Dermatology
Can Acupuncture Treat Skin Conditions?
A: For thousands of years, traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners (Chinese physicians) have used acupuncture and herbs to treat a wide variety of common skin ailments. That same wisdom can be effectively applied today.
TCM views health as a balance within the body’s internal landscape and the environment. Disease can occur if there is too much or too little Qi (energy), blood, yin, and yang. Also, the impact of environmental conditions such as wind, heat, cold, dampness, and dryness, can affect illness. Skin diseases are often caused by both internal and external factors.
In mapping the organs of the body, TCM uses the same names as Western medicine, but sometimes identifies the functions of each organ in different ways. In addition, TCM groups the physiological and psychological functions of the body together because the mind has an impact on physical health. Where an organ may be in disharmony and thus a source of the problem according to TCM, Western medicine will not always view the situation in the same way.
Getting Beneath the Surface
In diagnosing skin conditions, TCM considers physical, emotional, and environmental factors. By taking the pulse, asking in-depth questions, and observing the tongue and skin, the TCM practitioner will diagnose the condition according to TCM patterns.
Skin diseases are generally caused by internal disharmonies, such as lack of Qi and blood, or environmental influences, such as wind, dryness, dampness, and heat. Stress, diet, and the individual’s constitution also contribute to these patterns.
Treatment
Acupuncture and Chinese herbs treat skin diseases in a unique manner. TCM addresses both the root (cause) and the branch (symptoms) of a condition. The treatment and diagnosis are tailored to each person’s symptoms. Depending on the condition, treatment may involve acupuncture, Chinese herbs, or both. Often, one treatment cycle is once or twice a week for 12 weeks. Some conditions will clear rapidly, but others may take longer.
- Acne: Acne is a common adolescent skin condition that sometimes continues into adulthood. According to Western medicine, it is generally associated with reactions to hormones, bacteria, and oils in the skin. In TCM, it is most often associated with dampness, heat, and in severe cases blood stagnation. Once the dampness and heat are cleared from the system, the skin will also clear.
- Eczema: Eczema, also called atopic dermatitis, is a chronic allergic reaction which causes the skin to become red, inflamed, intensely itchy, and in some cases to blister. People who have eczema often also have asthma and allergies. All of these conditions are caused by heat, wind, and dampness, and can be treated effectively with acupuncture and Chinese herbs. The goal of the treatment is to clear heat, dispel the wind and dampness, and move the blood.
- Other conditions: Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can also be used to treat psoriasis, shingles, vitiligo, uticaria (hives), warts, rosacea, and dermatitis.
Acupuncture and Acne
People looking for help with acne often try remedy after remedy without much help. For thousands of years, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners have used acupuncture and individualized herbal formulas to treat acne. That same wisdom can be effectively applied today.
Acne is among the most common of skin conditions. It afflicts almost all of the adolescents to some degree, and can extend into adulthood. The degree of severity can vary widely, from a few white heads and blackheads, to extensive formation of cysts. Sometimes scarring can occur. But no matter how bad, acne can have a significant effect on social and emotional health. It can also be the source of physical pain and local skin infections.
According to Western medicine, acne is a disorder of the hair follicle sebaceous gland. This gland can get clogged up from a skin, which is normally shed off the body. The clogged pore then becomes a pimple. Hormones and bacteria in the skin further exacerbate the clogging of pores. In some people, the pimple can become inflamed leading to development of large painful pimples, commonly referred to as cysts.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Viewpoint
TCM considers physical, emotional, and environmental factors of the individual when treating skin problems. From a TCM perspective, acne is most often associated with heat and dampness effecting the organs and channels of the lungs, stomach, and spleen.
In Chinese medicine, each organ has specific functions and is connected to a channel that runs from the skin’s surface internally to connect with the organ. The organs involved with acne are because of both the function as well as the locations of their channels.
Lung – The lung is in charge of the skin. So any skin disease can therefore be related to the lung. We often see this in some skin diseases, such as eczema, which often occurs with lung problems. The lung also regulates the opening and closing of the pores, which is one way that the heat that causes acne can escape from the body.
Stomach - The stomach naturally tends to be warm, which is how it helps in digestion of food. However, this propensity for heat can easily gather extra heat, which can manifest as pimples along the stomach channel, which covers the chest and the face. Dampness in the stomach also may be a factor, which leads to greasy oily skin.
Spleen – Finally, the spleen is also involved. The spleen is in charge of digestion. When digestion is working well and harmonized the body generates ample amount of energy and is able to get rid of dampness. If the spleen is not working well, dampness can accumulate and lead to greasy skin and acne.
These disharmonies have many overlapping causes. Stress, overwork, and congenital factors are some of the most common reasons. Food choices are also a common cause. Eating greasy, spicy, and heavy foods disrupt the function of the spleen in digestion that can lead to dampness, which can influence an acne flare-up. Which is why eating greasy pizza, too much chocolate, and spicy Mexican food can be bad for acne.
TCM Diagnosis and Treatment
By taking the pulse, asking in-depth questions, and observing the tongue and skin, the TCM practitioner will make an individualized diagnose according to TCM patterns. The treatment is tailored to fit to each person’s pattern diagnosis. Depending on the condition, treatment may involve acupuncture, Chinese herbs, or both. Generally, mild acne can be treated with acupuncture, but more severe and complex cases often require Chinese herbs as well.
Lung and stomach heat is the most common form of acne. This manifests as white or black heads on the face around the cheeks, nose, and forehead, as well as the chest, and upper back. Skin looks oily and may have a slightly reddish hue. The tongue will have a yellow coat. The goal of this treatment is to clear heat from the lungs and the stomach. Generally, the acupuncture treatment is on the lung and Stomach channels, which go along the arms and legs. Lung 5, at the elbow, is often used, as well as Stomach 36 below the knee. Herbs such as pi pai ye, huang qin, and sang bai pi may be used to clear heat from the lungs and stomach.
Sometimes the heat is very strong, leading to dry mouth and thirst. To clear this heat and nourish the fluids of the body, herbs such as xuan shen and mai men dong are added. If there is significant dampness in the stomach, the skin will be more oily and greasy. Often this will lead to large acne and cysts on the chest and back. Herbs such as bai zhu and yi yi ren may be added to clear even more heat. For those with this type of acne, it is very important to avoid greasy foods.
The skin around areas of acne may become red causing a general reddish complexion, which may remain after the pimples have been cleared. This is because the heat has entered the blood level. Herbs such as honeysuckle flowers, rose hips, and lotus flowers can be used for this condition. Heat toxicity develops when the skin becomes infected. Toxicity manifests as is redness, pus, and pain. Herbs such as honeysuckle and dandelion may be used for this.
In women, if acne becomes worse around the menstrual cycle, it may be related to the qi, the body’s energy, and blood. Qi flows throughout the body’s channels. Emotions such as stress, frustration, and anger can cause the qi to slow down to stagnate. Frequently, acne and other skin problems which occur around the menses are caused by qi and blood stagnation. For this acupuncture points such as Liver 3 on the foot, and Spleen 6 above the ankle may be used. Herbs such as yi mu cao, xiang fu, and bai shao may be added.
Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture is a holistic treatment. It can help those with all degrees and types of acne with clearing the skin, as well as improve overall wellness.
Treating Hives with Acupuncture
About 20 percent of people will experience urticaria or hives at some point in their lives. While standard treatment for hives is directed toward relieving the unpleasant symptoms with antihistamines or a corticosteroid drug, many people are turning to acupuncture and Oriental medicine to address underlying imbalances that cause this condition and to stop recurrent outbreaks once and for all.
What is Urticaria?
Hives (medically known as urticaria) are swollen, red, bumps, patches or welts on the skin that appear suddenly. Itching is the most common symptom associated with hives, although some people report that hives cause a stinging or burning sensation. Hives can occur anywhere on the body including the hands, face, lips, tongue, throat, or ears.
Hives are a sign that the whole body is experiencing a hypersensitivity reaction and an outbreak can occur due to a wide array of stimuli. While intolerance to certain foods, additives, intense emotions, sunlight exposure, and medications can all cause hives, in the majority of outbreaks (70-75%), the exact cause of hives remains unknown.
Hives can last for just a few minutes, a few hours, or they can persist for several weeks. Hives are rarely a medical emergency, but in some cases they can be accompanied by shock and difficulty breathing and can be life threatening. Treatment of hives is directed toward relieving the unpleasant symptoms, primarily itching. Over-the-counter or prescription antihistamines are most often used. When antihistamines don’t provide relief, oral corticosteroids may be prescribed. In addition to medications, applying cool compresses to the affected area and wearing light, loose-fitting clothing can help ease the discomfort of hives.
Urticaria and Oriental Medicine
Evidence that Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine have been used for skin disorders, such as hives, can be found in early medical literature dating back to 3AD. Medicinal plants and stone needles were utilized to relieve and cure discomforts of the external areas of the body.
In Oriental medicine, an outbreak of hives is described as wind invading the skin and the meridians, causing itching and swelling. When the eruptions are red it is an indication that wind and heat are involved. When the eruptions are a pale pink or white, it is likely that the diagnoses will be wind-cold invading the skin. How the condition is diagnosed will determine what acupuncture points are used, what herbal medicinals are prescribed and what lifestyle/dietary recommendations are made.
Treatments will be directed at addressing both the root (cause) and the branch (symptoms) of the condition by providing immediate relief from the itching and swelling (the branch) and addressing the underlying imbalances and triggers that are causing the condition (the root).
Common Acupuncture Points for Hives
While many different acupuncture points are used, depending on your specific symptoms and the state of your overall health, here are some acupuncture points that are commonly used to treat hives:
Spleen 10 (SP 10) is located two finger breadths above the top inner corner of the kneecap when the knee is slightly bent. It is on the bulge of the medial portion of muscle quadriceps femoris. This point is one of the major points on the body for skin conditions including eczema and hives.
Large Intestine 11 (LI 11) can be found in the depression at the outer part of the elbow crease, between the elbow tendon and the bone. The point is best located when the arm is bent at 90 degrees with the palm facing the abdomen. This point helps clear expel wind and heat from the body and reduces inflammation.
Study: Acupuncture and Hives
A study conducted at the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in Iran examined the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic urticaria.
For this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, forty patients with chronic urticaria were divided into two equal groups. One group was treated with real acupuncture and the other with sham acupuncture for 3 weeks. The results showed that acupuncture was able to reduce both episode rate and episode duration of urticaria by as much as 25% when compared with the sham acupuncture throughout the duration of study.
After three weeks the majority of the acupuncture treated patients experienced partial remission of their symptoms. The researchers also noted that the greatest improvements were seen in the third week of treatments and commented that the efficacy of acupuncture seemed to increase with each treatment.
Source: Internet Journal of Dermatology, 2006, Volume 3.
Treating Common Skin Conditions
Acupuncture and Oriental medicine can be very effective at treating skin conditions. Treatments can provide quick relief for acute symptoms and can provide significant and lasting relief from recurrent or chronic skin conditions.
The skin reflects imbalances within the body’s internal landscape and the effects of the environment. Internal disharmonies caused by strong emotions, diet, and your constitution as well as environmental influences, such as wind, dryness, dampness, and heat can all contribute to the development of a skin disorder.
Oriental Medicine does not recognize skin problems as one particular syndrome. Instead, it aims to treat the specific symptoms that are unique to each individual using a variety of techniques such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, bodywork, lifestyle/dietary recommendations and energetic exercises to restore imbalances found in the body. Therefore, if 10 patients are treated with Oriental medicine for eczema, each of these 10 patients will receive a unique, customized treatment with different acupuncture points, different herbs and different lifestyle and dietary recommendations.
General Skin Conditions that can be treated with acupuncture and Oriental medicine:
- Acne
- Dermatitis
- Eczema
- Pruritus
- Psoriasis
- Rosacea
- Shingles
- Urticaria (Hives)
Foods for Healthy Skin
What you put on your plate can be more important than what you put on your skin:
Carrots and Sweet Potatoes – Healthy skin is directly dependent on the amount of vitamin A in our diet. Vitamin A acts as an antioxidant to neutralize harmful elements in our skin, helping to prevent wrinkles, resist infection and maintain the skin’s elasticity. One of the best places to get Vitamin A is vegetables that are deep orange in color.
Blackberries, Blueberries, Strawberries, and Plums – In a study recently published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, these four fruits weighed in with the highest “total antioxidant capacity” of any food. The antioxidants and other phytochemicals in these fruits can protect the cell from damage and disintegration, thus guarding against premature aging.
Salmon, Walnuts, Canola Oil, and Flax Seed – Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are responsible for skin repair, moisture content, and overall flexibility, but because the body cannot produce its own EFAs, they must be obtained through the diet. Fish, walnuts, and flax seed oil are among the best sources for omega 3 fatty acid.
Olive Oil – Olive oil contains more than essential fatty acids. Eating good-quality olive oil helps keep skin lubricated and keeps it looking and feeling healthier overall.
Which olive oil is the best for your skin? Those labeled “cold pressed”, “expeller processed”, or “extra virgin” are the least processed forms. As a result, they contain the highest levels of antioxidative substances.
Whole Wheat Bread, Brown Rice, Turkey, Tuna and Brazil Nuts - Selenium is an antioxidant mineral responsible for tissue elasticity and healthy skin. It may play an important role in preventing skin cancer, as some recent studies are showing that skin damaged by the sun may suffer fewer consequences if selenium levels are high.
Dietary sources of selenium include wheat germ, seafood such as tuna and salmon, garlic, Brazil nuts, eggs, brown rice, and whole wheat bread. Brazil nuts are perhaps the best source, and eating just 3-4 Brazil nuts per day provides adequate selenium intake for most people.
Green Tea – Green tea’s ability to slow down the development of some signs of aging is attributed to its high levels of polyphenols, which have been well-documented for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Green tea also may help prevent or reduce the risk of skin cancer according to a study published recently in the Archives of Dermatology, which shows that whether taken orally or applied to the skin, green tea can reduce the risk of damage from ultraviolet light and thus reduce the risk of skin cancer.
Water – Hydration plays a key role in keeping skin cells healthy. It is essential to maintaining your skin’s elasticity and suppleness. Keeping cells hydrated helps cells move nutrients in and toxins out, which helps keep skin clean and clear.