Make Natural Home Remedy to Stop Itching
Edited by Ian Gabriel T. Tolledo, Lynn, Eng, Dougie and 3 others
Introduction
Experiment: Let's do an experiment: Itch. That made you scratch a part of your body just now, right?
Bug bites, small wounds, irritants, allergy, dirt and an endless list of other things make us itch. Some itches are random and harmless, but others are more serious and complicated. If you itch enough to have stumbled on this website, then you may have a serious case of itching.
An itch is an irritation of the skin that elicits an urge to scratch or pinch the area. Everyone experiences itches - they may be limited to one area of the body or generalized, which means occurring all over the body or in several different areas. Itching may also be worse at night in some cases.
Thankfully, you don't have to visit the pharmacy every time you run out of cream specifically for reducing itches; just go to your kitchen. There you'll find some of the most effective anti-itch products.
Why Do We Itch?
We itch for so many reasons, known and unknown. Our itches can range from mild nuisances to a very disturbing, irritating, often causing sleep deprivation. Itches happen for various reasons, including;
- Allergic reactions.
- Sunburns.
- Insect bites.
- Irritating plants such as poison ivy, poison oak and stinging nettle.
- Reactions to certain chemicals, soap and some detergents.
- Medications.
- The side-affect of many illnesses.
- Dry environment (especially during the winter months).
- Skin infections.
- The process of aging.
There are more serious causes of itch, such as those caused by psoriasis and eczema, and other diseases, or parasites like lice we won't cover here, as they need more attention than we are offering here. Luckily, scratching is not the only solution to an itch.
Home Remedies
Follow the suggestions and instructions below to find what works for you to relieve your itching.
Oatmeal Baths And Baking Soda
Baking soda is very effective in battling itches of all kinds. If you have hard-to-reach or widespread itches, simply soak in a warm baking soda bath. Instructions:
- 1Add 1 cup of baking soda to a tub with warm water.
- 2Soak in it for at least 30-60 minutes.
- 3Air dry, rather than dry with a towel.
Localized itches can also be remedied with baking soda paste. For this:
- 1Combine three parts baking soda to one part water.
- 2Apply liberally to the area affected.
- 3Do not use this on broken skin.
- 4This will ease your pain.Alternatively, you can just add 1-2 cups of fresh and finely ground oatmeal to your warm bath (not too hot or you might end up making breakfast in your tub.
Lemon
Many people already know that the citrus in lemon can instantly ease itchy skin. The aromatic and citric substances in lemon contain both anesthetic and anti-inflammatory qualities. This is effective for reducing, and often eliminating most types of itchy skin, and you'll smell good afterwards! Instructions:
- 1Squeeze undiluted lemon juice onto your itchy skin.
- 2Rub gently and allow to dry.
- 3Do not place the lemon itself on your skin as it can irritate your skin and it red and patchy.
Juniper berries
Juniper berries are one of nature's wonders for dealing with itchy skin. You can find these berries in most groceries or health food stores. The berry itself contains anti-inflammatory properties. Combining it with cloves (which contain eugenol that numbs nerves) will make the itch go away in no time. Instructions to Create a Salve Using Juniper Berries and Cloves:
- 1The author had suggested unsalted butter, but it will go bad quickly. Olive oil, grapeseed oil, almond oil are much better for this job.Melt 3 ounces olive oil in a saucepan.
- 2#When the beeswax has completely melted, add it to the heated oil and mix the two together.In another pan, melt a small lump of beeswax (about the amount of 2 tablespoons).
- 3You have to keep this mixture hot, as the beeswax will begin to solidify.
- 4Add 5 tablespoons of ground juniper berries and 1 teaspoon of ground cloves to the paste and stir well.
- 5Take it off the heat and pour into a clean glass jar.
- 6Allow it to cool and apply thinly to itchy skin.
- 7Store in the refrigerator.
- 8It is better to grind the spices at home sot the active ingredients are fresh, and will preserve the oil better.Note:
Herbs
Teas aren't just good for afternoon treats; you can also use them to remedy your itch! You can use thyme, mint and basil for itchy skin. Try the tips below!
Thyme.
Sacrifice your lemonade cravings to remove that irritating itch! Thyme is one of the most effective herbs to make an effective anti-itch rinse. This amazing herb contains big amounts of volatile constituent called thymol. This chemical has effective anesthetic and anti-inflammatory properties. In short, it can effectively numb that irritating itch while reducing the inflammation caused by your endless scratching. Instructions For Making a Thyme Rinse:
- 1Place ½ ounce of dried thyme leaves into a pint jar.
- 2Fill the jar with boiled water (not boiling from the kettle, but water that was boiled a few minutes earlier).
- 3Cover and allow it to cool.
- 4Strain through cheesecloth using a funnel lined with cheesecloth into a clean bowl.
- 5Dip a clean cloth into the tea and apply to itching areas.
- 6The decoction is added to your Thyme rinse.Chinese folk medicine utilizes dandelion root, that can be easily plucked from your yards.
- 7Boil 1 ounce of Dandelion root in a cup of water for twenty minutes.
- 8Strain and add to your Thyme rinse.
Mint
Chinese folk medicine utilizes mint for most skin itches. Easy to grow, and easy to work with - you can use mint to reduce your skin itch at home. Mint has significant amounts of menthol, known as an anesthetic as well as anti-inflammatory in nature when applied topically. Generally, mint contains healthy amounts of anti-inflammatory rosmarinic acid, a readily absorbed ingredient into the skin.
Instructions For Making an Anti-Itch Mint Rinse
- 1Place 1 ounce of dried mint leaves into a pint of boiling water.
- 2Cover it tightly and allow it to cool.
- 3#You can use this gentle itch remedy whenever you want; that's how mild it is.Strain and dip a clean cloth into the tea and apply to your itchy skin as necessary.
Basil
Yum! Basil teas' delicious properties go beyond good taste. For an effective anti-itch solution, simply splash your skin with fresh basil tea. Like cloves, basil naturally contains high amounts of eugenol; a known topical anesthetic.
- 1Put 1/2 ounce of dried basil leaves in a pint jar of boiled water.
- 2Keep it tightly covered to prevent the aromatic and potent eugenol escaping from the tea.
- 3Allow it to cool.
- 4Dip a clean cloth into the tea and apply liberally to your itchy skin as often as necessary.
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera, as you probably know, is a very effective burn treatment. However it is also a very potent itch-remedy. The same chemical effectively reduces itching. To use Aloe Vera, you need to have a live plant in your house.
- 1Snap off a leaf.
- 2Slice the leaf down the middle.
- 3Rub the gel on your itchy skin.
- 4ONLY apply the gel only to itchy areas.
Other Considerations and Complications
Oral itch treatments
If your prefer oral remedies instead of making your own pastes and whatnot, you can try diphenhydramine aka benadryl, hydroxyzine or atarax, and chlorpheniramine, chlor-trimeton and other antihistamine products. Be careful, as these medicines are known to cause drowsiness in most people and should be used with utmost care when driving a car or using heavy machinery. Antihistamines may help reduce itchiness by making people fall asleep to avoid scratching at night. If you don't have a problem falling asleep, then try one of several generic antihistamines.
Itching Complications
A secondary bacterial infection of your skin is the most common complication of itching and scratching. This isn't really about the itch itself, but is cause by the incessant scratching and associated skin damage. Antibiotics might be required to treat bacterial infections of the skin. Itching itself is very unlikely to lead to other health complications, although several underlying diseases that cause itching are associated with further complications pertaining to the sickness itself.
When to Consult a Doctor
If the home remedies above aren't helping and you notice your scratching is affecting the skin being scratched, or the itch is disturbing your natural sleep, you should immediately consult a doctor to look into it and see what's causing the itching. A doctor may also prescribe effective cortisone-based creams for allergies and eczema and some prescription-grade antihistamines, if necessary, or even treat the underlying root condition that causes the itch.
Tips, Tricks, and Warnings
- When using herbs, please make sure they organic, and have not been sprayed with pesticides. Pesticides themselves can cause horrible skin reactions.
- Only use high-quality moisturizing creams on your skin. Apply creams at least once or even twice daily, focusing on the areas where the itch is most severe.
- Use and apply anti-itch creams or lotions to affected areas.
- A nonprescription hydrocortisone cream can temporarily relieve your itch.
- A nonprescription oral antihistamine like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) can be helpful if your itching is severe.
- Avoid scratching whenever you can. Cover the itchy area if you can't keep yourself from scratching it. Trim your nails and wear gloves at night.
- Apply cool and wet compresses. Cover the affected area with bandages and dressings. This will help alleviate and protect the skin and preventing scratching.
- Try to take comfortable cool baths. Sprinkle bath water with baking soda, ground uncooked oatmeal or colloidal oatmeal.
- Always wear smooth-textured, natural cotton clothing. This helps avoid irritation.
- Choose mild, organic soaps over ones with dyes or perfumes. Ensure that you rinse the soap completely off your body after bathing.
- After washing, put on a moisturizer to protect your skin from dryness.
- Use a mild, unscented laundry detergent when washing towels, clothes and bedding. Try using the extra-rinse cycle on your washing machine.
- Refrain from using substances that can irritate your skin or that cause allergic reactions. These include nickels, jewelry, perfumes, cleaning products and even cosmetics.
Questions and Answers
What can you do to help with severe eczema?
What will help with severe itching, redness, almost blisters, all over the body. Skin is breaking, skin is very thin, constant itching.
Rooibos tea can help with the eczema reaction. Make the tea and cool it down. You can put it in a spray bottle and mist your skin or apply directly. This tea is red in color and can stain clothing so cover the area if you are wearing clothing or spray yourself down in the shower and wait for it to dry before putting clothes on. You can even add the tea to coconut oil as a lotion. I have done this for several years with my children who also have eczema and now we have gone two years with no significant flare-ups. Benadryl or another over the counter antihistamine could be taken to help relieve the itching. Do not scratch the area even though it's tempting to do so, because it can cause scars and other secondary infections.
Rooibos tea can be found plain or added to other tea or fruit flavors. It has a slightly sweet taste and you can also drink it in addition to applying directly. I save the tealeaves when I make it and add them to my daughter's bath.
Avoid gluten as best as you can. Unfortunately, there are direct correlations with eczema and gluten. Here are some other VisiHow articles that can provide some relief for you:
- Treat Eczema and Psoriasis
- Treat Eczema with Lavender Oil
- Treat Skin Asthma
- Boost Your Immune System Using Echinacea and Licorice
- Make Your Own Magnesium Oil to Improve Your Sleep and Reduce Your Stress
If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.
Comments
Article Info
Categories : Skin Care & Diseases
Recent edits by: Maria Quinney, ABC, Dougie