tie the knee-high onto the tap and let the water run through it. Or, grind the oatmeal into a fine powder and add 1-2 cups to your bath. You want to avoid soaps, particularly harsh, alkaline soaps.  Use vegetable-oil based soaps instead. After the bath, apply castor oil to the affected areas and cover with clean, white, unbleached cotton. 

Castor oil works as an anti-inflammatory agent and a skin softener, relieving the itching, the dryness and the scales of eczema.