Reply to Sue

Dearest Sue,

Although I am 21, I have gone through almost every type of eczema in a span of 7 years so I understand fully what you are talking about.

Frankly, you may be in a precarious position because if you do not correct the current situation you are in, it may worsen into a severe weeping condition. What compounds the eczematic condition is menopause, where a rapid drop in estrogen can trigger hot flashes. Basically, your body is undergoing a drastic change in a woman's life and a sickness makes things more complicated. Am I right?

Have you heard of leaky gut syndrome?
http://www.leakygut.co.uk/
Peruse this site for elucidation.

However, before you do. Let me share my experience and dispense some advice.

The common fare of food we consume is the root of our problem. What kind of diet have you been on all your life? That will provide a clue to what kind of stress our bodies are going through. Understand that this stress is faced by everyone but we are genetically more susceptible--eventually those who "seem" resilient will catch up with all types of diseases.

From my basic understanding of physiologycal and biochemical principles, the type of food we normally consume are not healthy for our bodies. High fat (trans, sat), high in carbs, high sodium, high chemical addings, low fibre, pesticides, insecticide etc. First, this overloads the body with toxins and puts our livers under terrible stress. Most of us with eczema usually have a sick liver too. Second, there is increase free radical damage a result of cellular intoxication. Damaged cells and cell machinary prevents us from functioning at optimum. As fuel is to an engine, our blood is to our bodies. In Chinese medicine, eczema patients have dirty blood. In translation, blood that is intoxicated and overly acidic.

In addition, meat is digested slowest of all food groups and it stays in the gastrointestinal tract; the longer the duration it spends there, the greater the fermentation. Mucus-producing foods also clog up our gastrointestinal tracts. One cheif culprit is dairy.These disturbsgut flora, the colon's defensive and reparative armies, and leads to cellular damage. Damage in the colon can lead to little holes perforating the colon wall(leaky gut syndrome) where undigested food particles escape into the general circulation. Bacteria can escape too. Foreign particles will trigger the inflammation cascade in an attempt to eliminate them. The inflammation will stay until the blood is clean. Eczema patients are known to have some degree of bacteremia and immune system hyperctivity.

Eczema is actually a sign that the body is working very hard to help us. Although I know it is vexing and discouraging to feel and see our bodies suffering in what seems like a pseudo-endless cum quasi-hopeless state, our skin is a huge elimination organ aiding us. Our signs are signs of the body's way to get rid of our "dirt".

Understand that eczema is worsened by emotions. The greater the stress you are under, the greater the likelihood and intensity of a flare-up.

This is only a brief idea of what is eczema and its causes. The body is much more complicated than one expect.

If you follow my blog
//www.curezone.org/blogs/f.asp?f=1055
(A little about me) you will better understand how a poor diet and lifestyle led to my eczema. Though I was not explicit about the progression of eczema types, I began with mild atopic dermatitis at the joint areas, worsened to chronic inflammation and itch, moved on to weeping eczema and now severely dry eczema. Intensity and extensiveness increased with progession. I struggled these recent years to learn how to take care of myself because I received very little support--no one really understands the magnitude, intensity and gravity of our condition.

My advice is quite common sense. There are two main things we need to take care of for eczema is restoring gastrointestinal tract health(chiefly colon) and purifying our blood. We must be willing to take a radical step to permanently fix our condition.

Restore GIT health
1. colonics
2. probiotics
3. fast--water/juice (slower)
4. diet change--raw vegetable, as natural as possible without all the chemicals ie salt, non dairy

best to avoid: Antibiotics , steriods

Purify blood
1. Alfafa
2.Green Tea
3. recommend GNC fasting/ultimate cleanse
4. diet change--mentioned above

Boosters

Liver (overstress from detoxification)
1. Milk Thistle
2. recommend GNC fasting/Ultimate cleanse
3. Antioxidants ie vit C, polyphenols from green tea

Skin metabolism
1. Evening Primrose Oil--contains precursor for skin fat metabolism
2. Flaxseed oil
3. Avocado--vitamins, fats
4. Carrot Juice--vit A among others
5. Some sun--vit D
6. etc?

Other detox:
1. Soak in Epsom Salt or similar detox substances

This is just a guideline from my own research and experience.

However, like I said, eating still worsens the condition--although not so badly as in the past. I can infer I may still have a few holes to deal with in my colon and my body is still very obviously out of balance. That is why I choose to Water Fast to aggressively detox and give the body a chance to return into a state of health.

Perhaps you can tell me how you are currently coping with your eczema. If you are intent, a prolonged juice fast (less intense) than water fast--up to 30-60days--can do wonders for you. I have heard of many stories and want to get on the wagon. But please note that any fast can be very trying at the first stage. Intuition is another factor that tells me I am on the right track.

A juice fast may help to feed the body while alleviating menopausal problems, though I am not so well-read in menopause. I have to admit that I do feel very impotent sometimes because I am only a medical student trying to learn the ropes of what our bodies can do and medicine is exceptionally profound. Even text taught to me has limitations. I advise you to search more deeply into menopause and how changes are effected. If I learn anything new, I can keep you posted. Of paramount importance, appreciate the fact that every female body is unique too so how menopausal affects you may be different from how it affects my mother.

I am sorry about your predicament, but both of us are in the same boat and I truly understand. Don't give up. Keep your spirits high and get support from those who sincerely care or who are encountering a similar journey.

I had a friend recommending homeopathy and urotherapy. However, due to time and money constraints, I decided to go ahead with my Water Fast for abour 4 weeks. I have a lot at stake because I am sitting for medical exam in a month and am turning 21, so I bloooody want to help myself :) If you have the time look at homeopathy.

Our bodies are natural living machines. It should be fed on natural wholesome fuel. When out of balance, doesn't it make sense that what is natural and living and wholesome can re-balance us out?
No synthetics. Alternative healing is the way.

All the best. Keep in contact. It would be nice to support each other. It was the reason why I came to curezone in the first place.

Lots of love.

You can do it. You deserve happiness not suffering. That is what I tell myself.

Isabella