Skin Boils & Rashes

Skin Boils and Rashes: Understanding Western Biomedical and Chinese Medical Approaches.

(Organ names in Chinese medicine differ from Western medicine’s understanding).​

Skin boils and rashes are common skin conditions that can be painful and uncomfortable. In Western biomedical understanding, skin boils are caused by bacterial infections, whereas rashes can be caused by a variety of factors such as allergies, infections, or autoimmune diseases. The treatment approach for skin boils may involve antibiotics and draining of the boil, whereas rashes may be treated with topical creams or antihistamines. It is important to note that seeking medical advice from a Western doctor is recommended for the treatment of these conditions.

In Chinese medical theory, skin boils and rashes are caused by imbalances in the body’s internal environment, such as excess heat, dampness, or toxicity. The approach to managing these symptoms is to identify the underlying imbalances and treat them accordingly. Chinese herbs are often used to address these imbalances, with a wide variety of formulas to choose from based on the individual’s unique presentation.

One example of a formula contains the Chinese herbs Huang Lian (Coptis Rhizome) and Jin Yin Hua (Honeysuckle Flower). This formula is used to clear heat and toxins from the body, which can help alleviate skin boils, these herbs are not use in isolation and overuse may weaken the digestive aspects of the body and hence, the choice of herbs is a carfully considered interplay by the qulified therapist. Another example of a formula that may be used for rashes contains Chinese herbs such as Jing Jie (Schizonepeta Tenuifolia) and Fang Feng (Saposhnikovia Divaricata). This formula is used to expel wind and relieve itching, which can help alleviate rashe, again, these herbs count for only a seventh of the complete formula and have the rist of over drying fluids, and hence, a Trained Chinese Medicine Herbalist will balance the qualities of these herbs with other single herbs to create a well balanced and rounded formula that will focus on the presenting symptoms and also care for the body’s general state and function.

Acupuncture is another modality used in Chinese medicine to manage skin boils and rashes. Acupuncture involves the insertion of thin needles into specific points on the body to promote healing and balance. Two examples of acupuncture point combinations that may be used for skin boils and rashes include LI11 (Quchi) and ST36 (Zusanli), which can help clear heat and toxins from the body, and LI4 (Hegu) and SP10 (Xuehai), which can help regulate blood flow and relieve itching. In TUNG style acupuncture the four horses combination and SanChaSan points may be used. again, there is no definite point usage, as Chinese Medicine is a complex, pattern based medicine that takes into account the whole picture, underlying condition, personal individual constitution and energetic interplay of the whole presentation.

Chinese medical theory views skin boils and rashes as part of a larger pattern of disharmony in the body, such as imbalances of the five elements, channels, Qi and blood, or phlegm, heat, cold, and wind. The approach to managing these symptoms involves identifying the underlying pattern and addressing it through a combination of herbal medicine, acupuncture, and lifestyle modifications.

Chinese Medicine offers an approach to managing symptoms and promoting overall health and wellbeing. The use of Chinese herbs and acupuncture should be seen as complementary to Western medical treatments and not as a replacement. A complimentary approach to health could bring together several disciplines using different lenses and find a way to treat the underlying cause by supporting the body in different ways, while refraining from deducing from the other discipline. with that in mind, outcomes may prove very beneficial in the long run.

In conclusion, skin boils and rashes can be managed through both Western biomedical and Chinese medical approaches. Western medicine offers antibiotics and topical creams to treat the symptoms, whereas Chinese medicine offers a holistic approach to identify the underlying imbalances and treat them through its own indepth lens. Using herbal medicine and acupuncture. By combining both approaches, individuals can achieve optimal health and wellbeing.

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References:

Maciocia, G. (2013). The Foundations of Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive Text for Acupuncturists and Herbalists (2nd ed.). Elsevier Health Sciences.

Bensky, D., Clavey, S., & Stöger, E. (2004). Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica (3rd ed.). Eastland Press.

Liang, F. R., Li, Y. Y., Yu, S. G., et al. (2004). A randomized controlled trial of acupuncture and moxibustion for the treatment of recurrent boils. Zhongguo zhen jiu = Chinese acupuncture & moxibustion, 24(12), 825-827.

Zhang, Y., Wang, Z., Jin, Y., et al. (2016). Effect of a Chinese herbal formula on acute skin rashes: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, 2016, 2646251.

Wang, Y., Xiong, X., Liu, W., et al. (2018). Efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine for eczema: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, 2018, 1730239.