Chinese herbs may help treat eczema
March 13th, 2008 - 5:03 pm ICT by admin
- London, Mar 13 (ANI): A traditional combinations of five Chinese herbs may help treat people suffering from eczema, a new study by researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong suggests.
In the study, the researchers found that patients using the herbal treatment had to rely less on conventional medicines, and that it improved the quality of life for young patients with atopic eczema.
However, UK experts have warned that patients must consult a doctor before taking herbal remedies.
For the study, the researchers examined the effects of the ‘pentaherbs formulation’ on patients with atopic eczema - the most common type of the disease, which affects at least one in ten kids.
The capsules has five raw herbs based on a widely used ancestral Chinese concoction - Flos lonicerae (Japanese honeysuckle), Herba menthae (peppermint), Cortex moutan (root bark of peony tree), Atractylodes Rhizome (underground stem of the atractylodes herb), Cortex phellodendri (Amur cork-tree bark).
The researchers gave 85 patients either the medicine, or a placebo and found that those who took the medicine reported improved quality of life by a third, while those who took the placebo reported no improvement.
They also found that the herbal treatment reduced patients’ needs for the traditional remedy of topical steroids by an average of four days a month, as compared to just one day a month in the placebo group.
Besides this, the researchers also found that patients who took the herbal treatment showed lower blood levels of four proteins thought to have inflammatory effects linked with eczema.
The results were confirmed in lab tests, where the pentaherbs formulation was added to blood cells in a test tube.
“These early studies show that children with atopic eczema may benefit from a specific concoction of traditional Chinese herbs, which could eventually pave the way for this remedy to find its way into mainstream medicine,” BBC quoted Nina Goad, of the British Association of Dermatologists, as saying.
“However, we would warn against using Chinese herbal medications without first speaking to your doctor.
“Some retailers may not be reputable and the product they sell you may be of a low standard or could contain harmful ingredients,” Goad added.
The study is reported in the British Journal of Dermatology. (ANI)
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- atopic eczema- - blood cells
- - chinese university of hong kong
- - concoction
- - conventional medicines
- - cork tree
- - goad
- - herbal treatment
- - japanese honeysuckle
- - mainstream medicine
- - peony tree
- - placebo group
- - raw herbs
- - root bark
- - topical steroids
- - traditional chinese herbs
- - traditional remedy
- - tree bark
- - uk experts
- - underground stem
Posted in Health Science, |
May 1st, 2008 at 5:05 am
There is a Chinese medicine Hua Tuo Gao which is helpful for skin infections, eczema, dermatitis, it is really effective. They have same ingredients that is written here.
June 25th, 2008 at 5:47 am
I have been using virgin coconut oil MeritVCO from excelcombine.com for my Eczema its a natural treatment for excema
I just came across this article on internet
Natural Eczema Treatment With Virgin Coconut Oil
A natural eczema treatment can be found in the use of virgin coconut oil. In fact, I have gotten great results with its use on my dry eczema skin. As it is, I have to be careful not to use products that contain fragrance or chemical substances. I have found that natural oils make a far better alternative, in helping to moisturize and hydrate my skin. What is particularly useful to know is that the constituents of natural oils are perfect for the body. Virgin coconut oil is now touted to be one of the best natural eczema treatments that you can find around.
What Is Eczema?
The term “eczema” or “dermatitis” has been used to describe a group of skin problems where the skin becomes itchy and inflamed, and thus red splotches become visible. In a larger scale, eczema is also grouped with the classic allergic diseases, asthma and hay fever, in a complex that is termed “atopy” (from the Greek word “atopos”, meaning “out of place”).
Eczema is always marked by dry skin. The eczema skin cannot protect itself from increased rate of evaporation, and the loss of moisture leads to further dryness. In turn, the dry skin gets more irritated and itchy, leading to increased scratching that worsens the rash. The itchy, red rash can affect the entire body. Many people get it in the joints of the arms, especially the inside of the elbows, or the joints of the leg, especially at the back of the knees.
Natural Eczema Treatment Versus Steroids
The conventional method of treatment for eczema is by way of steroid applications. However, long term use produces side effects like “thinning of the skin”, leading to increased vulnerability to bacterial infection, and hence aggravating the problem of eczema. Alternative health experts also suggest that any form of drugs increases toxicity to the body and this can create other health problems.
Choose Organic And Virgin Coconut Oil For Eczema Natural Treatment
It is best to select coconut oil that is both organic and virgin, as use for a natural treatment for eczema.
Organic Coconut Oil. Dry eczema skin can be a symptom of a highly toxic body. Hence, the last thing you want to do is to use a product that is not produced organically.
Virgin Coconut Oil. Virgin coconut oil is made by using fresh coconut meat with little or no processing, or what is called non-copra.
Most commercial grade coconut oils are produced from copra. Most of the copra, the meat of the coconut, is dried under the sun in the open air, where it gets exposed to insects and moulds. The standard end product made from copra is RBD coconut oil. RBD means refined, bleached, and deodorized. Both high heat and chemicals (e.g. solvent extractions) are used in this method.
A fragrant smell is characteristic of virgin coconut oils. Copra-based refined coconut oils have no taste or fragrance due to the refining process.