Ayurvedic Essential Oils For Eczema

Atopic dermatitis, commonly known as Eczema is the most predominant skin problems in the world. The term ‘Eczema’ is extracted from the Greek word ‘ekzein’, which means ‘to boil out’.  Eczema is a chronic skin disorder that makes the skin dry, itchy, cracked, scaly and reddened.

It is an auto-immune disease that affects people of both the gender and many of the General Practitioners say that the number of persons diagnosed for eczema is gradually increasing every year especially in North America, Western Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia. Ayurveda, the ancient healing system considers eczema as a symbol of imbalance in the human body for which it suggests the use of enriching Ayurvedic essential oils along with herbs, yoga, meditation and following an Ayurvedic routine.

Causes of Eczema: Thousands of reasons can be attributed to this auto-immune disease but eczema is said to worsen due to mental stress. Research studies also say that Eczema is common in children and numerous children who are affected by Atopic eczema also have the chances of developing asthma.

The exact reason for eczema is still not known yet the major causes of eczema are hereditary reasons, environmental factors, food and other dietary concerns, agents that cause dermatitis or eczema also known as allergens, the effect of chemical substances present in skin care products, detergents and toiletries, pet fur and much more. A reliable research done by a group of allergy experts reveal that eczema is on the rise especially in children between 6 and 7 years old in developing countries.

Symptoms of eczema: Eczema is a long-term disease that requires intense treatment. When left unnoticed, eczema gets aggravated and may lead to other serious conditions. The most prevalent symptoms of Atopic dermatitis are:

  • Dry, broken and cracked skin on the body mainly legs, arms, neck, back of the ears, hands, kneels, face, wrist, upper chest and eyelids.
  • Itchy, reddened, swollen and inflamed skin on the affected areas. This gets worsened in the night time and prolonged itching might end up in thickened and raw-looking skin.
  • Reddish or pale brown color patches appear on the skin and may develop small bumps and blisters.
  • In the extreme cases skin becomes hot, scaly, extremely dry, and sensitive. It starts oozing liquid and will attract other infections due to bacteria and other harmful foreign bodies.

Ayurveda and eczema: Eczema is termed as Vicharchika in Ayurveda. It is said that the imbalance of all the three doshas namely vata, pitta and kapha cause eczema. This skin disorder due to vata imbalance causes extreme dryness and induces severe pain and itching on the affected part. Eczema due to pitta vitiation causes burning sensation and induces oozing from the bumps whereas Kapha predominant eczema makes the skin thick along with oozing and swelling. Ayurveda is a holistic healing science that considers every individual unique with a unique constitution. Though eczema is a universal disease, Ayurvedic treatments for this disorder is specific to an individual’s physical, mental, social, environmental and spiritual set up.

Ayurvedic remedies for Eczema: Ayurvedic experts state that ‘Vicharchika’ occurs mainly due to the human body’s incapability to generate enough moisture in the skin and the abridged functioning of the immune system and the imbalance of the doshas. Ayurvedic treatments recommend keeping yourself away from those food items that are sour or salty as these can intensify your eczema. Adding turmeric, coconut, avocado, yogurt, ghee, butter to your diet has the potential to improve your skin by reducing inflammation and increasing the moisture in the skin. Ayurvedic herbs like licorice and valerian root soothes the nerves and promotes the physical balance of your body.

Turmeric is an excellent antiseptic and a renowned Nutritionist and Chinese Herbalist Daniel C. Luthi in his extensive research on Atopic Dermatitis says that the yellow pigment known as Curcumin present in Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties and is an excellent remedy to inhibit the release and production of leukotrienes and other mediators that are inflammatory and helps in removing the toxins from the body that cause eczema and other skin disorders.

Ayurvedic oils for Eczema: Essential oils are the purest form of oils and are perfect in healing numerous skin disorders including eczema. The best recommended Ayurvedic essential oils for eczema are Lavender essential oil, Patchouli essential oil, Rosemary oil, Tea tree oil, Cypress oil, Thyme oil, Cedarwood oil, Chamomile oil and Palmarosa oil.

Physicians from the Pacific Institute of Aromatherapy in California suggest the use of a natural blend of essential oils for eczema. This blend contains 1 ml of Lavender oil and Palmarosa oil along with 10 ml of calophyllum diluted in Rose Hip Seed oil (6 teaspoons). Topical application of this blend on the affected areas will stimulate repair of cells and gradually reduce itching.

Adding few drops of Evening primrose oil to your bath tub or when used as medicated oil increases the level of omega fatty acids lacking in people affected by eczema. This oil contains gamma-linolenic acid known as GLA, which is frequently used to treat people with such skin conditions as it checks skin inflammation and allergy while evading the conversion process.

In the popular book named ‘Aromatherapy Workbook’, Shirley Price suggests the use of Frankincense essential oil, Myrrh essential oil, Hyssop essential oil for weeping eczema and Juniper essential oil and Geranium essential oil for normal eczema. Carrier oils like Borage oil, Almond oil, Calendula oil are also recommended for treating eczema.

Along with these Ayurvedic treatments, practicing simple Yoga and meditation can calm your senses, soothes your nerves and brings in tranquility to your mind thus lessening the severity of eczema.

Thought for the day:

Glamour is about feeling good in your own skin.   -Zoe Saldana

Suggested reading:

  1. Absolute Beauty: Radiant Skin and Inner Harmony Through the Ancient Secrets of Ayurveda By Pratima Raichur, Mariam Cohn
  2. Aromatherapy for Eczema By Miriam Kinai
  3. New Choices in Natural Healing: Over 1,800 of the Best Self-Help Remedies from the World of Alternative Medicine By Doug Dollemore

Reference links:

  1. Eczema: Treatment, causes, symptoms, types and diagnosis by MedicineNet.Com
  2. Childhood Eczema Still On The Increase In Developing Countries by Medical News Today
  3. Eczema or Atopic Dermatitis by Nutritional and Herbal Solutions

Ayurveda And Yoga: The Good Great Siblings

I love the natural way of healing, which is the best approach for a balanced living. I’ve done numerous researches and have read manifold books on Ayurveda. You know, I’ve also been to India to explore the most interesting and awe-inspiring attributes of Ayurveda. I didn’t how I missed the most essential verity that Ayurveda is Yoga’s sister science. I was amazed to read this piece of information while I was surfing through the internet in search of something not as thrilling as this one. I’ve heard that the science of Ayurveda insists on practicing Yoga, meditation and other physical exercises but the feeling of looking at these sister sciences together from the same Indian family is simply great!

These siblings are born to Spirituality and Purity, the father and mother respectively. Both of them share the same truth-seeking and optimistic underpinning and aim at granting the best ways for healthy and harmonious living. Ayurveda and Yoga are been taken to many parts of the world are proven successful mainly due to the fact that they help people achieve the promised results without much side effects. These sister sciences have many attributes in common and the most significant among them are listed below:

  1. Meditation: Ayurveda as well as Yoga insist meditation as these sciences believe that a clear and calm mind can do all the magic for your determined and active living in the pink. Through meditation, you can realize your actual powers and it improves your concentration, giving a good start to your day.
  2. Primitive teachings of Veda: Yoga and Ayurveda have come from the ancient Vedas, where the former has originated from the Yajur Veda and the latter from Rig Veda and Atharva Veda.
  3. Practices for holistic healing: Both these sciences teach and preach health practices that support holistic healing. They stress on striking the balance of doshas (elemental energies or humors), dhatus (tissues) and malas (waste materials) for sustaining a hale and hearty system.
  4. A healthy mind in a healthy body: This is the watchword of Ayurveda and Yoga and that is why Ayurveda suggests worshipping God, healthy eating, use of herbs and Ayurvedic essential oils along with meditation, Yoga and other physical exercises while Yoga suggests meditation and workouts for physical fitness as well as mental strength along with a balanced diet and regular prayers.
  5. Predominant aims of life: Both share the predominant aims of life which is nothing but accomplishing one’s duties, earning wealth, fulfilling the desires and attaining liberation, popularly known as Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.
  6. Psychology, physiology and anatomy: The principles of Ayurveda and Yoga are same when it comes to psychology, anatomy and physiology where both these practices nigh on 5 sheaths of human body, 72,000 subtle channels known as Nadis, ultimate energy called as Kundalini Shakthi and the 7 predominant Chakras representing the energy centers. On a psychological perspective, both of these sister sciences robustly signify that mind, emotions and spiritual concerns have a direct impact on the physical health and are the root cause of all infirmities.
  7. Cleansing techniques: Ayurveda and Yoga have an organized system for detoxification of the human body, in which the earlier science follows 5 cleansing methods known as Panchakarma and the later science specifies 6 refining means called as Shatkarma for eliminating the unwanted materials of the body in a natural way.

Hope you’d have enjoyed this amazing piece of information, if you have explored it the first time, just like me! Bring these siblings to your family as well for all the good health and wealth to dwell in your residence.

Reference Links:

  1. Shatkarma by Wikipedia
  2. Ayurveda and Yoga, Sister Sciences by Blue Lotus Ayurveda
  3. Panchakarma by The Ayurvedic Institute
  4. Ayurveda and Yoga, the sister sciences. A holistic approach to healing by YOGA Chicago

Linalyl acetate

Linalyl acetate, an ester is one of the most naturally found phytochemical seen in many spices and flowering plants. It is an acetate ester of linalool, and it can be known as linalyl acetate or 3, 7-dimethylocta-1,6-dien-3-yl acetate, it also goes under the names Bergamiol, Bergamol, and Linalool acetate.

It is rarely used as an adulterant in essential oils to make them viable. It is occasionally added to lavandin oil which is sold out as lavender oil. Esters are sedative and antispasmodic generally non-irritant and mild except Methyl Salicylate, which is found in Wintergreen.

It also forms an vital component of essential oils of Bergamot, and it is found in a conjunction of the acetate ester of linalool, it is also seen in Mentha citrata which is deadly to daphnia, mildly toxic to humans and fish.

Linalyl Acetate’s attributes to essential oils:

Linalyl acetate and Linalool are the primary constituents of many essential oils and are known to possess several biological actions, traceable to these monoterpene esters. Linalyl acetate is considered as a perfume and essence based compound, and it is responsible for imparting an extensive amount of flavor and fragrance of lavender.

It has a pleasant fruity odor suggestive of bergamot mint oil, and tastes similar to its odor. Linalyl acetate has power over several biological activities, and is attributable to these monoterpene compounds of essential oils.

It’s also found in clary sage in high concentration of 78% along with, lavender, bergamot and lavandin, as well as lemon, neroli, lime, and some mint varieties.

Therapeutic qualities of Linalyl Acetate:

Anti- Inflammatory:

Linalyl acetate is good on skin as it reduces skin inflammation and heals rashes. It also helps to balance natural oils in the skin, acting well on both dry and oily skin making it look beautiful.  The oil can be used directly, or mixed with carrier agents like almond oil for utmost absorption and to achieve better results.

Linalool and linalyl acetate found in Clary Sage oil acts as a tremendous anti-inflammatory agent as per a study in 2002, hence it can be used to minimize the effect of skin redness, calm irritation and more.

A study carried out in Italy in the year 2003 on the topic ‘Anti-inflammatory activity of linalool and linalyl acetate constituents of essential oils’, stated that, “The results obtained thus for support the hypothesis that linalool and linalyl acetate play a major role in the anti-inflammatory activity displayed by some essential oils containing them. The present data suggest that all plant species producing a relevant amount of these monoterpene compounds are potential anti-inflammatory agents.”

Analgesic:

Studies also talk of how linalyl acetate and linalool caused reduced duration of menstrual pain, and even relieved them from menstrual pains.

A research carried out in 2012 on ‘Lavender and the Nervous System’ found that,  “Aromatic oil massage with essential oils blended with lavender, clary sage, and marjoram in a 2 : 1 : 1 ratio in forty-eight outpatients with primary dysmenorrhea alleviated the pain and reduced the duration of dysmenorrhea.

Aromatherapy by using lavender essence was also reported as a successful and safe complementary therapy in reduction of pain after the cesarean section in 200 term pregnant women and after episiotomy in 60 primiparous women as well as in perineal discomfort following normal childbirth in 635 women.

It has been shown that lavender aromatherapy through an oxygen face mask with two drops of 2% lavender oil can be used to reduce the demand for opioids in twenty-five patients after immediate postoperative period of breast biopsy surgery and for other analgesics in fifty-four patients undergoing laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding.”

Anti- hypertensive:

Few other studies proved that linalyl acetate is capable of relaxing blood vessels and reducing the blood pressure in patients. A study conducted in 2012 explained results such as ‘It has been shown that foot massage using lavender essential oil in 100 ICU patients of whom 50% were receiving artificial ventilation was effective in lowering blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, wakefulness, and pain’.

Reference Links:

  1. Anti-inflammatory activity of linalool and linalyl acetate constituents of essential oils by Department of Science, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Italy, published in PubMed
  2. Linalyl Acetate by Wikipedia
  3. Lavender and the Nervous system published in Hindawi, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.