In my last post, I described the acupuncture diagnosis for acne . In this post I will discuss some basic concepts of acne treatment.
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine diagnosis of Acne
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 imbalance. The treatment is tailored to fit to each person’s specific imbalance.
Depending on the condition, treatment may involve acupuncture, Chinese herbs, or both. Generally, mild acne can be treated with acupuncture, but more severe cases often require Chinese herbs. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs help reduce this cycle of acne development by regulating hormones that effect skin secretions, decreasing inflammation and reducing infection. Topical herbal formulas are also remarkable effective for acne.
One of the most powerful abilities of Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture is that it is holistic treatment which can help people both with the acne as well as improve overall wellness.
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine treatment of acne
As I discussed my the last post, acupuncture and Chinese medicine focuse on imbalances in the body. When these imbalances are corrected the body can heal.
The most common imbalances for acne are heat, dampness, and stagnation. Location of the acne also is reflective of the underlying imbalance. For example, lung and stomach heat manifests as white or black heads on the face around the cheeks, nose, and forehead, as well as the chest, and upper back.
The goal of acupuncture 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. Topical herbal formulas are very helpful for their anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.
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 and you may get whiteheads frequently. Sometimes, there may be large cysts on the chest and back. Herbs such as bai zhu and yi yi ren may be added to clear the dampness. 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 there is blood heat. Herbs such as jin yin hua (honeysuckle flowers), mei gui hua (rose hips), and fu rong hua (lotus flowers) can be used for this condition.
Heat toxicity develops when there is inflammation and infection. Toxicity manifests as redness and pain. Herbs such as jin yin hua (honeysuckle) and pu gong ying (dandelion) may be used for this. Topical herbs are very effective for toxicity.
In women, if acne becomes worse around the menstrual cycle, it may be related to the qi, the body’s energy. 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.
If you would like to find out more about acupuncture and Chinese medicine for acne, call us at 917-887-4946 to make an appointment.
In my last post, I described the acupuncture diagnosis for acne . In this post I will discuss some basic concepts of acne treatment.
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine diagnosis of Acne
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 imbalance. The treatment is tailored to fit to each person’s specific imbalance.
Depending on the condition, treatment may involve acupuncture, Chinese herbs, or both. Generally, mild acne can be treated with acupuncture, but more severe cases often require Chinese herbs. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs help reduce this cycle of acne development by regulating hormones that effect skin secretions, decreasing inflammation and reducing infection. Topical herbal formulas are also remarkable effective for acne.
One of the most powerful abilities of Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture is that it is holistic treatment which can help people both with the acne as well as improve overall wellness.
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine treatment of acne
As I discussed my the last post, acupuncture and Chinese medicine focuse on imbalances in the body. When these imbalances are corrected the body can heal.
The most common imbalances for acne are heat, dampness, and stagnation. Location of the acne also is reflective of the underlying imbalance. For example, lung and stomach heat manifests as white or black heads on the face around the cheeks, nose, and forehead, as well as the chest, and upper back.
The goal of acupuncture 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. Topical herbal formulas are very helpful for their anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.
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 and you may get whiteheads frequently. Sometimes, there may be large cysts on the chest and back. Herbs such as bai zhu and yi yi ren may be added to clear the dampness. 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 there is blood heat. Herbs such as jin yin hua (honeysuckle flowers), mei gui hua (rose hips), and fu rong hua (lotus flowers) can be used for this condition.
Heat toxicity develops when there is inflammation and infection. Toxicity manifests as redness and pain. Herbs such as jin yin hua (honeysuckle) and pu gong ying (dandelion) may be used for this. Topical herbs are very effective for toxicity.
In women, if acne becomes worse around the menstrual cycle, it may be related to the qi, the body’s energy. 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.
If you would like to find out more about acupuncture and Chinese medicine for acne, call us at 917-887-4946 to make an appointment.