While it might seem simple to treat, skin disorders can be persistent and dominate a healing regimen with minimal and unsatisfactory results. This can be the case with adolescent skin conditions such as acne to eczema, shingles and the difficult to treat psoriasis, which often has a genetic predisposition. In general, skin disorders result from a faulty fat metabolism. In addition, there will be seen involvement of the blood. In Chinese Medicine there is the axiom that in any skin condition, one always needs to address the integrity of the blood, and hence, the liver, which contains the blood and so nourishes the skin. In addition, we could cite the lungs as vital to skin health, the organ which rules the exterior of the body, both providing moisture as well as the defensive Qi (called Wei Qi). An example of its importance can be seen in the wrinkling of the skin that comes from the chronic lung heat that results in long-term smokers, particularly women.
Because of the skin’s relationship to fats, foods that are rich in omega-3 and GLA (gamma linolenic acid) fatty acids help to remedy the condition. Omega-3 fatty acids, as talked about before are present in flax, borage and black currant as well as in fish and fish oils. GLA is synthesized in the healthy body from linoleic acid, which is found in nuts, seeds, grains, legumes, vegetables, fruit and animal products. Direct sources of GLA are from mother’s milk, spirulina and the Omega-3 oils mentioned above, borage and black currant as well as evening primrose and the seeds of maple and sycamore. Sesame seeds, rich in oleic fatty acids are also of benefit in the diet. An optimum source is unrefined sesame oil, which can be used in moderate amounts as a salad or cooking oil.
The beta-carotene/provitamin A foods are also helpful in the treatment of skin diseases, especially for inflammatory conditions. This would include carrots, winter squash, pumpkin and leafy greens such as dandelion greens, beet greens (the beet also), spinach, kale, chard, endive and watercress. Vitamins C and E are also important, and the mineral zinc. The microalgaes such as spirulina, chlorella and wild blue-green are all beneficial. All greens are rich in chlorophyll, which purifies the blood of heat toxins that cause skin eruptions. Seaweeds can be included here, by virtue of their cooling and detoxifying nature. Other foods that should be used are mung beans, adzuki beans and unpeeled cucumber slices as well as alfalfa and soy sprouts. Goat milk products are the best animal product to use. Avoid foods which are spicy, fatty or greasy and particularly sweet foods (including wheat and dairy) and any shellfish. Of utmost importance is the minimal use of salt, and one should drink plenty of water.
As we are talking about the exterior of the body, sweating is useful to encourage elimination of toxins through the pores. Some skin herbs that are also diaphoretic would include sarsaparilla, sassafras, burdock seeds and yarrow leaves & flowers. They will also remove heat toxins from the blood. Some other herbs to help purify the blood include dandelion root, burdock root, red clover blossoms, yellow dock root, chamomile and gotu kola. Turmeric and neem as have been mentioned, are also helpful in skin afflictions, as is the mangosteen fruit inclusive of the rind. Generally, for acute conditions, only one or two herbs are necessary, and being that most of them are laxative, will serve to cleanse the large intestines (related to the lungs) to help detoxify the system. A traditional western tea for chronic skin diseases consists of equal parts of sarsaparilla root, yellow dock root, sassafras root bark, marshmallow root and red clover blossoms.
Treatments can also be applied topically to aid internal therapies. They can be applied as poultices of the tea. Ingredients like raw honey, papaya, lemon juice, sliced cucumber and vinegar are also used in various treatments. A remedy for eczema consists of raw honey or golden seal or poke root tea rubbed with slices of fresh papaya. A poultice of crushed daikon radish or raw potato is then applied. Neem, mentioned above, is also available as an oil in Indian markets and is especially good for inflamed heat conditions. In addition, essential oils can be used in diluted forms (as in the neem oil or in water) such as German chamomile, palmarosa, geranium, lemon and lavender, as well as tea tree oil for infections and cypress for tightening the skin
Article written by Andrew Wells, M.S.O.M., L.Ac.
Andrew Wells is a Wellness On Wheels licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist with background in Ayurvedic Medicine and Nutrition seeing patients in Crestline.
Tags: skin diseases
