Is Flax Oil Helpful for Eczema?
Answered by: Susan Eagles
Question from: Lupe
Posted on: March 25, 2002

My little guy’s pediatrician has me giving him flax seed oil once a day. He’s 4 years old, is Asthmatic and is allergic to gluten, dairy, garlic and soy. His reaction to the above is that he gets eczema all over his little body.

I understand that flax seed oil is rich in Omega 3 which is wonderful since he’s not allowed to eat fish yet. My questions are: Will the oil help his skin? I’m not sure why she prescribed this for him. I usually put it in his warm rice milk. Is this ok to do? I don’t warm the oil up with the rice milk I just add it to the warm milk. My last question is, he has eczema on his nails. His nails are bubbling up. What can I do for him?

Yes, flax is often helpful for skin problems. A lack of essential fatty acids is one cause of eczema. Another cause is food allergies. I usually use hemp oil rather than flax oil in my practice, because hemp oil contains a balanced ratio of omega-6 oils to omega-3 oils. Flax is high in omega-3s, making it suitable for the many people who have an overload of omega-6 oils with their dietary intake of vegetable oils.

Flax oil should not be heated. Heat causes toxic changes to the oil. Although I doubt that adding the oil to slightly warmed milk will harm the oil, I always recommend using it cold.

There are many benefits in taking a good blend of essential fatty acids. These include: maintaining the health of cells and organs in the digestive system; supporting wound healing; stimulation of the digestive system; building immune function; anti-inflammatory action; supporting blood circulation to all parts of the body, including the digestive system. These benefits are all helpful in healing eczema.

As well as taking flax internally, flax oil can also be rubbed into your child’s body. The skin will absorb the oil into the blood stream for systemic body effects.

You could try rubbing the contents of a vitamin E oil capsule into your child’s fingernails.

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