Manuka, a Natural Treatment for Scabies
Scabies is a skin disorder caused by a microscopic parasite mite called Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis. . There are many types of parasite mites that can affect the skin of any being but the Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis is the only one that can complete its life cycle on human skin. All the others live on animal skin and can affect for a while the human skin too but they are unable to complete their life cycle on humans.
Scabies mites seek hidden places that can provide shelter, so it is less likely, but not impossible, for them to appear on the face or neck. The preferred areas of the body for the mites are the hands, the regions between the fingers, the wrists, elbows, armpits, the region of the nipples, the genital area, the chest and lower abdomen, the buttocks, the feet, the knees or the ankles. The scabies affliction has a very contagious character and the mites that cause it can easily be transmitted directly through close physical contact from one person to another or indirectly, through contact with contaminated object.
In the early stages of the infestations, the symptoms are itch, rash and inflammations; while in the later stages, the symptoms may go as far as ulcerations of the skin, lesions, blisters, painful nodules, crusts and pustules. Scratching should be avoided because it can damage the skin and make possible for infections of other nature to occur. The first symptoms of the scabies will show in a short period of time after the infestation but clear signs of the mites' infestation will only occur weeks later.
In order to cure this affliction, the treatment must have two targets: one part of the treatment will be focused on killing the parasites that caused the affliction and the other part of the treatment is meant to provide help in relieving the symptoms caused by the affliction.
In the past, successful treatments for scabies used topical creams and lotions for external use and oral medications. Today, many of those medicines have lost their efficiency due to the mites' increased resistance to those substances. On the other hand, the side effects of some of those medicines are serious and researchers try to eliminate them.
The synthetic medications included in the treatments for scabies have many natural replacements. The manuka extract is one of the most effective natural cures for scabies. The main advantage of the manuka is that it works on both sides of the treatment, it eradicates the mites' infestation and it also alleviates the symptoms created by the affliction. The substances contained by the conventional medicines used to eradicate the mites could sometimes worsen the symptoms. Also, manuka contains antiseptic substances that prevent the infections of different natures to occur on the damaged skin areas.
This kind of cure is found under the forms of oil, cream and soap, it has no side effects and it can be used by any category of people. It should be applied with regularity and its effects will be seen within one week from the beginning of the treatment. It is very effective in eradicating the scabies, alleviating the symptoms and preventing further re-infestation.