It is vital that anyone suffering from scabies begins treating the problem as early as possible. Your doctor can prescribe a cream and possibly an oral medication if required however, many people prefer to use natural remedies for scabies either totally or in conjunction with prescribed, conventional medication.
Which ever treatment you decide is best for you it is essential that before you begin any self medication you get a proper diagnosis from a doctor to ensure you do indeed have scabies. Remember there are many other skin conditions which present with a rash and itching – you could even have bed bugs!
The itching caused by scabies can be unbearable causing the victim to scratch and tear the skin. This in itself can lead to more serious problems for the patient in the form of a bacterial skin infection which will require medical attention.
There are a number of natural remedies for scabies, listed below are four of the most popular:
1. Neem Oil-
Neem Leaves
Neem oil is a plant extract derived from the plant Azadirachta indicaand is classed as a botanical pesticide.
There are a few different ways in which neem oil can be used as a natural remedy for scabies.
a. It can be added to bath water in its pure form to help sooth infected areas of skin.
b. When combined with turmeric to form a paste it can be applied to infected areas to provide relief.
c. Lastly many people prefer to simply apply the neem oil directly to the skin.
2. Lavender Oil (Pure)
When mixed with alcohol pure lavender oil is one of the more pleasant natural remedies for scabies. Using this remedy has been known to actually kill the mites and their eggs. It is essential that enough of the solution is applied. For it to be effective it must penetrate the skin. However, I would not suggest using this if the skin is in anyway broken.
Witch Hazel Flower
3. Tea Tree Oil and Witch Hazel:
Combining these in a 90% distilled witch hazel and 10% tea tree oil combination produces a lotion which gives effective relief, particularly if applied after bathing.
4. Tree Tree Oil:
This is very effective on its own whenever the need to apply it arises, it does have a very powerful smell but this is a small price to pay!
5. Water:
Some of you probably think I have gone nuts! However, relaxing in a bath filled with cool water will help to take the “heat” out of the infected areas and in doing so reduce the itching. Obviously, this is not something you can do every time the itching comes back but using a flannel soaked in cool water will have the same effect when placed on sections of infected skin.
