In summer, the weather is hot and humid, which is the peak period for eczema. Eczema is a skin condition commonly found on the hands, feet, groin, and armpits, characterized by symptoms such as itching, redness, swelling, and blisters. It tends to recur, causing significant pain and distress to patients. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has unique advantages in the prevention and treatment of eczema.
01
Causes of Eczema
The causes of eczema are numerous, with the primary reason being the combination of dampness and heat. Due to the humid environment, the skin’s sweat secretion is obstructed, leading to the accumulation of dampness on the skin’s surface, which can trigger eczema. Additionally, eczema can also be caused by internal factors such as emotional stress, improper diet, and excessive fatigue.
According to TCM, the etiology of eczema is often due to the invasion of wind, dampness, and heat pathogens into the skin, or due to food stagnation and parasitic disturbances, which harm the spleen, leading to spleen deficiency and damp-heat accumulation. Alternatively, it may arise from blood deficiency causing wind or external wind invasion, which penetrates the skin, resulting in the combination of damp-heat and wind pathogens, leading to the onset of the disease.
02
TCM Clinical Treatment Methods
The main methods of TCM treatment for eczema include the following:
1. Herbal Medicine Treatment
Herbal medicine is a traditional method in TCM for treating eczema. It can eliminate internal dampness, improve blood circulation, and promote wound healing. Herbal treatment should be based on the differentiation of eczema patterns.
In TCM, eczema can be classified into three patterns: damp-heat excess, spleen deficiency with dampness, and blood deficiency with wind-dryness. For treatment, the damp-heat excess pattern should focus on clearing heat and draining dampness, cooling the blood and detoxifying; the spleen deficiency with dampness pattern should tonify the spleen and dry dampness, nourish the blood and moisten the skin; the blood deficiency with wind-dryness pattern should nourish the blood, dispel wind, and eliminate dampness while moistening dryness.
2. Acupuncture Therapy
Acupuncture therapy primarily focuses on clearing heat and draining dampness, stimulating the Hand Yangming and Foot Taiyin meridian points, such as Quchi (曲池), Yinlingquan (阴陵泉), Xuehai (血海), Ashi (阿是穴), and Fengshi (风市), while auricular acupuncture can target points like the Lung, Adrenal, Shenmen, and Endocrine points to improve the circulation of Qi and blood, regulate the endocrine system, enhance immunity, and alleviate eczema symptoms.
Acupuncture treatment can effectively relieve symptoms of acute eczema, but it is more challenging to cure chronic eczema patients.
3. Moxibustion Therapy
By igniting compressed mugwort leaves and placing them on acupuncture points, blood circulation can be promoted, improving eczema symptoms.
03
Preventive Health Knowledge
In addition to treating eczema, attention should also be paid to prevention and maintenance in daily life. Here are some preventive health tips:
1. Avoid Allergens
Try to identify the cause and isolate allergens to prevent further irritation. Also, avoid strong sunlight exposure.
2. Keep Skin Dry and Clean
The occurrence of eczema is related to humid environments; therefore, maintaining a dry environment is key to preventing eczema. Additionally, wear dry and breathable clothing daily. Pay attention to skin hygiene, avoid washing lesions with hot water or soap, and refrain from using irritating anti-itch medications.
3. Dietary Regulation
Diet is also an important factor in preventing eczema. Alcohol, spicy, and irritating foods should be avoided, as well as seafood that is prone to causing allergies and is hard to digest. Limit greasy foods and consume light, easily digestible foods such as vegetables and fruits.
4. Emotional Regulation
Emotional stress is an internal factor that affects the onset of eczema. Therefore, in daily life, one should maintain a cheerful mood, balance work and rest, and avoid excessive fatigue and emotional fluctuations.
5. Appropriate Exercise
Moderate exercise can promote blood circulation, increase immunity, and prevent the occurrence of eczema. Light exercise options such as Tai Chi, Ba Duan Jin, walking, and yoga can be chosen.
In summary, summer eczema is a common skin condition, and there are many treatment methods and preventive health tips available. TCM treatment methods have unique advantages, addressing the root cause by eliminating internal dampness and improving eczema symptoms.
Source: Yunnan Traditional Chinese Medicine
Editor: Xu Rumeng, Wen Jialin
Chief Editor: Chen Guangtai
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