Services

The Skin in Chinese Medicine 

The skin is considered to be the first line of defense against outside influences. The skin maintains the body metabolism by regulating appropriate sweating through the pores. Chinese medicine recognises a specific connection between the skin and the function of the Lungs. The Lungs are said to be in charge of metabolising fluids and controlling the opening and closing of the pores (normal sweating). As such they play an important role as a first defense against the outside.

 Climatic Factors and the Skin 

When we talk about outside or climatic factors in Chinese medicine, we talk about wind, cold, heat, fire, dryness and dampness. Out of these, wind and heat/fire are of particular concern as they are associated with itching and reddening of the skin.

Diet and the Skin 

Spicy and hot foods can lead to accumulation of heat and are often advised to be avoided. Coffee and alcohol, for example, are considered  too hot and stimulating.  

Emotional Factors and the Skin Emotional factors can be a complicating factor in skin disorders. Constant itching can cause a patient to become anxious. In Chinese medicine stress and anxiety are said to generate heat which could make a skin condition that is already classified as hot, worse.

Depending on the nature of the problem we will carefully select Chinese herbs to alleviate immediate symptoms while addressing the underlying imbalance.  To achieve the strongest effect, herbs are recommended to be taken internally as a decoction (but powder or pill form is also an option). Herbs are also applied externally in form of herbal washes, creams, ointments and tinctures. Acupuncture may also be used.