Atopic eczema is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin which causes the skin to become extremely dry and itchy.  The itch in atopic dermatitis is so severe can take over your life. And after you scratch, the skin becomes inflamed.  Eventually this leads to an systematic inflammatory reaction which creates a cycle where the itch causes inflammation and the inflammation leads to more itching.

The development of eczema is likely related to multiple factors. Most people with atopic eczema have a family history eczema, hay fever, and asthma which indicates that there is a genetic factor.  But the rising rates of atopic eczema over the last 50 years indicates that there is likely an environmental component as well including washing with harsh soaps, dust, and dietary deficiencies.

While the exact cause is not known we do know that atopic skin tends to be dry, shows a tendency for the overgrowth of staphylococcus aureus, and a deficiency in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA).  This does give some indications of how to help treat eczema.  Allergies to foods, mold, or irritant substances may cause a flare in the condition.  Atopic eczema is treated most often with topical steroids that suppress the inflammatory response. Unfortunately, steroids also have many side effects.

Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine approach to Atopic Eczema
Traditionally, Chinese medicine has called eczema the "wind of four crooks" referring to the most common locations of the eczema rashes on the inside of the elbows and knees.

Chinese medicine treats eczema not by suppressing the immune response but rather correcting the imbalances that are causing the eczema. By correcting or removing these imbalances your body is able to heal on its own.

In Eczema, the most common underlying imbalances are dry heat or dampness. To determine the imbalance, I will observe how the skin looks. If the skin is dry, cracked, and irritated, then too much dry heat may be the most significant factor in the eczema. If there is more swelling, crusting, and vesicles, then dampness may be the most significant factor.

Because Chinese medicine is holistic, we also consider how digestion, allergies, sleep, and emotional health play a role. Acupuncture points and herbs are selected specifically for their ability to correct that specific imbalance.

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine treatment of Atopic Eczema
Chinese herbal medicine focuses on correcting the imbalance causing the eczema.  If heat is the cause of the eczema, we will use herbs that traditionally are used to "clear heat" from the body, such as sheng di huang (rehmannia) and jin yin hua (honey suckle). Many of the heat reducing herbs are also potent anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties.

If dampness is causing the eczema, herbs that drain dampness such as ku shen (sophroa) can be used. There are also herbs specifically for the symptoms. For example, di fu zi (broom cypress) is very effective in reducing itch.

Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine for Atopic Eczema
Ear Acupuncture Model
Acupuncture is very effective to control the itching in eczema. I find that auricular and body acupuncture combination to be the most effective. After the acupuncture, I often will use magnet stickers in ear acupuncture points that correspond to the specific area of the body the itch is found. It is possible that the same physiological mechanisms which acupuncture uses to reduce pain are effective for stopping itch in eczema.

The use of external creams to keep the skin nourished and moist is extremely important because dryness of skin exacerbates the irritation and disrupts the healing process.

For many patients, acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine leads to long term reduction of symptoms. This is because Chinese medicine focuses on correcting the root imbalance causing the condition, not just masking the symptoms. The long term benefit of the herbs may be due to immunoregulatory mechanisms of Chinese medicine.