Got an email from someone in the
community I serve, wondering whether the kind of scary
all over rash they were exhibiting could be the "lomatium
rash" they'd read about. They'd been using a
lomatium tincture:
"I took a dropperful morning and night for about a
week. Thursday morning I noticed this rash starting on
the backs of my hands, near my wrists and on my torso,
also maybe some on my forehead and neck. Over the day it
spread to cover my torso front and back, both arms and
neck. Throughout the day today it is now on my legs and
palms of my hands. It started out flat, but now the red
bumps are slightly raised and can be itchy, especially
if I wash my hands or itch them. The rash looks like
small red splotches all over."
As for being itchy, some people report finding it so,
others not.
Here are some pics (I'll blather on a bit more after
them, so read on...)
Oh, and also: if you're also a part of
my community and know who this is: Shh! Its shared
with permission and with the promise of privacy...
don't tag them on Facebook.
Okay, I'm back.
I've heard different theories about lomatium rashes, but
am pretty sure no one actually knows what causes them.
Most reports say that antihistamines
don't have any effect, which suggests that it's ~not~ an
allergic reaction.
Michael Moore (the late
brilliant herbalist, not the movie guy) wondered if the
rash was a result of a massive pathogen die off that
some people's bodies want to eliminate through the skin.
Some suggest using a diaphoretic tea to
open the pores and speed the process of elimination (if
that's what's going on); if you have elderflower tea
there, that'd be nice to drink.
An oatmeal/calendula/chamomile bath
will probably feel very soothing.
But again, no one really knows... It's
not one of the "rock stars" of the commercial herb
world, so unlikely that anyone will ever invest the
money studying it to find out. In the meantime, people
have their pet theories.
This person started to see the rash begin to clear up on
day 4. It went away with no lingering effects.
Please do use this as a resource, especially if you're a
practitioner and need to help people who may be
exhibiting this rash not freak the hell out.
© jim
mcdonald
