The
skin is the body’s largest organ. It consists of three layers:
1) epidermis
(outer layer)
2) dermis (middle layer)
3) subcutaneous layer (inner
layer).
The skin acts as a shield between the body
and the millions of foreign substances that exist in our environment. It also functions as a means of excreting
toxins and other substances from the
body, as do the kidneys and bowels. As a
result, the skin is subject to the development of various bumps and blisters,
as well as to changes in colour, cracking, dryness, flaking, itching, redness,
roughness, scaling, thickening and a host of other problems.
There are many reasons for skin reactions. Some of the most common include allergies to
moulds, chemicals and cosmetics as well as insect bites, exposure to plants,
fungi, sun and wind, detergents, jewellery and fragrances. Food and other ingested matter plus nervous
tension can cause a skin reaction from the inside as do medical drugs, alcohol,
and any substance that your body cannot breakdown efficiently and dispose of
via the bowel or urine. A common one is
the white wheaten flour that contains the gluten protein and the many chemicals
used in manufacture. The intolerance to
this food will often be represented as red itchy rash somewhere on the body.
A rash should not be taken lightly. It
can be an indication of an underlying illness and may be valuable as an early
warning sign. Skin eruptions may be
diagnosed as any of the following: acne, age spots, athlete’s foot, bedsores,
boil, bruising, burns, canker sores, chicken pox, cold sores, corns, calluses,
dandruff, dermatitis, dry skin, eczema, fungal infection (Candida), hives,
herpes, insect bite, leg ulcers, Lyme disease, mononucleosis, oily skin, psoriasis, ringworm, Rosacea,
scabies, sebaceous cyst, seborrhoea, shingles, skin cancer, skin rash, sunburn,
Vitiligo. Some of these diagnoses may be
easily corrected with diet and/or supplements providing concentrated nutrition.
For
example, dry skin is usually an indication of a lack of essential fatty acids
(omega 3.6.9) in the diet and supplements containing fish oil, evening primrose
oil and flax seed oils will provide the nutrition to restore health to the
skin. This nutrition is also essential
for the healthy turnover of cells in every part of the body and so to the
health of the whole body.
Topical
treatments. If the irritant is from outside the
body, the treatment for skin disorders is to eliminate the irritation. Maybe you will need to wear gloves while
washing up, or to stop the makeup or skin lotion that is creating the problem
and use chemical free products. Scalp problems such as dandruff may be
eliminated by changing to a fragrance free, hypo allergenic product. Aloe Vera,
colloidal silver gel, and tea tree oil products all have a place in skin
treatments. Rose hip oil, calendula,
golden seal, lavender oil, jojoba oil, apricot kernel oil, vitamin E oil are
all used in Mario’s Natural treatments for skin diseases.
Mario’s Eczema 7 Psoriasis Oil: Lavender in Jojoba oil base.
Apply
to areas of irritation, especially good for psoriasis around hair line and in
hair.
Mario’s Natural Skin Support Oil: Jojoba, rosehip, apricot kernel and vitamin E oil.
Excellent
for scar tissue, all dry skin and especially scaly areas that may be skin
cancers. This recipe will subdue itch
also. Also a great skin rejuvenating oil
for wrinkles on face, back of hands and elbows.
Mario’s Heal All Herbal Cream: Burdock, Calendula, Chamomile, Nettle Hypericum and vitamin E in an
aqueous cream base. Use for all sores,
burns, rashes, bites and also for eczema and nappy rash. Hypericum (St John’s Wort) will subdue nerve itch.
Mario’s Calendula Herbal Cream: Calendula herb in an aqueous cream base.
Soothes and protects against contact
dermatitis, bites &s tings, and for wound care. Calendula has antibacterial
and anti-viral properties.
Mario’s Golden Seal Herbal Cream: Golden Seal herb in an
aqueous cream base.
Excellent for all areas where bacterial
infection may be such as acne, athletes food, canker sores and ringworm.
To address skin irritation from an internal
cause, Calanna Natural Medicine Clinics Naturopath's are able to do the
investigative process that may identify the cause and allergy testing is
advised particularly for persistent rashes.
The “Food Detective” food intolerance test is available through the
clinics at Townsville, North Cairns and Woree. This identifies proteins in up to 46
different foods as possible cause for skin problems as well as gut and other
health issues.
Ref:
Prescription for Nutritional Healing Phyllis A Balch cnc Skin Rashes P705
Mario’s Materia Medica.
Submitted by Lesley Parker ND ANPA
Naturopath/Nutritionist
Calanna Natural Medicine Clinic
600
Bruce Highway, Woree.
Qld 4868
Calanna North Cairns - Para’Kito - Mosquito protection
