The skin is the largest organ in the body. It provides protection from the rigors of the environment and regulates body temperature. It's a mode of external stimuli and it gives a sense of touch, according to Cliff Notes website. A skin condition breaks the integrity and the protective barrier of the skin and will need to be treated. Chinese herbs are commonly used in alternative medicine to treat skin conditions, such as acne or dermatitis, dry and itchy skin or eczema, psoriasis and rosacea.
Eczema
About 15 million people in the United States suffer with eczema, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Severe itching is the main symptom of this chronic inflammatory skin disorder. Other symptoms include red-irritating skin blisters, crusting over with scales or thick patches of skin with scales. Eczema is not contagious, it usually affects individuals with a history of allergies and it has no cure. Chinese herbs such as peony root, rehmannia and Chinese gentian or Chinese wormwood will help relieve the pain and discomfort. Peony root is antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-allergenic and is used to treat boils and other skin conditions.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis affects the lifecycle of skin cells. Skin cells build up rapidly on the skin with symptoms of painful, itchy-red, dry patches of sores and cracked-skin with silver scales. Psoriasis is noncontagious and is an inherited disorder. Common Chinese herbs for treating psoriasis include amebia euchroma, safflower and licorice, red rooted sage and Chinese angelica. Safflower is a rich source of polyunsaturates that helps to lower cholesterol and maintain a healthy heart. It's used to treat inflammatory skin eruptions and to alleviate skin conditions. Licorice gel, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, helps to relieve itching, swelling and redness in skin conditions.
Rosacea
This chronic inflammatory skin condition mostly affects individuals in their 30s and 40s. Rosacea is a progressive condition. It starts with modest blushing, redness of the checks, nose and chin and forehead. The redness persists, becomes more visible and tiny blood vessels might begin to grow on the nose. Spicy foods, alcohol and sunlight and extreme temperatures aggravate this condition. Without treatment rosacea gets worse. Chinese herbs such as dandelion leaf, burdock root and loquat leaf and honey suckle flowers are used to treat rosacea. Dandelion leaf purifies and cleanses the blood and helps to clear up skin conditions such as acne. The ingredient inulin, in dandelion, improves skin conditions by removing bacteria.
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