TCM or Traditional Chinese Medicine has been continuously evolving for the past 4000 years.
While Western medicine blames viruses, germs, bacteria, and such for illnesses and diseases, Chinese Medicine works in an entirely different way.
Well-being, health, and nature, are all made up of two equal forces of Yin and Yang, which represents the female and male principles respectively. From these two originate other ideas. One idea is that illnesses and diseases can be blamed on external environmental elements of which there are six. These are: fire, dryness, dampness, summer heat, cold, and wind.
The balance of yin and yang is thrown off when ailments arise in the body. When Chinese Medicine is used, the health of the body and balance of yin and yang is restored.
When it comes to acne, Western medicine blames its cause on the blockage of the sebaceous follicles due to the excess supply of sebum resulting in the development of symptoms characteristic to the condition.
Chinese gives more depth to this explanation. It traces the cause of acne to the aforementioned environmental elements. It attributes the cause to Damp Heat and Heat, and uses some healing procedures such as cooling the blood to clear out these elements from the body.
Whereas Western medicine uses techniques such as freezing, UV light, skin peeling, cortisone shots, ointments, creams, and antibiotics, Chinese Medicine utilizes diet therapy, Chinese herbs, and acupuncture to cure acne. Practitioners claim that the restoration Yin and Yang balance will benefit the sufferer curing his/her acne as well as making him/her sleep better, resolving digestive problems, stabilizing emotions, boosting energy, and enjoying more focused thinking.
Recommended foods for acne sufferers include potato, lettuce, squash, celery, carrots, and cucumber. Also, drinking lots of water every day is highly advised.
Scott Paglia is a licensed and board certified acupuncturist in Bellingham, WA and provides master level pulse diagnosis, Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture in Whatcom County, WA.