The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Food & crafts => Crafts => Topic started by: Fleecewife on November 12, 2014, 11:39:02 am
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I must have my wrong specs on as I can't find the alternative healing bit. Still, this will do here.
As a reaction to some of the prescribed medications I take I have very itchy skin. At the moment it's my hands and wrists which are driving me crazy. Last night I could only stop scratching one hand by lying on it ::). Sudocrem helps a bit but is very thick and greasy so I have to wash it off for cooking etc. Ordinary hand cream does nothing.
Does anyone have a recipe for a soothing cream I can make at home? I have wondered if docken would help, or are they specific to nettle stings? I know marigolds are soothing but I don't have any flowers at the moment. I am using an aloe vera gel, but it only helps a little.
Help :fc:
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Hello
I am new to this site and hope this message reaches you. Firstly sorry to hear about your suffering at the moment. Have you tried an allergy relief tablet taken orally I find Chlorphenamine 4mg (pirition) you can buy Tesco or asda's own piriton at a fraction of the cost. Also have you tried a lanolin based cream ask at boots or cream called bag balm used for diary cows and friction but works wonders on hands.
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Sorry to hear you have this problem. :hug:
I don't know if it will help or not, but our chemist used to mix me up a calamine and coal tar ointment, which soothed angry eczema skin. The other thing I found useful was using Unguentum Merck instead of soap.
In Wiltshire I used to be able to buy a Gardener's hand cream made from beeswax and, I think, Royal Jelly, which I feel sure would help. But whether you can get it where you are... :-\ It was called Fred's Bees, I think, but I can't turn up the right Fred on t'internet.
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There is a company that do skin care called Burt's bees. I have seen them advertised but haven't used any of their products. Does Plums have anything in her it's baathtime range that would help?
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Sea Buckthorn oil is said to be very good for angry skin and eczema.
I have no experience with eczema myself, but OH has had persistent flare-ups of rosacea in his face, and Seabuckthorn Cream (from a small company called Summerbee) cleared it up totally and permanently in less than a week. Amazing stuff. (Amazon has some good reviews by other with good results from using the cream too).
They also do Sea Buckthorn oil (pure or diluted with almond oil) that you can use as a booster or mix with other creams.
http://www.summerbee.co.uk/webshop/sea-buckthorn-products/ (http://www.summerbee.co.uk/webshop/sea-buckthorn-products/)
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Hello
I am new to this site and hope this message reaches you. Firstly sorry to hear about your suffering at the moment. Have you tried an allergy relief tablet taken orally I find Chlorphenamine 4mg (pirition) you can buy Tesco or asda's own piriton at a fraction of the cost. Also have you tried a lanolin based cream ask at boots or cream called bag balm used for diary cows and friction but works wonders on hands.
Hi minidaminx
Thanks for replying. I don't want to use something such as Piriton because a) I'll be on these drugs for life, so I'll itch for life, and b) I take so many darn pills I can't bear to add any more :o
But bag balm, now why didn't I think of that ::) I have the dregs of a bucket of the stuff - time to buy a new one, but it will work wonders if I add some essential oils. So thanks for that - I'll let you know if it works.
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Hi Sally - it's not eczema ish at all, in fact you wouldn't know it itched like mad just by looking, only when I gouge the skin too much. But I'll definitely look up Fred's bees, or Burt's bees. I had some beeswax hand cream from our local organic farm shop - it was staggeringly expensive for such a tiny pot but I got it in the bargain basket and it was great. All gone now. Should be better with Royal Jelly. Roald Dahl wrote a scary story about Royal Jelly :thinking:
Thank you Louise - I'll have a look at Plums' website. Good idea.
Thank you for the sea buckthorn link LadyK. People used to pick the fruit and eat it for vitamins etc - must be a painful job harvesting it. You can make a sort of marmalade too, although I believe it tastes awful :D
A bit of the essential oil in my bag balm is well worth a try.
So thank you all - you are very kind and have given me several things to try. :santa:
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What about e45? Also it could be an allergic reaction to something. I have had problems with dermatitis before and have found the cause is very often when I have been cleaning out buildings. Oil in my experience does not help, you can get a big container of e45 at any pharmacy, I use it whenever my hands flare up.
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Thanks WBF. It's not an actual allergy, just a reaction, but the meds I'm reacting to keep me alive, and it's taken a while to get the combination worked out, so I don't want to mess with them. I wear rubber gloves for all the messy jobs, even gardening, so I don't tend to get unknown chemicals on me. I'm sure it's the meds, as they are causing all sorts of minor annoyments - well worth it though to still be around :relief:
I have tried E45 to no avail, although that could be something else to try adding essential oils to. I do like the idea of the bag balm though as it's really inexpensive for a big tub, so I can make my own for not very much outlay.
I've ordered some of the sea buckthorn oil to mix in - it says specifically it's for itching, so we'll see.
You've all given me lots to experiment with :thumbsup:
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All the best with experimenting, my mum makes creams and oils with elderflowers.
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One other option if making something doesn't work is Epaderm - you can get it from Boots. I use it for the really bad eczema I have on my hands but it also is supposed to be good for other skin conditions. It's not too expensive and is the only thing that I have found to work (I must have tried about 30 different ones so far ::) )
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My skin itches like mad as well. I often have bruises from scratching so much as well as scratch marks. I have Doublebase prescribed but you can buy it from ebay and other places. I also have Dermol for my face and use that when the itching gets intolerable. It doesn't get rid of it but it does dampen it down.
Hope you get it sorted. I know how it can drive you mad at times.
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You can buy dried calendula either from a wholefood/herbal shop or on line. If you have any elder leaves left on trees use them as well or dried elderflower. Get some pure lanolin or petroleum jelly. Heat all together gently ( very gently) and steep over a just warm heat for about 1 hour. Strain through muslin into jars.
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Never heard of sea buckthorn. Do you think it might help my sweet-itchy pony?
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Never heard of sea buckthorn. Do you think it might help my sweet-itchy pony?
It's that very spiky shrubby plant with slightly silver/grey narrow leaves and orange berries you find on windswept coasts.
In my search for udder cream, as WCF don't make the one I know any more, I've discovered what frog oil is :idea: :horse: I always thought it was something like frog pills a la Terry Pratchett :roflanim:
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MGM - in a way I'm glad I'm not alone in the itchy stakes, although I'm sorry you have to suffer too. It's the skin damage from scratching I'm trying to avoid, as well as the annoyance of the itch too.
Devonlady, I'll try that in the summer when I have fresh flowers and leaves. I've also ordered some calendula oil so I'll have a go with that.
If I don't get any joy from my experiments with the things I'm going to try this week when the ingredients I've ordered arrive, then I'll work my way through all your other suggestions.
Thank you all so much.
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I always use mint teat for irritating udders, it helps keep them moist and stops them cracking.
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WBF that stuff makes my eyes water it's so strong. The other bag balms work the same way.
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FW, let us know if you find something that works so I can try it.
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Will do :thumbsup:
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Hi Sally and Louise. I've looked up beeswax with Royal Jelly. It's Burt's not Fred's ;D an American co. Unfortunately for a 7g mini pot, that's seven grams, sold as eye cream, it's £15 - £17.50. There is hand cream which looks good, but it doesn't have Royal Jelly in. I think I'd better concentrate on the homemade stuff til my lottery number comes up (I don't do the lottery :roflanim:)
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I have found Aveeno hand cream reduces my exzema (now I rarely have problems spelling, but cannot do that word!) quite well.
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I've started experimenting as the supplies come in. The little mixing pots haven't arrived yet (didn't have anything that would do)
My first experiment was a wash out - udder balm with a couple of drips of a variety of essential oils: lavender, rosemary, lemon and tea tree. I must have overdone the amounts because it smelt awful :roflanim: I had mixed it in a polystyrene disposable cup, which promptly melted from the solvent used to extract the essential oil. So much for my science degree :innocent:
I'm waiting for the pots now, should come tomorrow before I try again. Think I'll try sea buckthorn and cedar oils as a general hand cream, in E45.
I'm very impressed with the sea buckthorn cream. I bought a 60g pot from www.summerbee.co.uk (http://www.summerbee.co.uk) and have used it on my hands and wrists every time I wash my hands. It genuinely seems to have helped with the itch. I think I'll try adding some of the essential oil to udder balm for Mr F as a barrier cream. Udder balm has cetrimide in, which I wouldn't put on my face, but it's ideal for working hands.
I put the sea buckthorn on my face last night, as it's meant to be good for sun damaged skin, and I have a couple of minor solar keratoses on my face. I didn't have an adverse reaction so will continue to use it for that too. I can see me having to send off for a larger tub of that.
I think I can recommend it, MGM.
Another little experiment was to put a drip of various oils, one each, on pieces of orange peel, then putting them on the stone mantle piece, which gets quite hot when the fire's lit. I left just the rose geranium oil overnight as I really like that, and this morning the smell of dog was quite gone, and replaced with a really gorgeous aroma, even though the fire wasn't lit. I'm almost thinking of getting an essential oil burner.
This is quite fun :thumbsup:
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Something to get rid of dog smells would be good. Even I am becoming aware of it now. Three big dogs are inclined to be a bit pongy and their bedding can only be washed occasionally.
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Brilliant stuff ! Please keep telling us all about it.
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Something to get rid of dog smells would be good. Even I am becoming aware of it now. Three big dogs are inclined to be a bit pongy and their bedding can only be washed occasionally.
I've sent off for an essential oil burner (only £3 - 5) and I'll see which one works best against the doggie smells. The shampoo we use on them lasts a couple of days til they find something else disgusting to roll in, and have to have another shower - but you can't keep showering dogs, not good for their skin. So masking the pong it has to be.
Several of the essential oils I have bought are for moth deterrents in the cupboards. We'll see how those perform.
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Brilliant stuff ! Please keep telling us all about it.
I'll post pics of any rashes I get as well :roflanim:
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Something to get rid of dog smells would be good. Even I am becoming aware of it now. Three big dogs are inclined to be a bit pongy and their bedding can only be washed occasionally.
I've sent off for an essential oil burner (only £3 - 5) and I'll see which one works best against the doggie smells. The shampoo we use on them lasts a couple of days til they find something else disgusting to roll in, and have to have another shower - but you can't keep showering dogs, not good for their skin. So masking the pong it has to be.
My OH moans when I light my oil burner as he says it stinks. As I use the sitting room and he uses the dining room where the dogs are, I suspect it wouldn't be allowed.
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Never heard of sea buckthorn. Do you think it might help my sweet-itchy pony?
I mixed up an oil for mine with tea tree, eucalyptus and lemon essential oils (would have preferred citronella, but I had lemon so that's what went in ;)) and it worked a treat :thumbsup:
Apparently neem oil is good for sweet itch too, so once I get the next 3 weeks out of the way I plan on doing some more experimenting - do you want to volunteer a tester horse? ;D
Juliette, I'm due to make more of my magic oinkment soon ;) I'll post you a little sample pot to try :-* :wave:
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I keep my dogs outside, cause I suffer with my sinus's. I have about 4 oil burners, no idea why but I like to collect them. Here's a handy tip, you can burn fennel oil or thyme oil when you have a cold and it relieves your sinus's , so always worth having burners for winter. I use lavendar in the burner and it leaves the house smelling very nice. You could also try geranium, rosewood and lemon or orange essential oils from..... Www.calmer-solutions.com (http://Www.calmer-solutions.com)
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Karen :wave: - haven't seen posts from you for a while :sunshine:
You're very kind :thumbsup:
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<<<My OH moans when I light my oil burner as he says it stinks. As I use the sitting room and he uses the dining room where the dogs are, I suspect it wouldn't be allowed.>>
MGM - I can understand how he feels as that first mixture I made was horrible and I couldn't stand to be in the same room. Some people are more sensitive to smells - I also can't bear to be anywhere near the perfume Poison.
So, as WBF suggests, try something simple like lavender, which most people love, and plain night lights underneath, not the ready scented ones. Plain lavender oil is really cheap.
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I love to use my oil burner but tend to have it in the sitting room with me especially if I'm writing. i have a lovely cinnamony one that a friend mixed but he's not impressed.
Where do people buy their essential oils?
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MGM - I got mine from various online sources. I made sure to choose those with free delivery. They cost so much less than from a Pharmacy. The thing which took the longest to arrive was the little pots I need to hold the creams.
So, I think I've hit on a good couple of concoctions which seem to be helping, as I'm just about itch free at the moment.
The first one I made for Mr F to use as a barrier cream. It's bag balm with rosehip oil, sea buckthorn, lavender and lemon.
The one for me uses E45 cream as the base (less greasy than bag balm but more expensive), with sea buckthorn, calendula, rose hip oil and rose geranium for a nice smell. I might have put a drop of lavender in too, but I can't remember now - not too much or it will swamp the geranium.
The sea buckthorn oil is a bit hard going to mix in as it's thick, but I got there in the end. I use just enough to give a very faint tint to the white cream (SB is bright orange)
I'll see how I get on with these before I start trying other combinations.
My oil burners also arrived and I've had great fun perfuming the rooms. I even have one in the bathroom as an alternative to air freshener - works very efficiently ;D
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I have found Aveeno hand cream reduces my exzema (now I rarely have problems spelling, but cannot do that word!) quite well.
Same here. It was prescribed by our doctor for my youngest who has a serious skin outbreak when we used E 45 for his eczema. He had suffered from birth with eczema over his arms and face and within a week of using Aveeno it was greatly reduced. Used it until the eczema disappeared and it hasn't returned 6 years on :fc:
Now we use it for any dry or itchy skin. Very soothing.
How irritating FW and MGWoM, having permanent itching. Hope you get sorted with a permanent solution. I have serious allergies and when I started with them and trying to find the cause I itched continuously. It took 6 years to sort . Would hate to go back to the permanent skin crawlies :tired: my heart goes out to you both :hug:
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Went for a massage the other day - bliss - and my friend (she who mixes the oil for me) is making some wonderful creams. I bought some foot rescue cream, which contains organic shea better, coconut and sunflower oil, with peppermint and ginger. It's lovely. Just persuaded OH to sub some into my feet.
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<<<My OH moans when I light my oil burner as he says it stinks. As I use the sitting room and he uses the dining room where the dogs are, I suspect it wouldn't be allowed.>>
MGM - I can understand how he feels as that first mixture I made was horrible and I couldn't stand to be in the same room. Some people are more sensitive to smells - I also can't bear to be anywhere near the perfume Poison.
So, as WBF suggests, try something simple like lavender, which most people love, and plain night lights underneath, not the ready scented ones. Plain lavender oil is really cheap.
You could try any wholefood shop they're bound to sell essential oils, I like to use orange oil, lemon oil, rosewood, geranium, lavender, and ylang ylang
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Never heard of sea buckthorn. Do you think it might help my sweet-itchy pony?
I mixed up an oil for mine with tea tree, eucalyptus and lemon essential oils (would have preferred citronella, but I had lemon so that's what went in ;)) and it worked a treat :thumbsup:
Apparently neem oil is good for sweet itch too, so once I get the next 3 weeks out of the way I plan on doing some more experimenting - do you want to volunteer a tester horse? ;D
Juliette, I'm due to make more of my magic oinkment soon ;) I'll post you a little sample pot to try :-* :wave:
Lovely Karen sent me a tub of her special oinkment. Not only has it helped with the itch, but it has also totally cured my cracked heels (once a nurse, always have nurse's feet :( ). It smells wonderful, very beeswaxy, and rubs in well. Thank you so much Karen. Isn't it great mixing up potions ;D