SKIN CONDITIONS RASHES AND SORES, HOW TO TREAT THEM WITH HOMEOPATHY

Skin conditions: homeopathic remedy for cold sores, ringworm, hives, heat rash, and general itchy skin.

​Your skin is the largest human organ in your body! 

Yes, that is right THE LARGEST ORGAN. Did you know that your skin was an organ? Well, I will give you a clue of what it does and its importance-this organ acts as a protective barrier between the inside and outside of your body- quite important right?

This protective barrier will defend your body from any external intrusion. Your skin is like your coat, it protects you.

So your skin is the safest place where your body can dump any toxicity to keep it away from the main organs. I bet you are wondering, is this really true?

That is correct. This is why conditions like eczema, psoriasis, cold sores, fungal infections-which would all drastically affect internal organs, are located in the most external organ of your body. Your body is clever and will try to minimize any damage to the main parts by sending it to less important organs. 

Let's be honest here, if you have to choose between having liver damage or having a skin rash- which one will you choose. I bet the skin! Me too!

That is why in homeopathy we do not like to put anything chemical on the skin to suppress the problem, we like to treat it at the site, not drive it to any other place.

I know what you are thinking. This sounds new to you.

Well, let me give you an example that you will quickly recognise.

How many times have you heard from a friend- I suffer from asthma but when I was little  I used to suffer from eczema and I used to always have to put cream on it. But then when I turned about 4-5 it disappeared!You heard it.

​The eczema disappeared from the skin but now the lesion in turned inward on the lungs and the person is now diagnosed with asthma. Think about it.

One of my patients was a healthy Sulphur constitution, a writer(of course!) and he had a rash. After taking his case, he told me he has had some patches of mild psoriasis in his body for most of his life but had never put anything on it! He did not like taking medications or putting steroids on his skin.

This patient was very healthy and his rash disappeared pretty much straight away after a remedy. His body was able to keep the original disease on the skin without interfering with any other internal working.

This is a very different picture from a lot of children that I see with eczema and recurrent chest problems. And I think we all know where we are heading here :(

Some common skin condition tend to respond quite quickly to homeopathic remedies and others require a long treatment to improve. This is most true for chronic skin problems.

Let's see how to manage the most common skin conditions with homeopathy.
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1.CONTACT DERMATITIS, ALLERGIC RASH OR HIVES 
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​​This is a rash or redness of the skin that is caused in response to contact with a specific substance. It causes the skin to become red, inflamed, dry  and it can blister and crack.

The reaction usually start a few hours or days after the exposure

​These are a list of the most common substances:

• laundry detergents,
• skin creams 
• chlorine
• medications
• antibiotics 

​REMEDIES FOR ALLERGIC CONTACT DERMATITIS
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The main aim of the remedies here is to antidote the offending substance and relieve the skin. What I have found most successful in this cases is the following Banerji Protocol for that.

BANERJI PROTOCOL TIP

• Camphor 200 twice per day  if this is caused by medications
• Antimonium Crudum 6c every 3 hours for the itch

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​However, as you know in homeopathy flexibility is very important as this protocol may not suit everyone.

So these other remedies can be an alternative if things are not going in the right direction or you prefer to individualised your symptoms.
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​REMEDIES FOR ALLERGIC REACTIONS AND HIVES

​APIS 30, 200
It is a great #1 remedy for rough eruptions or stinging-like spots. The skin is hot, rosy red and the patches look swollen and the skin feels as if burning and itching. 
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A clue: they look like a bee sting!

So this remedy fits very well the eruptions of urticaria, hives and wheals and it is my first choice when there are no clear indications for another remedy.
The itch is worse by touch and heat.

URTICA URENS 30
With this remedy you can get relief from allergic rashes that are raised, itching, stinging and blotchy.
Your skin will feel burning hot and numb on those areas.

A clue: it may look look like nettle rash!

The itch is better by rubbing it and lying down.

This remedy is useful for hives that appear after: 
a) after eating shellfish
b)after bathing
c) after violent exercise or getting warm
d) after rising in the morning

NATRUM MURIATICUM 200
This is not a remedy that is talked much in acute skin rashes but nevertheless, it is an important one. 

Red spots as large as a head of a pin over the whole body. Rash in groups all over with a whitish appearance.

It looks like nettle-rash all over the body with large red blotches that are very itchy.
The rash is worst by exertion and the heat of the sun.

ARSENICUM ALBUM 200c
Urticaria large and prominent.
This is the # 1 remedy for Urticaria after eating shellfish.

BOVISTA 200c
Acne after the use of cosmetics.
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2-BOILS AND ABSCESS

​Boils are localised skin infections that start as a red, sore area. When it matures it is filled with pus. These are painful and tender until they burst and the pus comes out. At that point, they are called abscess.
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BANERJI PROTOCOL TIP
My favourite way of treating boils and abscess is using the Banerji Protocol

• Bell3c (or 30c if this is what you have)
• in alternation with Hepar 6c every 2-3 hours depending on the pain and intensity.

If the abscess is suppurating, then use Hepar 6c and Arsenicum+Hypericum200 in alternation every 3 hours.

​When using my own method, I like to alternate the Hepar Sulph in 30c and Belladonna 30. This combination targets infection and inflammation really well.

Unfortunately, not all skin infections respond to these remedies and sometimes other remedies are needed. Othertimes, those remedies need to be followed by complementary remedies to finish the job!

However, my recommendation is that those are always the first remedies to try.

SILICA 30C 
It is useful if the abscess has been lingering for a long time (less intense than Hep Sulph) and hasn’t come to a head alternatively Silica is also indicated after the pus has discharged, it hastens the resolution of the abscess.

Worse by cold air and cold drinks and better by warmth. 

It is also useful after Hepar Sulph if the process is not completely finished. Silica is not a fast acting remedy so steady repetition over a period of time is expected.
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MERC SOL 30c
This remedy is for an abscess that has already formed pus. The pus if visible is yellow-greenish colour and if it is suppurating, it can smell offensive.
This remedy will help with abscesses that are especially painful at night. You may wake up in a lot of pain on that area and you can feel quite sweaty at that point.

Boils or abscess that form at menstrual time.

Merc Sol30 works very nicely alternately with Belladonna30 to reduce pain and inflammation.

In cases of fever with the abscess give Pyrogen 30c every 3 hours or 200c twice per day.

MYRISTICA SEBIFERA 30C
This is a good drainage remedy that hastens suppuration and shortens its duration. It is a remedy of great antiseptic powers.

Often acts more powerfully than Hepar or Silica.
It has a specific action in panaritium, or infection around the fingernails.

So if you tend to suffer from infected hangnails, this is an excellent remedy for you!

For Impetigo, a bacterial infection of the skin very common in children these remedies will treat the skin lesion and provide relief for itching.

3-COLD SORES

Herpes labialis or cold sores, are a viral infection caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus that mainly affects your mouth or lips. It causes painful blisters that dry and crusts over as they are healing. 
Cold sore flare-ups tend to occur when your immune system is under stress and they tend to reoccur once you get them once.

The treatment of cold sores with homeopathic remedies is very efficient and can stop the outbreak or minimise the symptoms or healing time.

I advise to take the remedies every 3 hours to start with and as the symptoms improve decrease the frequency.

BANERJI PROTOCOL TIP
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The Banerjies treat the Herpes Simplex Virus with

• Antimonium Crudum 6c every 3 hours,
• Bell3c if there is temperature and Hypericum 200 if there is a lot of pain.

RUSH TOX 30C
This remedy is my favourite remedy to treat cold sores! It will help the majority of the cases and it can act really fast. 

Crusty eruptions around mouth and nose that itching and with a burning sensation. This remedy acts very well in all herpetic eruptions.

Start taking the remedy every 3 hours just as you start feeling the tingling sensation and you know that the cold sore is flaring up. You will be amazed at how fast it goes down!

NATRUM MURIATICUM 30
This is often an under-looked remedy in acute cold sores, yet an excellent remedy!

You may have little vesicles, like pearls on the lips. Your lips and corners of the mouth can be very dry and crack and you may have the characteristic "middle of the lip crack" that is a signature of this remedy.
Dryness with the blisters is an indication for this remedy.

Smarting pain, swelling of the lower lip and violent burning feeling.

The cold sore may come up after an emotional trigger such as an emotional upset.

HEPAR SULPH 30
This is for cold sores that have developed yellow fluid like pus, are suppurating and are very painful. You may even have a blood tinged discharge.

Burning and throbbing pains. Middle lip cracked.

This remedy is also helpful for herpes that follows the supraorbital nerve.

SEPIA 30
This remedy is indicated for cold sores that seem to be triggered by the menses.
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4-RINGWORMS AND FUNGAL SKIN CONDITIONS

​Ringworm is a skin problem caused by a fungal infection. Ringworm is quite contagious and spreads easily.

I find that the application of apple cider vinegar in a cotton wool, taped to fungal lesions before going to bed can quickly kill the fungus and stop proliferation.

Skin problems can be difficult to treat but there are a few remedies that can be tried before a deeper route is taken. For that, the Banerji Protocols are really good.

BANERJI PROTOCOL FOR RINGWORM AND FUNGAL SKIN PROBLEMS
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• Graphites 200 1 dose every 3rd day and
  
• Kali Sulph 3x or 6x if not available twice per day.

​TELLURIUM 200
If the first remedies fail, Tellurium 200c twice per week can be used. 

Tellurium keynote is intersecting rings, so if your ringworm looks like the rings are intersecting, this remedy may be of help to you.

If you are suffering with a Fungal Nail Infection, you may want to look at these remedies.
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if you are struggling with a skin condition, make an appointment to sort it out!