Dear Björn,

I’d like to share my experience with the Five Biological Laws (5BN) in connection with neurodermatitis, which concerns my daughter Emma.

Age at onset of symptoms: 3–5 years
Handedness: probably right-handed
Symptoms: Neurodermatitis on both sides of the inner elbows and behind the knees

When Emma was one year old, she started going to daycare two days a week because I had returned to work. In the period leading up to the first symptoms, she increasingly resisted going there. Saying goodbye was always very hard for her — she didn’t want to go with the caregivers. The morning drop-offs often took quite a while, but that was fine with me. I didn’t want to just leave her crying if she didn’t feel comfortable. So I always waited until she was ready.

One morning, things went differently. I went inside the daycare with her and let her show me around to help her feel excited about staying. When she put her little “attendance picture” on the wall, one of the caregivers suddenly picked her up and carried her away before she could say goodbye. Emma turned back toward me, crying, and then she was gone. I just stood there, somewhat stunned, not knowing what to do. (Unfortunately, that’s the daycare’s philosophy: “short and painless — the kids calm down quickly.”)

I went to work but felt terrible the entire day, constantly thinking about that moment. That afternoon, I picked her up much earlier than usual. From that day on, I told myself I would never leave her like that again — it would take however long it needed to take.

But after that, things got much worse. She no longer wanted to go to daycare at all, often complained of stomach pain in the mornings, and I frequently kept her home. I worked from home as much as possible, making up for missed work at night or on weekends while she slept. During this time, the first skin symptoms appeared — on her arms and legs.

At Christmas, when I had time off and she didn’t have to go to daycare, there was noticeable relief — the stress lifted. But after the holidays, the rashes worsened. She was constantly scratching, day and night, and it felt like we couldn’t break out of that cycle. Because neither of us was sleeping well, I kept her home even more. I was strictly against cortisone, so I tried every natural remedy I could find — ointments, tinctures, Schüssler salts, even dietary changes — but nothing helped.

As I continued to study the Five Biological Laws and eventually found a good therapist, it became clear to me that she was running a biological track. So I decided to withdraw her from daycare completely and took one month off work to spend intensive time with her.

After that month, I arranged for my mother to look after her three days a week while I worked from home, so I would still be nearby and available whenever Emma needed me. After that “healing month,” when I returned to work, Emma entered a major healing phase: her skin erupted all over her body with rashes and itching — especially behind the knees, on the tops of her feet, inside her elbows, and under her buttocks (where you hold children when carrying them). At that point, I started using a mild cortisone cream when absolutely necessary, as the nights had become unbearable. That helped calm things down.

My mother cared for her for about a year and a half. During that time, the symptoms gradually subsided — partly thanks to the cortisone — but never disappeared completely. Emma also developed vitiligo, which only became visible in summer when her skin tanned.

After those 1.5 years, when she was four, she started kindergarten (which is mandatory in Switzerland from age four). Naturally, I worried that this might rekindle her earlier conflict. But she was very excited — eager to learn new things and make friends (her own words). That gave me confidence.

Before kindergarten began, I explained her situation to the teachers and asked how I could best support her during the adjustment phase. I even offered to sit in the cloakroom if that helped her feel safe.

But Emma was motivated. The first week went great — she still wanted me to come inside, help her take off her coat, and give her ten hugs before she went in, but she did it. Other parents left their kids crying at the door, but I didn’t let that influence me. I followed her lead. After about two months, she wanted to walk to kindergarten on her own.

Shortly after her fifth birthday, again just before Christmas, her skin rashes completely disappeared — and now, three months later, no new ones have appeared.
The vitiligo — the white spots — are still there, but we’re working on that as much as possible.

Looking back, it was a demanding but also very beautiful time. I was deeply attuned to Emma, almost entirely focused on her needs. It was a long and intense period. Whenever she wanted physical contact, she got it. She also went back to sleeping in our bed (and still does), and at times we even slept naked next to each other — skin to skin.

My therapist always told me to be patient, that we were on the right track — and he was right. It paid off. Today, Emma is a brave and curious little girl who loves to try new things on her own. She’s regained her sense of trust and can draw on it in new situations. Of course, some new situations still make her anxious, and she sometimes reacts with stomach aches, but we talk openly about it. She always receives the support she needs — and that gives her the security of knowing I’ll always have her back.

During this time, I learned a great deal — and Emma, too, has become a little 5BN expert herself. I’ve talked to her a lot about the biological meaning and origin of her neurodermatitis, explaining it in child-friendly ways. She quickly understood and accepted it — even started talking to her skin herself! That showed me how much children absorb and understand when we trust them — and how much patience it takes. But it truly pays off.

I’ve struggled with neurodermatitis myself my whole life, but now I finally understand it. I’ve already been able to resolve some of my own symptoms.

Thank you, Björn, for your invaluable work. Your book has become an essential part of our daily life.

Note from Björn Eybl:
No words — only gratitude. Everything is described with such empathy; one can truly feel your motherly love. With that, you healed your daughter.