Eczema and Your Gut

Eczema and Your Gut

If you are plagued with eczema, you know just how frustrating and debilitating this condition can be. You try all the creams and lotions samples from your dermatologist– to no avail. You finally turn to steroids, which immediately improve your condition, but slowly destroy your body and health in the process. You are disappointed to discover that almost to the day that you stop steroid therapy, your eczema comes back. But even worse, chronic steroid use causes dysbiosis (abnormal gut flora), which is the prime cause of eczema!

This situation is true even for infants and children. Infants inherit their gut flora from their mothers. Since millions of mothers suffer from dysbiosis, millions of infants suffer from eczema right from the start. For infants, kids, and adults the gut flora-that thick, beneficial-bacteria layer that covers your intestinal lining-is the very cradle of your immune system.

When this flora and the intestinal lining become damaged from prescription drugs, antibiotics, sugary and processed foods, and chemicals, dysbiosis (the overgrowth of harmful bacteria) is the result. Chronic indigestion, diarrhea, cramps, constipation, colitis, Crohn’s disease and more are the direct result of dysbiosis. But more insidious is that the immune system becomes damaged, and you end up becoming immune compromised.

In simple terms, your immune system is divided into two divisions known as T-cell type 1 and T-cell type 2. T-cell type 1 serves as a barrier to infection and invasion anywhere the body comes in contact with the outside world-for example, through the skin and mucous membranes. This system uses biochemicals such as interleukin-2, immunoglobulin A, gamma interferon, and more to keep invaders out of your body.

When you develop dysbiosis (abnormal gut flora), this system is weakened, letting foreign microbes and toxins into your body. Your body responds by over stimulating the T-cell type 2 system. This system kicks into high gear using its own set of biochemicals such as interleukins, alpha interferon, and immunoglobulin E (IgE). IgE is the master of allergic reactions.

Once this scenario takes place-when T-cell 1 is underactive, allowing foreign invaders into your body, and T-cell 2 kicks into high gear, the result is predictable. You end up with chronic viral infections, allergies (often severe and to everything), chronic fatigue syndrome, candidiasis, asthma, and eczema. Other dysbiosis syndromes include, but are not limited to, arthritis; chronic inflammation and pain; menstrual problems; mental and emotional problems including, but not limited to, attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, autism, schizophrenia syndrome, and depression; and much more.

So if you suffer from chronic eczema, you need to fix your gut. It is difficult to overestimate just how critical the state of your gut flora is when it comes to all these dysbiosis syndromes, including eczema. Most of the syndromes spring from severe nutritional deficiencies that come automatically when your gut is host to happily growing abnormal bacteria. When this is the case, your gut simply cannot absorb the nutrients your immune system and your body need to stay healthy and strong-no matter how good your diet is, or how many “vitamins” you take.

Cure Dysbiosis to Cure Eczema

You have to normalize your gut and give it what it needs to bring back a healthy and normal flora. Only then will you be able to finally balance your immune system, turn up your T-cell 1 system, and turn down your T-cell 2 system. Normalizing your gut will start to turn off the over stimulated and allergic reactions in your skin and body. And once your gut is on the way towards normalization, you will slowly recover from the major, powerful, and multiple nutritional deficiencies that cause endless suffering for all persons with dysbiosis. With a normalizing gut, and the proper nutrition, you will once again be able to absorb the nutrients needed to end eczema, allergies, and all the other nutritional deficiency syndromes from which most Americans suffer.

So start today.   At the very least, begin to help yourself by changing your diet immediately. Eat only real, whole foods, no processed foods, and give your gut a rest by eliminating all gluten (anything made from wheat, rye, barley, and oats) for 6 months. Start taking a probiotic to feed your gut the healthy, beneficial bacteria that it needs.

Contact Kassie today to test and discuss any needs for supplemental products to help heal your "gut" and clear your skin.

Reference:  By Dr. Bruce West

"Go Nuts!" Join the NEW Kasia Multi-Purpose Revolution!

Kasia is not only a resource for beauty and cosmetics.

In always listening to our guests,  we are truly passionate in continuing to research and resourcing on chemical free, safe-- life giving, lifestyle products that are simple and investment worthy!

With many clients dealing with eczema/skin sensitivities, allergies, and others with simple interest in chemical free pursuit(s), we find  soap nuts provide us all of a great alternative!

Only within the past few years has the concept of a 100% natural, chemical free, biodegradable cleanser become conceivable to Americans.  The word is out and spreading fast... Everyone can use soapnuts; domestically, commercially, rural and in the city.

It's on supermarket shelves in Europe and it's cheaper than our chemical alternatives.

Why is it that the 'green' options cost us twice as much?

Not anymore! No more asking ourselves why we have to choose between environmentally-friendly products and putting food on our tables.

.....And it works!

Kasia So-berry Fresh Soapnuts are 100%:

* Pure and natural

* Chemical free

* Non allergenic (not a nut, really a berry)

* Antibacterial, antimicrobial, antifungal

* Biodegradable

* Beneficial to grey-water and septic systems

* Wild harvested (organic)

* Not tested on animals, vegan

* Easy to use

* Economical

* ...and most importantly, effective

Simple and Economic Safe Laundry Alternative

Ever wonder where the water from a load of laundry goes or even what’s in it?  99.8 percent of Americans use commercial household detergents, fabric softeners, dryer sheets and other chemical cleaners.  Most contain synthetic fragrances and chemical whiteners threaten ones health as well as the environment by building up in our water/ways that eventually venture into drinking water and fish populations, posing a major threat to human health. The EPA states increased exposure to these substances cause skin and respiratory reactions, or more severe issues like cancer, poisoning and neurological and reproductive problems. Make  laundry  earth  and family  friendly with just a few easy new modifications to your   routine.

By the Number.

* 17,000: the number of petrochemicals available for home use, only 30 percent of which have been tested for exposure to human health and the environment.

* 63: the number of synthetic chemical products found in the average American home, translating to roughly 10 gallons of harmful chemicals.

Using common scents

Dryer sheets most often contain chemicals that are suspected carcinogens, although there is another option to reduce your exposure to these toxins and still get fresh-smelling laundry. Simply reach for a easy homemade sachets that can be tossed in with the wash or placed on a closet shelf.   Handcraft an organic lavender (or scent of your preference) sachet and use essential oils to freshen up your laundry

Perchloroethylene, the  “No Perc”  in Dry-Cleaning

Dry-cleaning was developed in the 1850s when Jean-Baptiste Jolly used kerosene as a solvent to clean heavily soiled clothing which  progressed to the adoption in the 1920s of the chemical known as Tetrachloroethylene or Perchloroethylene (perc) which also increased the cleaning power available to dry cleaners. Be “in the know; Now,” as thankfully there is a rise  in more environmentally friendly chemicals.

Health and safety of  Dry-Cleaning

Perc is also a toxic chemical that poses health and environmental concerns if used improperly. OSHA classifies Perc as a potential human carcinogen and reported symptoms to high exposure of perc include depression of the central nervous system and damage to the liver and kidneys. Even brief exposure can cause confusion, dizziness, headache, drowsiness, and eye, nose, and throat irritation.

Like many chlorinated hydrocarbons, tetrachloroethene is a central nervous system depressant, and inhaling its vapors (particularly in closed, poorly ventilated areas) can cause dizziness,headache, sleepiness, confusion, nausea,

Commercial detergents leave chemical residues on clothing

According to Dr. George Grant, toxicologist and founder of the International Academy of Wellness, the “National Cancer Association released results of a 15 year study concluding that women who work in the home are at a 54% higher risk of developing cancer than women who work outside the home.”  Thankfully we can easily reduce these chemicals.

These recipes come from Michigan State University Extension, Readers Digest Practical Problem Solver (1991), and grandmothers everywhere.

Laundry Soaps and Cleaners

* For laundry detergent, mix 1 cup grated Ivory soap (or Fels Naptha soap), 1/2 cup washing soda and 1/2 cup borax*. Use 1 tbsp for light loads; 2 tbsp for heavy loads. Oxy Clean is also non-toxic.

* Adding 1/4 to 1/2 cup baking soda per wash load makes clothes feel soft and smell fresh.

* To get wool and cotton blankets soft and fluffy as new, add 2 cups white vinegar to a full tub of rinse water. Do not use vinegar if you add chlorine bleach to your rinsewater.

Newest Trend on the Market, ancient Mother Nature Secret! Go nuts and air out your dirty laundry with soap nuts

Many are curious about Soap Nuts.  Soap Nuts are truly a timely economic rediscovery for environmentally friendly detergents and cleaning products. From the Facts and Number previously mentioned, one can see why the consumer is so actively seeking new, better earth friendly products.

The  growing informed consumer is becoming aware of facts that previously went unnoticed such as the presence of Triclosan in anti-bacterial soaps, bisphenol-A in plastics and that air fresheners doused in phthalates.  These hazards are present in items that a person uses on a daily basis, but also harmful to health but also deplete the environment.

Soap nuts as a detergent

Soap nuts are actually not a nut at all; they are in fact a berry from trees that grow in particularly in India and Nepal.  Saponins are nature’s cleansing agents that act like soap when they come in contact with water. The saponins dissolves in the water and function as detergents. The soap nuts allow water to penetrate well into the fabric thereby washing and cleaning them. The dirt is attached to the surfactant which is then drained along with the water.

An Easy Win-Win Simple to use, cost effective, safe and “YES!” they work. Think about it. The less that we expose ourselves to chemicals, the better off we are right?  If you stop and think about the quantity of products and environmental impact we have contact our skin everyday and the conglomerate of particles that we inhale, there is no doubt we are a walking chemical slew.

With the dramatic up-swing of allergies and disease, more people every day are becoming aware of and  notice the effects of the chemicals that we are exposed to (through no fault of our own).

Long term effects of chemicals in detergents and soaps…

• Remain trapped in the clothes then create skin irritations and release harmful vapors
• Detergents contain allergy causing enzymes and dermatitis.
• Lung and heart problems can occur from the Sodium hypochlorite
• Higher risk to develop breast/prostate cancer or infertility from the nonylphenoxy ethoxylates
• Clothes wear out much faster
• Sodium hypochlorite presents in the detergents cause lung irritation, respiratory reactions, and cardiovascular damage and damage your eye and skin.

Why you should use soap nuts

Extremely Economical and Cost Saver

• They replace many products such as laundry softner, additives, and dryer sheets. Just look at the taxes alone you are saving from not having to buy so many products.

·      You save on water consumption and water softeners

·      They reduce clutter. With so many less products to buy no need for tons of storage.

·      They cut down on waste. With lots less products to buy, means less garbage to dispose of.

·      Safe for the environment and you. They are 100% biodegradable….non polluting……organic…non hypoallergenic…safe for septic systems

·      Easy to use: Can use them in their natural state, or grind them into a powder using a coffee grinder or blender. Store the whole nut, or the grindings in an air tight container.

Soap Nuts for Eczema

It is never recommended that anyone with skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis should use cleansers for their skin. This is a very difficult advice to follow, considering that cleansers are present in almost everything that is commonly used in and around the house.

Soap nuts are a part of the list of minerals and herbs in Ayurvedic cleansers and shampoos and are used in Ayurvedic medicine for treating eczema and psoriasis. Eczema can afflict both males and females alike, and even age is not a factor. Common symptoms of mild eczema can be dry and itchy skin but in more severe forms of the condition the skin becomes broken, raw and bleeding.

Managing Eczema & Psoriasis

Instead of prescription medicine to manage your eczema and psoriasis, try using soap nuts liquid as it provides a completely natural and hypoallergenic laundry detergent with no chemicals for treatment. Soap nuts are so gentle on the skin that they can even be used for babies and people who develop allergies to commercially available washing products.

This is extremely helpful for people who suffer from skin disorders because many times the clothes that are being washed with conventional detergents or soaps can cause the skin condition to worsen. Soap nuts are a natural product and have a very mild and pleasant aroma. Using them as a laundry detergent instead of usual commercially available detergents is a very simple way of getting relief from these skin conditions.

How to use for Laundry, a little is a lot!

Fact:  A 1lb  bag of soap nuts hand packed in biodegradable packaging is highly capable of 160-200 loads of laundry!

Soap Nuts also are a safe replacement for many chemical-based, multi-purpose cleaners. Liquify the Soap Nuts and use the solution to clean windows, bathrooms, kitchens and floors. It can also serve as liquid hand soap, laundry soap for ultra delicates and shampoo.

SOAP NUT USE CHART

PURPOSE	RESULTS	HOW TO USE
Shampoo & conditioner	Clean, silky shiny hair, dandruff treatment	1 tsp. soap nut ground, mixed with a little water.
Body wash	Clean, healthy, soft soap free skin,	1 tsp. soap nut mixed with a little water.
Head Lice	Effectively kills lice and makes it easy to remove eggs	Same as shampoo
Dish Washing	Clean chemical free dishware	1 tsp. added to dish water
Laundry	No soap residue, chemicals, less fading, no need for fabric softener	Small net bag with a 5-6 soap nuts in it
Jewelry Cleaner	Gold, silver sparkle again	Make a paste with 1 tsp ground soap nut, and water rub on and polish
All purpose cleaner	Floors, counters, almost any surface	Boil about 1/4c.soap nut shells in 2 c. water. let simmer for 10 mins.
Pet shampoo	Gentle leaves coat clean and shiny	Same as for shampoo
Garden	Natural garden pesticide	Mix one tsp, in 2c. water

Go nuts and air out your dirty laundry with Kasia soap nuts

BERRY- FRESH SOAP NUTS organic all-purpose cleaner USDA CERTIFIED   •   ORGANIC   •   ALLERGY-FREE A SAFE ALTERNATIVE TO CHEMICAL CLEANERS Common laundry detergents contain phosphates, ammonia, phenol, brighteners, artificial fragrances, EDTA and SLS, all which can remain 
on your clothes after washing. This residue can cause skin irritation (rashes, itching, allergic reactions) and sinus problems, as well as long-term toxic effects on the environment. Kasia’s Organic ‘Berry-Fresh Soap Nuts’ are . . . . . . perfect for sensitive skin (such as eczema, psoriasis and allergies) because they are naturally antibacterial, antifungal and antimicrobial. No added chemicals or perfumes are added. . . . more effective than toxic detergents. Your colors remain bright, fabric structure is maintained, odors are eliminated and static cling is reduced. Use on all fabrics — at all temperatures — in top or front loading machines. Tough on odors and stains; soft on delicates. . . . economical. Soap Nuts cost much less than chemical detergents — laundry is cleaned for less than 13 cents per load! Plus, no fabric softener is needed and they offer an unlimited shelf life. . . . multi-purpose. Use them to clean virtually in your home. . . . ecological. Soap Nuts do not pollute, are safe for septic systems, and are 100% biodegradable and compostable! . . . grown on Sapindus Mukrossi trees found in the Himalayans. (Beware of cheaper, smaller and darker soap nuts available on the internet. They contain lower levels of the active ingredient saponin, and therefore 
are less effective at cleaning.)

how to use for laundry 1.    Put 5–6 Soap Nuts (about 1/2 oz.) into a ‘wash bag.’ 
    If desired, add in your favorite Essential Oil for extra 
    antimicrobial properties and scent. 2.    Toss bag in washing machine with dirty laundry. 3.    Reuse wash bag 4–7 times — or more. 
    (Note: Number of loads vary due to water temperature, hardness, 
     washer type, duration of cycles, etc.)

how to use as a liquid detergent
for everyday cleaning Soap Nuts also are a safe replacement for many chemical-based, multi-purpose cleaners. Liquify the Soap Nuts and use the solution to clean windows, bathrooms, kitchens and floors. It can also serve as liquid hand soap, laundry soap for ultra delicates and shampoo. “Liquid Soap Nut Soak” Recipe 1.    Bring four cups of water to a boil in a heavy sauce pan with a lid.
2.    Turn off the heat and toss 6–8 Soap Nuts in the saucepan with 
    the hot water.
3.    Cover the sauce pan. Let it sit overnight.
4.    In the morning, remove and discard the remaining shells.
5.    Pour the cooled liquid into a container with a lid. Give your Soap Nut Soak a scent of essential oils — 
lemon or tea tree oil for bathroom cleanser, 
lavender for cold water laundry loads, and 
sweet orange for dishwasher cleaning liquid. This batch of Soap Nut Soak will 
wash at least 8 loads of laundry 
use 1/4 to 1/2 cup for each load).

Resources: http://planetgreen.discovery.com Wikipedia: Tetrachloroethylene

Kassie Kuehl is a respected leader in, and advocate for, natural health and beauty care. The founder of Kasia natural line of skin care, expert in ammonia-free hair color services, and stylist for Kasia Organic Salon, Kassie combines her experience as a nutrition coach with her ongoing Functional Medicine research to apply a whole of body “Beautiful Health’ approach to hair care and styling. More information and educational articles can be found at www.kasiaorganicsalon.com.

Clearing Skin Disorders Naturally * Eczema, Dry Skin, & Dandruff

The Kasia Team is committed to restoring the lasting foundations of beauty with the encouragement of a  nutrient dense lifestyle whether that be nutrition, supplementation, or topically -   providing the essential building blocks for clear, healthy skin and hair.

Let's step into some "Functional Medicine/Beauty" and get to the ROOT of  Clearing Skin Disorders Naturally

Key points

1. The skin is the largest and most visible organ of the body.

2. Heredity, diet, toxins, and allergen factors involved.

3. Detoxification is essential for people with skin disorders. The liver is the major organ involved.

4. Proper balance of the liver, lungs, kidneys, and digestive system maintains healthy skin.

Natural Acne Solutions

1. Probiotic +  (Acidophilus & Bifidus)  or high quality plain yogurt & kefir

2. Sulfur rich foods: eggs, fish, garlic, broccoli, and or MSM supplements

3. Vitamin A 25,000-100,000 (use with caution at higher levels and short term for a month or so)

4. Silica

5. Pantothenic acid 250-1000 mg

6. Zinc 30-60 mg

Eczema

1. Inflammatory skin reaction characterized by itching, redness, blisters, or dryness.

2. A sign of toxins from inside your body. Treating with creams is not addressing the root causes of toxicity.

3. Detoxify to expel the toxins, thus preventing the problem from returning.

4. Homeopathic remedies: Silica, Sulphur, Graphites, Psorinum

5. Dietary factors/allergens common

Psoriasis

1. Auto-immune, inflammatory skin condition. Caused by faulty immune system which over-reacts and

accelerates the growth of skin cells. Normally skin cells mature and are shed every 30 days. In psoriasis,

skin cells mature in 3 to 6 days, and pile up.

2. There are five types. Some get a related form called “psoriatic arthritis,” of the joints.

3. Plaque psoriasis is the most common type. It appears as patches of raised, reddish skin covered by silvery-white scale. These patches, or plaques, frequently form on the elbows, knees, lower back, and scalp.

Dry Skin and Dandruff

1. Water: 8-12 glasses pure

2. EFA’s: Flax seed oil, Cod liver oil, fatty fish

3. Use filter in shower to reduce chlorine

4. Minerals: sodium (sea salt/ Nat Mur) and potassium

5. Sugar is a culprit so need to eliminate. Also need to increase B-complex

6. Gall Bladder? Liver? Candida?

Atopic Eczema

Atopic eczema is associated with a genetic predisposition to non-regulation and imbalance of the immune system. People with atopic allergies lack cellular immune defences (TH1) and have too many humoral immune defences (TH2). The cause of this is most likely to be environmental stress – poor diet, pollution etc. Excessive cleanliness is also cited as a cause of atopic disease – this cause is known as 'The Hygiene Hypothesis'. The goal for treatment, therefore, is to rebalance the immune system to have an equal strength of TH1 and TH2 defences. Treatment possibilities include:

• Correcting faulty digestion;

• Increasing the ratio of omega-3 fats in our diets;

• Boosting glutathione and antioxidant levels. Glutathione is the most important antioxidant. Others include selenium, vitamin E, alpha lipoic acid (ALA) and NAC (N-Acetylcysteine).

• Checking for low stomach hydrochloric acid. Supplementing Betaine Hydrochloride;

• Supplementing  Probiotics

• Supplementing with vitamins, herbs and minerals, including magnesium, zinc, iron, manganese calcium, vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and B-vitamins especially B6;

• Increasing intake of monunsaturated fats: found mainly in nuts and olive oil;

• Reducing numbers of yeasts and bacteria on the skin and in the body;

• Exposure to moderate UVA: sunlight improves atopic eczema;

• Increasing exercise: this balances the immune response, gets oxygenated blood flowing, and improves appetite, digestion, sleep and endorphin release;

• Controlling stress: stress exhausts the hormonal system, causing worsening atopic systems. The adrenal gland releases cortisol when the body is under stress, overworking the endocrine system.

POINT OF ACTION!

For a consultation or further questions about the importance of Probiotics, Essential Fatty Acids, and over-all GOOD, better, BEST nutrition for hair, skin, and YOUR BEAUTIFUL HEALTH

DID YOU KNOW?

Fresh uncooked fruits and vegetables can actively support your body's regeneration and detoxification processes. Consume nutrient dense and organic goods.

Learn more about Kasia Beautiful Health SKIN CARE HERE!

Contact Kasia Organic Salon and take a euphoric experience to alternative healing beauty options.

The Au-Naturale way to reduce eczema in children

According to a Korean study, an increases in beta-carotene, vitamin E, Folic acid and iron can help reduce the risk of eczema in children.   The increased intakes of the four nutrients were found to reduce the risk of atopic dermatitis (AD), and can be accomplished through naturopathic supplements. Eczema is characterized by severe itching, redness and scaling. It may be the first sign of allergy during early life, and is often attributed to a delayed development of the immune system.

The condition will affect between 10 to 20 percent of all infants, but nearly half of those kids will grow out of eczema as the get older, according to the American Academy of Dermatologists.

For those children who remain afflicted with the condition, the study yields some encouraging results.  They found that the risk of AD was 56 percent lower in children, with the highest average intakes of Omega's, beta-carotene,  dietary vitamin E, folic acid, and iron showing 67, 63, and 61 per cent reductions, respectively.

Through coaching may clients through immune response health complications, I also know that GASTRO-Intestinal support is primary on the list!

Recommendations from Kasia Organice Salon

Take a look at our website - as we hold Immuno-Viva Supplements TOP GRADE for internal and dermal support.

The efficacy of a cold processed oil, and gastro-intestinal health will put you, or your child on the road to recovery.

Also, contact Kassie to order Nutritional Support for your child/children with Atopic Disorders. Ultracare for Kids medical food is specifically formulated for children with atopic disorders such as eczema, rhinitis, and allergy-responsive asthma.

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