6 Medicinal Plants to Treat Eczema

If you’re wanting to try something natural and at home to help soothe your eczema, we’ve compiled a list of 6 medicinal plants to treat eczema naturally. These 6 plants include oats, chamomile, calendula, rosemary, Aloe vera, and Arnica montana. Using these plants on their own or in blends made into creams and ointments can provide great relief if you’re suffering with symptoms of eczema.

Keep reading to learn more about these plants and how they help alleviate the symptoms associated with eczema and other skin conditions.

What is eczema?

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is “a condition that causes dry, itchy and inflamed skin” (Mayo Clinic). Although common in young children, it can occur at any age. It is typically long-lasting (chronic) and tends to go through cycles of flare-ups. The cause of eczema is not clear, but genetic and environmental factors play a role. It is not contagious.

Symptoms of Eczema

Symptoms of eczema may vary from person to person but usually start as red to brownish-gray colored patches that tend to be extremely itchy and inflamed. This rash can quickly progress into raised and painful bumps, “which may be crusting and oozing if scratched” (Abbas 2015). Other symptoms may include dry, raw, sensitive, swollen, thickened, and/or cracked skin. Some of these symptoms can be the result of scratching. Symptoms of eczema can occur anywhere on the body.

applying cream on eczema rash — Source: Medical News Today

Which medicinal plants help treat eczema?

When treating eczema, you want to reduce the accompanying itching, dryness, and inflammation. There’s a plethora of plants with medicinal qualities that can help alleviate these symptoms, but here’s a list of 6 of our favorite that are highly effective at relieving itching, moisturizing, and soothing the skin.

1. Oats

oats - medicinal plants to treat eczema — Source: Plant Good Seed

Oats have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-itch, and anti-irritant properties. Researchers have found that they are exceptional at “restoring the cutaneous barrier” and reducing symptoms of eczema.

2. Chamomile

chamomile - medicinal plants to treat eczema — Source: NCCIH

Chamomile, a relative of the daisy, is a plant used to alleviate various skin inflammations, irritations, and wounds.

To obtain it’s beneficial properties, it’s suggested to use a cream or ointment made with chamomile on affected areas.

Clinical studies have found that “the effectiveness of creams containing chamomile extract was superior to that of 0.5% hydrocortisone cream” in regards to treating itching, redness, and peeling in patients with eczema. Another trial of 161 eczema patients found that cream made from chamomile extract was equally effective as steroidal cream and more effective than non steroidal Cream.

3. Calendula

calendula - medicinal plants to treat eczema — Source: Britannica

Calendula is another great medicinal plant to treat eczema. Use topically in the form of cream or ointment. It’s effective in reducing inflammation, bleeding, and soothing the skin.

4. Rosemary

rosemary - medicinal plants to treat eczema — Source: Medical News Today

Rosemary is a perennial herb with evergreen, needle-like leaves. Often used for its fragrance and flavor, it’s also helpful for eczema. Rosemary has antioxidant and cleansing properties that allow it to reduce skin inflammation and relieve skin scaling.

5. Aloe vera

aloe vera - medicinal plants to treat eczema — Source: Vogue India

Aloe vera is a stemless succulent plant that can be used externally for it’s wound healing, moisturizing, and inflammation soothing properties. You can apply the gel from a cut-open leaf directly to affected parts of the skin, or use one of the multitude of products on the market that contain aloe extracts. Many Patients that use aloe regularly report reduction of symptoms like dryness and scaling.

6. Arnica montana

arnica montana - medicinal plants to treat eczema — Source: NC State Extensions

Arnica montana is used for external treatment of skin lesions, eczema or tendon and joint inflammation. The most active components of all the plant are sequiterpene lactones which are known to reduce inflammation and decrease pain (this process works by stimulating white blood cell activity). It has strong anti-bacterial and antiinflammatory properties that can reduce pain and swelling [5], improve wound healing. Other active principals are essential oils, flavonoids, inulin, polysaccharides, carotenoids and tannins. The most common external.

Where can you find all-natural products with medicinal plants to treat eczema?

Interested in trying out some medicinal plants for eczema? It’s important to find a reliable, safe, and ethically produced source for the products. At New Harmony Soap, we’ve formulated some of the best products for eczema containing variations of these powerful botanical medicines.