L.R. asks from Gresham, OR on July 28, 2009
Naet? - Gresham,OR
My son has eczema really badly. He has been tested and turned up positive for a number of food and environmental things, which I have been avoiding (in my diet) and trying to keep out of the house (like scented anything). It has helped a tad, but it still gets bad some days, like as if I missed something he's allergic to, and it really never gets better past a certain point. I've tried a LOT of things, but nothing really helps much. I don't want to do steroids, though I will use .5% hydrocortisone to keep things from getting too bad (not to clear it up).
Well, I recently heard about NAET, and found someone who does it and went for the first session. I don't really understand how it will all work, but I'm desperate. It's wearing on me emotionally to watch my baby scratch and suffer...
My friend that told me about NAET told me that her doctor (way back in VA) is the only one who knows how to make the treatments permanent. The acupuncturist that I'm seeing says that if the treatment is done right and we avoid the item for the prescribed amount of time (25 hours) after treatment, that it should be permanent, especially at his age.
So my question is, if any of you have used NAET to treat allergies of any kind (especially those that manifest themselves as eczema), how did it go for you? Was it permanent? Was it really all it claimed to be?
I guess I'm seeking a little reassurance here. My mom will not be happy to hear we're going to an acupuncturist (she doesn't believe in any of that stuff), so being able to tell her that it really works from people who actually have tried it would be really great! Thank you!
ETA: My son's pediatrician IS a naturopath. I know a lot have suggested one, but I've already tried a number of homeopathic remedies (he's allergic to the inactive ingredients), and we're still trying some different things. Thanks for the idea, though!
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C.S. answers from Seattle on July 29, 2009
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S.S. answers from Portland on July 29, 2009
Hi L.,
I haven't done NAET personally but I have had very good results with regular acupuncture for allergies and tension. So it's probably worth a try if the financial end isn't too draining for you.
One thing I would like to add that may help a lot in the meantime is getting a hazelwood necklace for him to wear. The hazelwood naturally absorbs acidity in the boday because it is an alkaline wood and apparently, many types of eczema are rooted in an over acidic blood Ph level (though they are often triggered by other seemingly unrelated things like food allergies and perfumes). We discovered them for our youngest daughter who has been covered in eczema since she was 3 months old. We had a recommendation from a friend to look into them (her son had bad reflux and she was able to take him off his medicine because the necklace worked so well for him). Within 2 weeks of her wearing the necklace, her eczema was 90% gone! I was so astonished I put together a website to spread the word about these little marvels. My site is www.hazelaid.com
It explains a bit more about how it works. I've received so many emails from parents who don't know how to explain it (neither do I!) but are grateful that it works. It's not a permanent healing because the wood can only absorb so much acidity until it is saturated so unfortunately, we have to change our daughter's necklace when it's full (in her case every 3 months or so, although it lasts longer for most people but she a very acidic) otherwise the eczema returns. But until you find something that heals his eczema completely, it may help relieve it dramatically in the meantime.
Hope the NAET works for him long term!
Good luck!
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M.W. answers from Seattle on July 29, 2009
If NAET isn't what you decide to go with, I highly suggest a naturopath who works with kids. Many work with insurance.
Also, and I'm sure you already do this, but using a laundry detergent that completely rinses is important. The "Free and Clear" stuff that is mass produced is NOT genuinely free & clear of irritants. I used a soap for cloth diapering that rinses completely and we liked it so much for that, we started using it for all our laundry. We noticed the little dry spots on the back of our toddler's knees went away after a week. The soap we use is Charlie's Soap, but there are others out there like Country Save.
A friend of mine has a little girl who had terrible eczema and was allergic to a lot of foods, but by the time she was two, a great deal of it had subsided. She saw a naturopath for nutritional advice and supplement advice. Her little girl was pretty much a vegan until about age 3, which was a bit challenging for the (very Meat & Potatoes type) family!
As for your mom, sorry but your kids are your kids. You don't need to tell her what you are doing if you don't want to. If she doesn't believe in non-Western medicine, that's her problem. Western medicine is not perfect, and you have every RIGHT as a parent to seek out what ever treatments you can for your son! I opted for a midwife with my second pregnancy, and my mom was "very concerned". When she went with me to an appointment and realized she was extremely professional and knowledgeable and the office was just like an OB's office--she backed off... Meanwhile she suffers from pre-diabetes issues and just pops all the different pills her doc prescribes and then complains to me about the side effects. I think it's just a generatonal thing, our parents are from the "Doctors are Gods" era. phooey.
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P.M. answers from Portland on July 28, 2009
I went through the NAET process maybe 10 years ago in an attempt to reduce asthma and a whole list of sensitivities/allergies. I wish I could say I noticed a beneficial result, but since then I have good and bad days, weeks and months. There is no noticable connection to the expensive treatments or stringent protocol I had to follow.
I suppose it's possible that only one person knows how to do the process correctly, but I am really skeptical about such claims. I mean, how could that possibly be true, and why would that one person somehow capture the magic but not be able to teach others? I have tremendous respect for alternative medicine and most of the healers I have met, but some are snake oil salesmen, and claims like "I'm the only one with the real cure" are often the tip off.
(Interestingly, some who sell snake oil do seem to believe that's it's the real deal. And sometimes enough belief results in a temporary or permanent cure. This may be faith healing or the placebo effect. Whatever it is, if it works, I say go for it!)
Like your son, I can't have scented anything in my surroundings, and am frequently driven out of public places by people wearing toiletries and perfume. I have adjusted to the rather extreme restrictions in my life, but I sure wouldn't wish it on a child.
Since you are desperate, you might want to consider a naturopath, who will employ a gentle and sensible approach, probably much more doable and less expensive than NAET. I would imagine there are some who specialize in working with children. The results may not be instantaneous, but may lead to a healthier and more comfortable child.
I've also had some remarkable results from homeopathy for specific complaints. And I have loved how much better acupuncture makes me feel after each treatment. It doesn't claim to be a permanent fix, but can help put us in better balance and able to handle the normal assaults on our bodies more effectively.
Another thing I've learned about skin, lung, and stomach sensitivities is that they can be made worse by, or even caused by, stress. It might help to keep a brief "emotional diary" of the kind of day your son has had, what sort of social contact or other stimulation, whether his sleep was good – anything notable. (Note whether YOU have had an unsually stressful day, too, since that can affect your children.)
Rate his symptoms each day. Watch for patterns. You may learn that you have ways to smooth out his emotional highs and lows, and even his itching, by avoiding stressors.
Good luck. I'm so glad you care about your son's experience.
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T.G. answers from Portland on July 29, 2009
I suggest you check out the website The Peoples Pharmacy: www.peoplespharmacy.com and search for eczema. You will get a number of results from others who have tried other alternatives to treating it.
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L.H. answers from Anchorage on July 29, 2009
Hi L.!
I worked in an alternative medicine clinic for a few years and helped do the NAET treatment. I've seen it do incredible things for people. Unfortunatley when my daughter and I both did them it did not work. My daughter is almost five and has eczema. She has had it since she was four months old. The best thing that helped me was taking her to a specialist for allergy testing. It was sad with the needles but in the end I finally figured out what she was allergic to. I just keep her away from what she is allergic to and her skin clears up. When doing NAETS they usually do your top five things you're allergic to. If you don't see results by then,you might want to stop. I did 20 or more treatments and my daughter did the same over a six month period. There are some people NAETS just don't work for. Just try the five and evaluate with your NAET provider where your son is at and if you have seen any results. I once saw a man who would go into anaphylatic shock eating crab. He did a few NAET treatments and finally did the one for crab. After his 25 hours were up he came in the office and ate a whole basket of crab. I was shocked.
I pray your sons eczema gets better and that the NAETS work for him. I know how frustrating it can be trying to figure out what the allergies are and how to clear up their skin.
Take care!
L.
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B.H. answers from Seattle on July 28, 2009
NOt sure what that is but Im a mom to a son who suffers from terrible exzema, and he is not allergic to anything. Sometimes they are linked others not. The only things that help besides the steroid oitments are Using baby aquaphor baby wash, and aquaphor lotion 4x a day, and only bathing 1x week unless really needed. But heat,Dry,Change in weather all effect exzema.
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E.J. answers from Seattle on July 29, 2009
I don't know anything about NAET but have a few more suggestions for the exzema. Our son gets it really badly too and a few things have REALLY helped...(maybe you already know these things) Before he gets into the bath/pool/any body of water I put vaseline on the spots he is especially prone to breakouts. This keeps the water out and really helps. It also moisturizes so it is a double bonus. The other thing you can use is vitamin E oil it is just a bit messier. Don't leave any wet clothes on him - keep him as dry as possible all the time. We use Cetaphil lotion and it has also seemed to help a ton. I do have to say that when it gets really bad the only thing that seems to bring relief is the stong hydrocortizone. I know you said you don't want to use it but it was the only thing that really keeps him from scratching until he bleeds. and after a day or 2 we can go back to milder remedies with a happier boy. Hope you have success with the Naet.
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C.S. answers from Seattle on July 29, 2009
Is he on solid foods now? I just recently was reading about gluten allergies and how it can also effect the skin and many children and adults are wrongly diagnosed with skin conditions rather than looking at this as a trigger. something to think about....
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