Cinnamon Oil for Scabies

Cinnamon Oil for Scabies
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Scabies is a common skin condition. It is caused by minute mites that cause an itchy, red irritation on the skin. According to Dr. Melissa Conrad Stöppler, scabies burrow beneath the skin and are so tiny that they cannot be seen by the naked eye. They can, however, be seen with a microscope or magnifying glass.

Causes

According to Health Promotion Education, scabies is passed from person to person by means of skin contact. It takes only a few minutes to pass on the mites and can happen by simply shaking hands. Scabies can also be spread by bed linen, towels or sharing clothes if these items have had recent contact with an infected person, though this is not common.

Symptoms

As the scabies mites burrow beneath the skin they lay eggs and release waste matter that produces an allergic reaction on the surface of the skin. The scabies mite's burrow can be seen at narrow red line of tiny blisters on the skin. These become inflamed and itchy and will increase as the scabies larvae hatch out and live under the skin, where they in turn will grow into adult mites. According to the American Social Health Association, it can take up to two weeks after infection for symptoms to appear.

Cinnamon Oil

Cinnamon is one of the most popular spices in the world. It has been used for centuries to flavor food and drinks, and has been used for medicinal purposes. The website Organic Facts outlines cinnamon's many medicinal properties, including its ability to fight bacteria, kill microbes, eradicate fungal infections, thin the blood and constrict tissue. Cinnamon oil is extracted from both the leaves and the bark of the cinnamon tree.

Cinnamon Oil For Scabies

The Encyclopedia of Natural Healing recommends cinnamon leaf oil as a topical treatment for scabies. The oil is known to have antimicrobial properties that will kill the scabies. Cinnamon oil is also an astringent so it will also help the skin to heal.

How to Use Cinnamon Oil For Scabies

Cinnamon oil can be used directly on the skin or mixed with a carrier oil such as almond oil or coconut oil. It should be applied to the whole body from the feet to the neck to help eliminate scabies. The Encyclopedia of Natural Healing warns that cinnamon oil can cause an allergic reaction so you should try a patch test before applying it to widespread areas.

References

Article reviewed by Kirk Ericson Last updated on: Jun 14, 2011

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