After weeks again of trying different essential oils, salves and creams with no consistant relief, I tried the cortisone cream.  The doctor was sure it is eczema.  The hydrocortisone cream would help when used, but as soon as I stopped using it the “eczema” came back.  This did not appear to be helping the situation, just alleviating the symptoms – which is fine for the short term, but I’m looking for a long term answer.

Earlier this week I had a thought that this might be a fungal infection.  Fungal infections are quite contagious and spread pretty easily.  The baby’s “eczema” was spreading from the tops of the feet to points on his legs and behind the knees.  I had treated another child in our family for a fungal infection with great success with the essential oil blend R.C. which has 4 different types of Eucalyptus.  After just 1 day of the R.C.  the baby’s skin was relieved.  I plan to have the doctor do a skin culture to test if this is fungal (if there is anything to culture), and continue to use the R.C. as long as the skin seems to be healing.

I have to say after going through this, I’m amazed at how many people are plagued by “eczema” – and how general the term seems to be.  My experience and research found that eczema is often caused by allergic reaction, Candida overgrowth in the body, and by undigested proteins in the blood which could be from an enzyme deficiency (a result of our ‘fast food society?) .    Even severe mold issues in a home can cause a host of skin irritations and eczema type symptoms.   Simply applying a cortisone cream to stop the body’s natural response to eliminate toxins is a short term solution.  Have intelligent conversations with your doctor about what the causes may be.   The key is to find out what the cause is and what it is, allergy – fungus – or the body’s elimination of toxins.  From there you can find a practical solution that will benefit your body in the long run.

Photo credit: www.uas1.com/mold_assessment.php

The latest reports this morning indicated at least 8 inches of rainfall in Milwaukee last night. The amount of flood damaged homes is still unknown, and I am reminded of our previous home’s flooding years ago. Back then I didn’t use a diffuser for essential oils, and used bleach (as I was told by many) to clean up the mold that followed. I know now that bleach is so harmful even aggravating asthma and the respiratory tract.  It’s full impact on the environment is not fully known. Essential oils can take care of the job effectively without harming the individuals using them. Whether you have a musty basement or fresh water damage, it is never too late to start diffusing essential oils into your home to purify the air. There are many studies showing that mold and bacteria cannot stand up to the power of essential oils which are naturally anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-microbial.
Clove, cinnamon, peppermint and rosemary are some of the most powerful essential oils against mold and bacteria. One study from the Internet Journal of Microbiology found clove oil to be powerful against such bacteria as Staphylococcus and Aspergillus.  Melaleuca, lavender, peppermint and thyme showed the strongest killing power against MRSA antibiotic resistant bacteria according to studies at the Western Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
Mold spores are everywhere, but they multiply quickly when exposed to water. Keeping mold in check first begins with getting your home dried out and keeping it that way. For any flood damage, contact a professional first for clean up. Mold and mildew breed anywhere there is moisture, so it is important to have your home cleaned up quickly and properly. In the mean time, diffuse your essential oils to start killing the existing mold spores and keep them from growing to large numbers. If you have a damp basement or crawl space, run a dehumidifier in the moistest weather and clean up excess water as soon as possible, using fans to keep air circulated. Studies show when ventilating air it is more effective to blow air out of the house, rather than bring outside air into the house.

Unchecked, mold growth can cause serious physical symptoms including nausea, rashes, bloody noses, diarrhea, headaches and more. If you suspect serious mold problems in your home, do not attempt to fix it yourself. There are many qualified mold experts trained in properly cleaning dangerous levels of bacteria.
The best oils to diffuse to prevent mold growth are blends. Synergistic blends of oils are more powerful than the individual oils. Young Living Essential Oils company has created some powerful blends to purify your air: Thieves, Christmas Spirit, Abundance and Exodus II. Many of the Biblical Oils are powerful against mold as well in particular Cassia which is in the Cinnamon family. For the best effect, use a cold-air diffuser which does not heat the oils and destroy the anti-microbial properties. Completely avoid chemical air fresheners that are just masking mold and mildew odors. These are not killing bacteria and are filling your air with more harmful toxins in the form of chemicals. Diffusing essential oils can be the start to cleaning up your air after water damage or in a damp area. But the most important goal is to correct the cause of water damage. If you have serious mold damage, make sure you have a professional mold remediation service take care of the clean-up. You can, however, use essential oils in addition to keep your air healthy and pure.
If you need to clean up mold or mildew on contact, mix up a 1/2 gallon of water, 1/3 C vinegar and 10-15  drops of essential oils of your choice. Wipe on surfaces and allow it to sit for a minute before wiping off. Repeat as needed. If you have tough mold, mix up a 4 ounce spray bottle with 2 drops of castille soap (to emulsify the oils), 15 drops of essential oils (cinnamon, clove, tea tree, rosemary are good choices) and the remainder with alcohol (rubbing alcohol or a high proof Vodka). Shake gently, then spray on location and let this sit a minute, then wipe surface clean. Repeat if needed. Just remember that many essential oils are solvents, cinnamon and clove can be irritating to the skin when used in larger amounts so wear gloves and wipe thoroughly from your surface. Test a small area first to make sure surface doesn’t get damaged, although you’d be worse off having mold in your home! This method is much gentler on the respiratory tract and better for the environment. So whether you have a mold issue or not, essential oils are a great natural alternative to bleach when you need to disinfect areas of your home.

These statements have not been evaluated by the EPA or FDA and are not meant as a replacement for professional mold remediation.