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Soothing and Healing Itchy Skin - Healing the Integumentary System

Sep222024

DNA and Medicines

Itchy skin is irritating, making us feel scratchy emotionally as well as physically, and in the process the skin feels hot whilst dealing with the inflammation.

 

In the last 58 years I have experienced measles, chicken pox, eczema, dermatitis, hives, allergic rash reaction to penicillin, and now I can tick off shingles, so I’m well versed in the subject. On the upside, most of that was between 6 weeks to 20+ years old, predominantly before becoming an aromatherapist.

 

When my son Kyle was born, he developed eczema as a baby which is how Amor started - with Amor Babycare Anti-Rash Balm (also available as a cream for those with a bee allergy) with Chamomile German due to it being effective against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albican (and it was first used with nappy rash), as well as weepy skin, Chamomile Roman with its ability to accelerate healing time and Alpine Lavender with its ability to relieve pain, heal and soothe.

 

As he became older, I could increase the range of essential oils I could use on him, so next up was Amor Childcare Healing Anti-Rash Cream where I added Patchouli to regenerate the skin, and Myrrh to keep infection at bay from scratching.

 

The other products I have created for healing skin irritations are my Amor Traditional Healing Balm, and Amor Insect Bite Cream.  

 

Being an aromatherapist, my preference is to practice AromaDermatology and create prescriptions for my clients, working with what is actually happening at the time with your skin.

An example of this is working with Psoriasis (which one of my very first clients had 2 months into my official aromatherapy training back in 98) and where I created 4 different blends for her working with the 5 stages of psoriasis.  The wonderful feedback from her was that it was the first time she'd had relief for more than a couple of hours and over the next 6 weeks we watched her skin slowly heal.  An update with her several months later was that it hadn't broken out again, and this was her first summer with healed skin for 10 years!



With Aromatherapy, the oils we work with have the following therapeutic properties:

 

Table 1: Therapeutic Properties and Essential Oils
Property What it does Essential Oil
Alterative cleanses and the blood and corrects impure blood conditions = detoxification Carrot seed, Everlasting, Juniper berry
Antiseptic destroys or controls pathogenic bacteria Bay laurel, Bergamot, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Lemon, Tea tree
Anti-inflammatory alleviates inflammation Benzoin, Chamomile German, Chamomile Roman, Fragonia, Kunzea, Labdanum, Lavender, Sandalwood, Yarrow
Antipruitic relieves itching Cajeput, Chamomile German, Chamomile Roman, Lavender, Manuka, Peppermint, Sandalwood
Astringent contracts, tightens and binds tissues Cypress, Labdanum, Lemon
Cicatrisant promotes the formation of scar tissue German chamomile, Everlasting, Frankincense, Geranium, Lavender, Myrrh, Neroli, Patchouli, Rose
Cytophylactic encourages growth of skin cells Carrot seed, Frankincense, Lavender, Patchouli, 
Demulcent soothes, softens and allays irritation of membranes Sandalwood
Fungicidal destroys fungal infections Lavender, Kanuka, Manuka, Myrrh, Patchouli, Tea tree
Vulnerary prevents tissue degeneration and promotes healing of wounds Bay laurel, Benzoin, Bergamot, Cajeput, Chamomile German, Chamomile Roman, Everlasting, Frankincense, Geranium, Labdanum, Lavender, Myrrh, Niaouli, Rosemary, Sage, Tea tree, Thyme, Yarrow

 

 

 

Our bodies are dependent on fats to be healthy and to protect our immune systems from being overactive.  After many years of the promotion of low fat diets, research shows that the increase of inflammation in our bodies, along with mental health disorders and alzheimers can be contributed to this, and it's time to change our thinking and allow ourselves to have fat in our diets, without going from one extreme to the other.  Fats are important during pregnancy to feed the developing fetus and I do wonder if that is also why we have an increase of children / teens with ADHD, etc.

 

Table 2: Therapeutic Properties of Fats and Dietary Sources
Fatty Acid (FA) Category What it does Source
Butyric Saturated Energy and Immune system homestasis  Dairy, Nuts and seeds, Tallow - although this FA is more effective when eaten rather than applied to the body.
Myristic Saturated Raises LDL Cholesterol Coconut, Nutmeg, Palm kernel 
Palmitic Saturated Raises LDL and Total Cholesterol Cocoa butter, Cottonseed, Lard, Olive, Rapeseed, Tallow, Wheatgerm
Stearic Saturated Softening agent Cocoa butter, Jojoba, Linseed, Shea butter
Linolenic Unsaturated
Omega-3		 Protects the Cardiovascular system Linseed, Rosehip, Anchovy, Mackerel, Salmon, Tuna
Docosahexanoic (DHA)  Unsaturated
Omega-3		 Effective in the prevention and treatment of asthma and allergic diseases, protecting the brain and retinas. Anchovy, Caviar, Herring, Mackerel, Salmon, Tuna
Eicosapentaenoic (EPA)  Unsaturated
Omega-3		 Controls how DHA acts in the body. Anchovy, Caviar, Herring, Mackerel, Salmon, Tuna
Linoleic Unsaturated
Omega-6		 Regulates digestive system, glucose metabolism,  activates protein absorption, boosts the immune system, lowers blood pressure, regulates cholesterol  Apricot kernel, Evening Primrose, Linseed, Pumpkin seed, Rosehip, Safflower seed, Sesame seed, Soyabean, Sunflower seed, Sweet Almond, Walnut, Wheatgerm
Oleic Unsaturated Decreased LDL cholesterol, regulates body weight, lowers blood pressure (Olive oil) Apricot kernel, Avocado, Canola, Linseed, Neem, Olive, Sesame seed, Soyabean, Sunflower seed, Sweet Almond, Wheatgerm
Arachidonic Unsaturated
Omega-6		 structure of cell membranes, brain function Beef, Chicken, Eggs, Milk, Pork, Salmon, Sardines, Seaweed
Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) Unsaturated
Omega-6		 reduces inflammation, improves skin conditions. Blackcurrant, Borage seed, Evening Primrose 
Dihomogamma-Linolenic Acid (DGLA) Unsaturated
Omega-6		 prevents tissue degeneration and promotes healing of wounds Blackcurrant, Borage seed, Evening Primrose

 

Heel Bioregulatory Formulas:

I mentioned at the beginning of my Libra newsletter about using Heel formulas for my shingles.  Here's a list of the Heel Formulas that work with Allergies and skin conditions

 

Table 3: Heel Remedies
Remedy Disorder
Abropernol N Eczema, Erythma exusdativum multiforme, Hyperkeratosis, Intertrigo.
Apis-Homaccord Pustular and bullous eczema
Cutis compositum Stimulation of the defensive system in cases of dermatitis, dermatosis, allergy, scleroderma, acne vulgaris, impetigo
Graphites-Homaccord Eczema, particularly dry, chronic
Mezereum-Homaccord Vesicular eczema, herpes zoster, pruritis
Ranunculus-Homaccord Intercostal neuralgia, pleuritic pains, herpes zoster
Schwef-heel Dermatosis, in particular irritant eczema, pyoderma (skin diseases with pus)
Sulfur-Heel Eczema and dermatosis, Pruritis

 

Vitamins and Minerals:

The key ones for your skin are Vit D and Zinc, which also boost your immune system.  Vit A may be required, however that depends on the your diet, as too much can also cause skin rashes.

 

So where to from here...?

If this sounds like something you would like to explore to work on your skin irritations and inflammation, then please book a consultation or give me a call.

 

  Remember, if you experience any of these symptoms, seek medical advice promptly.

Bibliography

Essential fatty acids as functional components of foods- a review - PMC (nih.gov)

https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/other-nutrients/essential-fatty-acids

 

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