Cures for eczema? I’m sure if you have eczema, like I do, you’re as interested in finding a cure as I am.

My first outbreak of eczema happened when I was twenty during my first pregnancy. Something changed in my metabolism to cause an extremely bad set of itchy rashes that appeared mostly on my arms and legs. The doctor I consulted told me it was “just one of those things”. She suggested that I not use soap when bathing to avoid further irritation.

When my pregnancy ended so did the eczema. Within a few months it was no longer a problem… until six years later when I got pregnant again. After this second pregnancy the eczema never went away completely, though it was never as bad as it was during that first pregnancy.

For most eczema sufferers, pregnancy isn’t part of the problem, and until recently I never had an adequate reason given for why eczema could occur. Then I watched this video from asktheholisticdoctor on YouTube:

Note the doctor mentioned digestive health…

Well, earlier this year I went on the master cleanse fast, also known as the lemonade diet, for ten days. After breaking my fast I used this daily probiotic for several months, and during that time I had no eczema! I think I made a mistake when I stopped using the probiotic, so I just ordered two more boxes. This is the brand I use:

Click here to purchase or learn more about this probiotic.

My daughter’s paramour looked for eczema cures in his extensive herbal library, and found that Neem Oil is one of the best things to put on it. Neem oil comes from the Neem, which is an evergreen tree in India. There’s a strong odor so many people prefer to use it in a lotion or salve - but I’ll take the oil straight. I want to make sure I’m using only the purest product. This isn’t a good solution for pregnant women, however. Neem oil is a herb that pregnant women should never use because it can cause miscarriage. Also women wanting to get pregnant shouldn’t use it because it can prevent implantation.

Another caution: Long term use of Neem can cause liver damage, so don’t plan on using it forever. This is something I’ll use only until the rash clears up, something I’m hopeful the probiotic will take care of.

Neem oil is not to be used in cooking.

Mainly it is used to treat eczema and other skin conditions including acne, and even leprosy. It is also used for fevers, inflammations, rheumatism, malaria, and TB. It is even used as a bio-pesticide for organic gardening.

My daughter’s friend also told me that Aryurvedic doctors prescribe Bacopa Extract to eczema sufferers because eczema can be caused by stress. I did some research on Bacopa and was intrigued by its effect on memory and intelligence. I’ll be getting some of this too:

Wikipedia articles: Neem Oil, Bacopa

Of course if I lived near one I’d go see a naturopatic doctor about my eczema. They probably have other options for treating eczema. But I live many miles from natural medical care; I’m in the boonies. For now I’ll use these things and will report back about how they work for me.

[Update 12/30/08 - Today Dr. Mercola sent out the link to an article about eczema treatments! He's got lots of great ideas there, though I will not be using animal based oils since I'm a vegetarian. See the article and his video: Fend off Psoriasis and Eczema with Simple, Inexpensive Remedies. He mentions probiotics as part of the cure. Thanks, Dr. Mercola!]

I’ve had pain in one of my thumb joints for a few years. I thought it was because my daughter grabbed my hand once and pulled on it the wrong way. But I never suspected Rheumatoid Arthritis. I thought I was too young for that!

This year I started feeling pains in the other thumb joint too. And when I started working at a stand-up-for-hours job downtown, I had pain in one of my ankles. My boyfriend was the first one who suggested it could be Rheumatoid Arthritis, and I did some research to see if that could be it.

. . .

I discovered there are several basic types of arthritis:

1. Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (Still’s Disease): Usually starts between 2 and 5 years of age, and disappears before puberty. A malfunction in the body’s defense system causes antibodies to attack the body’s tissues. They cause inflammation of the joints and organs. Attacks last for a few weeks, and subsequent attacks are usually less severe each time.

2. Psoriatic Arthritis: Psoriasis starts with emotional stress, skin damage, or poor health. It is seen as pink patches of thick skin, caused when skin cell production speeds up. This can cause a mild form of arthritis resembling rheumatoid arthritis.

3. Infectious Arthritis: Caused when bacteria invades a joint and causes inflammation. This is rare, and usually involves only one joint.

4. Rheumatoid Arthritis: Usually starts with hand and foot joints feeling stiff, tender, and/or painful. This usually starts during ages 40 to 60, but it can happen to people of any age.

. . .

I learned that the words “arthritis” and “rheumatism” are used interchangeably yet technically, there are no medical conditions that use only those words. They could refer to Rheumatoid Arthritis, Rheumatic Fever, or Osteoarthritis. If your physician tells you that you’ve got arthritis or rheumatism, ask to know what exactly the disease is.

Some people think that rheumatism is occasional, brought on by bad weather, and that arthritis is a chronic painful condition. But there’s actually no distinction of this sort except in folklore.

. . .

Rheumatoid Arthritis is usually a chronic, long-term condition. Less than half of those who have it recover fully. However the fact that some people do recover fully leaves me with the desire to be in that number. I will be looking for solutions and will keep blog readers informed of any progress I make in controlling arthritis pain and inflammation.

. . .

I went to see my nurse practitioner as soon as I was convinced that I too, could have Rheumatoid Arthritis. She confirmed my self-diagnosis and showed me her deformed finger which helped me see I’m not the only one suffering, that my current condition is mild, and that Rheumatoid Arthritis can become crippling and much worse than I’d imagined.

The nurse practitioner also told me that the thumb joints are often the first places where Rheumatoid Arthritis appears. I guess I’m right on schedule for old age diseases.

Her prescription for me: Motrin. Yes, that’s all I got - a prescription for Ibuprofen! That, and the advice to get used to it.

That leaves me with a lot of questions - and the desire to find ways to deal with this naturally.
. . .

Remember - I’m not a doctor or nurse. If you are one, you’re welcome to comment and give your opinions. Well, for that matter, EVERYONE is welcome to comment and give opinions - I’m hoping to hear from others on this topic.