Natural Treatments For Eczema

Helping Your Body Heal: The Vizuri Way

Part 01 / Nerve Health

Burning, Tingling, or Numb Feet? What Your Nerves May Be Telling You

A consultation at Vizuri Health Center.
A consultation at Vizuri Health Center.

Maybe your toes feel as though they have fallen asleep, even when you have been moving around. Perhaps your feet burn when you settle into bed, or you find yourself watching the ground more carefully because you do not feel quite as steady as you used to.

These changes can be easy to explain away. A long day. Uncomfortable shoes. Getting older.

At Vizuri Health Center, we encourage you to pay attention when something feels different. Persistent numbness, tingling, burning, or changes in balance deserve a closer look. Understanding what is happening is the first step toward making informed decisions about your care.

What is peripheral neuropathy?

Your peripheral nerves connect your brain and spinal cord with the rest of your body. Some help you feel touch, temperature, and pressure. Others help your muscles move. When peripheral nerves become damaged or stop working properly, the resulting condition is called peripheral neuropathy.1

That term describes a problem with nerve function; it does not, by itself, tell us why the problem developed. This distinction matters. Two people can both describe burning feet and need very different care.

We believe a helpful conversation begins with more than naming the symptom. We also need to consider its pattern, its effect on your daily life, and the possible conditions behind it.

Neuropathy does not always feel like pain

Burning and electrical sensations often get people's attention. Reduced sensation can be quieter. You may feel as though you are walking on padding, notice that your socks seem bunched up when they are not, or struggle to tell exactly where your feet are positioned.

Symptoms can include tingling, numbness, unusual sensitivity to light touch, weakness, and difficulty with balance. The combination depends on which nerves are affected.1 Something that feels strange rather than painful can still be worth evaluating.

Think about how these changes influence your choices. Are you avoiding uneven trails? Holding the railing more tightly? Cutting a shopping trip short? Those details help communicate the real impact of your symptoms, even when a pain score does not capture it.

Why finding the cause matters

Diabetes is a common cause of peripheral nerve damage, but neuropathy also occurs in people who do not have diabetes. Possible contributors include certain vitamin deficiencies, medication effects, heavy alcohol use, autoimmune conditions, kidney disease, and injuries or pressure affecting nerves. Sometimes, a cause remains unknown despite investigation.2

This is why we do not recommend choosing a treatment based on a symptom checklist alone. A person with a nutritional deficiency needs that deficiency addressed. Someone with a medication-related problem needs a discussion with the prescribing clinician. Other findings may call for specialist evaluation.

At Vizuri, our interest in whole-person health means taking the broader story seriously. We want to understand what may be contributing and where our care can fit within the support you need.

Could the problem be coming from somewhere else?

Tingling does not automatically mean a widespread neuropathy. A compressed nerve near the spine can also cause radiating pain, numbness, or weakness. For example, cervical radiculopathy involves a nerve root in the neck and may produce symptoms into an arm or hand.3

The location and distribution of symptoms provide clues, but they do not establish a diagnosis on their own. Whether symptoms affect one side or both, follow a particular path, or change with position can help guide the examination.

Bring a simple description to your visit: where symptoms begin, when they occur, how long they last, and what makes them better or worse. You do not need perfect medical language. Your observations are useful.

What an evaluation can help clarify

An assessment typically includes a health history and examination. Depending on the findings, additional testing or referral may be appropriate. Blood tests, nerve conduction studies, and other investigations answer different questions; no single test explains every case.1, 2

We also encourage you to bring a medication and supplement list, along with any previous test results. Tell us about changes in walking, sleep, work, and the activities you enjoy. Together, these pieces help build a clearer picture.

A meaningful next step should leave you understanding what is known, what still needs clarification, and what options make sense for you.

When to act sooner

Sudden one-sided numbness or weakness, especially with facial drooping or trouble speaking, calls for dialing 911 immediately.5 Rapidly worsening weakness also needs urgent medical attention. If you have reduced feeling in your feet, a new wound or signs of infection should be assessed promptly.2, 4

For ongoing symptoms, you do not need to wait until they become severe to start the conversation.

Start with understanding

At Vizuri Health Center in Williston, we offer a neuropathy program and believe education is an essential part of care. We want you to feel comfortable asking questions and clear about your next steps.

If burning, tingling, or numbness is changing how you live, contact our team to schedule an evaluation. We can help you explore whether our neuropathy services are appropriate or whether another type of evaluation should come first.

In the next article, we will look at the question many people ask next: Can damaged nerves heal, and what should a thoughtful treatment plan include?

Sources & further reading
  1. National Library of Medicine. Peripheral Nerve Disorders. Read source
  2. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Peripheral Neuropathy. Read source
  3. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Cervical Radiculopathy (Pinched Nerve). Read source
  4. NIDDK. Diabetes & Foot Problems. Read source
  5. CDC. Signs and Symptoms of Stroke. Read source

Natural Treatments For Eczema

If you suffer from eczema, you probably know how uncomfortable and inconvenient the condition is.

Eczema is a common skin condition characterized by itchy, dry, and irritated skin. It typically starts during infancy or childhood but can persist into adulthood and it affects people of all ethnicities and ages. Complications of eczema may include:

  • Sleep troubles. Persistently itchy skin can cause difficulty getting a good night’s rest.
  • Skin infections. Frequent scratching of affected areas can leave the skin open to bacteria.
  • Thick scaly skin. Scratching causes skin to harden and thicken.
  • Asthma and hay fever. Eczema often leads to these upper respiratory conditions, especially in children younger than 12.

Eczema can appear anywhere but is normally seen on the arms, inner elbows, cheeks, and scalp.

Thankfully, the symptoms of eczema can be managed through simple home remedies and lifestyle changes. 

What Causes Eczema?

The precise cause of eczema isn’t entirely known, however, research shows a few potential causes such as an overactive immune system, the inability to produce enough of a protein called filaggrin, which helps keep the skin moisturized and healthy, as well as poor gut health.

The gut-skin axis

When there is an imbalance in the gut or skin microbiome, it is known as dysbiosis. This can happen if there are too many bad species of bacteria in the gut, not enough good species or not enough diversity of species of bacteria in the system. In people with atopic dermatitis, which is a type of eczema, dysbiosis may play a role in the development of the disease.

Scientists believe that dysbiosis in the gut and on the skin may cause this. It may be that the immune system is detecting harmful levels of these bad microbes on the skin and so reacts to them. This may be why dysbiosis and eczema then create a cycle of inflammation that perpetuates symptoms.

Those who suffer with intestinal permeability, or leaky gut, may also experience eczema since they lack the beneficial species of bacteria that produce byproducts that help the intestinal barrier work more effectively.

External irritants

When the skin is exposed to an external or internal irritant, the immune system overreacts. These common eczema triggers include:

  • Chemicals or preservatives found in soaps or detergents
  • Scented products
  • Cigarette smoke
  • Allergies to pollen, dust, mold or mites
  • Rough and scratchy material such as wool
  • Synthetic fabrics
  • Temperature changes
  • Stress
  • Food allergies

Natural Treatments For Eczema  

During an eczema flare up, there are numerous natural remedies that can provide relief. Here are a few we recommend:

Coconut oil

Coconut oil contains fatty acids that help add moisture to the skin. It also is known to protect the skin by combating inflammation and strengthening the skin barrier. Studies have found the use of coconut oil for eight weeks improves eczema symptoms.

Using coconut oil is simple. Just apply -pressed or virgin coconut oil to the skin after bathing, once or twice a day.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is another topical treatment that can be beneficial for soothing eczema symptoms. Studies have found it to be antibacterial, antimicrobial, immune-boosting, and wound-healing. These properties will help promote healing on eczema skin.

You should aim to find an aloe vera product with few ingredients — avoid preservatives, alcohol, fragrance and dyes which may further irritate the skin.

Colloidal oatmeal

Also known as avena sativa, it is made from oats that have been ground and boiled and is commonly used to treat irritated skin. Studies have found colloidal oatmeal to be highly efficacious at healing and soothing skin dryness, scaling, and itching.

Dietary changes and gut health assessment

Certain foods can cause inflammation in the body, which may in turn trigger an eczema flare-up. Making a few dietary changes can help prevent the occurrence of these flares. 

Add anti-inflammatory foods into your diet, such as: fish, leafy greens, colorful fruits, turmeric and cinnamon.

Avoid inflammatory foods like dairy, eggs, soy, and wheat can be common triggers for eczema prone skin.

It is also highly recommended to get a thorough gut health assessment from a qualified practitioner – as mentioned earlier poor gut health is likely to be a trigger for eczema.

Vitamins and supplements

These can be useful for lowering inflammation and boosting the immune system. Common vitamins and supplements to manage eczema include:

  • Vitamin D, an immune strengthening vitamin.
  • Fish oil
  • Zinc
  • Selenium
  • Prebiotics and probiotics
  • Melatonin to ensure good sleep
  • Turmeric
  • Primrose oil
Reduce stress

Stress is another well-known trigger for eczema symptoms to flare up. Stress produces inflammation in the body, and inflammation underlies the condition. Try reducing stress through one or more of:

  • Deep breathing exercises
  • Yoga
  • Meditation
  • Listen to relaxing music
  • Ensure you get a good night’s sleep
Use gentle soaps and detergents

Laundry detergents, body washes, and soaps often contain harsh detergents and lathering agents that can dry out the skin of people with eczema among other harmful, hormone disrupting ingredients.

Be sure to use natural, gentle, no-lather cleansers that have no fragrance. Many people who suffer from eczema find that this helps their symptoms.

Eczema is a common skin condition that can vary in severity. While there is not currently a cure, you can treat and prevent eczema flares using natural home remedies and simple lifestyle changes. Avoiding irritants, minimizing stress and addressing the root cause of your symptoms will help keep your eczema at bay and allow you to live comfortably in your own skin. 

For more information on dealing with eczema the natural way, don’t hesitate to reach out!

Sources

Zagórska-Dziok M, Furman-Toczek D, Dudra-Jastrzębska M, Zygo K, Stanisławek A, Kapka-Skrzypczak L. Evaluation of clinical effectiveness of Aloe vera – a review. J Pre Clin Clin Res. 2017;11(1):86-93. doi:10.26444/jpccr/74577.

Reynertson KA, Garay M, Nebus J, Chon S, Kaur S, Mahmood K, Kizoulis M, Southall MD. Anti-inflammatory activities of colloidal oatmeal (Avena sativa) contribute to the effectiveness of oats in treatment of itch associated with dry, irritated skin. J Drugs Dermatol. 2015 Jan;14(1):43-8. PMID: 25607907.

Lambers H, Piessens S, Bloem A, Pronk H, Finkel P. Natural skin surface pH is on average below 5, which is beneficial for its resident flora. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2006 Oct;28(5):359-70. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-2494.2006.00344.x. PMID: 18489300.

Intahphuak S, Khonsung P, Panthong A. Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic activities of virgin coconut oil. Pharm Biol. 2010 Feb;48(2):151-7. doi: 10.3109/13880200903062614. PMID: 20645831.

Katta R, Schlichte M. Diet and dermatitis: food triggers. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2014 Mar;7(3):30-6. PMID: 24688624; PMCID: PMC3970830.

Kim SO, Ah YM, Yu YM, Choi KH, Shin WG, Lee JY. Effects of probiotics for the treatment of atopic dermatitis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2014 Aug;113(2):217-26. doi: 10.1016/j.anai.2014.05.021. Epub 2014 Jun 20. PMID: 24954372.

Park H, Kim K. Association of Perceived Stress with Atopic Dermatitis in Adults: A Population-Based Study in Korea. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2016 Jul 27;13(8):760. doi: 10.3390/ijerph13080760. PMID: 27472355; PMCID: PMC4997446.

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