Treating Acne With Chinese Medicine

             Millions of people all over the world have seen and felt the effects of acne at one time or other. As if the teenage years weren’t awkward enough, this conditions usually shows itself in the early stages of puberty. The condition affects the sebaceous glands which are responsible for oiling hair follicles. As the oil is produced, dead skin cells are transported to the surface of the skin via the pores which are attached to the hair follicles. Whenever clogging occurs in these follicles, it leads to the pimples associated with acne.
          Acne is more than a skin condition, it is a disease, and should be treated as such. Social awkwardness aside, acne can cause scarring that lasts long after the pimples themselves have disappeared, often for a lifetime. It should be noted also that acne doesn’t just occur on the face, but can also affect the chest, shoulders, neck and back. The disease poses no health risks, but the misery it causes is certainly understandable. This is even worst when outbreaks are severe, or lasts well beyond the teen years.
           Treating acne has become big business, with teens being the main target of advertisers. In most cases, inflammatory acne is treated with either over the counter or prescription medication. Despite the numerous products on the market, it is not clear just how much the manufacturers of acne treatments understand about the disease. Given that skin types are different, what works for one individual may not work for others.
              Keep in mind that any medication, whether prescription or over the counter can have side effects. Some acne creams and soaps have been known to cause excessive dryness and skin irritation.
Chinese Medicine

            Some people may be wary of Chinese medicine, and consider it a new age fad. However, Chinese medicine has been practiced for over two thousand years. Unlike the Western medical philosophy, Chinese medicine depends on the study of nature and the body as well as cosmic forces. It has spawned a number of theories which form the basis of all treatments, namely Yin-yang, the Channel system, the six confirmations, the Zang Fu organ hypothesis and the Five Phases among others.
              While it is often a last resort in Western cultures, it is still the first source of care in many parts of Asia. The main methods of treatment involve acupuncture, food therapy, massage, physical exercise, breathing exercises, meditation and herbal medicine.
Chinese Acne Treatments

            Part of the philosophy of Chinese medicine relates to what causes disease. In the case of acne, it is seen as the force of heat acting on the lungs which in turn affects the skin. It is referred to as ‘fei feng fen ci’ which means ‘lesion of the lung wind.’ The idea is that the lungs are directly linked to the skin, and therefore they are both capable of affecting each other negatively. Factors such as stress, a poor diet, other health conditions, or the increase of Yang energy can lay a role in the increase in heat.
Acupuncture

          This is a practice of inserting thin needles into the skin for the purpose of relieving pain, or for therapeutic reasons. The aim is to tap into acupuncture points in the body through which energy, the qi, runs. When treating acne with acupuncture, an attempt is made to bring the Yin and Yang back into harmony and to rid the lungs of heat.
           As a form of acne treatment, acupuncture has had varying degrees of success. In fact, the best results are achieved when the sufferer also makes lifestyle changes including changing their diet. This is a notable aspect of the Chinese medicinal philosophy. This form of treatment may appeal to patients wary of ingesting medication or applying topical creams that could have side effects.
The Use of Herbs

            Many acne patients swear by herbal treatments for the disease. It is important to note that anyone considering this course of treatment should seek the services of a skilled practitioner. Herbs are usually combined to make a formula instead of being given individually. Some of the herbs used in treating acne are seagrass, sileris root, bupleurum, Chinese Wolfberry root bark, pine pollen and honeysuckle flower.
             Preparation usually involves boiling the ingredients in an earthenware pot, then straining the contents and drinking the tea while it is still warm. The process usually has to be repeated for a number of days or weeks.
             Chinese herbs are said to be free from side effects, however, caution should be exercised when dealing with any unfamiliar treatment. If any digestive complaints or irritations are noticed treatment shouldn’t be continued. Most reports indicate that there are few if any side effects associated with Chinese medicine used in the treatment of acne.