Eczema - some success

My brother and sister had bad eczema when they were growing up so I was used to it and not alarmed when my baby got a little. It was barely anything and didn't itch him so I just left it alone. Then it flared up and I made an appt with our ped who is also an ND and we went last week. That wasn't helpful at all as all she did was ask me a little bit about his diet and tell me to put on a cream like Eucerin.

What I knew from my brother and sister is that eczema:
* is related to food allergies
* can be hard to treat
* oil of primrose and vitamin E can help sometimes
* hydrocortisone is often prescribed (but didn't seem to be an answer in itself)

I went home and read up all my alternative medicine books and looked at some links as well, guided in part by a report from someone on my neighborhood parenting list (elsewhere) about probiotics helping her little one with eczema.

What I learned from reading was that eczema:
* has been linked with a reaction to an overgrowth of certain bacteria in the gut
* is often found in individuals who later go on to have allergies such as hay fever (nothing more serious than that)
* can be related to zinc deficiency sometimes
* is often related to common allergies -- peanuts, eggs, milk, orange juice, etc.
* can have some improvement from increasing omega-3 intake
* that promoting good bacteria (through injesting certain strains and helper strains) can help readjust the gut flora
* can improve when you eliminate simple carbs (refined wheat products, sugar, juices)
* can benefit from diet changes similar to what one does to try to heal from yeast infections (stay away from sugar, fermented foods, etc.)

I stumbled a little with the diet, so my sitter and I started keeping a log and I helped give her more direction on what to feed him so he wasn't just eating carbs with her. We also cut back on juice and dairy some. I also bought some fish oil, probiotic meant for children 0-5 years, and sunflower seeds.

I also tried putting a lotion on his rash that he was fine with previously on winter dry skin but on the eczema it made the rash get worse. Eczema is akin to broken skin so don't make that mistake. You can use Eucerin, Aquaphor, Vasoline, or even lanolin to help keep it covered.

After a week of treatment it is finally starting to heal up. I've been thinking about what caused it to flare and I think it was related to his love of gorgonzola cheese. He had some earlier in the month and it was a particularly bloomy one and I think it threw things off in his system a little.

I just wanted to share in case this helps anyone else.

Preparing for surgery with homeopathy/naturopathy

I was directed by my naturopath to take phosphorus c, a homeopathic remedy, prior to having the surgery to help my body with nausea from the anaesthesia.

Homeopathic arnica was advised to help deal with the swelling and bruising. I am supposed to start taking this several days beforehand and several friends swear by it.

She also recommended Rescue Remedy from Bach's Remedies, flower essences, to help deal with the stress prior to the surgery. And Gelsemium 30c, 2 pellets as needed for anticipatory anxiety.

These "meds" are at worst sugar pills and quackery, at best they work wonders. They should not interfere with the procedure or anaesthesia and if you believe they will work then placebo affect or not they will provide you with some relief. I think I'll give them a go since I've got nothing to lose.

I will also be taking Traumogen, a vitamin supplement that helps aid the body with nutrients that aid in healing tissue.

Here are some links about natural medicine and surgery to check out:

Homeopathy and Surgery
http://www.drfeder.com/general-health/healing-surgery.htm

Surgery Recovery Program
http://www.naturodoc.com/library/surgery/surg_recovery.htm

Laparoscopy - how to prepare for your surgery
http://www.endo-resolved.com/laparoscopy_advice.html

Is Arnica montana safe to take after plastic surgery?
http://www.eclecticphysician.com/archive.php?action=Nbr&Nbr=235

Supplements I was on with my Naturopathic Doctor

The six month treatment was the change in diet, rest, reduce stress, start taking vitamins and supplements daily. The vitamins and supplements I was taking (and really you shouldn't take these on your own but only under the care of a naturopathic doctor) are:

* Simplex F (1 tablet 2x daily, all cycle long)
(http://www.standardprocess.com/)

* Spectra 305-P (2 capsules 2x daily post ovulation until start of next period)
(http://www.integrativeinc.com/)

* Lipotrepein (2 capsules 2x daily with meals, this is to help with liver detoxification)
(http://www.thorne.com/)

* Daily multi-vitamin (1 tablet daily, I buy mine at a health food store)

* Folic acid (1 drop in juice, liquid drops which was incidental you could also take tablets)

* Vit. B supplement (I wasn't good about taking this but it is supposed to help with stress, B vitimins tend to upset people's stomach's so be sure to take with meals and not on an empty stomach)

* 500 mg of vitamin C (2x daily, I did chewable tablets)

* Quercetin (this is a bioflavenoid that was discovered at the same time Vitamin C was discovered, it works and an anti-inflamatory and I was taking this for my respiratory allergies -- the activated form works as well as Allegra for me -- amazing)

For assistance finding a naturopath, this web site has links to naturopathic physicians organized by state:
http://www.advancednutrition.org/assist.htm