Cucumbers & Eczema

The high water content of cucumber, coupled with its rich vitamin profile including its high concentrations of vitamins A, C, calcium and folate, makes cucumber a popular and highly beneficial natural healing tool. Botanically speaking, cucumbers are fruits—a type of melon—and are related to zucchini, watermelon and squash. Like its relatives, it is rich in antioxidants and has powerful health benefits, including the treatment of eczema through detoxification of the skin and organs.

The health benefits of cucumber juice, particularly raw cucumber juice, have been attributed to healing and treatment of skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema, as well as systemic disorders like stomach issues, high blood pressure and ulcers. The nutritional benefits of cucumber juice stem from the vitamins and minerals contained in the fruit, which lend it anti-inflammatory properties useful in the treatment of eczema.

Using cucumber as an ingredient in smoothies can help further integrate the fruit into your diet, allowing you to reap the benefits of the juice without having to drink the juice plain. Additionally, combining cucumber with other fruits and vegetables allows the nutrients to work in tandem, helping the body absorb the vitamins and minerals better.

Eating raw cucumber is especially helpful to eczema treatments when the skin is included, though most cucumbers sold in grocery stores have been treated with a wax to increase shine and must be peeled to remove the waxy build-up. Buying organic cucumbers can often solve this problem, as can growing your own cucumbers for treatment. The rich deposits of vitamin A in the cucumber skin are worth the extra cost or time involved in buying or growing organic.

Creating cucumber skin creams or pastes in your blender can save money on professional creams and give you the opportunity to take advantage of the cooling properties of the fruit. Mix the cucumber juice with milk to cleanse and cool the skin, or blend the cucumber to create a mush that you apply to affected areas. There are hundreds of recipes for cucumber lotions, tonics, creams and pastes, each with different benefits and healing properties.

One of the simplest ways to enjoy the benefits of cucumbers is through simple cucumber slices. Applying the slices directly to affected areas allows the ascorbic and caffeic acids to reduce inflammation and redness. Likewise, eating cucumber slices can help you absorb the nutrients from the inside out, allowing the vitamins and minerals to treat not only eczema, but help with other ailments as well.