What Chinese herbs can be used for bathing to treat eczema?

Eczema patients can choose from various Chinese herbs with effects such as clearing heat, purging fire, eliminating dampness, reducing inflammation, drying dampness, and relieving itching, to use in bath soaks for alleviating localized symptoms. Commonly used herbs include honeysuckle, mugwort leaves, sophora root, phellodendron bark, dandelion, portulaca, cnidium seeds, and stemonopsis root. These herbs each have unique therapeutic properties—for example, honeysuckle clears heat and detoxifies, mugwort leaves dispel cold, remove dampness, and relieve itching, sophora root clears heat, dries dampness, and reduces inflammatory responses, while phellodendron bark has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. When taking a herbal bath, an appropriate amount of the herbs should be boiled in water, then poured into the bathtub once the liquid has cooled to a suitable temperature. The bath should generally last around 15–20 minutes, with the water temperature maintained at approximately 37°C–40°C. After bathing, moisturizing creams such as vitamin E ointment or boric acid and zinc oxide ointment may be applied as needed to hydrate and protect the skin. Before using any Chinese herbs, it is advisable to consult a qualified physician or pharmacist to ensure safety and effectiveness.