Treat Your Eczema with Traditional Kerala Ayurveda

Ayurveda offers a holistic approach to managing eczema, focusing on internal cleansing, dietary adjustments, and topical remedies, alongside conventional medical treatment. Here’s a breakdown of the key approaches:

1. Understanding Dosha Imbalance:

Eczema manifests, according to Ayurveda, from imbalances in the three doshas:

• Excess Kapha: This dosha, responsible for structure and fluids, contributes to dryness, thickening of the skin, and itching.
• Vata Imbalance: Dryness, itching, and scaling can also be due to excess Vata, associated with movement and circulation.
• Pitta Involvement: Pitta, linked to heat and inflammation, can contribute to redness, burning, and oozing in some cases.

2. Internal Cleansing and Detoxification:

• Panchakarma: These specialized detoxification therapies, like Virechana (purgation) and Basti (enema), aim to eliminate ama (toxins) believed to exacerbate eczema symptoms.
• Blood Purifying Herbs: Herbs like neem, turmeric, guduchi, and manjishtha cleanse the blood, reduce inflammation, and support overall skin health.

• Dietary Adjustments:

  • Avoid Foods that aggravate Kapha and Vata, such as cold, heavy, oily, fermented, and dairy products.
  • Consume: Cooling and Kapha-pacifying foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and ghee.
  • Follow a Sattvic diet: This emphasizes fresh, wholesome, and easily digestible foods, avoiding processed and inflammatory ingredients.

  4. External Therapies:

  • Herbal Pastes: Topical application of pastes containing turmeric, neem, sandalwood, and liquorice can reduce inflammation, soothe itching, and promote healing.
  • Oil Massage: Abhyanga with calming oils like coconut or sesame helps balance Vata and Kapha, reducing dryness and inflammation.
  • Cooling Baths: Soaking in cool water with Epsom salts or chamomile can soothe the skin and relieve discomfort.