Acupuncture for Eczema
Friday, February 19, 2010 at 8:17AM
New research from Germany suggests that acupuncture can ease the itchiness of an eczema outbreak and may also tamp down the severity of these itchy allergic reactions. In a small study that included only 30 patients, investigators at the Technical University of Munich found that acupuncture administered minutes after the patients were exposed to pollen or dust mites - allergens that can set off a skin reaction in susceptible patients - took some of the itch out of the flare-ups. And when they compared patients treated with "true" rather than "sham" acupuncture (in which needles are inserted at points that traditional Chinese medicine does not associate with itchy skin), they found that both had similar anti-itching effects but that only true acupuncture lead to a overall diminished skin reaction to the allergens. While acupuncture seemed to work well in the experimental setting devised by the research team, it may not do the trick in real world use of this therapy. More research is needed to confirm these findings and determine how acupuncture elicits its effects to help eczema patients. The study was published on Dec. 11, 2009 online in the journal Allergy.
More information on acupuncture.
Reader Comments (5)
Is this something that was tried with children? Or, just with adults? Thanks!
I am experiencing my 2nd or maybe even 3rd (it gets blurry) outbreak of guttate psoriasis. So far JoJoBa Oil and Sea Salt Soap are keeping it from itching. I know the Dermotologist will recommend PUVA therapy. Have you come across anything else that helps it to go away? It took the last outbreak 8 months to disappear.
Beth: Dr. Weil says
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/ART00644
Susan:
follow my anti-inflammatory diet, making sure to get plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, particularly those rich in carotenoids (mangoes, corn, sweet potatoes, carrots and squash, as well as leafy greens and tomatoes). In addition,take supplemental fish oil and a source (such as evening primrose or borage oil) of GLA (gamma-linolenic acid), a fatty acid that promotes healthy growth of skin, hair and nails. Try doses of 2 grams of fish oil a day and 500 mg twice daily of one of the others.
I also suggest extract of milk thistle (Silybum marianum) for psoriasis treatment. You can probably find it in the health food store under the name silymarin.
Chinese medicine, including acupuncture, can also be helpful.
Since psoriasis often flares up in response to stress, learn breathing exercises, yoga or visualization, or keep a journal recording her experiences, feelings, and skin symptoms. Regular exercise and massage can also help. And, since the skin is very responsive to hypnotic suggestion, hypnotherapy is definitely worth trying.
Andrew Weil, M.D.
I am a licensed acupuncturist in AZ and my experience (contrary to what they teach in TCM schools) is that there are no 'sham acupuncture points'.
There are an infinite number of points on the whole body. If a sufferer does not experience some relief than the practitioner wasn't careful enough in finding the correct treatment. No problem then, try again. There are many different ways to treat the body and TCM is only one way. Korean hand acupuncture, for example, uses different protocols and is very successful.