The short and simple answer is yes. Calendula balm can help soothe the itching and peeling skin almost instantly and is a great topical solution to have on hand to soothe your son’s eczema symptoms. The long-term solution is to consult with a medical professional who can look into the potential underlying causes of the eczema.
Eczema often clears up with dietary changes and, if necessary, nutritional supplements. Gut health is the first thing most doctors address, often beginning with balancing the gut flora with a good quality probiotic. If you want to try this, make sure you choose a product that’s specifically formulated for infants and children, such as BioCare, which contains no artificial sweeteners or colors.
Reducing or completely eliminating dairy products can help eczema sufferers. Grains, especially those containing gluten, can also cause inflammation. Often these foods and food groups can be slowly reintroduced into the diet once the eczema has fully healed, but in some cases this can be a lifelong change.
Sugar is another food component that can worsen skin conditions and allergic reactions. If you suspect that certain foods or food groups are causing your eczema to flare up, testing for sensitivity, intolerance and allergies can be helpful.
You may also need to review household and personal care products that may be causing your eczema to flare up — switching to pure, natural, fragrance-free hair care products, soaps, dish detergents, laundry products, and cleaning products is a good start.
I have 4 kids under 10 and have been working non-stop since the school holidays started. I wake up exhausted. Any advice?
You’re doing an incredible job surviving the school holidays with four small children! When you feel overwhelmed and under a lot of stress, the herbal remedies I often recommend are Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) and ashwagandha root (Withania somnifera).
Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb that calms the mind and body by lowering cortisol levels and promoting the release of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. It can be taken in tea, tincture, or capsule form.
Siberian ginseng gently supports the adrenal glands and balances the body’s response to stress. Another adaptogenic herb, Siberian ginseng helps increase mental and physical energy and stamina, aids in brain confusion and concentration issues, and is also an excellent immune tonic.
Stress (emotional, mental, or physical) depletes your body’s stores of B vitamins, so your body’s demand for them increases. The first place to start in terms of supplementation is with B complex vitamins.
B vitamins help support nerve health, and people who are stressed for long periods of time often have a deficiency in one or more of the B vitamins. There are many excellent B-complex vitamin supplements available on the market, including Vitamin B Tonic made by Floradix.
On the mineral side, magnesium is also a nutrient that supports the nerves and is effective in treating insomnia, muscle pain and cramps, anxiety, and restless leg syndrome. Magnesium is best absorbed when applied topically as a spray, gel, or cream, but it can also be taken orally as a capsule or powder.
Magnesium can help improve sleep quality and neurological health, so it’s worth considering if you find yourself feeling tired before starting your day. Deep, restorative sleep is crucial for vital repair and rejuvenation processes in the body, and a lack of quality sleep naturally leads to fatigue, elevated stress levels and poor immune function.
Try taking time to breathe mindfully. You can do this with your kids – there are lots of free apps and guided breathing exercises available – or you can simply stop and do a few rounds of the “4-7-8” breathing exercise. This simply involves breathing in deeply through your nose to a count of 4, holding your breath to a count of 7, and breathing out to a count of 8.
Be kind to yourself, there is no doubt that you are doing a great job.
- Have a question for Megan Shepherd? Email us at [email protected]
- Note: The information in this column is not intended to replace medical advice. Always consult with your doctor.
