A couple weekends ago when my Mentor Mazin Al Khafaji (Considered to be one of Europe's most respected Dermatologists) was lecturing in my home town of Vancouver, B.C, he was asked what his most commonly used herb was. The answer was Sheng Di Huang, which is considered the king of the blood cooling medicinals.

When it comes to dermatology, the Traditional Chinese and Western Allopathic approach are quite similar at first glance. Both rely on describing the identifiable morphological changes visible on the skin. Both systems identify the same primary lesions of disease, using descriptive terms like papule, pustule, vesicle, bulla, macule, etc.

A few weeks back Dr. Lorne Brown, the clinical director of Acubalance Wellness Centre, interviewed me on how I use skin to help me diagnosis fertility problems. Have a listen to the podcast.

Yesterday in clinic I had the opportunity to show a series of photographs to a patient that had been taken over the past year and a half, during the treatment of her chronic psoriasis. She had been asking me for them and I was waiting for this brand new macbook (that I just purchased) so that I could edit them easier :-)

Three common Chinese herbs were found to be effective in controlling Acne vulgaris.

Specifically,

Huang Lian, rhizoma coptidis, was found to have comparable results to erythromycin.

Bai Zhi, Angelica dahurica, was found to be more effective than retinoic acid.

I got asked that question again yesterday in clinic. Many people assume that when they stop taking their herbs and/ or acupuncture their skin problem or menstrual problem or digestive problem will return. I always use this as an opportunity to talk about homeostasis- the bodies intherent need to be in balance.

During the annual meeting for the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), in early 2009, a study was released showing Chinese herbal medicine to be effective and safe for atopic dermatitis (also known as eczema). The finding is opening up the possibility of a more integrated approach to the treatment of skin disease, a very welcomed prospect.

Acne is a common problem faced by many women in their reproductive years. Often times it indicates elevated androgens (male hormones) and may be associated with menstrual irregularities, and even Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome, a condition that involves two of the following criteria:

Well here is another rant about how psoriasis is truly a sysptemic disease, a fact that Chinese medicine has identified for hundreds of years. A recent article published in the British Journal of Dermatology stated that people with psoriasis have an increased risk of heart disease. The authors stated that traditionally western dermatologists mainly focused on psoriasis in the skin and joint level, but failed to view any correlation to other organ systems.

Whenever I post research on this site, I always try, when I remember, to write a bit about the study so that others can make sense of it. This recent study I came across probably needs that. (link to abstract here)