I am changing the purpose of my blog up a bit. Well I'm not sure what my purpose was before, but I think I might have one now. Here is the main thing. I do not want to offend anyone or seem as if I am judging anyone. My last post was not too nice and I deleted it for that reason. Often I find that I don't agree with a certain idea or group of people to later find out that maybe they were right.
So if I just shut my mouth I might save myself a lot of embarrassment.
I will use this space to document what we are doing. Homeschooling, homesteading, food, fun, nature walks, travel, whatever. But without putting down or judging others. This is our journey and I need help. Since resuming blogging just a couple of weeks ago I have learned so much. The blogging community really helps me stay in touch with current issues. When I quit blogging, I quit reading blogs. And when I quit reading blogs I go into my own private sphere of not knowing or remembering. Does that make sense?
I have tried to sort of follow a Weston Price diet for a while now. I have not been too successful (mainly with the cutting out of sugar and white flour). We drink raw milk and I slip kefir into my daughter's milk most of the time. We eat lots of meat and fruit. We need to work on vegetables.
Here is the thing. My two middle children have pretty severe eczema. I was listening to a podcast the other night from The Village Green Network Healthy Life Summit given by Emily Bartlett on how to heal eczema through diet. What really got me was when the lady said that eczema is the tip of the iceberg. It's the body crying out saying look! something is wrong here!
My oldest and my youngest have no eczema. I guess that's why I never thought it was the food. They all eat the same thing. But every child is different and each child may have different food sensitivities.
I need to face the facts! I need to listen.
Although I truly hope we will not have to go gluten free, we are going to cut out gluten and sugar for one month. I ordered some cod liver oil online which I will try to somehow get my kids to take on a daily basis. I do not think my daughter will need a probiotic supplement as she does drink quite a bit of kefir. My son I'm not so sure about. He doesn't drink milk and he will not eat yogurt...
Another thing that was mentioned in the podcast was that I should not use petroleum products on the kids' skin. Well of course we have been using Aquafor constantly since that is what the doctor told us to do. I am not yet sure what I will use as an alternative. The kids will be crying for something.
To be honest, I still do not know much about exactly what foods we should or should not be eating. I do not have time to sit and research it all day either. I am just going to have to start somewhere and learn along the way.
We still need to get all of the flour and sugar out of the house and of course Easter is coming up. We usually go to my parents and hunt for mass amounts of candy, but I asked the Easter Bunny if he could hide money instead. We will see. A lot of cousins are counting on the candy. Peer pressure!
We also have 1st grade starting next week for Eaden. With the new homeschool schedule and the new eating plan I have a lot in store. Wish me luck!
Here are my son's (3 years old) legs (yes he is wearing pink crocs).
His ankles are particularly bad.
Here are my daughter's (4 years old) legs.
And her arms.
I truly truly hope this new diet works. We have been to the doctor numerous times and I have tried so many things. To end their (and my) suffering would be such a happy thing...
This post is linked to Party Rave Wednesday at Holistic Squid (the same lady whose podcast I refer to).
This post is linked to Party Rave Wednesday at Holistic Squid (the same lady whose podcast I refer to).
poor babies! my dad has terrible eczema and he has never figured out what causes it (although he has not tried any dietary changes either). I want to do a gluten free month as well, as I think it may help my son's sensitivity issues, but I am not quite mentally prepared for that yet. Hopefully this summer. Good lucj in figuring it outk
ReplyDeleteaww poor things, it sucks not knowing what is triggering it. My partner has a problam skin and flares up with eczema pretty bad if he drinks milk, weirdly enough cheese does not seem to effect him quite as badly. Good luck to you xx
ReplyDeleteI really hope it's not a milk allergy for my daughter since she LOVES milk. We are not going to cut that out now because it is how I get her the kefir. If the eczema doesn't go away with the new diet, we will try eliminating dairy. However, my son does not drink milk at all. He does eat cheese though.
Deletebeeswax or coconut oil based products might be an idea instead of petroleum based stuff. :)
Deletesorry to blather on, and I'm sure you've probably heard it before but the other main triggers I have found are biological washing powders, especially perfumed and bubble bath, shampoo products. x
Deleteyeah I almost never give them a bath :-O when I do I don't use soap or anything. Since my kids are mixed I only wash their hair every once in a while. My kids play in the dirt a lot and that seems to irritate it but I'm not going to stop them playing in the dirt. I have been making them wear pants but its about to get super hot here and that won't last. Crossing my fingers that it is primarily diet.
DeleteOh, that just looks uncomfortable! I haven't ever dealt with eczema, but a girl in my office has it pretty bad- I can ask her if she has any ideas for natural remedies. Good luck with the diet changes! Worst case scenario, Easter is only a couple of days away... You can always let them have one last weekend of sugar before making the switch.
DeleteOuch, your poor babies -eczema can be so painful and irritating. Two of mine suffer it, but thankfully they seem to be growing out of it a bit for now (age 7 and 9). Not sure what the teenage years and hormones will do though : ( We went for skin testing with our eldest when he was two, and it came back saying an allergy to eggs and house dust mite! We cut out the eggs for six months and tried harder with the house dust mites (hot wash bedding and softies). It didn't make any discernible difference - he still had flare ups (heat, sand and stress all seemed to be the main triggers). We tried baths with oatmeal (fill a stocking with oats and put into their bath). Perhaps this helped a little. We have found though when it is flared up that conventional steroid cream clears it up good, even resorting to a very short course of oral steroids (3 day course of prednisolone) can really bring relief and stop the itch cycle, then are able to go in with moisturiser of choice. Of course, I understand not everyone wants to use these drugs, but overall I felt they may be less harmful than constant inflammation and often infection.
ReplyDeleteGood luck though, it truly is a miserable thing xx
we have done the steroid creams and it does clear the eczema up very quickly. However, as soon as we stop using the cream everything comes back. Therefore, I do not wish to use them anymore. I am thinking of doing an allergy test on my 4 year old because I think she can handle it. I really want to get to the root cause of the whole thing and knowing what she is allergic to may help.
DeleteOh, that is so horrible for you all. I hope you all find relief! I did find this info for you:
ReplyDeleteNaturalNews) A painful and often debilitating disease, eczema is a skin disorder that is suffered by millions. Frequently treated with steroids, the immune system is further compromised -- inflaming the dermis and creating a vicious cycle that is difficult to break. Toxic vaccinations also aggravate this distressing malady. Mercifully, natural remedies provide an intelligent option -- curing eczema gently without the side effects of conventional treatments.
Connecting the dots between eczema, immunity and the gut
The first line of attack in overcoming eczema is healing the gut. Since a majority of those suffering from eczema experience leaky gut syndrome, it is important to take care of the digestive tract. When the intestinal wall becomes overly permeable with this syndrome, toxins pass into the blood stream which triggers an inflammatory response. Allergies and food reactions follow -- along with eczema. Unfortunately, this whole cycle taxes the immune system.
One of the best ways to mend the gut and reduce permeability is to adopt an organic whole-food diet with plenty of vegetables, fiber and freshly juiced greens. Toss out processed and gluten containing foods, dairy, meat, unsprouted grains and sugar. Fermented foods are an excellent choice as are probiotics like those found in kefir and yogurt. Bone broth, with its high collagen content, also assists in healing the gut. Just make sure to source organic grass-fed ingredients. The amino acid L-glutamine is exceptional for strengthening the intestinal lining and boosting immune function. It also reduces allergies and improves nutrient absorption. Flax, borage, hemp and pumpkin seed oils supply essential fatty acids that are vital to balancing inflammatory response. Additionally, evening primrose and sunflower seed oils are first-rate sources of gamma linolenic acid which plays a strong role in skin health. And don't forget about chia seeds -- another outstanding source of omega-3 fats. On the herbal front, cat's claw (una de gato) cleanses the entire digestive tract of dangerous pathogens, thereby reducing reactions that exacerbate eczema. Persimmon leaf extract is another medicinal herb that demonstrates extraordinary anti-inflammatory properties that clarify the skin and minimize discomfort.
Topical relief
To arrest the intense itch of eczema, several external treatments show promise.
Coconut oil - Seals and protects the skin while taming inflammation. Antibacterial and anti fungal action prevents infection in open sores.
Oat flour and slippery elm powder - Used in warm baths to coat and calm the skin.
Magnesium chloride spray - Applied topically to diminish inflammation.
Sunflower seed oil - Anti-inflammatory. Also serves as an excellent moisture barrier.
Sea salt - Add to warm baths. Lends welcome relief from inflammation and pain.
Bentonite clay - Detoxifies and comforts the skin when dissolved in a lukewarm bath.
Always remember to drink plenty of purified water throughout the day which flushes out toxins and hydrates the skin. Sleep and stress-reducing exercise are also important for robust immune function. By detoxifying the body, healing the gut and strengthening the immune system, eczema can be cured naturally without harmful after effects.
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/037615_eczema_natural_remedies_immunity.html#ixzz2OtBZNHpS
I would start by first eliminating the gluten, like you said and then the others, so as not to be so overwhelmed. Much love and light to you.
thanks for this info. Its very similar to what was said in the podcast.
DeleteYou're welcome. Wish I could be more of a help.
DeleteWell hello, I'm glad you're back blogging. I would say to cut dairy asap. It can take up to six weeks to get out of the system. Maybe try coconut or rice milk. We love coconut oil, but when the eczema would get really bad Aquaphor was the only thing that worked. You could try adding baking soda to their baths, that helps with itching and inflammation. Baths should be short and in lukewarm water, apply the coconut oil after patting them try ....you want the skin to still be moist to the touch so it will absorb the oil better. You'll need to reapply the oil throughout the day since eczema gets dry and itchy. Hope that helps!
ReplyDeletePoor things! My oldest and youngest had eczema and it was a struggle to keep them comfortable at times. Honestly, I tried everything from homemade (by me) salves to steroid creams, elimination diets, etc and not much helped. I hope you get the triggers figured out so you can help your kiddos!
ReplyDeleteJust stumbled across your post and thought I'd add something. While improving the diet you might want to consider taking more baths. I know that goes against what most people say, but we did that with our son and it helped. Our dermatologist recommended it. We have found that going scent free has really helped too--I now make our own soap and laundry detergent. We also do the Feingold diet and while that was meant to help with ADHD, it has helped with our eczema issues too. For us even things like apples and grapes can have bad effects. Hope you and your kids find relief soon!
ReplyDelete