Skin, the largest organ of your body, helps to protect you from bacteria, viruses and fungi. However, these infective agents sometimes manage to gain a foothold on or beneath the skin, setting off an infection that can range from mildly bothersome to life-threatening. Home remedies, some of them in use for centuries, can be a useful weapon in relieving the symptoms of such infections and helping your body to cure them altogether.
Always check with your doctor before beginning any regimen of self-treatment with these or other home remedies.
Chamomile
Botanist James A. Duke, author of "The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook," singles out chamomile as an herb that can be particularly useful in treating skin infections, including yeast infections and other inflammatory skin disorders. Chemical compounds found in chamomile, including cyclic ethers, bisabolol and chamazulene, are not only anti-inflammatory but antibacterial and fungicidal as well, notes Duke. He reports that several European governments have approved chamomile as a treatment for inflammatory skin disorders. Duke points out, however, that those with hay fever and other seasonal allergies should use the herb with caution, because chamomile is a member of the ragweed family and may trigger allergic reactions.
Garlic
Many of life's most annoying skin infections, including athlete's foot, jock itch and ringworm, are fungal in origin. Linda B. White, M.D., and Steven Foster, authors of "The Herbal Drugstore," note that garlic has potent antifungal properties and can be used---both topically and internally---to clear up such infections. By itself, raw garlic can irritate the skin, dilute it before using topically. White and Foster recommend a garlic-based paste that can be used in treating fungal skin infections. Mash or blend a clove of garlic with 1 or 2 tsp. of olive oil. Apply the resulting paste to affected areas of the skin. Remove after an hour.
If fungal infections are persistent and hard to resolve, take garlic internally to increase the body's ability to fight them off. Take one or two minced garlic cloves, mixed into food, daily, or one garlic capsule of 500 to 600 mg three times daily.
Baking Soda
Found in almost every kitchen, baking soda can ease the itching and discomfort of skin infections and also speed the body's ability to heal itself. Jude C. Todd, author of "Jude's Herbal Home Remedies," explains that baking soda helps to balance the skin's pH levels, allowing it to heal naturally. To take advantage of baking soda's healing properties, soak the affected area for 15 minutes in a warm bath to which a cup of baking soda has been added. Repeat at least once daily until the skin infection has disappeared.
References
- "The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook"; James A. Duke; 2002.
- "The Herbal Drugstore: The Best Natural Alternatives to Over-the-Counter and Prescription Medicines!"; Linda B. White and Steven Foster; 2000
- "Jude's Herbal Home Remedies"; Jude C. Todd; 2004
Member Comments