A prime desire for many is acquiring clear, smooth, moisturised skin sans acne, blemishes, wrinkles. However, a ubiquitous dermatological issue faced by both women and men of all age groups is dry skin. While dryness is mild in some and can be managed easily, quite a few face a rather intense form of peeling and itching in skin, termed as eczema. Also known as atopic dermatitis, eczema is a common skin disorder that is characterised by inflammation of the dermal tissues, along with peeling, itching, dryness, flaking and redness.

Also Read: Ayurveda For Acne: Soothing Natural Remedies To Treat Pimples And Attain Clear Skin

While it occurs in children owing to genetic and hereditary factors, eczema develops it adults due to exposure to environmental allergens like pollen, mould, dust mites, pet fur, as well as chemical irritants present in detergents, soaps and shampoos. Eczema is a chronic inflammatory condition and hence persists well into middle and old age, with periodic flare-ups happening every now and then and the intensity of inflammation reducing gradually.

Ayurveda, the ancient Indian practice of medicine that originated thousands of years ago, terms eczema as “Vicharchika”, which is a skin-related health anomaly displaying blisters, lesions and rashes on the dermal tissues. While the onset of eczema is triggered by inherited or environmental/chemical attributes, certain factors further exacerbate the condition such as “Ahara Hetu” i.e. eating habits like junk foods, untimely meals, “Vihara Hetu” i.e. unhealthy lifestyle practices like drinking alcohol, smoking tobacco, too much physical exercise and “Achara Hetu” i.e. mental wellness-related concerns such as depression, anxiety, anger, low moods and negative emotions. The distinguishing symptoms of eczema comprise “Parushyam” i.e. rough skin, “Pidika” i.e. blisters, “Rakta” i.e. redness with bleeding at times, alongside “Kandu” i.e. itching and “Ruja” i.e. pain, from inflamed skin.

Although eczema is a long-term skin problem that prompts many discomforting signs of dryness, peeling, redness, it can be effectively managed with time-tested natural solutions from Ayurveda. The age-old ayurvedic manuscripts of Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and Ashtanga Hridaya mention a plethora of potent herbs that soothe itching, dryness and skin inflammation, thereby helping treat eczema.

Astounding Herbs To Heal Eczema And Pacify Inflamed Skin:

Khadira (Black Catechu)

Khadira is an excellent skin-fortifying herb, and the wood obtained from bark extracts of this tree is crushed into a powder for use in rectifying skin concerns. Applying Khadira powder on damaged peeling skin from eczema repairs wounds, ceases bleeding in dermal tissues and soothes redness, thanks to its powerful astringent and cooling properties.

Also Read: Khadir/Khadira: Uses, Health Benefits, Dosage And Side Effects

Chandana (Sandalwood)

Chandana is an aromatic herb that is a panacea for all skin-linked disorders, including acne, rosacea and eczema. The yellow-tinted wood of the sandalwood tree is not only fragrant but also possesses vast reserves of medicinal compounds with anti-inflammatory and cooling qualities. These help balance aggravated Pitta dosha in skin conditions like eczema and topical application of sandalwood powder/paste calms itching and flaking in skin.

Manjishta (Indian Madder)

Manjishta root extracts are imbued with antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory components which work wonders in healing skin damaged by eczema. These bioactive elements diminish painful symptoms of dry skin, peeling, redness, cracked dermal tissues, to significantly mend skin inflammation due to eczema.

Haridra (Turmeric)

Haridra or turmeric has been famed for its skin-benefitting properties since time immemorial, being extensively used to resolve acne, eczema, suntans and more. Turmeric root houses profuse amounts of curcumin, a strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound, which flushes out toxins and impurities from the skin’s surface and soothes dryness, itching and peeling in skin.

Nimba (Neem)

Neem leaves contain a treasure trove of antimicrobial elements that confer superb merits for skin health. The dried, crushed and finely ground leaves, when applied topically on skin affected by eczema as neem leaf powder/paste, is an amazing natural remedy that heals inflamed, peeling skin and mollifies burning, redness, hence serving as an effective herbal treatment for eczema.