My baby has recently developed a lot of eczema on his body. I heard from friends that you can use mugwort leaves or honeysuckle to bathe a baby with eczema. So I want to ask, should I use mugwort leaves or honeysuckle for my baby's eczema?
Mugwort Leaves or Honeysuckle for Baby's Eczema
Both can be used.
Pediatric eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis or allergic dermatitis, is a chronic, recurrent, inflammatory skin disease.
Mugwort leaves and honeysuckle are both traditional Chinese medicinal herbs. Mugwort leaves have a bitter and pungent taste and warm properties. They have antibacterial and antiviral effects. Using a decoction for external washing can relieve dampness and itching, and has a certain effect on treating eczema, skin allergies, and other skin diseases.
Honeysuckle has a sweet and cold taste, and enters the lung, heart, and stomach meridians. It has a strong effect of clearing heat and detoxifying. Its active ingredients, such as chlorogenic acid and luteolin glycoside, also have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. It can be used to treat various skin diseases such as eczema and acne. Therefore, both mugwort leaves and honeysuckle can be used for baby's eczema, or using them together will have better results.
Ratio of Honeysuckle and Mugwort Leaves for Decoction
There is no strict ratio requirement.
There is no strict ratio requirement for the decoction of honeysuckle and mugwort leaves. Honeysuckle's efficacy lies in clearing heat and detoxifying, while mugwort leaves' efficacy lies in warming the meridians and dispelling cold. Both have no obvious toxic side effects, so the dosage can be adjusted according to individual circumstances. However, because a baby's skin is delicate, it is recommended to consult a professional doctor for the most accurate dosage.
How to Prepare Honeysuckle and Mugwort Leaves Decoction
Steps:
1. Take an appropriate amount of honeysuckle and mugwort leaves and put them in a cloth bag, tie it tightly.
2. Place the cloth bag in a large sand pot and pour in water.
3. Bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer for 10 minutes over low heat.
4. Remove the cloth bag and collect the medicinal juice.
5. Let the medicinal juice naturally cool to a suitable temperature.
6. You can use the medicinal juice to bathe the baby or use it to wash the baby's whole body.
Precautions for Using Honeysuckle and Mugwort Leaves Decoction
1. Do not boil for too long
When boiling honeysuckle and mugwort leaves, the recommended boiling time is generally around 10-15 minutes. Boiling for too long may cause the medicinal properties of honeysuckle to be lost, as honeysuckle is a type of exterior-releasing herb and its active ingredients are easily extracted.
2. Do not use iron utensils
Honeysuckle and mugwort leaves are both Chinese medicinal herbs. It is generally recommended to use sand pots or clay pots for boiling, rather than iron utensils. This is to prevent the medicinal properties from reacting with the iron utensils, which may reduce the efficacy or even produce harmful substances for the human body.
3. Do not add cold water
After the honeysuckle and mugwort leaves decoction is prepared, it is recommended to let it cool naturally or add warm water to cool it down. Adding cold water directly may affect the efficacy of the decoction.
What to Pay Attention to for Baby's Eczema
Diet
For babies with eczema, it is best to focus on breastfeeding. If the baby has already started to eat solid food, it is important to avoid foods that are prone to allergies, such as milk, eggs, and honey. The diet should be light and low in salt to prevent excessive fluid accumulation and aggravation of eczema.
Clothing
It is best to choose lightweight and soft cotton clothing for the baby, avoiding irritating fibers, coarse fiber textiles, as well as silk, wool, and synthetic fiber products. Bedding and pillows should also be regularly cleaned to keep them dry.
Bathing
It is best to bathe a baby with eczema in warm water, and avoid using alkaline bath products that are too strong in degreasing, as they may worsen the symptoms of eczema. If using such products, choose ones that are slightly acidic.
Environment
The room temperature should not be too high, as it may worsen the itching sensation of the baby's eczema. The environment should minimize allergens, such as tobacco smoke, pollen, and animal fur, to reduce allergic reactions caused by irritants.
