12 Natural Remedies For Eczema, Rashes and a Range of Persistent Skin Conditions

Eczema is a catch-all term for a variety of ailments that cause the inflammation and irritation of the skin. It now affects more than 20% of infants and about 5% of adults and children although those numbers appear to be increasing due to dietary triggers and environmental pollutants. The standard treatment for the medical community for eczema is corticosteroid creams which only suppress symptoms without addressing underlying causes. Chemical creams such as topical immunomodulators are also associated with cancer risks. Here are some effective natural remedies which can tackle even severe cases of skin inflammation.

Most doctors will tell you they don’t know the exact cause of eczema and they’re right because the exact causes are many (most of which they are not aware of). These include fragrances in consumer products, soaps, laundry detergent, dust, cosmetics, environmental pollutants and of course diet and processed foods.

The biggest reason to stay away from corticosteroids and immunosupressants is that they don’t resolve the problem. Patients also become addicted to them. The problem is, the moment patients stop using them, the eczema will flare right back up. Even worse is that many people will need to continually use stronger and stronger steroidal treatments on their eczema as time passes and their body develops a dependency for it.The only way to effectively treat any skin condition is to allow your body to heal itself through the assistance of dietary strategies and natural health therapies which work with your immune system to stimulate healing.

12 Natural Remedies

1) BURDOCK ROOT

Burdock root is good for reducing inflammation and also destroys inulin which has been linked to eczema outbreaks. This herb root contains small quantities of many vital vitamins, including folic acid, riboflavin, pyridoxine, niacin, vitamin-E, and vitamin-C that is essential for optimum health. Both vitamin C and E are powerful natural antioxidants help the human body stave off infections. Furthermore, it also contains some valuable minerals such as iron, manganese, magnesium; and small amounts of zinc, calcium, selenium, and phosphorus. You can make a tea from this which is easy to make and drink.

2) BENTONITE CLAY INFUSED WATER

Bentonite is made up of tiny little platelets, each with a negative and positive charge. As the clay travels, it expands like a sponge as it absorbs water as it works its way through our bodies. It soaks up as many positively charged toxins in its path as it can hold. It helps treat skin conditions by removing toxins, increasing circulation, decreasing inflammation and absorbing excess oil.

Significant improvements can be seen after using it twice a week on problem areas. Please note that some skin conditions may seem to get worse because after treatment with bentonite clay as the toxins rise to the surface. This is normal and will subside in a week or two depending on the severity of your condition. It works really well if you mix the clay with pure apple cider vinegar or an herb infused vinegar and leave on overnight.

3) FERMENTED COD LIVER OIL

Modern preparation of cod liver oil involves expressing the oil from the fatty tissues of cod fish while it is cooked. However, the cooking process and the subsequent refining will remove some of the bioactive components of cod liver oil. The traditional manufacture of cod liver oil, on the other hand, produces a more nutritious and medicinal oil. This process relies on fermentation rather than cooking to extract the oil from the tissues of cod fish.

Both EPA and DHA have anti-inflammatory properties. By contributing to the reduction of inflammation in tissues, omega-3 fatty acids can relieve certain symptoms of eczema such as blistering and red, inflamed skin. Besides their anti-inflammatory properties, omega-3 fatty acids are also incorporated into the skin cells. When the blood levels of omega-3 acids falls, the skin becomes dry, flaky and easily irritated. Studies have shown the omega-3 fatty acid deficiency increases the keratinization of skin cells.

Therefore, without these essential fatty acids, skin cells are increasingly destroyed and dead skin cells accumulate.

4) NEEM OIL

Neem oil, which comes from the neem tree, is a natural anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-histamine, anti-viral and anti-microbial. So it kills any bacteria and disease promoting microorganisms on the skin while reducing redness and swelling which causes itching. It’s also high in vitamin E and fatty acids, so it will hydrate your skin and can help restore its natural elasticity.

Neem contains extraordinarily high levels of antioxidants that help to protect the skin from environmental damage. It also contains carotenoids (similar to carotene) which provide high antioxidant compounds that help defend the skin against free radicals. Once absorbed, these powerful properties work to rejuvenate the skin’s cells and restore elasticity.

5) OLIVE LEAF

This plant is an excellent antiseptic which means it can help ward off infection and bacteria. And for those of you with eczema who tend to scratch that itch, if the skin breaks you become susceptible to infection. So, olive leaf can keep things clean and contained. As an antioxidant, it can break this chain of damage before it sets in and results in eczema.

Traditional remedies made from olive leaf are known for their antibiotic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties as well as their ability to stimulate the immune system.

The polyphenols of olive leaf extract are potent antioxidants. In fact, a liquid preparation made from fresh olive leaves was shown to have double the antioxidant capacity of green tea and 4 times the antioxidant capacity of vitamin C.

Olive leaf can help prevent damage to the gut caused by harmful free radicals. This ensures that foreign substances including pathogens and toxins that trigger inflammatory reactions never get into the bloodstream.

6) TRANSDERMAL MAGNESIUM

Transdermal magnesium is a powerful tool in the battle against magnesium deficiency and very effective against inflammatory conditions of the skin. Benefits reported by those who use transdermal applications of magnesium relate specifically to its therapeutic application on the skin and its direct absorption into the cells.

Though it is commonly prescribed as a treatment by holistic health practitioners, transdermal magnesium is applied easily and quickly in one’s own home, either by simply spraying directly on the skin, applying as a lotion or a gel, or even more effortlessly through the simple ritual of taking a bath.

7) GAMMA-LINOLENIC ACID (GLA)

This unusual fatty acid is found in evening primrose oil, black currant and hemp oils, but is very hard to come by in the diet. Beware of genetically modified safflower oils now promoting themselves as healthy due to their high GLA content. The human body produces GLA from linoleic acid (LA) which is found in many oils, butter and egg yolks. GLA at a dose of 500 mg twice per day for 8 weeks appears to have an excellent effect on skin, hair, and nails.

8) COCONUT OIL

Consume Virgin Coconut Oil, which contains Medium Chain Fatty Acids or medium-chain triglycerides (MCT). Unlike trans fats, Virgin Coconut Oil provides good fats and nourishment to dry eczema skin. It also contains lauric acid, which makes up 50% of the fatty acids. Lauric acid has anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties.

Virgin coconut oil is very easy to apply with very little touching/rubbing. You should make sure to purchase coconut oil from sources which are organic and virgin, not refined, bleached or deodorized. Many people have found great success using coconut oil as a treatment to cure or heal their eczema or even their baby’s eczema without any medication.

9) FERMENTED FOODS AND PROBIOTICS

Fermented and probiotic foods such as kefir, miso soup, tempeh, kimchi, sauerkraut, pickles, kombucha, microalgae and many more all contain beneficial bacteria which defend against the illness and infection caused by harmful bacteria that thrive where beneficial colonies are lacking.

All these foods help prevent and treat eczema by replenishing lost or damaged beneficial bacteria, protecting the body from pathogenic bacterial infections, promoting the balance of alkalinity and acidity in the intestine and providing overall homeostasis and support to the immune system

10) KELP

Sea kelp, or seaweed, is a large brown algae found in ocean kelp forests. Kelp is used in many cultures both as medicine and food. For medicinal purposes, it can be found in both pill and capsule forms, as a concentrated liquid, and included in other products.

Sea kelp has a therapeutic effect on the skin and body, greatly enhancing the condition of skin. You can ingest it or apply a topical concentration of sea kelp directly to affected areas. Kelp can assist with the healing of skin cells, helping the eczema-affected skin cells rebuild and become healthier.

11) COLLOIDAL OATMEAL

Believe or not but in 2003, the Food and Drug Administration ruled that products claiming to relieve the irritation and itching of eczema had to contain colloidal oatmeal. For once the agency is acting in the best interests of the public.

When combined with a liquid, this special form of oatmeal acts like a colloid (hence its name). This means that when molecules (the tiny particles of the grain, in this case) spread through another medium (i.e., the bath water), they permanently change the consistency of that medium. The beauty of a colloidal oatmeal bath, therefore, is that the oatmeal particles don’t all sink to the bottom of the tub.

To produce colloidal oatmeal, the oats are very finely ground–pulverized, in fact. This enables the grain to readily absorb liquid. When the colloidal oatmeal is added to bath water, it almost instantly gives a slightly milky, almost slimy consistency to the water–which then coats the skin, moisturizing, softening and protecting it.

Colloidal oatmeal exhibits anti-inflammatory, anti-itch, antioxidant, and protective properties that make it a versatile cleanser, moisturizer, and buffer that soothes and protects damaged skin. These properties are a result of the vast chemical composition of oats: a high concentration in starches and beta-glucan creates a water-holding barrier on the skin; the variety of phenols makes it a strong ultraviolet absorber; the saponins act as cleansing agents; and the cellulose and fiber content of oat create emollient, or skin-softening, properties.

12) TOPICAL CREAMS AND SALVES

They should contain one or more of the following herbs to help relieve itching and burning, and promote healing. The best evidence is for chamomile (Matricaria recutita) creams. Chickweed (Stellaria media), marigold (Calendula officinalis), and licorice (Glycyrrhia glabra) may also help. Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) cream can relieve itching. Liquid witch hazel can help with “weeping” or oozing eczema.

FOODS TO AVOID

Night shades- tomatoes, tobacco, eggplant, paprika, all peppers, goji berries and white potatoes. hard to eat out with this list  night shades all contain toxins which overload our immune system.

All refined sugars (highly inflammatory):
No white or cane sugar, agave, or high fructose corn syrup. Stay away from all artificial sweeteners (sucralose, aspartame, saccharine, sorbitol and many more). Chewing gums and diet products contain all these poisons). If it says diet don’t buy it.

No shellfish, fried foods, yeast, alcohol, smoking, smoked foods, peanuts, and reduce stress.

Ref: www.healthy-holistic-living.com/12-natural-remedies-for-eczema-rashes-and-a-range-of-persistent-skin-conditions.html

8 Secret Superfoods for Weight Loss

Longan fruit. (Photo: Shutterstock)
Imagine you had your own weight-loss posse—a dedicated entourage of slim-down authorities whose entire lives were devoted to helping you look great.
Well, in a way, you do. And your entourage is a lot bigger than just Turtle, E and Drama. In fact, you have somewhere around 80 trillion boosters hanging around, 24/7, ready to help with your every weight-loss goal. They’re your gut microbes, and they live in your digestive tract, managing your hormones, battling bad bugs, and helping you draw nutrients from your food. And now, a new study has found that a humble mushroom that’s been used for centuries in Chinese medicine may give your weight-loss entourage a hand in helping to keep you slim.
The study, published in Nature Communications, suggests that the Ganoderma lucidum, also known as reishi or lingzhi, slowed weight gain in animal studies by altering the bacteria in the beast’s gut. The researchers suggested the mushroom could eventually be used in the treatment of obesity.
But if mushrooms aren’t your thing, no worries. We’ve discovered 7 more belly-flattening superfoods you’ve never heard about but should be eating. Chow down—your entourage will thank you!

(Photo: Shutterstock)
Secret Superfood #1
Black Sapote
Known as the “chocolate pudding fruit,” black sapote tastes like … chocolate pudding. No wonder it’s an Eat This, Not That! favorite! Deceptively rich and creamy, a 100-gram serving has 130 calories and 191 mg of vitamin C, or twice that of an orange. (That’s a mic drop, chocolate pudding.) A study published in Food Research International found black sapote to be a good source of carotenoids and catechins, which spur the release of fat from fat cells and helps the liver convert fat into energy.
How to Enjoy It: Originating in South America, black sapotes can be found in Florida and Hawaii, and certain growers online will ship them within the U.S. Devotees swear by them for low-cal pies and smoothies. Speaking of smoothies, melt fat with each sip by making the The Best Weight-Loss Smoothie Ever, powered by new research in Zero Belly Diet.

(Photo: Shutterstock)
Secret Superfood #2
Teff
Dubbed the next big thing in grains, teff has some calling it “the new quinoa,” and Lisa Moskovitz, RD, says that label is well deserved. “It’s a more complete amino acid-packed protein than quinoa itself,” she says. “That makes it great for anyone who wants to keep calories low and protein high.” Moskovitz says the health benefits don’t stop there. Teff is “also a good source of fiber, in addition to containing 30 percent of your daily value of blood-pumping iron.” All that fiber and protein add up to one key element in your slim-down efforts: appetite control. And it gets better: one study listed its benefits, among others, as beneficial to those with an iron deficiency, as well as a fantastic wheat supplement for people with diabetes. This great grain won’t be a secret much longer.
How to Enjoy It: Cook teff as a simple side dish with some Parmesan, onions, fresh garlic and tomatoes, or use it as a base for breakfast porridge. Add honey, fruit, and unsweetened coconut flakes for some additional flavor and crunch!

(Photo: Shutterstock)
Secret Superfood #3
Kamut
With ancient grains trending, this one will battle quinoa and teff for space at your table. Native to the Middle East, kamut, also known as Khorsan wheat, is rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, high in protein and low in calories. A half-cup serving has 30% more protein than regular wheat (six grams), with only 140 calories. Eating kamut reduces cholesterol, blood sugar and cytokines, which cause inflammation throughout the body, a study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found.  “This whole grain has plenty to offer,” says Moskovitz. “It packs in a good source of zinc, iron and B-vitamins, all of which will help keep your energy levels high so you can burn more calories throughout the day, aiding your weight-loss efforts.”
How to Enjoy It: Toss it into salads or eat it as a side dish on its own. A quick tweak like that can have you melting fat fast—along with these Zero Belly Diet-secrets on 14 Ways to Lose Your Belly in 14 Days.

(Photo: Shutterstock)
Secret Superfood #4
Longans
These opaque lychee-like fruits taste like grape and pear, and their nutritional profile is equally refreshing: A 100-gram serving has 140% of the RDA of vitamin C, only 60 calories and no fat. And they have a growing reputation as a superfood: A study published in The Journal of Food and Chemical Toxicology found that longan fruit extract was as effective at neutralizing free radicals—destructive molecules that can lead to cell aging and DNA damage—as Japanese green tea extract!
How to Enjoy It: Fresh longans are available from online importers and at Amazon.com.

(Photo: Shutterstock)
Secret Superfood #5
Pu-erh Tea
This fermented Chinese tea can literally shrink the size of your fat cells! To discover the brew’s fat-crusading powers, Chinese researchers divided rats into five groups and fed them varying diets over a two month period. In addition to a control group, there was a group given a high-fat diet with no tea supplementation and three additional groups that were fed a high-fat diet with varying doses of pu-erh tea extract. The researchers found that the tea significantly lowered triglyceride concentrations (potentially dangerous fat found in the blood) and belly fat in the high-fat diet groups. It’s a natural fat-blaster, along with barberry, rooibos and white tea.
How to Enjoy It: We love Pu-erh so much, we made it part of our brand new weight-loss plan, The 7-Day Flat-Belly Tea Diet and Cleanse! Test panelists lost up to 10 pounds in just one week!

(Photo: Shutterstock)
Secret Superfood #6
Dulse
You’ve eaten it in sushi and reluctantly tried snacking on the dried stuff. But seaweed, a superfood, comes in many forms, none more convenient than dulse. It’s edible seaweed high in many vitamins and minerals, known specifically for its high iodine content, which helps keep your thyroid functioning properly. “Without sufficient levels of iodine, your thyroid function becomes impaired and it’s harder for your body to burn fat,” says nutritionist Dana James of Food Coach NYC, who suggests sneaking sea vegetables into your diet at least three times a week. You can find it at the supermarket in flake form sold in small shakers, like spices.
How to Enjoy It: Use it as you would a spice and in place of salt! Shake onto salads, vegetable dishes, pastas, baked potatoes, corn on the cob and soups.

(Photo: Shutterstock)
Secret Superfood #7
Cupuaçu
Pronounced “koo-pwah-soo,” this has been called the “next great superfruit,” a “pharmacy in a fruit” and “Brazil’s new chocolate,” and the cupuaçu indeed shows promise as a weight-loss weapon. The fruit, which looks like a coconut and tastes like chocolate, pineapple and pear, is rich in vitamin C, B vitamins and amino acids. According to a study published in The Journal of Natural Products, cupuaçu contains several compounds that can boost your health and aid your weight loss efforts: nine antioxidants, including catechins, which trigger the release of fat from fat cells; quercetin, which activates a protein in the body that can burn fat and prevent it from forming; and polyphenols.
How to Enjoy It: The superfruit has been creeping northward; it’s been spotted in Florida, although powdered and frozen-puree versions have popped up for sale online. Get your hands on one and juice it—the unique flavor makes for a refreshingly sweet and healthy breakfast cocktail. Pair it with your favorite breakfast, as long as it’s not one of these Worst Breakfast Foods for Weight Loss.

(Photo: Shutterstock)
Secret Superfood #8
Chia Seeds
Chia seeds—now a mainstream, not-so-secret secret superfood—produce the top-notch energy you need to fuel busy work days through a powerful trifecta of nutrients. “Chia seeds give you stable energy because of their great ratio of protein, fats and fiber combined with the fact that they’re low-carb,” says Carolyn Brown, MS, RD at Foodtrainers. “They won’t cause spikes and drops in blood sugar or insulin levels, preventing cravings and overeating later.” That means you’ll be that much more likely to walk past the vending machine on your way back from your 2 pm meeting without stopping to drool—or worse, buy.
Get the Benefits: Bring a chia-based snack to work that you can reach for (guilt free!) if the midafternoon yawns hit hard. Try making chia pudding with ½ cup chia seeds, 2 cups unsweetened almond milk and vanilla extract to taste. Play around with your spice rack to find your favorite combo–just be sure to avoid too much added sugar! In a rush? Stock up on Chia Pods for a quick grab-and-go snack.
STRIP AWAY BELLY FAT and lose up to 16 pounds in just 14 days—while eating the foods you love—with these secrets from Zero Belly Diet!

AND FOR 8 MORE SUPERFOODS you need to know now—CLICK HERE!

Ref:  https://sg.news.yahoo.com/8-secret-superfoods-for-weight-loss-122338293973.html