“The skin on the insides of my arms was always inflamed and red. I had to resort to wearing long sleeved shirts to cover my skin in the summer. I went to a dermatologist and was given creams/ointments that would help, but didn’t ever take care of the problem. The only thing that made it go away was a very strong steroid pill. I knew that I didn’t want to have to resort to steroids for the rest of my life.”
“I decided that I needed to look into another form of treatment. I called a number of clinics that offered Acupuncture. When I called Complete Oriental Medical, Jackie was very helpful and very kind on the phone. She was not pushy and offered to send information to me. She told me to call if it’s something I wanted to try. I made an appointment to see Steven. I wasn’t even sure it was going to help. I went in twice a week for 6 weeks. It didn’t take long to see an amazing difference in my skin. I was so thankful that this approach helped me. I continue to go and see Steven almost weekly. My skin is 100 times better! My family has been amazed at the transformation in my skin. My parents are so happy that this form of medicine has made such a difference in my life. I will continue to see Steven for my skin. I also see him if there are any other issues with my health. I would recommend acupuncture to anyone! Complete Oriental Medical has made such a positive change in my life. I will be forever grateful.” Emily Olson – Minneapolis, MN, patient at Complete Oriental Medical Care
It is estimated that as many as 15 million people in the United States suffer from eczema. This pesky skin problem usually looks like dry, scaly red skin patches accompanied by intense itching. Conventional medical treatment can include corticosteroids, which have some serious side effects like organ damage. Excessive use of topical corticosteroids can also produce an array of serious skin problems (American Family Physician, Jul 1993).
Recently a group of German researchers might have an answer to provide relief to the itching caused by eczema.
The study had thirty people with eczema that were treated with acupuncture right after being exposed to an allergen such as dust mites or pollen. All subjects reported lower levels of itchiness. And when they got a second exposure to the allergen, their flare-ups were less severe.
Researchers concluded that acupuncture to address eczema showed a significant reduction in itching.
Another study performed in Israel looked at the effectiveness of both acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of atopic dermatitis (the most common form of eczema). In this study 20 patients between the ages of 13 and 48 were given a combined treatment of acupuncture and Chinese herbs three times daily for 12 weeks. All subjects were assessed at weeks 3, 6, 9 and 12. At the end of the 12 weeks, the patients’ assessment of itching improved by 45 percent and quality of life improved by 39 percent. In the Israli study the researchers concluded, “The results of this study suggest that the combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine have a beneficial effect on patients with atopic dermatitis.”
A Case Study
A female patient at our Minneapolis acupuncture clinic suffered from eczema. She lead an exercise class for senior citizens. During the class she sweated a lot. This aggregated her itching. She was also very self conscious about the appearance of the red marks on her arms and legs. After a course of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine not only was the itching was relieved, but the eczema disappeared.
“I personally seek TCM to cure my eczema and it works.” Hani
If you or a loved one suffers from eczema and live in the St. Paul/Minneapolis area call our receptionist now at 952-831-8080 for more information on how you can end eczema itching and suffering. Or go to our contact page.
