The
Five Elements in Oriental Medicine
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Eczema, psoriasis, urticaria, acne
Western medicine sometimes sees the skin as an inert protective
covering which does little more than line the outside of
the body. Conventional skin condition treatments work from
the "outside in" resulting in some short-term
relief, but rarely any cure to the problem. Rashes come
and go but in the end they are usually chronic in nature.
Additionally, medications that are used to suppress inflammation
can drive the pathogen deeper into the body thereby worsening
the internal imbalance. The condition then continues to
surface at later dates as the body weakens due to other
conditions.
Oriental medicine sees the skin as a living dynamic organ
that is related to the lungs. The lungs are responsible
for moisture reaching the surface of the body. Blood is
also required to moisten, cool and nourish the skin thus
dryness, scaling and itching can be due to deficiency of
the blood or stasis in its circulation. Internal heat or
damp is also often responsible for skin conditions as skin
disease may reflect a deeper underlying imbalance as well
as problems at the surface of the body. In treating the
underlying imbalance the skin symptoms are resolved and
no further complications arise. The skin condition may initially
worsen but long-term results are favourable.
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