Herbology

1. Eczema

It is an inflammatory, chronic, noncontagious skin disease. This kind of skin problem appears in patches of red spots. Sometimes, Eczema appears as pimples and frequently eczema causes itching. Eczema could be caused by consumption of spicy food, overwork, stress, internal disease, disorder of the endocrine system, or side effect of medication. Traditional Chinese Medical treatment takes a holistic approach, addressing the whole body, but also the specific symptoms. The treatment involves clearing the heat and the dampness from the body; detoxifying the spleen. Acupuncture, special cream and Chinese herbs are recommended treatments.

2. Skin Itch (rash)

You will feel itchy and usually the itching is worse at night. This problem affects seniors more than others. The skin is often raised and dry, and sometimes bleeds from scratching. Chinese medicine believes this problem is caused by dampness, heat, and parasitic insects.

3. Shingles

Shingles is a skin disorder in which a rash of small blister develops on the skin. Shingles is caused by the varicella-zosterirus. It damages the nervous system and the skin. The immediate area will be very painful; this problem is a result of rubbing against something. Most often it occurs on the neck, the face, the lower back, the forehead and the temples. Traditional Chinese medicine believes this problem is associated with liver, heart, and spleen problems. Extreme emotions can do damage inside the body and that dampness and heat disturb the spleen, and this causes blockage in the skin. Treatment: clear the liver and the gall bladder of dampness and heat; clear the heart fire; invigorate the spleen to eliminate dampness. You can use acupuncture, cupping, Chinese herbs, and herbal creams.

4. Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a common, chronic and recurrent skin infection. A symptom of Psoriasis is the development of red spots on the skin surface which are raised, pimply with a white and flaky surface. This problem is often affected by the season. For many people with Psoriasis, their condition flares up in cooler, wetter weather and clears up in spring or summer. According to Western medicine the causes of the disease are unclear, but it is suspected that a depressed immune system or stress may cause psoriasis, it may be genetic, or it may appear as a result of an infection. Traditional chinese medicine would cool and detoxify the blood. That could be done by promoting blood circulation, by removing blood stasis and by nourishing the blood.

5. Vitiligo

This condition is acquired. Medical research has suggested that this is an immune system problem. The obvious symptom is that the skin loses pigment in small spots and patches. The surface of the skin is smooth. There is no pain, and no flaking. According to Chinese medicine treatment would disperse stagnated liver chi (qi) and activate the blood circulation. Treatments include using herbal liquid externally, or taking Chinese herbs internally. You can also use acupuncture to stimulate around the edge of the spots. I suggest you take food without too much vitamin C, you can eat more black beans, black sesame, black mushrooms -- you can do exercise outside, however don't get too much sunshine.

6. Acne

Acne is a kind of chronic folliculitis. The obvious symptoms of this condition are the appearance of blackheads, whiteheads, and pustules on the face, upper back, and sometimes the chest. Western medicine believes that acne is a hereditary disease, a hormone disorder. Chinese medicine believes this is a condition of the lung, spleen, stomach, and heart. Dampness and heat block the skin and causes acne. Chinese medical treatment involves removing the heat to clear the lungs; clearing the heat and removing the dampness; clearing the heat, cooling the blood and detoxifying it; increasing blood and removing blood stasis; you can use acupuncture, special Chinese solution, and creams to do this.

7. Rosacea

This condition is a chronic blood vessel and nervous system disorder. The enlargement of certain blood vessels in the face results in a flushed appearance in the nose and cheeks, and sometimes causes pimples. Chinese medicine believes that when the lung and stomach have too much heat, it results in blood blockage. Rosacea can also result from drinking too much alcohol. Alcohol causes liver energy blockage which causes more heat in the body. Chinese treatment hopes to clean the lung, the stomach, the heat in the body, and detoxify the body; clean the heat and remove dampness; increase the blood and remove the blockage. You can use acupuncture, Chinese herbs and creams.

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