Herbs and Eczema

Aloe Vera
Heals wounds; stimulates cell regeneration; emollient; anti-fungal and antibacterial; good for skin and digestive disorders.

Almond Oil
For dry skin; may soothe itching.  Almond  oil can be used to cleanse skin.

Alfalfa
Blood & liver purifier.  Rich source of nutrients.

Angelica
Anti-inflammatory, aids digestion

Bilberry (also known as Blueberry)
Strengthens connective tissue; useful for inflammation, stress, anxiety.

Birch
Lessens inflammation and relieves pain.  Applied externally is good for sores.

Blackberry Tea
Strengthens the skin and may be used externally to help the eczema.

Black Walnut
Used for fungal infections; aids in digestion; cleanses body of some types of parasites; good also for warts.

Blessed Thistle
Increases stomach secretions; heals liver; alleviates inflammation; purifies blood.
Must be handled with care to avoid toxic skin effects.

Boneset (cousin of the Marigold and Dandelion)
Promotes perspiration, loosens phlegm; cleanses liver and bowels; used for skin diseases and arthritis; anti-inflammatory; calms the body. Long term use not advised.

Borage
Anti-inflammatory, soothing to inflamed and irritated tissues, helps tone and heal the nerves; gland balancer; EFAs needed for healthy skin.

Buchu
Used for inflammation and digestive problems.

Burdock
Blood, liver, kidney and lymph purifier; used for skin disorders and cleansing; soothes inflamed or irritated tissues.

Cabbage (Fresh Green Leaves)
Make a poultice, warmed and crushed then layered on the skin under a bandage.

Calendula--Marigold
Topical healer and skin soother; anti-inflammatory; anti-fungal.  Calendela or marigold tea or ointment helps relieve itching, blistering and flaking

Catnip
Relaxant; used for stress; aids digestion and sleep.  Good for inflammation, pain and stress

Cat's Claw
Cleanses intestinal tract, acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
Not to be used during pregnancy.

Cayenne
Heals tissue; aids digestion and pancreas, spleen; enhances action of other herbs.  Useful for arthritis and rheumatism.

Celery Seed
Sedative good for arthritis and nervousness
Not to be used in large amounts during pregnancy

Chamomile
Sedative, soothing to the nerves, aids digestion; anti-inflammatory
Should not be used for long periods of time, or it can produce ragweed allergy.  Should not be used by those allergic to ragweed.

Chaparral
Antibacterial; anti-inflammatory; blood purifier; used for arthritis, infections and skin disorders; free radical scavenger; good for skin disorders; poultices can be helpful
Recommended for external use only

Chickweed
Soothing to inflamed or irritated tissues; used for skin diseases, blood disorders, internal inflammations; chickweed oil or ointment can help relieve itching

Cinnamon
Enhances digestion and metabolism of fats; fights fungal infection
Do not use in large amounts during pregnancy

Comfrey
Soothing to inflamed or irritated tissues; speeds healing of wounds and skin conditions; beneficial for many skin problems; blood cleanser, heals and soothes bowels; used also for arthritis & asthma
External use only

Dandelion
Cleanses bloodstream; liver detoxifier; increases bile production; mild laxative; used for eczema and rheumatism; combats stress; poultices can be helpful

Echinacea
Powerful antibiotic, antiviral, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory; blood purifier, immune stimulant
Should not be used by those allergic to plants in the sunflower family

Elder
Builds blood, cleanses system, eases constipation, fights inflammation, increases perspiration; flowers are used to soothe skin irritations
Do not consume the stems, because they are toxic.

Fenugreek
Lubricates intestines; helps asthma by reducing mucous; good for inflammation

Feverfew
Anti-inflammatory; used for arthritis and indigestion; aids liver function
Not for use during pregnancy

Flax
Promotes healthy skin; reduces inflammation

Garlic
Antibiotic, antiseptic, tones & heals nerves, detoxifier; used for asthma, fungal and bacterial infections

Gentian
Aids digestion; increases gastric secretions, tones the liver; blood purifier

Ginger
Promotes perspiration, tones and heals nerves; used for indigestion, cleanses colon; reduces spasms; strong antioxidant and effective antimicrobial for sores and wounds
Don't take in large quantities to avoid stomach upset

Goldenseal
Antibacterial, antibiotic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, tones and heals nerves; cleanses the body; used for liver and gastrointestinal problems; don't take for more than a week at a time and not to be used during pregnancy.  To relieve itching, mix goldenseal root powder with vitamin E, then add a little honey until it's a paste.  You can eat it or apply this mixture to the skin
Not for prolonged use during pregnancy

Gotu Kola
With its effect on connective tissue great value is achieved with the synthesis of collagen, thickening of the skin (a great anti-aging property - as we age our skins become thinner), increasing the tensile strength of the flesh, wound healing, repair of damaged tissue as well as promoting hair and nail growth.

Green Tea
Detoxifies the body, aids digestion
Not to be used in large quantities during pregnancy or while nursing.  Don't exceed 2 cups daily

Hops
Tones and heals nerves; used for insomnia, stress, liver problems, and pain
May help sleep when placed inside the pillowcase

Horsetail
Promotes healthy skin.  Contains sulfur.  Used as a poultice accelerates healing of burns and wounds.

Hyssop
Promotes perspiration; used for spleen and bowel problems

Irish Moss
Soothes inflamed or irritated tissues; used for intestinal problems

Juniper Berry
Promotes perspiration;  aids the pancreas

Kava Kava
Induces physical and mental relaxation; helpful for anxiety, insomnia, uninary tract infections and stress-related disorders
Can cause drowsiness

Lavender
Relieves stress; beneficial for skin problems like psoriasis and burns

Licorice
Soothing to inflamed or irritated tissues, cleanses colon; used for inflammation and stress
Not to be used during pregnancy or to be taken more than a week in a row

Loganberry Tea
Strengthens the skin and may be used externally to help the eczema

Marshmallow
Soothes inflamed or irritated tissues and gastrointestinal system

Milk Thistle
Protects liver; good for adrenal disorders and psoriasis

Mugwort
Digestant; soothes nerves

Mustard
Improves digestion; aids in fat metabolism, anti-inflammatory

Myrrh
Good for skin disorders; antiseptic and disinfectant properties

Nettle
Anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory; used for arthritis; helps skin complaints associated with poor elimination

Oregano
Antifungal, anti-allergic, anti-spasmodic, rich in minerals

Oregon Grape Root
Blood purifier; cleanses and activates the liver; good for many skin conditions

Papaya Leaf
Contains papain; aids digestion

Parsley
Used for liver ailments and indigestion; combats stress

Passion Flower
Sedative, heals and tones the nerves, analgesic, used for insomnia

Pau D'Arco (Lapacho, Ipe Roxo, Taheebo)
Anti-fungal, blood purifier; used for candida and topically for fungal infections; analgesic, anti-allergic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory

Peppermint
Heals and tones the nerves, sedative, antispasmodic; used for indigestion

Raspberry Leaf Tea
Strengthens the skin and may be used externally to help the eczema

Red Clover
Blood purifier; used for skin problems and infection; anti-inflammatory; combats stress

Rose Hips
Used for stress; source of vitamin C

Rosemary
Anti-oxidant, antifungal, anti-bacterial

Sarsaparilla (Smilax)
Hormone balancer, blood & liver purifier; anti-microbial; used for rheumatism; eczema and psoriasis

Sassafras
Blood purifier, liver cleanser, tonic diaphoretic; used for skin disorders

Skullcap
Tones and heals nerves, sedative, anti-spasmodic; used for nervousness, insomnia

Slippery Elm
Soothing to inflamed or irritated tissues; used for asthma

Spearmint
Tones and heals nerves, similar to peppermint but milder; used for gas

St. John's Wort
Blood purifier, immune system stimulant; St. John's Wort oil rubbed into the skin can relieve inflammation and blistering

Tea Tree Oil
Helps heal fungal infection and virtually all skin conditions
External use only

Thyme
Promotes perspiration, antiseptic; used for bowel ailments & asthma; eliminates scalp itching and flaking caused by candidiasis

Tumeric
Protects liver against toxins; antibiotic; anti-inflammatory
Not to be used in large quantities

Valerian
Antispasmodic, tones and heals nerves, sedative; used for nervousness, insomnia, stress, anxiety and gas

Walnut Leaf Tea
Has been used for eczema and externally for skin eruptions

White Willow
Astringent; used for arthritis and inflammation

Wintergreen
Relieves pain and inflammation; good for arthritis

Wood Betony
Heals and tones nerves, sedative, astringent; used for tension, insomnia

Yarrow
Heals mucous membranes; reduces inflammation, increases perspiration

Yellow Dock
Astringent; cleans and builds blood; cleanses lymphatic system; used on skin disorders, liver and colon ailments; poultices can be helpful; combined with sarsaparilla, makes a tea for chronic skin disorders

Yucca
Blood purifier; beneficial for arthritis and inflammatory disorders