Clary sage oil is a very popular essential oil and it’s widely utilized because of its medicinal qualities. This oil can offer various benefits which are related to your mental and body health. Moreover, it’s a wonderful natural remedy for ailments such as insomnia, depression and even stress.
In fact, it also serves as an antispasmodic, meaning it offers relief from spasms and muscle pain anywhere in your body and it can be utilized during menstruation. With the above-mentioned information, there’s no doubt that clary sage has lots to offer. However, since eczema wasn’t mentioned above, perhaps you are wondering, is clary sage good for eczema? Yes, clary sage is good for eczema. Actually, it can soothe skin effectively and it can be applied moderately on your eczema in order to reduce irritation.
However, some forms of clary sage oil are edible. Thus, it is best to look for those that are proven therapeutic grade, to make sure that no dangerous additives are added.
Nevertheless, read on to know more about clary sage and how you can utilize it to treat eczema.
Clary Sage: What Is It Exactly?
Clary sage, also known scientifically as Salvia sclarea is a blossoming herb that is innate to the Mediterranean Basin.
On the other hand, the essential oil that is being extracted from its buds and leaves has a refreshing and clean scent. Actually, you can inhale it as a part of your aromatherapy treatment or utilize it as a skin balm.
In addition, it has a sedative as well as a nerve tonic that has a soothing and warming component. Either way, this plant is easy to grow, especially in areas with a high temperature.
How to Utilize Clary Sage Oil for Eczema
- Skin Compress
In order to utilize clary sage oil as a skin compress, you need to add four to six drops of it into your bath.
In addition, simply mix the oil and cool water into a clean bowl. Then soak a cloth in the mixture you have created. Apply the cloth onto affected parts of your body to lessen the skin irritation.
- Enjoy a Relaxing and Warm Bath
Add six to 10 drops of clary sage oil. It is up to you whether to use the oil alone or add other oils.
For instance, you can add two drops of Geranium oil, two drops of lavender oil, and a bit of Ramon Chamomile.
However, make sure to add the essential oils after you’ve filled up the bath. Why? Because they’ll have partially vanished before you have even taken your bath.
Nevertheless, once you have mixed the needed oils, you can relax and enjoy for twenty minutes.
- Apply to your skin directly
In most cases, the clary sage oil doesn’t have to be diluted before utilizing it. But, before you apply for the very first time, it is highly recommended that you should conduct a patch test.
As a matter of fact, this can aid you to identify how your skin reacts to it. And most importantly, whether you should dilute it or not before further utilization.
Nevertheless, if you want to dilute, make sure you have carrier oils such as baby oil, almond oil, olive oil, as well as coconut oil.
What Are The Possible Side Effects?
Undeniably, clary sage oil is safe to use. However, just like any other oils, it also carries side effects which may possibly affect your health or make your eczema more severe.
For example, if you’re pregnant and suffering from eczema, don’t use clary sage oil as this oil can lead to uterine contractions that are dangerous for you and of course, to your unborn child.
Apart from that, you shouldn’t use it after consuming alcohol, because you could possibly experience severe insomnia or on the completely opposite spectrum; lucid dreaming.
Things to Think of Before Utilizing Clary Sage Oil
- Never utilize it undiluted.
- Before applying, perform a patch test. All you have to do is, apply a little amount of oil on your wrist then cover it using a bandage. Leave it for a couple of hours and see how your skin reacts. However, if it does not irritate your skin, then you can apply it.
- Make sure that you are not allergic to this oil.
- Most importantly, talk and consult a doctor before trying to utilize clary sage. On the other hand, if you are applying ointments or taking medications for eczema make sure to consult a physician, to make sure the oil won’t hinder the result of your treatment.
- It is not ideal for kids, because their skin is highly sensitive.
Always keep in mind that any essential oil isn’t recommended as the main treatment option for eczema. Instead, you can utilize them as complementary parts of your treatment process and naturally soothe the symptoms from the comfort of your home.
How to Lessen the Occurrence and Severity of Eczema Flare-Ups
Apart from using clary sage, there are also other things that you can do in order to lessen the occurrence and severity of eczema flare-ups. Here are a few:
- Conduct A Regular Exercise Routine
As we all know, exercise is about constant movement. In fact, any type of movement which your body enjoys can be a great help in keeping your lymph stirring.
Lymph is a colorless and clear fluid that consists of white blood cells. With that being said, as your lymph moves over your lymphatic system, it gets rid of unwanted materials such as waste and toxins from your body.
- Reduce Stress
Bear in mind that, stress can intensify the symptoms of eczema. For that reason, developing day-to-day habits like a healthy diet and meditating are very important.
- Soothe your Skin
One of the easiest things that you can do to prevent eczema flare-ups is to make sure that your skin is moisturized properly.
I highly suggest you always apply a moisturizer after taking a shower. This will help keep your skin moisturized throughout most of the day, bearing any severe weather conditions.
However, for a more profound feeling of relief, you can keep your moisturizer in an icebox or refrigerator before applying it. As a matter of fact, moisturizer usually feels better when you apply it cold.
- Take lots of showers
In contradiction of what you may possibly believe, showers can actually hydrate the skin. That said, you can take showers as long as you want, however, make sure to apply a moisturizer afterward.
On the other hand, it is very important to utilize either lukewarm or cool water instead of hot water. Hot water tends to dry out your skin a lot more and a lot quicker.
- Wear Clothes That Are Made of Cotton
There’s no doubt, cotton is a very comfy material which allows our skin to take breaths that aid in preventing irritation to our skin.
However, avoid clothes that were made using raw linen, hemp, wool, and synthetic materials as they irritate your skin and more importantly, they can cause immediate flare-up symptoms.
- Carefully choose the right facial and body products that suit you
Shaving cream, scented lotions, perfumes, cosmetics, and even hair products may consist of ingredients which might aggravate the skin and cause eczema flare-ups.
Nevertheless, one of the best ways that you can go about determining which products are right for you is to apply them
- Keep Cool and Utilize a Humidifier
Intense perspiration, as well as excessive dry heat, may trigger eczema outbreaks. Thus, in order to avoid overheating, it is best to keep your area relatively cool especially at night.
Very low humidity is essential for eczema sufferers. The more we can control our climate the better off we are. Check out the article I wrote on the best climate for eczema sufferers, it gives tons of in-depth information on places we should consider living, as well as, some of the worst climates to be surrounded by if you suffer from eczema.
With that being said, keeping a humidifier on low levels throughout the day could really make a big difference. This also helps you control the environment around you, that much better.
The Bottom Line
The main goal of clary sage oil for eczema is to heal your skin, prevent outbreaks of symptoms, reduce symptoms, and prevent severe skin damage.
Keep in mind that severe cases may possibly require prescription antihistamines or topical steroids. With that said, it’s best to consult with a doctor in order to make treatment plans that suit you.
Overall, clary sage oil is good for eczema. However, make sure to use it properly and responsibly. If you found this article helpful, please leave a comment down below. If you have used clary sage oil for your eczema, what were your results like? Have you continued using it for eczema relief?