Eczema and Olive oil have both a historical and lingual connections with the Greeks. Olive Oil, on the one hand, has been a historical tree since ancient time in Greece till modern day. Eczema, on the hand, has a lingual connection because the word eczema is derived from Greek words ekzein. The word ekzein is itself composed of two words i.e. ek which means out and zein which means boiling. So, literally the word ekzein (eczema) means boiling out. It refers to a medical condition in which the skin becomes rough, inflamed, blistered, itchy and even bleeding. It makes the skin patchy, cracked, red, pink and inflamed. This post discusses the following topics.

1. Causes of Eczema
2. Olive Oil and Eczema
3. How to make your own olive oil lotion?
4. How to treat eczema with baby lotion and olive oil?
5. How to use Cabbage Leaves and Olive Oil for Eczema?

Most medical experts agree that eczema is a kind of allergic reactions to several external and internal things. Food like nuts, wheat, milk, eggs etc may trigger the allergic reaction of eczema. External irritants such as mold, pet hair, dust mites, and chemicals present in various house hold cleaning products or detergents can become the cause of eczema. Other external factors may include change in weather and seasons like summer, winter, autumn etc. Emotional and mental stress can also add to the outbreaks and flare ups. Olive Oil and Eczema With so many other health benefits, olive oil can be safely used on skins to help reduce the flare ups of eczema. The natural oil is seldom allergic to anyone. Damage to skin or adverse effect may be very rare. Christopher Dannaker, a dermatologist at the University of California San Francisco stated that when olive oil is applied directly to the skin, it soothes the flare-ups and reduce the inflammation. The compounds squalene and oleocanthal are known to have natural anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. When applied to the skin, these properties may prove effective in healing the skin from conditions such as flakiness, dryness, itching and even eczema. It also contains Vitamin E which may prove helpful as a natural cure for most skin conditions. If you are taking olive oil as a replacement to animal fats and other unhealthy source of fats, then you are building your immune system strong. However, in a report published in the Daily Mail Professor Cork says that it is not suitable to apply olive oil to new born baby’s skins because the skin of these babies is too fresh and can easily get damaged by the poor balance of certain components in Olive oil.  An article which appeared in Free Radical Biology and Medicine 2003, reports that three anti-oxidants namely: tyrosol, beta-sitosterol and squalene that either discourage or render harmless the production of inflammatory compounds. In another study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1999, the researcher found that the group who consumed higher amount of extra virgin olive oil had two and half time less chances of developing rheumatoid arthritis than those who consumed less throughout their lifetime. (Back to Top) How to make your own olive oil lotion?

1. Take 1/4 cup of water in a clean cup or glass.
2. Add a few drops of extra virgin olive oil.
3. Add sugar or honey to make an exfoliant.
4. Use the lotion on the affected areas and leave for 3 to 4 hours.

Instead of sugar, use honey or beeswax for making the lotion thicker and adding anti-bacterial property to the lotion. In a few days you will find your skin less flaky, smooth and itching free. Always apply on a small area to test and expand later if no bad reaction occurs.(Back to Top) How to treat eczema with baby lotion and olive oil?

1. Buy a bottle of baby lotion which is scent free.
2. Mix some extra virgin olive oil. Make sure it mixes well and become homogenous.
3. Apply the lotion to the affected areas and leave for a couple of hours.
4. Repeat this daily for two weeks and you may see some amazing results.

Do not apply olive oil to young baby’s skin. As mentioned earlier, the unbalanced components in the oil may damage the fresh and tender skin of the baby. If in doubt, ask your doctor for advice and clarification.(Back to Top) How to use Cabbage Leaves and Olive Oil for Eczema? When cabbage leaves are soaked in olive oil and then applied to dried, bruised skin or itchy part, it soothes the inflammation naturally. Here is how to make the cabbage mixture.

1. Wash the cabbage leaves well and leave them for a couple of minutes so not water drops are left.
2. Soak the washed leaves in olive oil. Let them get soaked until they become soft by absorbing the oil.
3. Apply the leaves to the affected skin.
4. Cover the affected part with a linen cloth and leave it for three hours.
5. You may wash it with lukewarm water.

It is always healthier to use olive instead of other unhealthy oil or fats obtained from animal sources. Replacing your intake of bad fats with olive oil will improve your skin, digestive system, heart health and may even help to reduce the risk of cancer. (Back to Top)