People with eczema have
patches of skin that become inflamed, red and itchy. These patches
can appear anywhere on the body. Eczema most commonly appears
on the face, neck and the insides of the elbows, knees and ankles. Symptoms vary depending on the person and type of eczema, but
typically include:
· Dry, reddened skin
that itches or burns
· Blisters and/or
oozing lesions
· Dry and/or scaly,
thickened skin
· Moderate to severe
itching
Three main pathogenic
factors:
· Wind:
Characterized by sudden onset and development, change from one place
to the other, and generalized itching
· Dampness:
Manifests as puffiness of skin, vesicles or papules and oozing of
fluid
· Heat: Tends to
manifest as a burning sensation, redness and swelling
Eastern medicine’s approach to eczema
is based in its understanding that the body is a holistic system.
Everything from the conditions in your gut to the flow of Qi
through the body’s main channels/meridians affects the health of
the skin. For example, the lungs are primarily in charge of the
skin’s health. Excess heat and dampness in the lungs are
common causes of eczema. The spleen and stomach play similar roles in
managing levels of heat and dampness on the skin. The liver also
plays a role in eczema by its detoxification of blood. When
blood has high levels of toxins, red itchy patches will become more
inflamed. Eczema is a condition that’s triggered by allergens and
is often seen in people who also suffer from asthma. Stress is also a
major component of eczema, which leads to more flare-ups.
Through
acupuncture, the Qi of these organ systems are balanced and allowed
to flow freely to achieve optimum skin health. In addition to
disruptions in Qi and toxin build-up, unhealthy or inappropriate diet
contributes to skin problems. The health of the gut is very
strongly correlated to the skin. Many people with eczema have
reported that certain foods seem to trigger their condition while
others don’t and vice versa. One option for eczema sufferers is
eliminate inflammatory foods. When these foods are removed from the
diet and inflammation is reduced, one will begin to see improvements
in not just the skin, but in overall health and well-being. A
healthier diet can make a big improvement in skin and allow you to
achieve optimum health.
A
great product to help with the red, itchy, dry symptoms of Eczema is
Spring Wind Ointment that we carry here at our clinic.
Stayed
tuned for more info on Eczema...
-By Alex Flores, EAMP
-By Alex Flores, EAMP
