AMA: "I've got rashes!?! What do I do?"

I'm back with some more customer questions.

And I wanted to share with you some of the ways I help them troubleshoot a symptom like rashes. Many times, a customer is afraid of trying something new in the eco-friendly world because they have sensitive skin or a bad experience from before.

I like to make sure these issues are thoroughly reviewed before the customer makes a purchase (which is why I pack all my emails and the blog with information to help), and if not before, I am more than willing to open up a private discussion after the purchase is made.

As a Naturopath, my first inkling is to ask ALL the questions.

Last month, customers started asking me about strange rashes that started popping up in armpits, on legs, on the face. 

So I go ALL in with the interrogation...

• What's your diet been like?
• How the weather/climate in your area?
• How's your stress level been?
• How's your movement regimen going?
• Are you properly hydrated?
• How's your sleep been?
• How are your hormones?
• Are you consuming food in hot plastic?
• Are you using any products (ex: cleaners, detergents, etc.) that may contain caustic chemicals?
• What other products are you using topically that may be causing an irritation? 
• Exfoliating when you need to be moisturizing? 
  
• What changes to your supplement regimen have you made recently?

And ultimately, what's your Dosha?

In these rash cases, I found some really interesting threads between them all...

1. An irritation to baking soda containing products. Which could indicate a pH imbalance in the body.

2. Too much body heat from dietary imbalance.

3. Moringa. They'd started taking it recently and they all were having different reactions to it.

For some, moringa can cause skin irritation and rashes. This could be caused by a detox effect or it could be that the body doesn't need this supplement.

This can be directly related to the Dosha type.

"Its bitter, pungent nature makes moringa excellent for balancing and , though it may increase vata in excess due to its bitter taste. Its heating qualities may aggravate ."- Banyan Botanicals

There's never a one-size-fits-all solution regardless of the food, the herb, or the supplement.

And knowing this will save you a LOT of time, energy and frustration when what works for one person doesn't seem to work the same for you.

For other customers, moringa was helping to slow the rashes but not removing them entirely. In this case, the Dosha imbalance was the root cause of the issue.

A Pitta imbalance, the fire constitution noted in Ayurveda, can cause everything from a heated temper to an inflamed gut. And when severely out of balance, it can and usually does lead to rashes.

Which is why, some herbs and supplements and even foods work well for some but not for others.

Your dosha type determines the type of food and lifestyle your body needs to be in balance.

But until we ask ALL the questions, we never know what the body is trying to tell us.

If you aren't working with a Naturopath to decipher these ailments, and are going the path alone, I'd highly suggest learning about your dosha type.

Here's the test I recommend to all my clients.

I have no affiliation to this company though I do love their products and their mission.

As with all things, an informed choice is the best choice.

It's important to be your own detective so you don't feel overwhelmed when seemingly unexplainable symptoms pop up.

It's your body.

Learn to speak its language.

PS: Loving your body enough to listen rather than silencing it takes time. Be patient and compassionate while you're learning.

 

Disclaimer: The information in this article is not meant to diagnose or treat a medical condition and is in no way intended to replace medical advice.