Avène Hydrotherapy Center
The Avène Hydrotherapy Center is located in the mountains of southern France. It is world-renowned for treating skin conditions such as eczema, burns, and psoriasis using the natural spring water in the area.
We heard about the Avène Hydrotherapy Center from my mother-in-law. She saw a news report on TV about a child that looked very similar to our son — severe eczema all over the body and struggling to gain weight. After the child was treated at the Avène Center, his skin began to heal and he started thriving. My mother-in-law was moved by the story and was convinced that our son had to go there.
I must be honest that I had little hope it would help. I knew his eczema was just a symptom of a much larger gut problem and I did not see how a skin treatment could help cure the root cause. However, my husband thought differently and he was very persistent that we look into it. As we had done up to this point, we left it in God’s hands for Him to show us His will.
The Faith Required to Go to Avène
The obstacles for us to travel to France for treatment were numerous. We had no financial means to go. Three trips were recommended to see lasting results. I questioned that if we could not even afford one trip, what was the point of even contemplating this option? However, my husband insisted that God would provide if it was His will.
Our son was in a very weak condition. Not having gained any weight in 18 months, we were extremely worried that if we did not find healing soon, our son would pass away. We did not know how a long-distance trip would affect him. I was concerned about keeping up with our restrictive diet and natural remedies while traveling.
We placed our obstacles in God’s hands and decided to move forward letting God open and close doors according to His will. The biggest sign would be to find the financial means to go. God had to provide the cash or else we would not go. We needed at least $8,000 USD. Friends helped us start a fundraiser and God moved quickly in the hearts of people. Within just 2 weeks we had surpassed our goal exceedingly.
Trusting in God’s providence, we moved forward to plan our trip to France.
Traveling to Avène
We planned to fly to the Avène Hydrotherapy Center in late April 2018, two months after having started the Autoimmune Plant-based Protocol. I was determined to continue with the protocol while we traveled although it would be very challenging. We needed to prepare enough food to sustain Lucas and me for 4 weeks of traveling. I did not know what food would be available to us in France and if I would have time to cook in between treatments. Furthermore, I would certainly not have a dehydrator. We prepared three loaves of quinoa bread, as well as dehydrated crackers and buckwheat granola. We put everything in the freezer until it was time to go. Additionally, we packed beans, buckwheat, quinoa, and coconut milk for the first days until we could figure out where to find these products.
Lucas was still struggling with diarrhea when we did not do the garlic broth enemas. Therefore, I was determined to continue that treatment if possible. We would also try to continue giving him the onion/garlic broth.
We packed everything and it was time to go. Lucas did great on the flight.
However, the problems began when we arrived in France. We’re not sure why or what caused it, but Lucas refused to eat and all he wanted to do was sleep. He became even weaker and lost weight. Being out of his environment and not able to maintain his skin regime as we did at home, Lucas’ eczema also worsened.
On my end, I was STARVING during our first days there. We had a hard time finding the safe foods we knew Lucas could eat. I caved and ate some oranges, pears, and sweet potato. Those foods were passed on to Lucas through my breast milk and a few days later, he began to throw up.
We landed in Paris, France on a Friday and rested on the Sabbath. On Sunday, we finally took a train to Montpellier and rented a car to drive to the Avène Hydrotherapy Center in the rural mountains of France.
Avène Hydrotherapy Treatment
On Monday, we had our first appointment with the doctor who would be prescribing Lucas’ treatment. Lucas was definitely one of the worst cases they had seen. On the SCORAD index, a scoring system to determine the severity of eczema, Lucas had a very high score of 85.5 (anything over 50 is considered severe). However, the doctor was confident Lucas would see improvement as other children in his condition had.
The hydrotherapy treatment was 3 weeks long. The doctor prescribed two daily baths, massage under water sprinklers, water compress, Avène Xera Calm Balm, and Avène Cicalfate Cream. The water is kept at a constant lukewarm temperature, making it tolerable but not pleasant. Lucas was constantly cold.
Daily Routine
10:00 am – 20-minute bath
10:30 am – Underwater massage
10: 45 am – Water compress
11:00 am – Break
1:00 pm – 20-minute bath
1:20 pm – Apply Avène Cicalfate Cream and Avène Xera Calm Balm
How Avène Spring Water Works
The first week we were at Avène, we participated in a workshop to learn more about the treatment, scientific studies, and what makes Avène water successful. We learned that the spring water, in addition to having a high concentration of trace minerals, it also has microbiota that helps in the healing process. We were encouraged to drink only Avène spring water during our stay to receive the internal benefits as well.
The spring water is naturally cold and is heated to a lukewarm state. Not any hotter as skin conditions do better with cooler water. Through the different treatments, the skin begins to shed dead skin and peel. The spring water minerals and microbiota enter the skin bringing healing. Skin regenerates every 27 days. Therefore, as the skin peels, the hope is that the new skin will be healthy. Final results may not be seen until weeks or months after.
Lucas’ Healing Process
Lucas mostly breastfed during our first 5 days in France. When he ate solid food, it always required much time and effort. Being constantly on the go those first days, we had little of the quiet time he needed for meals. I was becoming increasingly worried as I saw him get weaker. On the 5th night, I was in tears doubting whether we had made the right decision in going to Avène. My husband and I kneeled before God asking Him one more time to stabilize Lucas and bring healing to him. Trusting God heard us, we went to bed.
At 3 a.m. in the morning, Lucas woke us up full of energy asking for food! I did not care what time it was or how exhausted we were, I went and got his food ready. He ate for a full hour! This was the start of him slowly beginning to regain strength over those next few weeks. God had answered yet another prayer.
We were unable to do the garlic broth enemas during our first six days, and Lucas’ diarrhea had come back. I knew it was a priority, so we made the time, prepared everything, and did an enema. To my surprise, his diarrhea never came back. It was the only enema he needed in France. The Avène spring water not only helped his skin but was also healing the root cause: his gut.
During the second week of treatment, Lucas’ skin seemed to get much worse. It was fully exposed and inflamed. We were told that this was normal in severe cases of eczema. As the skin layers peel, more inflammation is made visible. It was painful to watch.
The third week we finally began to see some improvement. Lucas was less itchy, sleeping better, and less inflamed. On his final evaluation, we learned that his SCORAD index had dropped to 58.2 (32%). He was still in the severe category but better nonetheless. We were assured that in the next month or two we would see further improvements.
We left Avène hopeful yet filled with uncertainty as our child was still ill-looking and weak. Little did we know that we were just about to witness God’s glory—but not before God would test us one last time. There was to be no doubt that only God had healed our son.
A special thanks to everyone who donated to make this treatment possible. You know who you are 🙂
3 replies on “Part 8 – The Avène Hydrotherapy Center”
So glad that Lucas is getting better every day thanks to God and the tremendous efforts of his parents and relatives. We still keep praying for Lucas every single night. Praise to the Lord for his mercy.
Thank you for your prayers <3 Praise God, He hears us 🙂
Wow! This is so encouraging and heart warming! Hallelujah <3