Scabies is a very serious skin disease that involves a deep infestation of mites inside the skin. It may not look very bad on the surface but has deep effects on the inner levels. People suffering from scabies need to be quarantined and treated till it is ensured that the infestation has been ridden off completely. It may be a long process because sometimes, the patient’s body becomes resistant to the treatment.
Ayurveda offers a natural and non-chemical treatment for scabies. It needs both medication and home remedies to help the patient with symptoms and treatment of the disease. The Ayurvedic treatment for scabies works on multiple aspects which range from medication to Panchakarma therapies, lifestyle modification, and diet rectification. Here we will be focusing on some of the home-based Ayurvedic remedies suggested for scabies patients to give them relief from symptoms while the therapies and medicines are treating the infestation by root:
- Tea Tree Oil: Tea tree is an essential oil and there are a number of studies that state its effectiveness in scabies treatment. It can really help in relieving the itchiness related to scabies. The oil is also known to be effective against deeply buried eggs of mites under the skin. You can either buy it online or from a local pharmacy.
- Aloe Vera: The soothing effects of aloe vera are hardly unknown to anyone. You may use it in the form of gel or juice to get rid of inflammation and itching from the infection. Doctors suggest a vital use of aloe vera for home treatment of scabies. It is considered a safe medicine and can be purchased online or found locally within one’s premises. It is also known to be as effective as benzyl benzoate.
- Neem: It is to be used in the form of oil or cream over scabies infected parts. Neem has numerous antibacterial, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties. It is capable of killing the mites and thus stopping the progress of infection and preventing its spread. A study was conducted on neem uses on scabies in dogs and it was found that most dogs were cured with regular use of neem-based shampoo and those that weren’t cured got a big relief due to a considerable decrease in the number of mites.
- Clove Oil: Clove oil has proved its efficiency in treating scabies to an extent. It has medicinal and therapeutic properties that can kill mites and prevent further progress of the disease.
- Turmeric: There is very little evidence that relates turmeric with scabies treatment. But there are some people that speak highly of its effectiveness in relieving the itching and irritation related to scabies. It doesn’t help in curing the infestation but can provide you relief from the constant discomfort.
- Zinc: Zinc isn’t the direct medicine for the problem but it is considered an essential element for the prevention of secondary infections. In simple words, it prevents scabies infestations from developing any other kind of infection. The constant itching due to scabies may develop open wounds due to scratching. Zinc helps in healing those open wounds and keeping them from developing any secondary infections.
- Wearing Clothes Washed In Hot Water: Just like zinc, it is another precautionary remedy for the treatment of scabies. Clothes worn by scabies patients should always be washed in hot water and dried in the sun. Even the bedsheets, pillow covers, curtains or any other fabric that has been in contact with the scabies patient needs to be washed in hot water and sundried.
- Borax: Sodium borate is a controversial medicine for scabies, but there are some pros that make it the best. Mostly it is used in laundry and house cleaning but there are some who claim that it is good for cleaning the laundry of scabies patients. Please consult your doctor before using it on the patient.
- Bleach: Bleach is a very harsh chemical and thus, it must be used with a lot of caution. One must dilute and then treat the skin with a lot of caution. Never ever let it come in direct contact with the skin. Make sure you ask your doctor before using bleach as it is capable of damaging lungs, eyes, and skin very easily.
- Vacuuming: It is quite similar to washing clothes and sun-drying them. It wouldn’t cure the infection but will help in keeping things under control. Vacuuming will prevent scabies from spreading to other members of your family.
- Essential Oils: There are not many pieces of research, but some recommend a number of essential oils like nutmeg, orange, clove, thyme, lavender, ylang-ylang, lemongrass, peppermint etc. for scabies treatment. But make sure you take your doctor’s opinion before applying any such remedy to your skin.
- White Vinegar: Use equal amounts of white vinegar and water in a bowl. Apply the mixture with a cotton ball on the affected area and let it stay there for a few minutes. Once done, wash it off with lukewarm water. This exercise needs to be carried out thrice for 10-15 days for effective results. However, every skin type has a different reaction to this mixture, those with sensitive skin should consult their doctor before using this mix. Vinegar is acidic in nature and thus its regular application changes the skin pH and kills mites.
- Curd and Fish: Curd has numerous essential nutrients like magnesium, vitamin B-12, Vitamin B-2, and calcium and its regular intake can be of great help in getting relief from rashes, itchiness, and irritation. The same goes for fish and fish oil.
Precautions
Apart from all other things, precaution is one of the best home remedies for scabies. It can easily spread through sexual contact, sharing towels, sheets or clothes and via long skin to skin contact. It is a thumb rule that anyone suffering from a contagious disease like scabies must avoid getting in direct contact with anyone.
Scabies patients should also avoid crowds and stay away from public places like schools, prisons, daycares, locker rooms, public pools, etc.
You find it Useful, Share This:To Know more, talk to our doctor. Dial +91-8396919191