Acupuncture and Its Many Uses

Posted by dermcareonline on February 26, 2010 under atopic dermatitis, eczema, itch | Be the First to Comment

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese therapy used to treat many problems. It is considered to be holistic medicine, not the traditional medicine that is practiced today in the United States It is based on the theory that there is an energy flowing through the body. By strategically placing very thin needles into the skin at certain points along which the qi (energy) flows, it is believed that the energy flow is restored, making the person feel better.

People use acupuncture to relieve various kinds of pain, arthritis, to help weight loss, to stop smoking, and more. I know someone who smoked 1-2 packs a day. Went for accupuncture, and hasn’t smoked for 20 years.

New studies in the Journal of Allergy have shown that acupuncture may help treat the itching in patients with atopic dermatitis. The study had 30 patients undergoing acupuncture minutes after their skin was exposed to an irritant (allergan). The patients felt that there was less itching. When the patients were exposed to the allergen a second time, the patients had a milder reaction.

For patients with allergies and eczema, the rashes and itchy skin severely affect the quality of life. The person might have difficulty sleeping and be irritable the next day, might have trouble focusing at work, and even be depressed. Although traditional medicine does not advocate acupuncture, for those patients suffering from atopic dermatitis and eczema, acupuncture might just be what the doctor ordered.