Herbal Treatment for Scabies

Scabies is a rash that occurs when little mites burrow into various parts of your skin causing dry and scaly red lumps. These mites can easily spread via skin-to-skin contact or through infested towels, sheets or clothing. It is for this reason that you should treat scabies as soon as possible using the following herbal methods.

Killing Scabies

• Killing the mites responsible for the scabies is your first order of business to ensure that you won't get more new symptoms. Balsam of Peru (also known as Myroxyion pereirae syn. M. balsamum) is an evergreen tree that produces oil that can be used to treat parasites. Apply it directly to the skin to kill the mites, stop bleeding and begin the healing process. You can also mix it with other oils such as olive, almond or sesame oil to soothe the skin. Alder is a deciduous tree found most often in Europe, Asia and North Africa that has mite-killing bark. When the bark is boiled in vinegar and rubbed on the body it may help to kill scabies mites and dry up your scabs.

Calm the Skin

• After you have killed the mites, you can begin to calm the skin that has become very red and irritated. The root of the comfrey herb can be made into a topical salve. You can either purchase this cream or create a poultice by mixing powdered comfrey root with a little water and applying it directly to the problem areas. Lavender is well known for its calming properties--it can be found in many soaps and bath products. In its essential oil form it can help skin conditions by stimulating the cells of injured skin to heal smoothly and quickly. It can calm the skin in this way by being rubbed directly into the irritated region or by being mixed with olive oil.

Disinfect and Heal

• For areas of your body that are especially irritated and possibly infected, here are a few herbs to disinfect and heal your skin. Tea tree oil is an herbal disinfectant that has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Use pure tea tree oil on the irritated area twice a day. Pokeroot (Phytolacca americana) has been used as both a skin salve and an herbal emetic. To utilize it as a healing skin lotion, dilute pokeroot powder in some water and apply it to the skin. This can help with swelling and promote the healing process. Anise is a popular Chinese and Indian (Ayurvedic) herb that is related in many ways to the carrot and parsley plants. When its essential oil is harvested it can be used to treat and heal wounds from both lice and scabies. Use these remedies in whatever combination you wish as often as necessary to heal.

Where to Buy

• Many of these herbs can be purchased over the Internet or at a local natural goods store. It is recommended that you visit the store so that you can speak with a knowledgeable employee about any questions you might have. Only make purchases from Internet sites that you are familiar with or that you have done some research on to ensure that they are not a scam.

Disclaimer

• Some herbs can cause allergic reactions or can interact negatively with your current medications. Please consult your doctor or an integrated medical practitioner to ensure that the herbs you are taking are healthy and appropriate for your particular condition.