What are the ways to treat eczema?

  Eczema is one of the most common skin diseases in dermatology and is called “wet sores” and “dip sores” in Chinese medicine. It is clinically classified into acute, subacute and chronic according to the course of the disease. Its main manifestation is intense itching, recurring and lingering. Especially in chronic eczema, the local itching is intense and unbearable, and after constant scratching, skin scratches and scabs appear, and the skin becomes rough and thick, like tree bark, causing great physical and mental pain to the patient and seriously affecting the patient’s quality of life. The application of Disulfiram for the treatment of eczema has shown satisfactory results and is favored by doctors and patients.  According to Chinese medicine, the onset of eczema is the result of wind-heat or wind-damp-heat evil attacking the human body, depressing the skin between the couples and infiltrating within the tiny blood vessels, resulting in a red rash or cloud-like spots. Because the wind-heat or wind-damp evil is not allowed to penetrate outside and not allowed to drain inside, it manifests as itchy skin.  This formula is contained in the famous medical book “Surgery Zhengzong” written by Chen Shigong in the Ming Dynasty, and it can also be found in “Jinjian of Medicine – Essentials of Surgical Methods”. This formula is composed of 6g of Jing Zhi Zhi, Fang Feng, Cicada, Bitter Ginseng, Angelica, Sheng Di, Zhi Mu, Hu Ma Ren, Atractylodes, Burdock, Gypsum, 3g each of Glycyrrhiza and Mucong, and should be taken after meals as a decoction. The purpose of this decoction is to develop the couples and disperse the wind to relieve itching. The itching of the skin, which oozes water after scratching, is due to the fact that dampness and heat are only concerned, so the formula also uses Cang Zhu’s hard work and warmth to disperse wind and dispel dampness; Bitter Ginseng’s bitter cold to clear heat and dry dampness; and Moutong’s watery to percolate dampness and heat.  As the evil of heat involves the Blood and has rashes, angelica and raw groundnut are used to clear heat and cool the Blood, dispersing stasis and resolving spots; hu ma ren nourishes the Blood and moistens the skin; and gypsum and Zhi mu clear damp-heat in the Qi, enhancing the power of clearing heat and dipping fire, all these drugs aim to eliminate rashes, so they are adjuvants. Glycyrrhiza glabra is used raw to clear heat and detoxify the toxins, and it can harmonize all the medicines, so it is the complementary medicine. The combination of all the medicines can dispel the evil without harming the righteousness, diarrhea the fire without destroying the stomach, cool the blood and protect the yin.  It has been used clinically for hundreds of years to treat countless patients with skin diseases, and it still has excellent curative effects today. Modern medical practitioners have researched various aspects of Dissipated Wind San. Modern pharmacological research has shown that thorax and windbreak have sedative and anti-inflammatory functions; angelica enhances the immune function of the body; raw earth has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-toxic and can regulate the immune function; bitter ginseng has anti-inflammatory effects; licorice has enhanced immune function, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects. The whole formula has antipruritic and anti-allergic effects, and its immunosuppressive effect is related to its regulation of T and B lymphocyte function and inhibition of inflammatory cytokine activity, which is one of the main mechanisms for the treatment of skin diseases such as eczema with type IV metaplasia as the main cause.  Because eczema, especially chronic eczema, has a long and complex course, it is important to add or subtract from the clinical application, taking into account the specific condition. For example, if wind-heat is prevalent and the body is hot and thirsty, add silverflower, forsythia to remove wind-heat and detoxify; damp-heat is prevalent, chest and epigastric fullness, body weight and weakness, yellow thick and greasy tongue coating, add skin, carpenter, gardenia, etc. to clear heat and dampness; blood-heat is very hot, five heartburn, red or vivid tongue, add red peony, dandruff, comfrey to clear heat and cool the blood.  In addition, the elimination of wind not only for the treatment of eczema, but also for the treatment of urticaria, allergic dermatitis, drug dermatitis, neurodermatitis and other patients belonging to wind-heat or wind-damp-heat evidence, all have good clinical efficacy.  During the medication diet should be light, eat more vegetables and fruits, eat less seafood, beef and mutton, avoid eating chili, wine and other spicy stimulating things, otherwise not only affect the efficacy of the drug, but also aggravate the condition, intensify the itching of the skin, resulting in eczema recurrence. In addition, eczema patients should avoid scratching, avoid hot water washing, avoid washing the affected area with soap and other irritants.