Digestive Wellness: Strengthen the Immune System and Prevent Disease Through Healthy Digestion, Fourth Edition (135 page)

A study was made of 122 children, aged four months to six years, with food intolerance. Of them, 52 children had eczema; the rest had chronic diarrhea. The allergies caused damage to the intestinal lining, and there was a decrease in the body’s ability to defend itself because of lactose intolerance and dysbiosis, which caused leaky gut syndrome, leading to more food antigens and sensitivity. Children with eczema had more intestinal damage than those with chronic diarrhea.

Although the research is mixed, some studies report that eczema can be prevented in about half of children who have allergic family histories when probiotics are given at birth to both mother and nursing babies. When my son, Kyle, was 10 days old he began getting eczema on his bottom. By the time he was three months old, he looked like a burn victim despite my tries to heal him. I took him to Andrea Rentea, an anthroposophic pediatrician in Chicago, who recommended that I give him Bifidus infantus and that I take it myself. After 10 days, his eczema had completely healed. So had his cradle cap, and his fussiness also had ceased.

Breast-feeding dramatically reduces a baby’s risk of developing eczema and allergies. Babies with eczema, and probably most babies, should not be given cow’s milk, milk products, eggs, or wheat before one year of age. As their digestive system matures, they can better handle these complex foods. Babies with eczema who drink formula should be tested by skin prick to determine which formulas are most suitable for them. Because babies are born without intestinal flora in their digestive tracts, giving supplemental flora to the baby (and the mother, if she’s nursing) can quickly alleviate baby eczema. (See more on this in
Chapter 6
.)

Elimination of foods, stress, and allergens can significantly alter the course of the disease. Even though you cannot control all factors, controlling enough of them will allow you to stay under the symptom threshold.

Jonathan Wright, M.D., had success in 39 out of 40 patients with eczema who followed this combined program: 50 mg zinc three times daily for six weeks, plus 2 mg copper daily, 5 grams omega-6 fatty acids (evening primrose or borage oil) twice
a day for three months, and 1 to 2 grams omega-3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA fish oils) three times daily for four weeks.

Many people with eczema have low HCl levels. See
Chapter 3
for more information and to take the HCl self-test.

The main treatments for eczema are steroid creams. These are good for symptom relief, but eczema starts from within the body and needs to be addressed systemically. The most common treatment for eczema is cortisone cream, which suppresses your body’s normal immune function. It’s very effective; however, there is often a rebound effect after you stop using the cream, and your symptoms return worse than before. A new class of medications, called topical immunomodulators, is available by prescription. In test studies, they relieve symptoms in most people and have less side effects than steroid creams. Patients are often told that these steroid and immunomulating creams act only locally. I disagree. When used over large areas of skin for a long time, they can have dramatic systemic effects. This is borne out by lab testing. Natural creams with chamomile, licorice, and comfrey root are also very effective at soothing and healing eczema without negative side effects. It’s important to remember that even though eczema shows up on the skin, it is a systemic problem. Use creams to decrease irritation, but look for the underlying irritants.

Exercise may be especially beneficial for people with eczema. A recent study indicated that exercise reduced the inflammation associated with eczema by increasing the body’s adaptability to stress.

To cut down on allergens in the home, vacuum fastidiously and use air purifiers in bedrooms and other rooms you are in frequently. One recent study attributed a reduction in eczema severity to a reduction in mattress dust and carpet mites by using a high-filtration vacuum cleaner and mattress covers. Keep your bedroom clean and clutter free.

Functional Laboratory Testing

Allergy testing for IgE, food, mold, dust, and inhalants

Elisa/Act testing for food, chemical, mold, and pharmaceutical sensitivities

Comprehensive digestive stool analysis

Heidelberg capsule test for adequacy of hydrochloric acid production

Healing Options

Investigate food and environmental sensitivities.
For more information see
Chapters 14
and
15
. An elimination-provocation diet can significantly reduce eczema. Often foods that you are sensitive to will make you itch. The itching may start soon after the meal, but it can be delayed up to 48 hours, which makes tracking down the foods a bit tricky. Food allergy and sensitivity testing
can help you determine which foods to eliminate from your diet. Eliminate all foods and chemicals that you are sensitive to for four to six months. Use natural household cleaning products and shampoos, and select soaps and toiletries that are hypoallergenic. If you are sensitive to mattresses, gas stoves, carpeting, and upholstery, you may need to use cotton and other natural fiber clothing and sheets that allow the skin to breathe naturally. Work with a health professional who knows how to help you meet your needs.

Supplement with probiotics
. Restoring the normal balance of flora in your intestinal tract can help reduce eczema. Use of supplemental beneficial bacteria can make a tremendous difference in your ability to thoroughly digest foods.

Check for candida infection.
Fungal infections are a common cause of eczema. In a study of 115 men and women with eczema, 85 were sensitive to fungus; after they were treated with fungal creams, oral ketoconazole, or a yeast-free diet, there was much improvement. Take the yeast self-test and do blood testing or CDSA to determine if yeast is contributing to your eczema. (See
Chapter 11
for the quiz.)

Try black cumin seed oil.
In four human studies, black cumin seed oil (Nigella sativa) has been shown to alleviate the symptoms of eczema and other allergies. It also moderately helps to normalize serum triglycerides and cholesterol. Black cumin seeds are a food, so there is low toxicity. Take 20 to 40 mg daily per pound of body weight. A 150-pound adult could take 3,000 to 6,000 mg. This is about ½ to a bit more than a teaspoon of black cumin oil daily. Take internally or drizzle on food. It can also be mixed with lotion and put on the skin.