Acupuncture and Acne

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Acupuncture and Acne

By: Joseph Alban MS, L.Ac.

People

looking for

help with

acne often try

remedy after

remedy

without much

help. For

thousands of

years,

Traditional

Chinese

Medicine

(TCM)

practitioners

have used

acupuncture

and

individualized herbal formulas to treat acne. That same wisdom can be

effectively applied today.

Acne is among the most common of skin conditions. It afflicts almost all

of the adolescents to some degree, and can extend into adulthood. Thedegree of severity can vary widely, from a few white heads and

blackheads, to extensive formation of cysts. Sometimes scarring can

occur. But no matter how bad, acne can have a significant effect on

social and emotional health. It can also be the source of physical pain

and local skin infections.

According to Western medicine, acne is a disorder of the hair follicle

sebaceous gland. This gland can get clogged up from a skin, which is

normally shed off the body. The clogged pore then becomes a pimple.

Hormones and bacteria in the skin further exacerbate the clogging of

pores. In some people, the pimple can become inflamed leading to

development of large painful pimples, commonly referred to as cysts.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Viewpoint

TCM considers physical, emotional, and environmental factors of the

individual when treating skin problems. From a TCM perspective, acne is

most often associated with heat and dampness effecting the organs and

channels of the lungs, stomach, and spleen.

In Chinese medicine, each organ has specific functions and is connected

to a channel that runs from the skins surface internally to connect with

the organ. The organs involved with acne are because of both the

function as well as the locations of their channels.

Lung -The lung is in charge of the skin. So any skin disease can

therefore be related to the lung. We often see this in some skin

diseases, such as eczema, which often occurs with lung problems. The

lung also regulates the opening and closing of the pores, which is one

way that the heat that causes acne can escape from the body.

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helps in digestion of food. However, this propensity for heat can easily

gather extra heat, which can manifest as pimples along the stomach

channel, which covers the chest and the face. Dampness in the

stomach also may be a factor, which leads to greasy oily skin.

Spleen -Finally, the spleen is also involved. The spleen is in charge of

digestion. When digestion is working well and harmonized the body

generates ample amount of energy and is able to get rid of dampness.

If the spleen is not working well, dampness can accumulate and lead to

greasy skin and acne.

These disharmonies have many overlapping causes. Stress, overwork,

and congenital factors are some of the most common reasons. Food

choices are also a common cause. Eating greasy, spicy, and heavy foods

disrupt the function of the spleen in digestion that can lead to dampness,

which can influence an acne flare-up. Which is why eating greasy pizza,

too much chocolate, and spicy Mexican food can be bad for acne.

TCM Diagnosis and Treatment

By taking the pulse, asking in-depth questions, and observing the tongue

and skin, the TCM practitioner will make an individualized diagnose

according to TCM patterns. The treatment is tailored to fit to each

persons pattern diagnosis. Depending on the condition, treatment may

involve acupuncture, Chinese herbs, or both. Generally, mild acne canbe treated with acupuncture, but more severe and complex cases often

require Chinese herbs as well.

Lung and stomach heat is the most common form of acne. This

manifests as white or black heads on the face around the cheeks, nose,

and forehead, as well as the chest, and upper back. Skin looks oily and

may have a slightly reddish hue. The tongue will have a yellow coat.

The goal of this treatment is to clear heat from the lungs and the

stomach. Generally, the acupuncture treatment is on the lung and

Stomach channels, which go along the arms and legs. Lung 5, at the

elbow, is often used, as well as Stomach 36 below the knee. Herbs such

as pi pai ye, huang qin, and sang bai pi may be used to clear heat from

the lungs and stomach.

Sometimes the heat is very strong, leading to dry mouth and thirst. To

clear this heat and nourish the fluids of the body, herbs such as xuan

shen and mai men dong are added. If there is significant dampness in

the stomach, the skin will be more oily and greasy. Often this will lead

to large acne and cysts on the chest and back. Herbs such as bai zhu

and yi yi ren may be added to clear even more heat. For those with

this type of acne, it is very important to avoid greasy foods.

The skin around areas of acne may become red causing a general

reddish complexion, which may remain after the pimples have been

cleared. This is because the heat has entered the blood level. Herbs

such as honeysuckle flowers, rose hips, and lotus flowers can be used for

this condition. Heat toxicity develops when the skin becomes infected.

Toxicity manifests as is redness, pus, and pain. Herbs such as

honeysuckle and dandelion may be used for this.

In women, if acne becomes worse around the menstrual cycle, it may berelated to the qi, the bodys energy, and blood. Qi flows throughout the

bodys channels. Emotions such as stress, frustration, and anger can

cause the qi to slow down to stagnate. Frequently, acne and other skin

problems which occur around the menses are caused by qi and blood

stagnation. For this acupuncture points such as Liver 3 on the foot, and

Spleen 6 above the ankle may be used. Herbs such as yi mu cao, xiang

fu, and bai shao may be added.

Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture is a holistic treatment. It can help

those with all degrees and types of acne with clearing the skin, as well

as improve overall wellness.

Call an acupuncturist with experience in treating this condition to find

out more about how Chinese medicine can help you. To find an

acupuncturist in your area, please visit www.Acufinder.com


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About the Acupuncturist:

Joseph Albanis a New York State licensed acupuncturist and diplomate

in Oriental Medicine. He completed his hospital residency in the Hunan

province of China. There, he received advanced training in the

dermatology, urology, internal medicine, and gynecology. He currently

runs an acupuncture and Oriental medicine practice in New York City. For

more information, please call 917.887.4946 or go to

www.AlbanAcupuncture.com

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Acupuncture and Acne

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