Herbal Treatments for Blisters

A blister is a painful fluid filled pocket on the skin. They can be caused by shoes rubbing our feet, hoeing in the garden, spending a lot of time sweeping, touch a hot iron and so forth. They result from physical trauma to the skin -- from repeated rubbing or a minor burn. The body creates a cushion of fluid to protect the underlying tissue. The collected fluid and the raw skin that is underneath the blister contain specialized cells that limit the injury and begin the process of healing. This is why it is best to leave a blister intact so that the cells in the fluid can assist in the healing.

If possible it is best to try and prevent the development to blisters - although I am the fist to acknowledge that this is not always possible. I frequently get blisters when working in the garden or when wearing a new pair of shoes or shoes that I haven't had on for a while. However, if possible take measures to prevent the blister formation.

What you can do if you have developed a blister

o Clean the area by soaking it briefly in warm water. Pat the area dry.

o Do not break an intact area. If the blister has already broken do not remove the protective covering of skin.

o Apply a small amount of herbal salve to a bandage or soft gauze and gently cover the blister. The herbs mentioned below can be obtained as ointments, creams, salves or oils. They make a useful part of a herbal medicine kit.

The herbs that will promote the healing of the skin and fight infections include:

o comfrey,

o calendula,

o chamomile,

o lavender,

o St. John's wort.

o You can use lavender and tea tree essential oils on the blister. These essential oils need to be diluted by adding five times as much neutral vegetable oil - such as almond, sesame, vitamin E or avocado oil.

o Avoid causing further stress and physical injury to the area for several days.

o Repeat the cleaning and application of the herb cream and dressing two to three times per day until the blister is healed.

Herbal blister ointment

The following ointment is appropriate for use with blisters, minor cut, abrasions, minor burns and fungal skin infections.

½ ounce dried calendula blossoms

½ ounce dried comfrey root

2 cups almond, olive or other pure vegetable oil

½ cup finely chopped beeswax

10 drops lavender essential oil

10 drops tea tree oil

Combine the herbs and vegetable oils in a suitable pan and allow it to heat gently for 2 - 4 hours. You need to check it and stir it frequently to prevent it from burning. When the oil is yellow in color and has a 'herby' smell then it ready for straining - you can do this through a coffee filter or a piece of clean cloth. The result is an infused herbal oil.

To each cup of infused oil add ¼ cup of beeswax. Heat the oil and beeswax together over a very low heat until the beeswax is melted. Be careful not to allow it to boil or burn. The balm should be the consistency of an easily spreadable paste. To test this place a tablespoon of the mixture into the freezer until it cools. If it seems too thin add some more beeswax. If it is too thick add a little oil.

Remove the mixture from the heat and quickly ass the essential oils. Pour into clean glass containers and cover tightly. Cool to room temperature.

With appropriate care the blister should heal effectively in a couple of day and there shouldn't be any infection. However, if the blister is particularly deep or there is underlying bruising or if you have circulation problems or diabetes you would be wise to seek the assistance of a health professional.

Flaxseed - A Natural Wonder Treatment For Eczema

Up to 20 percent of the world's population has suffered from eczema at some point in their life. For some, it is a chronic condition that worsens with particular irritants in their diet or environment. For others, they are the lucky ones and grow out of eczema as the years go by. Eczema is a general term which describes a number of different skin conditions with the most common being atopic dermatitis. It appears as a dry, red and itchy type of rash over the body.

Typical Triggers that Cause Eczema Flare-ups

Eczema looks different from person to person and is also the reason why there are a number of factors that can cause flare-ups. Allergies to dust mites, pollen, meat or dairy products trigger eczema in some people while detergents, hot weather or even stress can be the cause. Colds and other illnesses caused by viruses can also be included in what sets off a bout of eczema.

Eczema is not age specific as babies and adults alike can develop this recurring irritating skin condition. However, many medical experts contend that those people who have a family history of skin conditions and allergies are twice as likely to develop eczema as someone who is not. Basically, the reason that eczema occurs is because it is an anomalous reaction to the body's immune system.

There is no cure for eczema but the preventative and treatment measures for it are boundless. Many of the preventative measures end up only lessening the severity of the eczema flare-up and these include: moisturizing often, reducing stress, avoiding skin irritants like new detergent or soap, reducing allergens such as pollen, dust mites and pet dander, avoid extreme temperature and humidity changes and even taking care to not sweat.

The Common Eczema Treatments With eczema, a huge number of medical treatments are in the form of some type of ointment or cream. 

Corticosteroids, cyclosporine A and a few new forms of ointments and creams under the calcineurin inhibitor family which work to regulate the body's immune response are among the many treatments today.

Perhaps one of the most successful treatments is flaxseed, a natural solution for many different health issues. Flaxseed is chockfull of essential fatty acids like Omega 6 and Omega 3 so important for many functions of the body. Flaxseed can be taken both internally and externally, depending on a particular person's preference. Some people enjoy the taste of flaxseed and will eat it as a snack or sprinkled on some other food. Others prefer to use the liquid form of flaxseed called flaxseed oil which can be ingested or applied topically.

If taken internally, flaxseed will take a little time to build up in the body before it can actually be helpful in the treatment of eczema. However, in the oil form, it can be directly applied to the skin which will soothe the itchy rash, moisturize it and eventually clear it up. Suppleness and elasticity slowly returns to eczema-prone skin after repeated treatment with flaxseed.

It is important to consult with a doctor before embarking on flaxseed as the treatment of choice for eczema. While it is natural and therefore should not be harmful, a doctor can best guide someone as to the dosage to take if ingesting versus spreading it on the body as a topical treatment. 

The great news is that doctors will likely not have a problem with flaxseed as a treatment for eczema because it has proven to be so beneficial in the treatment of a number of other health issues.