Chinese medicine for Acne

In this post I will discuss common causes of acne in Chinese medicine. Check back Tomorrow for a discussion about the acupuncture and Chinese medicine treatment.

People looking for help with acne often try remedy after remedy without much help, and sometimes find only side effects. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been around for thousands of years and it is helping people with acne through acupuncture and individualized herbal formulas. That same wisdom can be effectively applied today.

Acne is among the most common of skin conditions, afflicting almost all adolescents to some degree. Sometimes it can extend into adulthood. The degree of severity can vary widely, from a few white heads and blackheads, to extensive formation of cysts. Sometimes scarring can occur. But no matter how bad, acne can have a significant effect on social and emotional health. It can also be the source of physical pain and local skin infections.

What Causes Acne?

Acne is characterized as a disorder of the hair follicle sebaceous gland. This gland can get clogged up from a skin, which is normally shed off the body. The clogged pore then becomes a pimple. Hormones and bacteria in the skin further exacerbate the clogging of pores. In some people, the pimple can become inflamed leading to development of large painful pimples, commonly referred to as cysts.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Viewpoint

TCM considers physical, emotional, and environmental factors of the individual when treating skin problems. From a TCM perspective, acne is most often associated with heat and dampness effecting the organs and channels of the lungs, stomach, and spleen.

In Chinese medicine, each organ has specific functions and is connected to a channel that runs from the skin’s surface internally to connect with the organ. The organs involved with acne are because of both the function as well as the locations of their channels. Don’t worry, a disharmony in the Chinese medicine organ does not mean an illness in the Western medicine organ.

Lung – The lungs are in charge of the skin. So any skin disease can therefore be related to the lung. We often see this in some skin diseases, such as eczema, which often occurs with lung problems. The lung also regulates the opening and closing of the pores, which is one way that the heat that causes acne can escape from the body.

Stomach – The stomach naturally tends to be warm, which is how it helps in digestion of food. However, this propensity for heat can easily gather extra heat, which can manifest as pimples along the stomach channel, which covers the chest and the face. Dampness in the stomach also may be a factor, which leads to greasy oily skin.

Spleen – Finally, the spleen is also involved. The spleen is in charge of digestion. When digestion is working well and harmonized the body generates ample amount of energy and is able to get rid of dampness. If the spleen is not working well, dampness can accumulate and lead to greasy skin and acne.

These disharmonies have many overlapping causes. Stress, overwork, and congenital factors are some of the most common reasons. Food choices are also a common cause. Eating greasy, spicy, and heavy foods disrupt the function of the spleen in digestion that can lead to dampness, which can influence an acne flare-up. Which is why eating greasy pizza, too much chocolate, and spicy Mexican food can be bad for acne.

Check back tomorrow for a discussion about the acupuncture and Chinese medicine treatment.

This post it meant to give you the general idea about acupuncture and Chinese medicine theory behind acne.  It is very important to find a licensed and experienced acupuncturist who is familiar with treating acne.  For those in New York, please feel free to call us at 917-887-4946 for a free consultation.  If you are out of our region, you can checkout Acufinder.com