SOME POINTS ON ECZEMA


All homoeopaths know that eczema is not a local skin disease. The average dermatologist evidently thinks that it is and applies all sorts of treatment to the local manifestation, and practically never cures his patient. The cause of the trouble is some deep-seated miasm, which can often be traced through several generations of the patients family. It does not always show itself as a skin condition but may alternate with asthma or other troubles.


All homoeopaths know that eczema is not a local skin disease. The average dermatologist evidently thinks that it is and applies all sorts of treatment to the local manifestation, and practically never cures his patient. The cause of the trouble is some deep-seated miasm, which can often be traced through several generations of the patients family. It does not always show itself as a skin condition but may alternate with asthma or other troubles.

As a rule when the skin condition is worse the patient is better, and I have treated many bad eczema cases which were otherwise apparently in perfect health. This being the case, the only rational plan of cure is to select the similimum for the underlying cause, and this is a thing which is often very difficult to do.

In selecting the remedy it is well to avoid paying too much attention to the local condition. Look for a remedy which covers the general symptoms of the patient. Such remedies as Sulphur, Sulphur iodatum, Psorinum, Graphites, Sepia, Arsenicum, Thuja, are frequently indicated. I have found Hydrocotyle and Skookum chuck often useful, but the deeper acting remedies give the best results. Olive oil is one of the best things to palliate the itching.

Diet is a great help, but I doubt if any case of real eczema can be cured by diet alone. When I get the patient to carry it out I refer to use the “segregated diet,” which is more commonly known as the “Hay diet.” I think that the reason that this diet works as that if faithfully followed it will result in the patients eating less stretchy food and more fruits and vegetables. Of course if there is any article of food which disagrees with the patient it should be left off. I find it quite difficult to get patients to sick to this diet as it is a certain amount of trouble, but if they have a severe case they will probably do anything at first. However, as they get better it is apt to e a case of.

The devil got sick ;

The devil a monk would be.

The devil got well ;

The devil a monk was he.

I also try to get women to give up lip stick and cosmetics. Some job ; I cant say that I have been any too successful at it.

If you really get the similimum it will work in spite of handicaps, but it will do much better without them.

RICHMOND, VA.

harry B. Baker