Here's How I naturally healed My Son's Eczema
When it comes to health, the surface often tells a story about what’s happening beneath. This was certainly the case for my son’s eczema. Despite trying numerous topical treatments, the root cause persisted. It became clear that eczema is not merely a skin condition, but an internal imbalance. While I have yet to pinpoint the exact cause—be it a zinc imbalance, copper overconsumption, a congested liver, a yeast overproduction, or a break in the gut lining or all of the above — I have discovered effective ways to manage and remove his eczema through these holistic methods.
The GAPS Diet
One of the most significant changes we made was altering our diet. Following the GAPS (Gut and Psychology Syndrome) diet helped us identify and eliminate food sensitivities and allergies. Since I was breastfeeding, it was vital that I started with myself. Everything I consumed affected my baby, so I adopted a clean and whole food-based diet, following the GAPs protocol. As my son transitioned to solids, we followed the GAPS protocol for him too, using guidance from their well-documented plan in the book.
Supplements
Because I was breastfeeding it was important that I was eating well but also passing sufficent vitamins and minerals to my son through my milk. I wasn't sure if the eczema was solely linked to a deficiency, but babies do inherit our deficiencies so I thought it might be helpful to include a few things that might help boost his immune function and support mainly a zinc deficiency as skin problems can be linked to this. I personally used the following (not for my son, it's what I took myself):
Magnesium: I used liposomal magnesium glycinate from iHerb for its high absorption rate.
Selenium: To support any deficiencies and chosen for its antioxidant properties and its role in detoxifying mercury from dental fillings and safely carrying it out of the body. My choice was Natural Factors SelenoExcell from iHerb, known for its quality.
Fulvic Minerals: To promote detoxification and improve nutrient absorption, I incorporated Morningstar Minerals Fulvic/Humic Minerals from iHerb. I've heard people give this to their children and it improved their eczema, it could be as simple as a deficiency.
Zinc: Essential for immune function and skin, hair and nail vitality, obtained from high-quality oysters at MarineHealthFoods (code HOLMES10 for a discount, they also have a deal where if you buy x3 you get 10% and then my code gives an additional 10% ), they are a rich source of zinc and even better that it's from a food source, vs a synthetic supplement. Be careful though, it has aphrodisiac tendencies haha!
Probiotics and Gut Health
Initially, we incorporated a baby probiotic powder into his morning routine, which showed some improvement. However, switching to homemade sauerkraut marked a notable difference due to its higher levels of absorbable probiotics compared to the powder. I uploaded a video recipe on my Instagram here.
Nutrient-Dense Meat Stock
Incorporating homemade meat stock into every meal became a staple. I gave it to my son as a drink and then when he could have solids, the meat and the juice too. Using grass-fed bones ensured that the broth was rich in minerals and nutrients, essential for healing and maintaining healthy skin.
I found this meat stock recipe the most effective for my son. Make sure the meat you choose has a bone too so you're getting all of the nourishing minerals from the bone and meat. The GAPs diet book does go into this further if this all sounds a little confusing.
My favourite place to buy high quality bones is from Piper's Farm. I like using Piper's Farm for my produce because it embodies sustainable, traditional farming. Nestled in Devon, the farm's all-grass terrain supports biodiversity and healthy cattle without artificial feeds. Their commitment to eco-friendly practices and community engagement makes their food not only wholesome but also a testament to responsible agriculture. You can use my code for 10% off your first order too: LIFEWITHTHEHOLMES
Clean Living
We made significant changes in other areas of our life:
Body Care Products: We eliminated all products containing fragrances, perfumes, and synthetic ingredients. Instead, we opted for a goat’s milk soap and a tallow based moisturiser, this one I found incredibly soothing. I also messaged them and they kindly offered a discount for my readers, you can use this code here: 4A14A61AB6C
Bath: From around 6 months or before we did regular baths with organic apple cider vinegar, Epsom salts, and magnesium flakes helped soothe and heal the skin. Start small and build up to an amount that feels comfortable, we did around 1/4 - 1/2 cup of each ingredient. All of these ingredients help to encourage detoxification. During a flare up we found it really helpful to create a paste using Bentonite Clay - known for it's toxin drawing properties we would spread this on, mixed with a little water, like a body mask onto the troubled areas. Leave on for 5-10 mins and rinse away with a warm cloth.
Castor oil packs: I use weekly castor oil packs to promote detoxification because they help stimulate liver function and improve circulation, supporting the body's natural cleansing processes. Fro my son I just use a teaspoon of oil applied to the liver area after the bath and before bed. For myself I use a lot more, like 2 tbs. Quality is important when sourcing castor oil, I like this organic one from Fushi. You can use HOLMES15 for 15% off your first order.
Clothing and Bedding: Switching to 100% organic cotton helped reduce skin irritations. Plus I also felt more comfortable knowing my son was sleeping on natural materials vs synthetic and possibly chemcially sprayed. Look for the GOTS organic labelling for authentic and sustainable organic cotton.
Household Products: We removed all toxic cleaning products and synthetic fragrances from our home as these can be big triggers for eczema. In doing so, I decided to make my own laundry detergent, because I found it difficult to find a fully fragrance free detergent in the supermarkets or online. There is a few I found that actually work well though, my favourite is HomeThings, but they are quite pricey, but this does take the stress out of doing it yourself. I will make a note to write another post on the other detergents I like! I also use white vinegar as a fabric softener and it works wonders! I buy this multipack from amazon and lasts me a month or so.
Food Quality: Our diet strictly consists of organic, grass-fed meat, free-range chicken, and pesticide-free vegetables sourced from trusted farms like Piper's Farm and Riverford Organic - or your local farmers market or supermarkets do stock organic.
Bath water: Water can be quite harsh on the skin because it often contains chlorine and other chemicals from treatment processes. It's really important to have a good water filter for your bath or shower to get rid of these irritants. While any filter helps, I have a favourite that does an excellent job at removing many impurities and is also reasonably priced.
Reducing Irritants
Sugar, gluten, and conventional dairy were removed from our diet, and we introduced fermented foods and raw dairy instead.
Seeking additional support
We did work with a homeopath too. This was a great experience and we defintely saw improvements. We still use homeopathy as our family first aid support, it's very effective and a natural way to treat coughs, colds, cuts/bruises and fevers. My favourite place to buy remedies is Helios, they also have a great helpline phone number if you're confused which remedy is for you.
I'd also highly recommend this facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/erasingeczema/ the lady who runs it is lovely and is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to healing eczema, as do all of the members of the group who will happily assist when you post.
Continuous Effort
This journey has taught us that significant changes require significant efforts. The path wasn't easy, but the improvement in my son's health and skin has been profoundly rewarding. I hope sharing our experience can help other parents navigating similar challenges. Remember, each child is unique, and what worked for us might not work for everyone, but please do message me if you feel lost as it can get lonely!
Comentários