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綠意生活 Green Life info ★ 實用生活資訊 Update: 2021/03/23

Scabies is a skin infection caused by a parasite-Scabies Mites. It is mainly caused by direct contact with the host's skin or used clothing, causing the mites to move on one's own body. Adults of scabies mites are very small, about 0.3 mm, as small as a grain of sand to the naked eye. It can't fly or jump. It can crawl 2.5 cm in 1 minute and dig into the bottom of the skin stratum corneum in 30 minutes.疥瘡Scabies精油

The scabies mites secrete an enzyme that can decompose keratin on the skin, and then they start to dig a tunnel about 1 cm in the stratum corneum of the skin. Female mites will lay eggs in the tunnel. One can lay 2-3 eggs per day, eggs can hatch in 2-4 days, the larvae become adults in 10-14 days. Adult mites can live in the human body for 4 weeks. Once the mites leave human body, the adults can be alive for 2-3 days, and the eggs can be 10 days. In theory, one adult mite has the possibility of giving birth to about 100 mites in one month. This is quite terrifying. While In fact, there are not so many. A typical scabies patient has only about a dozen adult mites on the body.

The disease of this parasite cannot be ignored or delayed, and it should be taken control as soon as possible. One should also be patient, because the eggs are not easy to kill. and the medicine takes chances to poison scabies mites hiding in the stratum corneum tunnel. The treatment cycle is about 2-3 weeks. If it's been two weeks after the treatment, red rashes still appear, that means not all mites have been killed, and the second run medication should start again.

The symptom of scabies is itching, especially when sleeping at night. The invaded skin will have bean-sized round red papules, which are usually found on the soft and wrinkled skin areas below the head (nail seams, underarms, under breasts, elbows, lower back, abdomen, genitals, legs and back of knees ). The symptoms of scabies are allergic reactions caused by the immune response of the human body. People who are infected for the first time have an incubation period of 2-6 weeks without symptoms. Therefore, when the symptoms appear, most of the mites on the body have reproduced some numbers. It should be treated right away. Go to a dermatologist for treatment. Clean personal clothes and items (boil in hot water at 60°C or heat drying to kill mites and eggs). For those relapsed, symptoms will appear within 24 hours.

The drugs currently used by the dermatology department to treat scabies: BB lotion (Benzyl benzoate), Permethrin, Lindane, Crotamiton, Sulfur ointment, Ivermectin (internal). The main appeal of these drugs is to kill scabies and relieve itching, so it also has varying toxicity and irritation, which can stimulate skin sensitivity or cause some neurotoxic side effects. Some are not suitable for children, pregnant women or people with chronic diseases and frailties. It's better use these kind of drugs by a doctor's prescription.

Since scabies mites are almost invisible to the naked eye, it is difficult to prevent them, and the treatment cycle is long. After being cured, there might still be symptoms of itching in a short period of time. so one can not be sure if it's completely healed or not. Some people think it's cured but they are relapsed again, usually because not using drug correctly or the personal clothing ,bedding stuffs are not cleaned well. Sometimes family members are infected and then spread back to cause recurrence. Scabies can also easily cause cross-infection between family members or institution group. For example, nursing home care centers are common places to spread scabies.

How do you know if it's cured? If the rash does not recur after two weeks, the treatment should have been successful.

Home Aromatherapy for Scabies

Essential oils are very suitable to aid in the prevention of scabies and better hygiene. Regarding the problem of scabies, the focus of home aromatherapy is to be as gentle as possible and not irritating, to minimize possible damage (liver, kidney, nerve) and side effects of scabies treatment, and to be less toxic. The aroma and effect of essential oils can also relieve worry, anxiety, panic , depression caused by scabies.

Aromatherapy / essential oils can only be used as a buck up aid to mild symptoms, prevent or special recurrence situations. If one has unusual conditions, such as skin rashes, extreme itching and other symptoms similar to scabies, you must first see a dermatologist for treatment. During treatment, essential oils can also be used to help killing mites , soothing skin and relieve short-term discomfort.

【Aromatherapy to dismiss Scabies】The following are some formulas actually used and do have ideal effects. The whole multi-pronged approach has been actually done for about one month.

Skin application	Aroma smothering	Spray / diffuse disinfection for bedding	Bath / shower cleansing
★Sulfur cream ★Neem / clove / tea tree blended oil ★Chamomile / eucalyptus repair oil	★Essential oil paper ball ( kill mites )	★Essential oil alcohol	★CP soap / medicated soap ★Essential oil bath

※ When buying essential oil and neem oil, pay attention to whether the Latin scientific names are the same, and choose a reliable and trustworthy brand.
※ For sulfur, use pharmaceutical grade pure sulfur powder or sulfur ointment ( pharmacy / traditional Chinese medicine store )

Bath / shower cleansing

Take a shower with CP soap or medicated soap, and use foam to wash the itch area. Let the foam stay on the whole body for at least a few minutes while rubbing continuously.
The temperature of the water should not be too high. While washing with soap, the water is better at about 40°C. After washing off the foam, use cooler water same as room temperature to cool it down.

If you have a bathtub, that's better. The pressure of the water during the bath can make the molecules of the essential oil penetrate into the keratin gap. You can apply coconut oil all over the body, drop the essential oil on the foaming bath tablets or Epsom salt, and then put it in the water. Soak for about 20 minutes.

Skin application

There are three types of skin application. They can be used alternately or on different parts of body at the same time.When applying on skin, rub for a while..to let the molecules of oil penetrate more.

The diluted essential oil cannot play the insecticidal effect as quickly as the medicine, but it still has its advantages and usefulness. At the beginning, it is necessary to use the sulfur cream for at least three consecutive days, and then the blended oil can be used in turn. For example, apply sulphur cream to the areas where the scabies tunnel rash is itchy, and apply neem / clove blended oil to other parts of the body.

★2-5% sulfur cream (to kill mites)

Sulfur is very effective for scabies problem. Rubbing on the skin can quickly relieve itching without irritation. It's neither cool nor hot on skin. But be careful not to get into your eyes. Sulfur is harmful to eyes and mucous membrane. Generally, the ointment prescribed by doctors is 5% or10%. 2-5% or so is already very useful. Sulfur will make skin dry and peeling, so it should not be applied continuously for long period. People with chronic liver and kidney diseases are also less recommended to use sulfur. . MSM ( organic sulfur )can be used instead (either eating or apply on skin).

Here's the DIY recipe→ Hot process emulsion Sulfur cream.You can DIY sulfur cream or buy. Sulfur ointment. from drugstore. Diluted with coconut oil or fragrance-free lotion / cream.

The use of sulfur ointment is to apply it for three consecutive days. Don't wash if off. Let it continue to work, soften the stratum corneum, then help peeling, so that the insects/ eggs/ feces in the keratin will peel off with the dander. The mite tunnels will reveal on the surface. Thus to clear mites directly. The combination of sulfur and keratin will produce hydrogen sulfide, which can kill scabies mites.

Sulfur is prone to chemical reaction with other substances, especially metals, so use it carefully. When applying sulfur cream, use it alone and don't mix it with other things.

★Neem | clove | tea tree blended oil (to kill mites/relieve itching)

This formula oil will make skin feel cooled when applied. It can be rubbed on the whole body including scalp ,face and vulva.

Neem | clove | tea tree blended oil 10ml ………………………………………………………… Neem oil 1 ml Clove bud essential oil 5 drops Tea tree essential oil 1 ml Coconut oil (MCT OIL) 8 ml

Neem and clove..are both very effective natural insect repellents. The mechanism of neem is relatively slow, and clove acts fast but irritates the skin. The dosage should not be too high.
Tea tree .. is a very comprehensive and easy-to-use essential oil. It can be rubbed directly on the skin without dilution to help repair and soothing. It also has antibacterial and insect repellent effects.
Coconut oil contains lauric acid, capric acid, and caprylic acid, which help to eliminate mites and antibacterial. Medium-chain coconut oil will be better absorbed than cold-pressed coconut oil, will not clog pores, and will help the essential oil molecules penetrate the skin.

Neem Oil (Latin name Azadirachta indica).. is a wide-acting natural insect repellent, the quality of those planted in India is the best. The main active ingredient of neem oil, azadirachtin.. can kill more than 200 kinds of pests such as scabies, fleas, mosquitoes, bed bugs, and flies. The mechanism is to interfere with the hormones in the insects, so that the insects reduce their appetite, development and fertility, and then kill them. Neem cannot kill them immediately. It takes 24 hours before it has a significant effect on the insects.

The azadirachtin compound is very similar to the hormone of the insect itself, so it is less likely to have the problem of drug resistance. Mammals do not have this hormone in bodies, so neem is harmless to humans and animals and will not cause these effects. Neem also contains nimbidin which has anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, bactericidal, antihistamine and antiseptic effects. Neem has the effects of intensifying immunity and lowering blood sugar levels in the human body. If you have immune diseases or diabetes, you should use it as appropriate.

Clove Bud (Latin scientific name: Eugenia caryophyllata)..has analgesic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects. The main compound it contains is.. eugenol , which is antioxidant and can scavenge free radicals and avoid lipid peroxidation. It is a commonly used spice and preservative for food It is also commonly used in oral health care products. Eugenol has the same toxicity as the scabicide Benzyl benzoate. A study in 2010 showed that clove essential oil is highly toxic to scabies mites and can be killed after one hour of exposure. A 2016 paper in the academic journal 《Parasit Vectors》 confirmed that "1% clove essential oil can kill scabies mites within 20 minutes."

NAHA Aromatherapy institution recommends the usage of clove essential oil:：
1-2.5% for normal skin, 0.5-1% for sensitive skin. When use it to diffuse or as a spray, keep the room ventilated.

The essential oils that are harmful to scabies mites are in order of effect: (direct contact is more effective and faster than diffuse)

【Direct contact】 clove > palmarosa > geranium > tea tree > lavender > manuka > bitter orange > eucalyptus > Japanese cedar
【Fumigation】tea tree > clove > eucalyptus > lavender > palmarosa > geranium > Japanese cedar > bitter orange > manuka

★Repair and anti-itch blended oil

This formula is used for soothing and repairing. It is very gentle and can be rubbed on the whole body at any time. After killing-mites treatment, it takes about 2 weeks to observe. if mites have been cleared, you can use this oil alone during these 2 weeks.

Repair and anti-itch blended oil 10ml ………………………………………………………… German chamomile essential oil 5 drops Australian Eucalyptus essential oil 10 drops (0.5 ml) Tea tree essential oil 1 ml Lavender Essential oil 1 ml Coconut oil（MCT OIL） 7 ml

Essential oil paper ball for aroma smothering

If it's simply use a low-concentration essential oil on the skin, the insecticidal effect is not enough. You can use the essential oil paper ball to enhance direct contact with mites, let the aroma smothering the skin area.

【3-5 drops each of clove, cedar, and lemon essential oils】 Drop them into a ball of toilet paper, and then use another piece of toilet paper to wrap it. The key point is..be careful, don't let essential oil directly contact the skin.Fix the essential oil paper ball with surgical tape on the itch area.
This method is more suitable for scabies on vulva. Wearing tights and underpants can fix the paper ball easily.

Spray / Diffuse disinfection for bedding

Use essential oil spray on clothing, mattresses, bed sheets, pillows, quilts, sofas, chair cushions, etc. those are very likely contaminated with mites and eggs. This essential oil formula is pretty good, with a strong and obvious aroma, giving a protected, clean, warm and dry feeling. The advantage of essential oil alcohol is that it can also be sprayed on pillows. Unlike high toxic substances in general chemical disinfectants, essential oil are safer for skin.

Essential oil alcohol spray 100ml ………………………………………………………… Neem oil 3 ml Clove bud essential oil 3 ml Cedar wood essential oil 3 ml Thyme essential oil 3 ml 75% alcohol 100 ml

ANNOUNCEMENT:本文謹提供日常生活芳療資訊，以上引用學術研究報告只能作為用油方向的參考。
精油不能治療疾病，如有身體不適症狀發生，請就醫治療，以免延誤病情。

整理撰文：Jessie / 桂花白文    NAHA高階 / IFA國際芳療師

【Reference】

Neem: The Divine Tree Azadirachta indica (H.S. Puri)
In vitro activity of ten essential oils against Sarcoptes scabiei
What You Need to Know About Clove Essential Oil
癢癢癢-淺談疥瘡感染的藥物治療| 衛福部
【第28堂-楊蕙如醫師–蟲蟲危機 談疥瘡治療】
椰子油衍生物驅蟲效果比「敵避」更好（農業科技決策資訊平台）
驱除寄生虫、椰肉与椰子油
越乾淨越好嗎？專家：寄生蟲的存在會抑制發炎反應
疥瘡辨治（上海中醫藥報）
老人照護機構中疥瘡的診治 – 台灣家庭醫學醫學會

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