Home Remedies For Itching

Itching is a symptom of several conditions of the skin such as eczema, scabies, ringworm, allergies, etc. When the skin is inflamed, the nerves in it become hyperactive. This increases the irritation at the region, which we try to remove by itching. Several times itching is mild and the sensation goes away after a while. But if the itching is due to a skin disease, then it could become very severe, leading to bleeding, pus formation and further complications.

Causes of Itching:

Insect bites

Dry skin

Contact dermatitis (poison ivy or poison oak)

Contact irritants (such as soaps, chemicals, or wool)

Atopic dermatitis

Rashes (may or may not itch)

Childhood infections (such as chicken pox or measles)

Aging skin

Allergy caused by food or drugs (antibiotics)

Superficial skin infections such as folliculitis and impetigo

Pregnancy

Hepatitis

Iron deficiency anemia

Parasites such as pinworm

Pityriasis rosea

Psoriasis

Seborrheic dermatitis

Urticaria

Drugs such as antibiotics (penicillin, sulfonamides), gold, griseofulvin, isoniazid, opiates, phenothiazines, or vitamin A

Treatment of Itching:

a. Boil about 25 grams of babul and mango barks each in one liter of water. Allow a fomentation of these vapors directly onto the affected part of the skin. When the fomentation is done, dab the region with ghee. The itchiness will slowly disappear.

b. Mix linseed oil in equal parts of lemon juice. Apply this on the region where itching is severe. This remedy works for treating almost all types of itching.

c. Mix the juice of a fresh coconut and a tomato. Massage this on the itchy region. The itchiness will fade away.

d. If the itchiness is spreading all over the body, then you may try out the following recipe. Mix some ground red gram (arhar ki daal) in curds. Apply this on the skin for three to four days. The itching will stop spreading and will slowly disappear within a few days.

e. Grind sandalwood and black pepper to a fine paste. Mix them in ghee. Apply them with a rough cloth onto the itchy skin. Then expose the skin to sunlight. This is a quick method for reducing the itching sensation, but it may be a temporary relief.

f. Simply applying the juices of the root of bitter gourd (karela) on the skin also relieves itching to a great extent.

g. Itching that is caused due to dryness of the skin can be reduced by applying the cream of milk onto the whole skin and massaging it. This acts like a natural moisturizer for the skin.

h. Holy basil leaves are very effective in the treatment of itching due to ringworm.

i. Cassia leaves are used for treating all kinds of irritations of the skin.

j. Linseed is a good household remedy for itching. A hot poultice of its seeds is applied on the affected part.

k. Madhuca is an indigenous Indian herb that has been traditionally used for the cure of itching.

l. If the itching is due to eczema, then Ayurvedic doctors will prescribe Paradadi balm to be applied locally on the skin. For severe eczema, there is Rasa manikya that can be used. Shuddha gandhaka is an internal medicine complementary with the external agents.