Ideas for generalised itch in elderly woman

[Guest guest]

I am looking for ideas for tincture for 78 year old woman who itches

" everywhere " - scalp seems to be worst but also torso. Sometimes it feels like

someone poking at her with a sharp object. This has been ongoing since hip

replacement surgery 7 weeks ago. At first I thought it might be due to reaction

to GA but 7 weeks on it is still there and possibly getting worse. She is now

pretty much off pain killers and only other medication is asthma inhalers and

iron tablets (she was anaemic after op - not sure if due to blood loss during or

what exactly). She has had a lot of ailments in last 2-3 years - shingles and

campylobacter both brought her very low and she has been on predisnolone for

polymayalgia for a long period but ceased in Sept last year - since when she has

gradually lost a lot of the excess weight she put on during the steroid use.

She is also suffering ankle oedema, varicose veins and haemorrhoids and has a

sensitive digestion (easily nauseated) - won't even entertain the idea of taking

fish oil supplements but does eat freshly home prepared meals of meat and two

veg type plus lots of soups and porridge for breakfast. Bread is home made but

white - I have tried to steer her away from wheat but at 78 she is somewhat set

in her ways. She usually resists taking tinctures preferring external creams etc

for her various ailments so it is a sign of desperation with the itch that she

has asked for a tincture so I'd like to give it my best shot!

My thoughts so far are stellaria and dipsacus for itch plus liver support -

probably carduus but open to different ideas - and circulatory herbs (rosemary,

achillea?). Anything I have missed?

NB she has had numerous blood tests both recently and over the last few years

and apart from raised WBC for polymyalgia (now seemingly resolved) nothing

abnormal found although I have not seen the tests myself so I don't know if she

has been tested for hypothyroid for example.