The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
atopic dermatitis redirects here
Eczema can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like eczema here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here eczema is often associated with sores, fever and carbuncles in the pattern “Toxic-Heat”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of eczema we’ve identified five herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the five medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat eczema.
In Chinese Medicine eczema is a symptom for the pattern "Toxic-Heat". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
Honeysuckle Flowers (Jin Yin Hua) is the king ingredient for Yin Qiao San, a formula used for Toxic-Heat
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu)
Tongue coating: Yellow coating
Tongue color: Red
In addition to eczema, other symptoms associated with Toxic-Heat include sores, fever and carbuncles.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Toxic-Heat is associated with health issues such as Abnormal Vaginal Discharge.
Toxic-Heat is often treated with Yin Qiao San, a herbal formula made of 10 herbs (including Honeysuckle Flowers - Jin Yin Hua - as a key herb). Yin Qiao San belongs to the category of "external formulas for external disorders", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Disperses Wind Heat".
The top herbs in Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang are Water Buffalo Horns (Shui Niu Jiao), Unprepared Rehmannia (Di Huang) and Red Peony Roots (Chi Shao)
Source date: 650 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Treats severe fevers and Heat in the Blood system. Removes Blood Stagnation.
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Toxic-Heat' of which eczema is a symptom.
The top herbs in Huang Lian Jie Du Tang are Goldthread Rhizomes (Huang Lian), Baikal Skullcap Roots (Huang Qin) and Phellodendron Bark (Huang Bo)
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Toxic-Heat' of which eczema is a symptom.
Source date: 1617
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Spreads Lung Qi. Clears Heat. Unblocks the orifices (specifically the nose) .
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Toxic-Heat' of which eczema is a symptom.
The top herbs in Yin Qiao San are Honeysuckle Flowers (Jin Yin Hua), Forsythia Fruits (Lian Qiao) and Platycodon Roots (Jie Geng)
Source date: 1798 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Disperses Wind Heat. Clears Heat. Resolves Toxicity.
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Toxic-Heat' of which eczema is a symptom.
The top herbs in Sang Ju Yin are Mulberry Leaves (Sang Ye), Chrysanthemum Flowers (Ju Hua) and Forsythia Fruits (Lian Qiao)
Source date: 1798 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Disperses Wind. Stops coughing by invigorating Lung Qi. Clears Heat.
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Toxic-Heat' of which eczema is a symptom.
Because it is a key herb in Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Toxic-Heat' (a pattern with eczema as a symptom)
Water Buffalo Horns is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter and Salty. It targets the Stomach, the Heart and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Cools the Blood, drains Fire and stops reckless movement of Blood. Clears Heat and Fire and stops tremors and convulsions. Cools Fire and expels toxins.
Because it is a key herb in Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Toxic-Heat' (a pattern with eczema as a symptom)
Unprepared Rehmannia is a Cold herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Expels Heat by Cooling Blood. Tonifies Yin by promoting Fluid production. Soothes the Heart by calming Blazing Fire. Cools and nourishes.
Because it is a key herb in Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Toxic-Heat' (a pattern with eczema as a symptom)
Red Peony Roots is a Cool herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Liver.
Its main actions are: Moves Blood, relieves pain and reduces swelling. Cools the Blood and the Liver.
Because it is a key herb in Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Toxic-Heat' (a pattern with eczema as a symptom)
Mudan Peony Bark is a Cool herb that tastes Bitter and Pungent. It targets the Heart, the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Cools the Blood, activates Blood circulation and resolves Blood stasis.
Because it is a key herb in Huang Lian Jie Du Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Toxic-Heat' (a pattern with eczema as a symptom)
Goldthread Rhizomes is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Gallbladder, the Heart, the Large intestine, the Liver, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Expels Damp-Heat especially in the Lower Burner. Eliminates Fire toxicity especially when there is associated Dampness. Acts as a sedative by eliminating Heart Fire. Eliminates Stomach Fire. Expel parasites
Sores Fever Carbuncles Jaundice Constipation Coughing Urinary tract infection Dysentery Sore throat Burns