Natural health with Megan Sheppard: Scabies and Pancytopenia
The scabies mite (Sarcoptes scabiei) is a tiny wingless mite that is only just visible to the naked eye. The female burrows into the skin and lays up to three eggs daily for about five weeks, at which point the eggs hatch and the cycle begins again.
The itching rash is an allergic reaction to the mite, its eggs and faeces. It appears in folds and crevices of the body and has a characteristic blistered appearance in a zig-zag pattern.
Scabies mites are more active at night, so it is likely your daughter will feel the irritation more keenly at this time and have trouble sleeping (no doubt you will have already discovered the loss of precious sleep).
Unfortunately scabies are extremely contagious, so you will not only need to treat your entire family, you will also need to eliminate any and all possible sources of re-infestation.
Your house will become a full-time laundry station as all of your towels, bedding, clothing, throws, and cushion covers will need to be washed in a hot water cycle on a regular basis.
Adding six to 10 drops of tea tree or thyme essential oil to the final rinse is an excellent idea in terms of assuring that you truly get rid of these mites.
A hot tumble dry during the first week or two of laundering is also recommended. In some cases, even the carpets and upholstery will require professional steam cleaning — these mites are truly tenacious.
Thyme essential oil can be added to a base oil (olive, almond, or coconut) and dabbed onto the scabies rash. Your daughter should also take thyme tea (you can add honey to taste), which you prepare using one teaspoon of the dried herb to a cup of hot water.
Do not use thyme oil or tea during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Other herbal remedies that have proven to be effective in treating and preventing scabies are tea tree and neem. You can add tea tree essential oil to a neem lotion or ointment and rub all over the skin (not just the affected areas) twice daily. If the scalp is affected, then you can use tea tree- or neem-based shampoo and conditioner.
Pancytopenia, as you and your husband will no doubt be aware, is where levels of white blood cell, red blood cell and blood platelet counts are very low due to an overactive spleen.
This condition is commonly linked with bone marrow conditions such as leukaemia, aplastic anaemia, myelofibrosis, malignant osteoporosis, and Fanconi anaemia. It can also be a side effect of certain medications.
Paw paw leaves (also known as papaya) can be used as a tea to help increase the blood platelet count. You can use either dried or fresh leaves, and researchers have noted success with the fruit as well.
Aqueous extracts from paw paw leaves are being studied for their potential in treating and preventing allergic disorders, certain cancers, and as an immunoadjuvant for vaccine therapy.
Dr Dilis Clare of Health & Herbs in Galway ( www.healthandherbs.ie ; 091-583260) has an extensive range of dried herbs, tinctures and custom blends, so will no doubt be able to provide you with paw paw leaf if you are having trouble tracking it down. Dr Clare could also help you devise a customised nutritional and therapeutic plan.
The juice combination of beetroot, carrots, spinach, celery, green apple, and a bunch of parsley is thought to be very good for the blood.
It may be worth investing in a good juicing guide for specific health recipes. Check out Michael van Straten’s juicing books, which are very visually appealing as well as being easy to glean information from at a glance.
