Scabies is a parasitic infection that causes a
persistent, itchy rash. It is caused by a tiny mite that burrows into
the top layer of the skin to lay its eggs. This results in groups of
small red lumps. When the rash first appears, you may see fine, wavy
lines emanating from some of the lumps if you look closely. The skin
may then become dry and scaly, and the itching can be intense,
especially at night. Scratching can set the stage for a bacterial
infection as well. Scabies can be a particular problem in
institutional settings such as nursing homes and day care centers. It
is spread primarily by skin-to-skin contact, and it is highly
contagious. The areas most commonly affected are the buttocks,
genitals, wrists, and armpits, as well as the skin between the toes
and fingers. To diagnose the condition, a physician usually takes a
scraping of skin from the affected area and examines it under a
microscope. If one family member develops scabies, all the members of
the household should be checked and possibly treated. Children under
the age of 15 have the highest incidence of scabies and are usually
the first in the family to contract it.
Nutrient /
Supplement |
Importance
( 1 - 10 ) |
Helpful notes |
Essential
fatty acids |
10 |
These
help
to lubricate the skin and are needed for skin health and the
proper functioning of the body's nervous system. Good sources of
essential fatty acids include omega from fish, flax seed, and borage seed. |
Multi-vitamin
& Mineral supplement |
10 |
contains
B vitamins, zinc, vitamins E, A, and D and other supplements
needed for good skin healthcare. The nutrients found in a
daily supplement are needed for good general health and well
being. |
Zinc |
9 |
This mineral helps strengthen the immune system and
promotes healing. Often a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement can help. |
vitamin
E |
9 |
helps to relieve
dryness and itching of the skin |
Garlic |
9 |
herb with
antibiotic and healing properties |
Zinc |
9 |
mineral
used for tissue repair |
Aloe
vera |
9 |
herb with
healing properties for skin and body |
Golden
Seal |
9 |
herb
useful in strengthening the immune system |
Myrrh resin |
8 |
promotes
healing and it works well with both of the herbs frankincense and aloe vera |
Dandelion |
9 |
herb that
helps with detoxifying the body and healing. |
vitamin
A |
9 |
needed
for smooth skin and also helps prevent dryness. |
Other Changes To Make
-
drink 6-8 glasses of steam distilled or
filtered water a day
-
eat 50% raw fruits and vegetables (organic is best)
-
nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good
-
juice is good (make your
own with a juice machine)
-
do not worry as much about calories as eating the right foods
-
carrot and celery sticks are good to use as a snack
-
a colon cleansing can be very helpful - (do several times each year)
-
do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks
-
do not eat processed foods white sugar, white flour, etc...
-
use stress relief like going for walks in the park
(or the 10/90 rule - see
Stress)
-
brown rice is good to eat
-
avoid red meat and animal fats
-
reduce dairy products cheese, milk, and others
-
fast a few days a month
-
get at least 8 hours of sleep
-
exercise light to moderate amounts
-
avoid artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and NutraSweet
-
do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke
-
do not skip meals - just eat better and not as much at each meal
-
do not chew gum - it can cause you to feel hungry
-
do not watch too much TV try reading a book or something else
|