Acupuncture Treatment for Skin Diseases
by Chinese acupuncture
Thousand year old of Traditional Chinese Acupuncture can be used to treat a wide variety of common skin disorders. According to the Chinese Medical theories, the healthy skin can be viewed as a balance within the body's internal landscape and the environment and the skin diseases are often caused by both internal and external factors. The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) indicated that physical, emotional, and environmental factors are the key factor s in the skin diagnosis. Therefore, pulse diagnosis, history taking and skin inspection are usually used by the acupuncture practitioners to diagnose the conditions related to skin problems and according to TCM patterns.
The lack of Qi and blood, or environmental influences, such as wind, dryness, dampness, and heat are the main causes in Skin diseases. Furthermore, Stress and bad diet may contribute to skin disorders.
Acupuncture treatment and diagnosis in skin diseases are usually focused on both the cause and the symptoms of a condition. Each individual condition, acupuncture treatment may be carried out with once or twice treatment sessions per week for at least 12 weeks. Most skin disorders respond well to acupuncture with some conditions will clear rapidly, but others may take longer. Acupuncture (manual, electrical and laser) with diet control can treat the following skin disorders:
-Psoriasis : This is a non-infectious skin disease characterised by irregularly shaped, slightly raised red patches with a scaly surface. Elbow, knees and the scalp are the area more likely to be affected. If acupuncture treatment is carried out for prolonged period, there will be a noticeable improvement.
-Eczema (Dermatitis): This is a non-specific condition arising from the inflammation of the skin, not primarily due to any infection, but usually as a result of an allergic reaction in sensitive subjects to substances such as certain foods, and to contact with certain chemicals either directly on the skin or by inhalation. It could also be precipitated by heat, cold, dampness and sunlight. Emotional disturbances also play a part. Initially the eczema may start with a rash and severe itching. Then the skin breaks out in small vesicles which then rupture and an exudate forms (“weeping eczema”). At this stage the skin may become infected with bacteria. Pruritus (itching) and subsequent scratching is liable to spread the infection. The skin may dry up and cracks may appear, or there may be formation of pustules. In chronic stage the skin is dry and flaky and may become thickened. The itching and burning sensation may however continue. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, eczema is caused by heat, wind, and dampness and this disorder can be treated effectively with acupuncture. The main aim of acupuncture treatment is to clear heat, dispel the wind and dampness, and move the blood.
-Acne: Acne is a common skin disorder among the young patients which on certain occasions continues into adulthood. In conventional Western medicine, the pathology of acne is generally associated with hormonal changes, bacterial infection and oily skin. While in Traditional Chinese Medicine it is usually associated with dampness, heat, and in severe cases blood stagnation. In acupuncture treatment, once the dampness and heat are cleared from the system, the skin will also clear.
-Alopecia: It is a baldness which appears suddenly in patches, probably following a mental strain or infective disorders such as typhoid fever. In most cases the hair gows again in a short time without treatment. Acupuncture may be used in refractory cases to stimulate the regrowth of hair.