In Australia, eczema affects up to 20% of children and 5% of adults. It is a common allergic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by itchy, scaly, erythematous, and oozing skin. Eczema frequently co-occurs with allergic rhinitis, food allergies, and asthma. Numerous genetic and environmental factors have been linked to the pathogenesis of eczema. First-line therapy for eczema involves topical corticosteroids, but some patients eventually develop steroid-resistant eczema. Stress, sleep disturbance, intense itching, painful skin, and other side effects of abrupt steroid withdrawal are also brought on by altered skin integrity and complex networks of inflammatory cells and cytokines.
Traditional Chinese medicine has demonstrated effectiveness in treating eczema patients, including infants, without any significant side effects, enhancing severity scores, lowering pruritus, enhancing quality of life, and reducing the need for corticosteroids. According to TCM theory, eczema is frequently brought on by a hereditary predisposition, a spleen, stomach, and/or lung deficiency, an excessive heartbeat, a lack of blood with wind-dryness, and an imbalance between these organ systems. Restoring deficiencies, eliminating excesses, and clearing Qi blockages make up treatment.
In allergic skin diseases, acupuncture has been shown to balance the immune response. Itching and other mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis symptoms have been successfully treated with acupuncture. Additionally, basophil activation through decreased expression of skin proliferation and pro-inflammatory cytokines and reduction of hypersensitivity reactions caused in patients with atopic dermatitis are both reduced by acupuncture.
The advantages of Chinese herbal therapy for treating eczema are being supported by more and more clinical research. Patients with eczema have reported a considerable improvement in the reduction of erythema, surface damage, and pruritus after using Wu mei wan, the first FDA botanical experimental tablet. Another formula, like Xiao Feng San, is able to lessen clinical symptoms and enhance sleep.
Reference:
Chan, HHL, and T Ng. "Traditional Chinese Medicine (Tcm) and Allergic Diseases." Current allergy and asthma reports 20, no. 11 (2020): 67.
Gu, SX, AL Zhang, ME Coyle, D Chen, and CC Xue. "Chinese Herbal Medicine for Atopic Eczema: An Overview of Clinical Evidence." The Journal of dermatological treatment 28, no. 3 (2017): 246-50.
Kang, S, YK Kim, M Yeom, H Lee, H Jang, HJ Park, and K Kim. "Acupuncture Improves Symptoms in Patients with Mild-to-Moderate Atopic Dermatitis: A Randomized, Sham-Controlled Preliminary Trial." Complementary therapies in medicine 41 (2018): 90-98.
Wang, Z, ZZ Wang, J Geliebter, R Tiwari, and XM Li. "Traditional Chinese Medicine for Food Allergy and Eczema." Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology 126, no. 6 (2021): 639-54.
