The itch of atopic eczema can drive you crazy, so I’ve been told.  Eczema is probably one of the most common skin diseases we see in our San Mateo clinic.  Acupuncture and herbs are tremendously effective for helping this problem but you should also consider the following simple guidelines for how you can help yourself ease your eczema with lifestyle modifications.Foods:

Avoid citrus, seafood(oysters, shrimp, herring), alcohol, sugar, spicy, and fried food.  Most meat and diary also increase body tissue acidity, so go easy.

Make sure you’re eating carrots, pumpkin, leafy greens (spinach, kale, chard, watercress), and seaweed regularly.  Also helpful: mung beans, aduki beans, and water chestnut.  Eat also watermelon and cucumber especially during acute phases.

Supplement with Chlorella sea algea (chlorophyl will help clean your blood, and its a skin cleanser), and flax seed oil (help reduce inflammation).  Its not as bad as it sounds, health food stores have both of them.  Chlorella in pills (at least 2gm per day).  Spirulina is another sea-algea that will be good for you too.

You can also get some ready made Chinese herb so-called patent medicines at an herb shop in Chinatown.   Try to find ‘Qing Dai Gao’  – to be applied topically.  Speaking of which, you can slice a potato and rub it on and it can help with the itch.  Also papaya, daikon radish.  Combine them all!

Related articles:

• My expanded article on Eczema Self Help.
• A recent Germans study with acupuncture for easing the itch of eczema.

What has your experience with eczema been? We’d love to hear your comments.