Chronic skin problems such as psoriasis, eczema, acne, and rosacea can cause extreme discomfort, unease, and often embarrassment. These conditions are often quite challenging and difficult to manage through conventional medicine. However, Chinese Herbal Medicine has been used to address these conditions for more than 2,000 years, and is a recognised specialty department of practice and study in hospitals in China.
For the majority of my patients, Chinese Herbal Medicine results in dramatic improvement! It is quite common for the skin to completely clear, and in many cases there is no further relapse. Unlike conventional western medicine, Chinese Herbal Medicine is safe, with no unwanted or harmful side effects. Conventional Western Medicine tends to over use corticosteroid creams, anti-histamines, and other drugs that only mask the symptoms and often cause more damage to the skin and internal organs.
Chinese Herbal Medicine is individually formulated to each patient’s specificities. Skin conditions vary, and so have different underlying causes. Chinese Herbal Medicine diagnosis is quite different to Western Medicine. For example, a formula for a diagnosis of psoriasis may vary greatly among different people. From a Chinese Medicine perspective there are many different causes and patterns of psoriasis, and for a medicine to work it must be formulated to address the subtle differences. Formulas are also adjusted and modified to address specific symptoms such as pain, itchiness, pussiness, and location.
As the condition improves and changes, the formulas change to ensure a continual improvement towards a goal of remission. It is also quite common for many skin diseases to have a correlation with other diseases, such as asthma, digestive problems, anxiety, fatigue, and depression. Chinese Herbal Formulas are created to treat these in conjunction, as they often have the same root cause.
Most skin problems have an internal cause characterised by one, some, or all of the following: autoimmune disorders, chronic inflammation, poor blood circulation, accumulation of toxins/waste, oxidative stress, and emotional stress. Chinese herbal formulas are ingested orally to address these causes of internal imbalance. Sometimes, external herbal creams, lotions, or oils are used in combination to alleviate some of the associated symptoms.
For the majority of chronic skin problems, other important factors contribute and need to be addressed such as stress and anxiety, smoking, heavy alcohol intake, and diet.
It is advised that most people with these conditions avoid spicy food, caffeine and stimulants, processed foods, citrus fruits, fried foods, sugar, seafood/shellfish and anything that may cause allergies. A whole food diet containing a majority and variety of vegetables is important and should be implemented.
Here are some specific food therapy protocols for alleviating symptoms of Psoriasis and Eczema:
Eat: Chinese prunes, guava skins, pearl barley, apple cider vinegar or aged rice vinegar, garlic, walnuts, cucumbers, chard/beet tops, dandelion greens, squash, and mung beans.
You can make a topical solution: Simmer 15 peeled and sliced water chestnuts in 500ml of vinegar (preferably aged rice vinegar) in a ceramic pot for 20 minutes until water chestnuts absorb most of the vinegar. Then mash it into a paste and seal it in a jar. Spread this mixture evenly on a gauze pad, and apply to the affected area, changing daily if the condition is not too serious, three times daily if the condition is serious. Mild cases should show improvement within 5 days, but serious cases may take up to 2 weeks.
Here are some specific food therapy guidelines for acne and rosacea:
Apply: plain, low fat, no chemical (organic) yogurt to the affected area. Leave on for 20 minutes then wash off.
You can also, take roasted buckwheat (or roast it yourself), grind it into a powder and mix it with aged rice vinegar until it is a paste, then apply to the area.
The majority of dermatology specialists in Western, and Chinese Medicine determine the majority of their diagnosis and treatment strategies by looking at the skin, specifically the color, dryness, flakiness etc. Most Chinese Medicine dermatology specialists use this and other factors to determine what is going on internally, and the best specialists are able to do this by reading the radial pulse. Chinese Pulse reading is the single most accurate diagnostic tool in Chinese Medicine, and it is also the hardest to learn, taking a lot of time, study, and experience. Those that are skilled are able to pinpoint exactly what is causing the imbalance, and therefore can make up the best formula to resolve it.
R.J. Singer is an expert in Chinese Pulse Diagnosis, and has a great amount of experience in the treatment of psoriasis, eczema, acne, and rosacea. If you or someone you know has been suffering from any of these conditions, contact him and find out what he can do to help improve, alleviate, and/or resolve them.
Don't suffer any longer, for more information or to make a booking, contact us at:
(02) 6685 7577 or www.alchemywellnesscentre.com.au
References to Peer-Reviewed studies on the efficacy of Chinese Medicine for varying skin conditions:
Chen Y.J., Chen Y.Y., Wu C.Y., Chi C.C. Oral Chinese herbal medicine in combination with phototherapy for vitiligo: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Complementary Therapies in Medicine, Volume 26, June 2016, Pages 21-27.
Gu S.X., Zhang A.L., Coyle M.E., Chen D., Xue C.C.,Chinese herbal medicine for atopic eczema: an overview of clinical evidence.JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY. 2016, August.
Lin Y.K., Chang C.J., Chang Y.C., Wong W.R., Chang S.C., Pang J.H.,Psoriasis Successfully Treated with Traditional Chinese Herb.Arch Dermatol. 2008 Nov;144(11):1457-64.
Shu S., Mansu Y., Coyle M., Wang K., May B., Zhang A.L., Xue C.C.Herbal medicine Eriobotrya japonica formula for acne vulgaris: A systematic review.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hermed.2017.09.001
Tan H.W., Zhang A.L., Chen D.C., Xue C.C., Lenon G.B., Chinese herbal medicine for atopic dermatitis: A systematic review.JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY. 2013, June;
Xiang Y., Wu X., Lu C., Wang K., An overview of acupuncture for psoriasis vulgaris, 2009–2014.Published online: 15 Sep 2016, https://doi.org/10.1080/09546634.2016.1224801
Zhang C.S., Yang L, Zhang A.L., May B.H., Yu J.J., Guo X., Lu C., Xue C.C.,Is Oral Chinese Herbal Medicine Beneficial for Psoriasis Vulgaris? A Meta-Analysis of Comparisons with Acitretin.J Altern Complement Med. 2016 Mar;22(3):174-88.
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Alchemy Wellness Centre is located in Byron Bay, NSW Australia
RJ Singer is a registered Acupuncturist, and Chinese Medicine Doctor with AHPRA and AACMA. He is also a highly regarded QiGong Healer and Teacher, and Feng Shui Consultant.RJ’s area of special interest is in the treatment of stubborn and difficult chronic disease, and all types of painful conditions. Katrina Hillis is a Kinergetics Kinesiologist, and a registered Remedial & Relaxation Massage Therapist with AMT, who specialises in helping people overcome emotional issues and life transitions working holistically to balance the body, mind and spirit.