February 6th, 2014 | Posted in 3 Various Specific Problems
Acne is a disorder caused by the action of hormones and other substances on the skin’s oil glands or hair follicles, resulting in spots, boils, pimples, on the face, neck, shoulders, chest, and/or back.
This occurs when a follicle or pore is blocked and sebum (an oily substance that the sebaceous glands produce) is prevented from releasing onto the skin through a pore. Bacteria that normally grows on the skin’s surface instead grows in the blocked follicle, signaling white blood cells, which cause inflammation. When the wall of the follicle finally breaks down, it spills its contents into the nearby skin, causing spots or pimples.
Pattern diagnosis/treatment is a crucial part of using Chinese Medicine for disease prevention instead of focusing on solely symptomatic treatments as is somewhat more common in western medicine. In TCM acne can be due to the accumulation of damp in the body or to heat in the blood or to the invasion of toxins.
A variety of individual acupuncture points will be chosen according to the pattern presenting to eleminate toxins and to reduce heat and/or damp in the body.
DIET IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR ALLSKIN PROBLEMS —
· Eat lots of greens, no greasy /fatty /spicy /processed food, no sugar, no alcohol. Clear the digestive system. Consume foods rich in essential fatty acids such as wild salmon, mackerel, anchovies and herring. Fish oil supplements have anti-inflammatory properties.
· Essential Fatty Acids Omega-3 and 6. Low levels of essential fats may be one of many causative factors of skin conditions due to the role of essential fats in inflammation and in bowel and detoxification organ health. If there is a blockage in the process of detoxification by the liver and removal through the urinary tract or bowel, the body will attempt to remove the toxins another way—usually through the skin. So it is important to some form of Omega 3 and 6 oils whether through oily fish (mackeral, salmon, sardines) or through a vegetarian source such as Cold Pressed Flaxseed Oil
Also see – Skin Problems, Itch, Psoriasis, Eczema
