Go to page content
Aaron Sta Maria
Written by Aaron Sta Maria

Reviewed by Dr Jessica Gunawan

5 Natural Remedies That Can Improve Eczema Treatment

Published | 5 min read

Yin and yang imbalance in your body can cause dry, itchy skin. Find out some natural remedies to help skin eczema treatment in this article.

A woman scratching a dry patch of skin on her elbow using her fingertips

Did you know that eczema is prevalent in up to 20% of children and 3% of adults globally? This skin condition usually presents on the scalp, knees or elbows, or the back of a person’s hand. It can be characterised by brown or red skin patches that appear cracked, dry or scaly. If you experience some of these symptoms, it’s not too late to find the most effective eczema treatment that could end your misery.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners, a healthy skin complexion is an external representation of a person’s emotional, mental, and physical well-being. To achieve good health, you need to ensure a fluid balance of yin and yang. They are two opposing yet interdependent forces in the body.

Here are a few effects of yin and yang imbalance and 5 tips that you can practice to treat the symptoms of eczema.

What Happens When There’s a Yin and Yang Imbalance in the Body?

Woman sitting on her bed and scratching her arm
When your yin and yang are not balanced, skin issues will manifest.  

When either of these two forces become more prominent than the other, it will impair the normal functioning of all organ systems. Thus, when three specific organs — the heart, lungs and spleen — are affected, it may trigger various skin problems.

The effects of yin and yang imbalance in the heart

Having too much heat (yang) in the heart can cause skin itchiness. Emotional tension or the consumption of too much spicy food usually cause this excess of heat. A deficiency of yang energy, on the other hand, can make your skin complexion look dull.

The effects of yin and yang imbalance in the lungs

One of the body’s five yin organs, the lungs, is responsible for the health of your hair and skin. They also promote qi circulation in the body and ensure optimal skin hydration. If your lungs are healthy, your skin may present as moist and supple. Alternatively, dry lungs and lung heat (excess yang) can cause your skin to become flaky and start itching. It can also cause a burning skin sensation.

The effects of yin and yang imbalance in the spleen

The primary function of the spleen is to remove dampness in the body. In this regard, spleen dysfunction will cause excess dampness and heat to accumulate in the body. It will also cause an increased production of sebum which, in turn, causes breakouts.

How to Manage Skin Eczema Effectively?

The primary goal of incorporating different therapies to help improve eczema treatment is to help your body achieve a balance of yin and yang forces in the heart, lungs and spleen, and a smooth flow of qi in the body.

Consuming traditional herbal remedies

The consumption of a few traditional remedies is effective in relieving the aggravated symptoms of eczema. Qinzhuliangxue (QZLXD), a Chinese herbal formulation that includes several ingredients like liquorice root, pearl powder, and skullcap. It effectively relieves eczema symptoms and reduces the frequency of a relapse. 

Similarly, another formula called Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (BZYQT) combines ingredients like Bupleurum, Chinese Angelica root (Danggui) and ginseng. It can reduce the severity of eczema in people who had a delicate, easily fatigable, and hypersensitive body constitution. 

You can use BZYQT alongside topical corticosteroids or oral antihistamines to keep their symptoms in check. Because of this, it is a suitable adjunctive therapy to the use of conventional treatments. You may also prepare American ginseng with other ingredients, including dried longans and chicken drumstick, in a herbal remedy that nourishes your yin, clears excess heat from the heart and improves lung function.

Getting acupuncture treatment

A woman lying face down as she receives acupuncture treatment
Acupuncture treatment is recommended for alleviating several eczema symptoms at once. 

The findings of a study on the relationship between acupuncture and eczema demonstrated that this therapy helps improve symptoms like itchy skin in people with mild to moderate eczema. 

On the other hand, a separate study finds that acupuncture can reduce lesion size and lower the risk of symptom recurrence, both attributed to elevated levels of stress.

Making dietary changes

Like asthma, depression and hay fever, food allergies are also linked directly with eczema breakouts. For instance, foods like eggs, dairy, fish, peanuts, and wheat are all common triggers of an eczema flare-up.

Therefore, eliminating each of these foods, one at a time, can be an effective way to identify the triggers of eczema. You can also opt for a rotation diet in which you only consume these foods once every few days.

Either way, you should seek the advice of a nutritionist beforehand. They can help you decide on replacement foods that you can eat to prevent a nutrition deficiency. Consuming a herbal remedy that combines essence of chicken and ginkgo biloba extract is also essential for providing your body with amino acids, minerals and protein. They are important for improving alertness, neutralising free radicals in the body and promoting healthy blood circulation.

Taking oatmeal baths

Oats in a wooden bowl and a spoon and strewn all over a wooden table
Oatmeal baths are linked with vast improvements in eczema symptoms.

Colloidal oatmeal — oatmeal grounded into a fine powder — has demonstrated protective and soothing effects against itching and irritation due to eczema. It forms a protective film on the skin, supports the retention of skin moisture and eases inflammation. 

This is evident from the findings of a study, which finds that people who followed a colloidal oatmeal bathing regimen for 4 weeks improved their skin condition and, in turn, their quality of life.

It is a given that eczema treatment can only help to manage its symptoms. In that regard, you should check out this article to gain a better understanding of how the health of our internal organs is reflected externally. At the same time, take comfort in knowing that a consistent practice of the tips above will help you enjoy the finer things in life by lowering your risk of an eczema relapse.

References

  1. Karger. 2015. Atopic Dermatitis: Global Epidemiology and Risk Factors. [Accessed 19 July 2021]
  2. Annals of Palliative Medicine. 2020. Efficacy and safety of Qinzhuliangxue decoction for treating atopic eczema: a randomized controlled trial.  [Accessed 6 July 2021]
  3. US National Library of Medicine. 2011. Chinese herbal medicine research in eczema treatment. [Accessed 6 July 2021]
  4. ClinMed International Library. 2018. Positive Effects of Acupuncture on Atopic Dermatitis. [Accessed 6 July 2021]
  5. US National Library of Medicine. 2014. Diet and Dermatitis: Food Triggers. [Accessed 6 July 2021]
  6. Nuffield Health. Eczema | 5 ways changing your diet could help. [Accessed 6 July 2021]
  7. US National Library of Medicine. 2012. Management of Patients with Atopic Dermatitis: The Role of Emollient Therapy. [Accessed 6 July 2021]

Share this article on

Was This Article Useful to You?

Want more healthy tips?

Get All Things Health in your mailbox today!

Subscribe to our newsletter

Related Articles

A woman standing in front of an opened refrigerator in a dark kitchen.
Wellness & Nutrition
April 22, 2022 | 4 min read

Mind Tricks to Help Stop Food Cravings Effectively

Food cravings are normal but it can lead to overeating if you're not careful. Thankfully, there are some tricks you can do to curb food cravings effectively.

Read More
Cause of obesity 1
Wellness & Nutrition
July 31, 2024 | 5 min read

The Cause of Obesity: 5 Body Constitutions That Trigger Weight Gain

Understanding your unique body constitution can be the key to managing weight and improving overall health. Explore the unique perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) on obesity and learn how you can embrace a healthier, more balanced life.

Read More

The contents of the All Things Health website are for informational and educational purposes only.
Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.