Contact dermatitis involves inflammation of your skin following direct exposure to an offending, or irritating, substance. The National Center for Biotechnology Information states that contact dermatitis reactions may vary within the same person over time, and that a personal health history of allergies may boost your risk for contact dermatitis. Herbal treatments may be helpful adjunct therapies in the treatment of your irritant contact dermatitis, but you should meet with your doctor before taking herbs to review the risks and benefits of this time-honored natural treatment method.
Contact Dermatitis
The National Health Service of the United Kingdom states that there are two types of contact dermatitis: allergic and irritant. Allergic contact dermatitis is caused by an allergen, or a substance that provokes an immune response in your skin. Irritant contact dermatitis is caused by an irritant, or a substance that physically injures, or damages, your skin. Common signs and symptoms associated with irritant contact dermatitis include itching skin, inflammation, tenderness, swelling and warmth in the affected area.
Useful Herbal Treatments
Many herbal treatments have historically been used in treating irritant contact dermatitis, although few herbs have been subjected to long-term contemporary scientific research studies to validate the beneficial health effects patients have been reporting for decades. Ed Smith, an expert herbalist and author of "Therapeutic Herb Manual," states that gotu kola is one of the most commonly used herbs in treating this condition. Other beneficial herbs may include blackthorn, blueberry leaf, hawthorn berries, rue, chamomile, dandelion, yellow dock, goldenseal root and wild pansy.
A Commonly Used Botanical
Gotu kola, notes naturopathic doctor and herbalist William A. Mitchell Jr., author of "Plant Medicine in Practice," may be helpful in treating skin wounds, due to the significant amount of flavonoids and sterols contained in the dried aerial parts of this plant. Smith states that gotu kola speeds wound healing and improves the integrity and vascularization of your skin. Gotu kola is believed to stimulate your central nervous system, lower your body temperature and treat various circulatory disorders.
Warning
One of the most common health complications associated with contact dermatitis is secondary bacterial skin infections. If you develop symptoms that may be attributed to irritant contact dermatitis, consult your physician at your earliest possible convenience. Before adding herbal remedies to your irritant contact dermatitis treatment plan, discuss the safety and efficacy of herbs for this condition with your doctor. Avoid using herbal remedies in lieu of other, more conventional treatment techniques for this condition.
References
- National Center for Biotechnology Information: Contact Dermatitis
- National Health Service: Contact Dermatitis
- "Therapeutic Herb Manual"; Ed Smith; 2007
- "Plant Medicine in Practice"; William A. Mitchell Jr., N.D.; 2003
