Chronic Skin Rash
Answered by: Susan Eagles
Question from: Rita
Posted on: June 1, 2001

I have a skin rash on the backs of my legs. I have had this all of my life. It’s almost like acne but only on the backs of my thighs. What could cause this and is there an herb that can help rid me of this.

This may be a type of eczema. Assuming that you have considered external irritants like detergents used for washing clothes and irritant artificial clothes fabrics, the most important consideration is the diet. Eczema is the result of internal toxins releasing through the skin. The most common foods to cause internal toxins, from the time one is given foods other than breast milk, and continuing on through adulthood, are dairy products (milk, cheese, butter), food containing refined sugar, and refined flour products. These foods, if not properly digested and eliminated, can cause a toxic build up in the blood vessel and intestines. A healing protocol includes attention to diet, good elimination through the bowel, herbs to promote blood and lymphatic circulation, and a natural, soothing skin cream.

In order to cleanse your intestine and blood stream of these toxins, you should eliminate the above mentioned foods from your diet for a period of 8-12 weeks. Replace dairy with rice or soy products (soy or rice milk and cheese are available at health food stores), replace refined grains with whole grains, and replace sugar with honey, maple syrup or stevia. Maintain a diet that is high in fresh fruit and vegetables: at least 8 servings a day.

The following herbs, taken internally, assist cleansing of the blood and intestines:

* Cayenne stimulates the blood flow and helps to restore tissue in the blood vessels and the intestines;

* Cleavers (Galium aparine) helps to cleanse the blood through the lymphatic vessels;

* Burdock root (Arctium lappa) is good blood cleanser.

You can ask an experienced health food store attendant for a good herbal tincture containing these herbs. The tincture should be taken three times a day with meals.

Alternately, you can use a tea containing: 2 parts cleavers, 1 part red clover flower, 1 part stinging nettle leaves, 1 part lemon balm leaf, 1 part calendula flower, 1/2 part crushed fennel seed, 1/8 part powdered licorice root. Steep one teaspoon of the mixed herbs per cup of boiling water for 15 minutes. Drink 3-6 cups a day. If nervous tension is involved, add 1 part linden flower (Tilia cordata) to your tea mixture. If you have heart problems or high blood pressure, replace the licorice with 1 part rose petals or 1/2 part rosehips.

If your skin is dry, keep it moisturized by applying a good, soothing, all natural cream containing oats or chickweed. Make sure there is no skin drying alcohol or any artificial constituents or irritating chemicals in the cream. Apply 2-4 times daily.

Drink 4-8 cups of pure water daily to help move the toxins out of your body.

If you tend towards constipation, it is essential that you work towards improving this first: add apples and prunes to your daily diet; increase fresh fruit and vegetables generally; and eliminate dairy products.

When your skin has cleared, you can decrease the dosage of your herbs and application of the cream. Maintaining a good diet, good digestion and proper elimination should keep the skin problems at bay.

For more information, please see our website at http://www.richters.com. Choose "Q&A" from the main menu, then choose "Search Richters Q&A", and enter the word "eczema" for one search, "skin" for another search and "constipation" for a third search.

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