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Acne

1. Overview and Causes
2. Symptoms
3. TCM Effectiveness and Evaluation
4. Common Syndromes and Treatments in TCM
  a. Damp-heat in the Lung and Stomach
  b. Phlegm stagnancy
5. Healing by Other Therapies
  a. Qigong and other
  b. Medicated diet
  c. Life style
6. Psychological Adaptation


1. Overview and Causes

Acne is a disorder of the skin, the commonest of which is "Acne vulgaris"in adolescents, characterised by the presence of pustules and blackheads.The main cause of acne is the over production of sebum(an oily secretion) from the sebaceous glands in the skin.The production of sebum is regulated by hormonal changes.Acne ranges in appearance from small raised bumps to pustules, large cysts and pimples on the skin surface. Acne is so common that over 80% of the population can claim having had some form of it at some time. Since puberty plays a role in the onset of acne, the condition usually appears during the teenage years. However, it can extend to age 25 or over, particularly in women. Mild cases need no treatment, or if necessary, only some external treatment. But some severe cases may require internal and external treatments. If untreated, the acne can leave permanent scars when it recedes, which can result in embarrassment and emotional stress.

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2. Symptoms

(a) Acne mostly attacks adolescents. The male patients outnumber the female patients.
(b) The skin rash tends to appear on the face, neck, back, chest and shoulders, where sebaceous glands are plentiful.
(c)In the beginning, the comedones (small cysts formed in hair follicles) appear. Those which are gray-white or skin colour are refered to as white-heads comedones while those with black top are called black-headed comedones. When these comedones get infected,they turn into red papular eruptions, the size of a millet grain. The top of some of these eruptions may develop small pus-pockets, and some may develop various kinds of lesions such as nodes, abscess, cysts and scars, often accompanied by excessive seborrhea (sebum secretion).
(d) Severe acne may have pus-filled sacs that break open and discharge fluid. Soreness, pain, itching may accompany the bumps.
(e) The clinical course is slow. The skin comedones appear in one place after another.

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3. TCM Effectiveness and Evaluation

Many clinical studies have reported in China that Ttraditional Chinese Medicne (TCM) treatments have reduced acne in more than 70 percent of the people who have tried these alternative techniques.

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4. Common Syndromes and Treatments in TCM

This ailment, according to TCM, has different syndromes. The treatment for these syndromes using herbal medicine and acupuncture is shown below.

Syndrome (a)
Damp-heat in the Lung and Stomach

A person with damp-heat in the lung and the stomach will have a face that is flushed and greasy. The skin rash is mainly in the form of red papular eruption and pus-pockets. It is often accompanied, to varying degrees, by itching and pain. Other possible symptoms include ozostomia, an inclination towards cold drinks and constipation. The tongue would be red with a yellow, greasy coat. The pulse is usually rapid.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Herbal medicine can help remove damp-heat from the lungs and the stomach, as well as clear away heat and toxic material from the blood.

Prescription/Formula: Modified PipaQingfei Yin. Loquat leaf (pipayi), Mulberry bark (sangbaipi), Scutellaria (huangqin), Phellodendron (huangbai), Capejasmine fruit (zhizi), Moutan bark (mudanpi) at 9 g each; Coptis (huanglian), Licorice (gancao) at 6 g each; Rehmannia (shengdihuang), Red peony (chishao), Gypsum fibrosum (shigao), Capillaris (yinchen) at 15 g each.

  

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
 Therapeutic principle: Acupuncture and moxibustion helps eliminate damp-heat from the lungs and the stomach, and can clear away toxins from blood by using points mainly from Large Intestine meridian of Hand Yangming and Stomach meridian of Foot Yangming.

Prescription/Formula: Hegu (LI 4), Jiaxi (ST41), Quchi (LI11), Lingtai (Du10), Weizhong (UB40).

  

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Syndrome (b)
Phlegm stagnancy

Phlegm stagnancy may cause repeated relapses and persistent courses of the disease. The skin rash mainly takes the form of node, cysts and scarring.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Herbal medicine helps remove thick stagnant phlegm in order to soften lumps. This promotes blood circulation by removing blood stasis.

Prescription/Formula: Modified Haizao Yuhu Tang. Chinese angelica root (danggui), Ligusticum (chuanxionga), Red peony root (chishao), Red sage root (danshen), Forsythia (lianqiao) at 12 g each; Seaweed (haizao), Ecklonia (kunbu), Prunella spike (xiakucao) at 15 g each; Pinellia tuber (banxia), Green tangerine peel (qingpi), citrus peel (jupi), Fritillary bulb (beimu) at 9 g each.

  

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
 Therapeutic principle: Acupuncture or moxibustion can remove stagnant phlegm and blood stasis by using the points mainly from the Spleen meridian of Foot Taiyin.

Prescription/Formula: Xuehai (SP 10), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Fenglong (ST 40), Hegu (LI 4), Yonglingquan (GB 34).

  

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5. Healing by Other Therapies

(a) Qigong and other therapies

For effect of Qigong on Metabolism, click here.

Generally speaking, Qigong is good for healing effect of this specific ailment, however individual results may vary. It improves the flow of the qi and the circulation of the blood, so you'll experience more energy, but, you won't see/ feel any immediate effects, as with many exercises and therapies, it takes a few weeks or even months of practice before you'll see any significant improvements.

The following types of Qigong may help:

For the information of different types of Qigong ,just click a link above.

This information is for education purpose only. We strongly advise you seek a licensed Qigong master to learn the correct ways to conduct these exercises before attempting them.

(b) Medicated diet
1) Take less amount of greasy, sweet food, refrain from drinking alcoholic and soft drink or eating irritating food with a pungent hot taste.
2) Eat more vegetables, fruit and try to keep the digestive canal free from disturbance.

(c) Life style
1. Wash your face frequently with warm water and soap.
2. Do not press or squeeze the affected part.
3. Take less amount of greasy food, sweets, and refrain from drinking alcohol and soft drinks or eating irritating food with a pungent hot taste. Eat more fruits and vegetables and try to keep the digestive canal free from disturbance.
4. Try to reduce emotional stress.

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6. Psychological Adaptation to a Chronic and Severe Illness
One encounters different health problems in the course of one's life. Some problems are acute yet minor and often improve by themselves or yield to simple self-management. Severe and acute conditions often necessitate the help of health professionals who may provide fast relief with specific interventions. However, when the condition is chronic, the management required is quite different.

Please click the following button to learn "Psychological Adaptation to a Chronic and Severe Illness".

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Acknowledgments:
Healthphone.com greatly acknowledges the support and dedication of our
Healing Centre Panel, without whom this section would not be possible.

We also greatly acknowedge Ms. Najaf Munir, MBBS, for her editorial support. Ms. Munir simplified the highly technical medical documents into easy-to-read documents, for the enjoyment and education of our numerous visitors.