Ways to treat and avoid Scabies (The itch) using natural remedies.

SYMPTOMS

An itching in a body part which tends to continue, then let up, then continue again. Most frequent areas are finger webs, hands, wrists, elbows, underarms, waist, and feet. Skin above the neck is rarely involved, except in infants. In men, it may also occur in the scrotum and penis. In women, the nipples are the most affected. Peak time is late summer and early autumn. Symptoms begin 2-6 weeks after infestation, with severe itching. Gray or skin- colored ridges appear on the skin. Mites are most active at night in warm beds.

CAUSES

Scabies is an infectious skin disease caused by an almost microscopic mite, called sarcoptes scabiei. Although he is a little fellow, you know he is there. This eight-legged mite matures in 10-14 days and lives for about 30 days, all the while laying eggs in tunnels under the skin. They hatch in 4-5 days. Children infested with them usually have about 20. If they fall off the body, they live for 36 hours to 8 hours.

   Scabies is found on all social levels. Contact, even by a handshake, is all that is needed to acquire it. It can also be transmitted through clothing and bed linen. It is more common in older adolescents and young people, and in girls rather than boys. People can also get it from touching dogs, other animals, or their bedding. It is a special problem in institutions, such as nursing homes, etc. Warmth stimulates mite activity.

   Scabies can only be accurately diagnosed by taking skin scrapings and viewing them under a microscope. If one person in a family has them. It is generally well to treat everyone. Children under 15 are often the first to contract them. It is usually best to treat everyone in the family at the same time.

NATURAL REMEDIES

• Mix flowers of sulfur with petrolatum (petroleum jelly). Sulfur is a poison, so do not swallow it! In addition, it will stain clothing and does not smell good. But it will work to kill the scabies mites. For children, use a 5% sulfur (5% sulfur and 95% petrolatum) mixture; for adults, a 10% mixture. Take a warm, soaking bath before applying the mixture. Apply it for 3-5 nights before retiring. Cover from neck to toes. Have someone else apply it to you, so everything is covered. (Sulfur will stain clothing).
• During this period, launder your clothes frequently in hot water (140^o F). The mite cannot survive temperatures above 120^o F. for more than 5 minutes. Dry cleaning or ironing will also kill them.

OTHER HELP

• Pennyroyal is also called “fleabane,” because it is so effective against fleas. The ancient Romans used it for that purpose. Apply a strong tea of it directly to the affected area.
• Add 2 drops of tea tree oil and/or plaintain leaves to 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil and apply it to the area. Like pennyroyal, it will kill the mites and reduce itching.
• Turmeric has been used for centuries in Asia to kill scabies. Make a paste and spread it on the affected area, at the same time you boil clothes and bedding.
• To reduce the itching sensation, soak in a cool bath, starch bath or oatmeal bath. Mix powdered calcium with a little oil and apply to the area. The gel of Aloe Vera contains bradykininase, which is soothing.
• Onion skins contain 3% quercetin, which is soothing to itching skin. Boil 6 onions for 15-20 minutes in a quart of water, when the liquid is cool; apply it all over the body. A strong solution of tansy tea kills scabies.
• For a bath which both soothes the skin and kills the mites, mix peppermint, pennyroyal, rosemary, sage, spearmint and thyme together. Make two quarts of tea, toss it in bathwater, and climb in.
• Eat foods high in zinc (such as soybeans, sunflower seeds, whole-grain products, yeast, wheat bran, and blackstrap molasses.)
• Avoid processed, fried and junk foods. Use no sugar, chocolate, soft drinks, alcohol, or tobacco.
• Keep fingernails short and discourage scratching.

Note: Do not use LIndane or Kwell. These chemicals can be absorbed through the skin and cause convulsions.