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Newsletter -
past issue Eczema Eczema is the welling of the outer skin of unknown cause. In the early stages the skin may be itchy, red, have small blisters, and be swollen, and weeping. Later it becomes crusted, scaly, and thickened. Eczema is not a distinct disease. Clinical features Eczema is used synonymously with dermatitis. There are four classifications of this group of skin disease: Contact dermatitis Most forms of dermatitis are associated with allergic tendencies – such as fool allergies to dairy products or gluten. Other forms of dermatitis are the result of handling something with which the skin develops a reaction. Dermatitis and eczema can appear for the first time or worsen during periods of emotional stress, or when overtired or run down. The patient may often develop hypersensitivity to many substances. Fortunately these hypersensitivities are mostly reversible. The treatment should include eliminating the causative agent and soothing the skin. Atopic dermatitis or eczema A chronic itching, superficial inflammation of the skin, usually occurring in individuals with a personal or family history of allergic disorders such as hay fever and asthma Seborrheic dermatitis An inflammatory scaling disease of the scalp, face, and occasionally other areas of the body. Despite the name, the composition and flow of sebum are normal. Onset in adults is gradual, and the dermatitis is apparent only as dry or greasy diffuse scaling of the scalp (dandruff) with variable itching. In severe cases yellow-red, scaling papules appear along the hairline, behind the ears, in the external auditory canals, on the eyebrows, on the bridge of the nose, in the naso-labial folds, and over the sternum. Seborrheic dermatitis does not cause hair loss. Aetiology Lifestyle and dietary factors are important. Check for allergies, both in diet and to contact. In particular, be wary of dairy products, especially in childhood eczema. Obesity, poor circulation and lack of exercise allow stagnation of the periphery to occur and will exacerbate eczematous conditions. Constipation is often a common underlying problem. Aromatherapy treatment Since eczema is so varied there are many essential oils that are suitable for its treatment. The treatment should focus on removing the cause, and treating the skin according to its existing state. This often means: It is also important to treat the clinical type of stage of eczema appropriately. The basic rule for treating acute weeping eczema is "wet on wet". This means using solutions, baths, wet dressing containing essentials oils for 30 minutes 3 or 4 times a day. Moist compresses are needed until the weeping stage and acute inflammation has passed. The compresses or dressing should be loose, moist and allow plenty of evaporation. With chronic dry lesions the essential oils are best applied topically using ointments or creams. Other treatments Metaphysical Cause Breath-taking antagonism. Mental eruptions. Holding on to feelings of anxiety, being attached, then erupting like a trapped rat. The Mosby Medical Encyclopedia, Revised Edition The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy, Salvatore Battaglia ****************************************************** Watch Out For These Essential Oil Traps:
****************************************************** Kathleen M. Flanagan, CEO and Founder of Awakening
Spirit, Inc. A free monthly column. Kathleen M.
Flanagan: Aromatherapist, Licensed Esthetician, Intuitive Healer,
Sound Therapist, Author,
Speaker; 10289 Julian Court, Westminster, CO 80031.
http://www.awakeningspirit.com. PLEASE FORWARD to your friends and family members. Just click on Forward in your e-mail program. ****************************************************** This mail is never sent unsolicited, and is only delivered to users who have provided their email address in agreement to receive these emails. If any user wishes to be removed from this subscription list, they may freely and at any time put REMOVE... in the subject line to unsubscribe. www.awakeningspirit.com
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