Herbal Treatments For Eczema - The Power Of Comprehensive Care

Burdock root originates from Northern Asia and Europe and now grows in North America as well. It has been used in traditional medicine for centuries to treat various conditions. Burdock root possesses anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties, making it beneficial for skin problems like acne, eczema, and psoriasis. It is known to purify the blood and lymphatic system, reduce inflammation such as arthritis, and contains inulin, which supports gut health.

In Chinese medicine, Burdock root is slightly bitter, spicy, cold, and dry. It promotes detoxification, reduces dampness, alleviates lymphatic congestion, and eases eczema and skin irritations. It addresses skin damp/heat conditions, neutralizes toxic heat, and helps with infectious wounds, abscesses, fungi, and herpes. It also strengthens kidney Qi, promotes urination, and encourages sweating to dispel wind/heat, reducing fever and inflammatory outbreaks like measles and chickenpox. It supports tissue healing, benefiting the skin and hair.

Due to its versatility, Burdock root is effective in treating a combination of urinary, digestive, and skin problems. Burdock ointment is useful for various skin issues. Caution: It stimulates uterine movements and should not be used in the first two-thirds of pregnancy. 

Where can you find Burdock Root in Dr. Hodis formulas?

Eczematex Forte - A powerful formula, especially suitable for skin dampness often caused by metabolic toxicity. Or...

StagnaGon - For symptoms of Damp Heat along with Qi stagnation. It's common when eczema is coming along with a shock or emotional trauma

Echinacea is native to North America and has been traditionally used by indigenous people for various ailments. It is now popular worldwide for colds and respiratory illnesses, as it is believed to boost the immune system.

In Chinese medicine, Echinacea is spicy, salty, cold, and dry. It clears toxic heat, reduces infections and inflammation, stimulates the immune system, and alleviates allergies. It addresses metabolic toxicity and toxic heat, which can manifest as abscesses, inflammation, fever, and food allergies. It helps with kidney Qi stagnation, which may cause headaches, malaise, dry skin, eczema, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, erysipelas, lymphadenitis, and inflammations, especially with damp/heat. Echinacea promotes sweating, disperses heat/wind, and alleviates fever, chills, sore throat, and muscle pain. It supports tissue healing, reduces pain and swelling, and is beneficial for wounds, ulcers, and burns.

Echinacea can be used both orally and in topical applications. However, it should not be used long-term for purported immune strengthening, as this is misuse. It is effective in treating chronic skin diseases due to its cooling and detoxifying properties. Its spicy quality indicates a sweating effect that disperses wind/heat from the exterior, including the skin, making it useful for inflammatory outbreaks with heat and allergic urticaria. It is also effective for heat/damp conditions.

Where can you find Echinacea in Dr. Hodis formulas?

Eczematex - Lighter version formula, for mild to moderate conditions

Antiseptics - This formula is primarily for external use, but as we're aiming for holistic herbal treatments for eczema, combining it with internal use can be more effective

Dandelion exhibits several medicinal properties, clearing liver toxicity, improving digestion, and acting as a gentle laxative. It is anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. It can reduce blood lipids, help regulate blood sugar, and improve insulin resistance. It promotes kidney health and acts as a diuretic.

In Chinese medicine, Dandelion is bitter, slightly salty, sweet, cold, and dry. It neutralizes toxicity and clears heat/damp, improves bile flow, reduces liver congestion, and alleviates constipation. It addresses liver and gallbladder Qi stagnation with damp/heat, which can cause digestive disorders, right subdiaphragmatic pain, constipation, and loss of appetite. It addresses skin damp conditions like rashes, eczema, and lymphatic inflammation. It helps with overweight, abdominal bloating, high lipids, and high blood pressure. It enriches liver yin, nourishes the blood, and restores weakness. It restores and protects the liver, pancreas, and spleen. It strengthens immunity and alleviates blood congestion. It eases wheezing and coughing.

Warning: Avoid in cases of excessive stomach acidity. Generally, in various cultures, Dandelion is considered a liver-targeting plant. At low doses, it restores liver yin, and at high doses, it clears congestion and stagnation in the liver, especially if heat/damp is present. In Chinese medicine, emphasis is also placed on its anti-inflammatory and infection-fighting properties, as well as its immune-boosting capabilities.

Where can you find Dandelion in Dr. Hodis formulas?

StagnaGon - For symptoms of Damp Heat along with Qi stagnation. It's common when eczema is coming along with a shock or emotional trauma

Heartsease is a common European wildflower with purple, yellow, and white blooms. It is traditionally used to address inflammatory conditions, particularly skin inflammations like eczema, psoriasis, and acne. It also aids respiratory issues such as asthma and bronchitis. Known for its diuretic properties, it benefits urinary tract conditions like cystitis. It can also be applied externally for skin irritations and wounds.

In Chinese medicine, Heartsease helps reduce dampness, dissolves lymphatic congestion, alleviates eczema, and allergic inflammation. It strengthens kidney Qi, promotes sweating, and dispels wind/heat with muscle pain and cough with thick phlegm. It also enhances protective Qi, aiding in tissue healing and infection resistance.

However, using Heartsease alone for extended periods may cause side effects like diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Therefore, it's better to use it in a formula that neutralizes these effects. Note that cultivated varieties of this plant are not for medicinal use; only the wild plant is suitable. Heartsease growing in rye fields is particularly beneficial due to their synergy.

In modern pharmacology, Heartsease is classified as a saponin drug with a tropism towards the skin, having dissolving properties in tissue. It is considered one of the most effective plants for skin issues and is also known to boost immunity and act as an antihistamine, especially for milk allergies in newborns.

Where can you find Heartsease in Dr. Hodis formulas?

Eczematex Forte - A powerful formula, especially suitable for skin dampness often caused by metabolic toxicity. Or...

Eczematex - Lighter version formula, for mild to moderate conditions

Liquorice root has a sweet taste and is used in various food industry products. It is known for its medicinal properties: aiding digestion, reducing reflux, and having anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. Liquorice is used in skin preparations due to its anti-inflammatory and skin-lightening properties, helping with acne, eczema and pigmentation.

In Chinese medicine, Liquorice is very sweet, neutral, moist, restorative, calming, relaxing, and softening. It targets all 12 main meridians. It strengthens stomach Qi, alleviates fatigue and underweight, restores the endocrine system, and protects the body. It addresses spleen Qi deficiency (SP Qi Xu) and adrenal Qi and yin deficiency. It restores immunity and reduces allergies. It moistens dryness and alleviates irritating symptoms. It is expectorant, releasing phlegm, and alleviates cough and wheezing, addressing lung heat/phlegm. It reduces heat, inflammation, and infections, protects the liver, and detoxifies, benefiting the skin, addressing abscesses, dermatitis, eczema, and itching.

Liquorice is excellent as part of a syrup for respiratory issues. It can be used in washes. Warning: Avoid in cases of adrenal overactivity, such as high blood pressure, fluid accumulation, especially around the heart, hyperglycemia, and osteoporosis. Generally, it is considered a gentle plant without cumulative toxicity. It primarily strengthens the energetic Qi of the spleen and the endocrine system, but mainly reduces toxicity and moderates the side effects of other plants in the formula, enhancing their absorption in the stomach. Hence, it is popular in many formula- combinations

Where can you find Liquorice in Dr. Hodis formulas?

Eczematex Forte - A powerful formula, especially suitable for skin dampness often caused by metabolic toxicity. Or...

Eczematex - Lighter version formula, for mild to moderate conditions

Marigold is used medicinally for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. It helps with digestive issues, combats colds and flu, promotes skin tissue healing, and soothes eczema, itching, and acne. It also alleviates menstrual pain.

In Chinese medicine, Marigold is slightly bitter, sweet, salty, and spicy. It is neutral or slightly cooling, dry, calming, astringent, and softening. It clears toxic heat, heat/damp, reduces inflammation, infections, and swelling, and stimulates the immune system. It addresses skin wind damp heat conditions like eczema, acne, viral, bacterial, and fungal infections, and lymphatic inflammation. It reduces venous congestion, revitalizes blood flow, and is good for hemorrhoids and menstrual health. It alleviates liver stagnation and digestive pain. It promotes sweating, disperses wind heat, and reduces fever and inflammatory outbreaks. It strengthens heart Qi, helping with shortness of breath on exertion and palpitations.

Marigold tincture is effective for external use in washes, compresses, gargles, creams, and ointments. The affected area should be cleaned thoroughly before use. For skin diseases, it works on wind damp heat conditions due to its anti-inflammatory, infection-fighting, and antioxidant properties, used both externally and internally. It also helps stop bleeding in wounds, hemorrhoids, and the uterus. Avoid during pregnancy.

Where can you find Marigold in Dr. Hodis formulas?

Antiseptics - This formula is primarily for external use, but as we're aiming for holistic herbal treatments for eczema, combining it with internal use can be more effective

Myrrh is a yellow-brown resin extracted from the Commiphora tree, native to North Africa and the Middle East. Traditionally, it has been used to treat coughs, asthma, and ulcers, and it possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It is also used in the cosmetic industry.

In Chinese medicine, Myrrh is bitter, slightly spicy, warm, and dry. It clears phlegm and mucus, reduces congestion and secretions, and acts as an expectorant. It addresses spleen dampness, digestive disorders, diarrhea, and bloating. It alleviates lung phlegm cold, helping with phlegmy coughs, wheezing, chronic bronchitis, and asthma. Myrrh reduces inflammation and infections, promotes tissue healing, and alleviates pain and swelling. It is used locally in compresses and poultices as an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic for skin injuries. As it stabilizes mucous tissues, it is effective in reducing secretions in the respiratory, digestive, and genitourinary systems, addressing kidney Qi deficiency.

Warning: Myrrh should not be used during pregnancy as it stimulates uterine movements.

Where can you find Myrrh in Dr. Hodis formulas?

Antiseptics - This formula is primarily for external use, but as we're aiming for holistic herbal treatments for eczema, combining it with internal use can be more effective

Nettle is known as an anti-inflammatory plant, helping with conditions like eczema and pain relief. It alleviates allergies, acting as an antihistamine for hay fever. It helps reduce blood sugar and blood pressure and is used for symptoms of an enlarged prostate. Nettle is rich in vitamins A, C, and K, as well as minerals. It acts as a diuretic.

In Chinese medicine, Nettle is spicy, slightly sweet and salty, cold, dry, nourishing, restorative, stabilizing, and stimulating.

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Nettle restores the lungs, acts as an expectorant, and alleviates wheezing, addressing lung phlegm damp conditions like bronchitis and allergic rhinitis. It is anti-inflammatory for urinary tract and vaginal infections. It helps with skin inflammations, rashes, eczema, and hives. It addresses liver and kidney congestion, acting as a diuretic, draining fluids, and reducing edema. Externally, Nettle ointment, combined with calendula, is excellent for skin problems. In syrup form with other herbs, it is used for coughs and as a hair-strengthening preparation with rosemary.

Where can you find Nettle in Dr. Hodis formulas?

StagnaGon - For symptoms of Damp Heat along with Qi stagnation. It's common when eczema is coming along with a shock or emotional trauma

Plantain is a wild plant that grows in fields and along roadsides worldwide. Traditionally, its leaves have been used to treat bites, stings, cuts, and inflammations of the eyes and mouth. It is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and stomach protection. Young leaves can be eaten as a vegetable, similar to spinach.

In Chinese medicine, Plantain is slightly astringent, salty, bitter, cold, and dry. It clears toxic heat, reduces inflammation and swelling, alleviates lymphatic congestion, reduces allergies, and eases eczema. It addresses skin wind-heat conditions like rashes, itching, eczema, and atopic dermatitis, especially dry and scarred, and lymphatic inflammation. It helps with heat/damp conditions in the head, sinuses, intestines, diarrhea, and bladder infections. It alleviates lung phlegm heat, helping with thick phlegmy coughs. It addresses lung heat dryness, helping with coarse dry coughs, fever, sore throat, nasal and throat dryness, bronchitis, laryngitis, and asthma. Plantain promotes tissue healing and reduces pain.

It is excellent for external treatments for skin problems, such as washes, compresses, and poultices. It can be used as a mouthwash for inflammations and as a douche for vaginal infections. Enemas can be used for rectal inflammations. Oral treatment can complement these uses. Chopped plantain leaves are very effective for treating inflammatory infected skin lesions.

The healing ability of Plantain is likely due to its composition of tannins, mucilage, silicic acid, and glycosides. It is particularly effective for eczema with wind damp heat, with a tropism for the skin and lungs.

Where can you find Plantain in Dr. Hodis formulas?

Antiseptics - This formula is primarily for external use, but as we're aiming for holistic herbal treatments for eczema, combining it with internal use can be more effective

Red clover is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and is used for psoriasis and eczema. It is also used for menopause symptoms.

In Chinese medicine, Red Clover is slightly sweet and bland, neutral with a cooling potential. It is moist, softens, absorbs, and calms. It targets fluids and the skin and urinary bladder.

Red Clover detoxifies and purifies damp/cold, disperses lumps, and eases eczema, promoting urination. It addresses skin damp/heat issues like swelling, rashes, and scars, especially chronic eczema due to yin or blood deficiency. It reduces toxic heat, inflammation, and secretions, helping with blisters, abscesses, and wounds. It moves lung Qi, opens the chest, and reduces wheezing, addressing chest Qi constraint, asthma, and whooping cough. It nourishes yin, moistens dryness, and generates fluids, aiding in yin and fluid deficiency symptoms like weakness, thirst, constipation, and dehydration. It relieves lung dryness, dry cough, sore throat, dry mouth, and thirst. It promotes tissue healing, reducing pain and inflammation in ulcers, wounds, burns, and insect bites.

Red Clover can be used locally in ointments, creams, and poultices. In syrup form, combined with other moistening herbs like marshmallow and licorice, it is effective for dry, spasmodic coughs.

Where can you find Red Clover in Dr. Hodis formulas?

Eczematex Forte - A powerful formula, especially suitable for skin dampness often caused by metabolic toxicity. Or...

Eczematex - Lighter version formula, for mild to moderate conditions

StagnaGon - For symptoms of Damp Heat along with Qi stagnation. It's common when eczema is coming along with a shock or emotional trauma

Sarsaparilla is a climbing plant with about 350 different species, a small green shrub used for various purposes in traditional medicine across America, Europe, and Asia. The plant is known for its aromatic roots and traditional use in skin treatments, joint diseases, and detoxification. It contains saponins with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.

In Chinese medicine, Sarsaparilla is sweet, spicy, slightly bitter, warm, and moist. It stimulates circulation, disperses wind/damp/cold, and relieves tendon and muscle pain. It promotes sweating and reduces heat. It addresses chronic skin eruptions like eczema, psoriasis, acne, and itching. It alleviates fatigue and nourishes the blood, helping with poor appetite, weakness, dizziness, and anemia. It strengthens yang deficiency, addressing menopause syndrome and impotence. It boosts protective Qi (immune system) and reduces infections.

Where can you find Sarsaparilla in Dr. Hodis formulas?

Eczematex Forte - A powerful formula, especially suitable for skin dampness often caused by metabolic toxicity. Or...

Eczematex - Lighter version formula, for mild to moderate conditions

Chen Pi, or dried tangerine peel, has several medicinal benefits. In the digestive system, it helps with digestive disorders, bloating, and vomiting. In the respiratory system, it is effective for alleviating coughs with excessive phlegm and hiccups. It is anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving. It is also an antioxidant, aiding in healing skin lesions.

In Chinese medicine, Chen Pi is bitter, sweet, slightly spicy, and neutral.

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Chen Pi moves intestinal Qi, harmonizes digestion, alleviates pain, and stops vomiting. It stimulates digestion, reduces liver congestion, and alleviates accumulations. It addresses disharmony of the spleen and liver, which can cause abdominal cramps, bloating, and irritable bowel syndrome. It moves Qi, releases tension, alleviates pain and restlessness, uplifts, and alleviates depression. It addresses adrenal/kidney tension, helping with general stress, insomnia, and restlessness. It addresses Qi/lung tension, helping with asthma and wheezing. Chen Pi's important action is moving and regulating stuck Qi, whether general, liver, intestinal, or lung Qi.

Liver Qi stagnation can manifest in various ways, as the liver filters toxins, regulates cholesterol, and manages blood sugar, which should be part of muscle activity. Stuck Qi can cause blockages or excess, which, if it rises to the lungs, prevents lung Qi from descending, leading to asthma, wheezing, chest pain, stress, abdominal pain, digestive disorders, constipation, hot and smelly diarrhea due to intestinal Qi stagnation, and excess phlegm in the skin with damp heat, irritability, nervousness, insomnia, and even headaches due to yin deficiency and yang rising.

Where can you find Tangerine Peel in Dr. Hodis formulas?

StagnaGon - For symptoms of Damp Heat along with Qi stagnation. It's common when eczema is coming along with a shock or emotional trauma

Traditionally, walnut leaves are used for digestive, skin, and respiratory issues. They contain anti-inflammatory and antioxidant components and are used in cosmetic preparations for skin problems like acne and dandruff. To prepare walnut leaf tea, steep dried leaves in hot water for 10 minutes. It can aid digestive issues and serve as a topical treatment for skin problems.

In Chinese medicine, walnut leaf is neutral, astringent, slightly cool and spicy, and dry. It promotes detoxification and alleviates damp/cold, reduces lymphatic congestion and eczema, and releases accumulations, easing constipation. It addresses metabolic toxicity with damp/cold, dry skin, rashes, fatigue, aches, and constipation. It treats wind/damp skin conditions like weeping rashes and itching, especially chronic eczema. It nourishes the blood, relieving fatigue, and strengthens bones, tendons, skin, and hair, addressing blood deficiency. It supports liver and kidney deficiency, helping with weakness, lower back, knee, and leg weakness, hair loss, and dry skin. It promotes tissue healing, reduces inflammation and infections, and benefits the skin and bones.

Walnut leaf is good for local use in skin problems, conjunctivitis, throat inflammation, gargling for gum inflammation, and vaginal infections. The green husk of the walnut is used for dandruff, hair loss, and strengthening hair.

Where can you find Walnut Leaf in Dr. Hodis formulas?

Eczematex Forte - A powerful formula, especially suitable for skin dampness often caused by metabolic toxicity. Or...

Eczematex - Lighter version formula, for mild to moderate conditions

Antiseptics - This formula is primarily for external use, but as we're aiming for holistic herbal treatments for eczema, combining it with internal use can be more effective

StagnaGon - For symptoms of Damp Heat along with Qi stagnation. It's common when eczema is coming along with a shock or emotional trauma

Yellow Dock is native to Europe and North America. It is primarily used as a laxative, digestive stimulant, and bile secretion enhancer. Traditionally, it has been used for skin problems and respiratory tract inflammations due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It is also used for various other medical issues.

In Chinese medicine, Yellow Dock is slightly bitter, astringent, cold, dry, dissolving, and decongesting. It clears toxicity and heat/damp, reduces liver congestion, accumulations, and constipation. It addresses liver Qi stagnation with damp heat, which can cause a bitter taste in the mouth, digestive disorders, mood decline, headaches, and constipation. It neutralizes toxicity and toxic heat, reduces inflammation and secretions, alleviates lymphatic congestion and eczema, and acts as a diuretic. It revitalizes the blood, helping with anemia. It promotes tissue healing and reduces inflammation and infection.

Yellow Dock can be used locally in compresses, ointments, and washes. It can be used as a gargle and mouthwash, and as a vaginal wash. It should not be given during diarrhea.

Yellow Dock's detoxification is versatile, primarily through the liver, kidneys, and colon. Its leading property as a digestive and bile stimulant is very good for use in liver, gallbladder, and intestinal stagnation. Its dry and cold properties are suitable for people with liver congestion producing heat/damp. Its comprehensive properties for decongesting and detoxifying the skin and lymph release damp/wind and heat from the skin. Therefore, it is beneficial for various types of eczema expressed in itching, redness, and infected blisters. It reduces lymphatic congestion.

Where can you find Yellow Dock in Dr. Hodis formulas?

StagnaGon - For symptoms of Damp Heat along with Qi stagnation. It's common when eczema is coming along with a shock or emotional trauma