OK. I've never had chilblains or known anyone or treated anyone so I'm not speaking from experience!!!!
However I've done a bit of research and come up with a few things.
First, most of the info I found was just repeated ad nauseam so it could be a case of it's excellent and worth repeating (or as with a lot of online stuff people just take it as true
) But basically the advice says prevention is better than cure so
1) keep at least one room warm
2) wear lots of layers of warm clothing (all over not just hands and feet)
3) keep affected ares dry
4) exercise and gentle massage on a regular basis
5) make sure your shoes are not tight (restricting circulation)
6) if your hands and feet do get very cold rewarm them slowly and gently - not in front of direct heat
As for treatments -
The first aid treatment of chilblain is to stop exposure to cold, remove any wet or constrictive clothing, gently wash and dry the injured area, elevate it, cover it with layers of loose warm clothes and allow to rewarm.
Raw onion rubbed on the affected area (but not if the skins broken) or honey, glycerin and egg white made into a paste with flour are often suggested
Essential oils of rosemary, lavender, helichrysum, black pepper, ginger and myrrh in a carrier oil such as mustard seed and/or calendula would help both prevent and treat. Neem oil is fantastic as well.
Another couple of points -
Chilblains may also indicate a lack of sufficient calcium and silica. Sources of these in the diet are: millet, spinach, figs, almonds, sesame seeds, oats, parsley and all green vegetables.
and finally
Recurrent severe chilblains may also occasionally be a sign of an underlying condition
so it might be worth seeing your doctor.
Hope that helps
