Understanding Eczema: A TCM Perspective on Causes, Care, and Healing

Oct 1

Eczema and Traditional Chinese Medicine: Beyond Steroid Creams

Eczema is a common skin condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It often shows up as dry, itchy, inflamed skin and can range from mild irritation to more persistent flare-ups. While Western medicine often focuses on creams and symptom management, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) takes a different approach—looking deeper into the body’s internal balance and energy flow to both relieve symptoms and address root causes.

What is Eczema in TCM?

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the skin reflects the health of the internal organs and the balance of Qi, Blood, Yin, and Yang. Eczema is seen as the outward expression of deeper imbalances, and its presentation can shift between different patterns.

Damp-Heat in the Skin (often with Oozing)

Symptoms: red, inflamed, itchy skin that may ooze clear or yellowish fluid, form sticky crusts, and spread to other parts of the body. Lesions may feel warm or swollen.
Stage: although oozing is often associated with acute flare-ups, many patients with chronic eczema still have oozing alongside thickened or dry skin. This reflects a persistent dampness imbalance that hasn’t been resolved.
Treatment focus: clear damp-heat, dry dampness, reduce oozing, calm itching.
Triggers: greasy or sweet foods, alcohol, stress, humid or hot weather.

Blood Heat

Symptoms: widespread redness, intense itching (especially at night), warm sensation in the skin.
Stage: may appear after or alongside damp-heat, particularly if oozing decreases but inflammation remains strong.
Treatment focus: clear heat from the blood, cool the skin, relieve itching.

Blood Deficiency with Wind Dryness

Symptoms: dry, rough, scaly patches with chronic itching; skin may look dull, cracked, or lichenified.
Stage: often develops after repeated flare-ups, as chronic inflammation consumes Blood and Yin.
Treatment focus: nourish Blood and Yin, moisten dryness, relieve itching.

Spleen Qi Deficiency with Dampness

Symptoms: chronic or recurrent eczema, digestive issues (bloating, poor appetite, loose stools), fatigue, and heavy sensations. Skin may be prone to oozing, swelling, or slow healing.
Role: a root cause in many long-term cases. When the Spleen is weak, fluids accumulate as dampness, which feeds ongoing flare-ups and can keep oozing active even after years.
Treatment focus: strengthen Spleen Qi, resolve dampness, prevent relapse.

Acupuncture for Eczema Relief

Acupuncture helps by balancing the body’s energy and addressing both symptoms and root causes. Benefits include:

Reducing itching and inflammation
Calming the immune system’s overreaction
Supporting digestion and stress resilience (often linked to eczema flare-ups)
Improving sleep and overall well-being

Common points used:

LI11 (Quchi) – clears heat
SP10 (Xuehai) – cools the blood
ST36 (Zusanli) – strengthens digestion and immunity

Herbal Medicine for Eczema

Internal herbal formulas are customized based on the patient’s pattern:

Xiao Feng San (Eliminate Wind Powder): for acute, itchy, red, oozing rashes from wind-damp-heat.
Si Wu Tang (Four Substances Decoction): for Blood deficiency with dryness and chronic itching.
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang (Gentiana Drain the Liver Decoction): for eczema linked to Liver and Gallbladder damp-heat.

These are often paired with dietary changes, such as avoiding greasy, spicy foods and adding cooling, hydrating meals (e.g., cucumber, pears, mung beans).

Herbal Ointments for Eczema

In addition to internal formulas, TCM uses topical ointments to directly relieve itching and promote healing.

Qing Dai Gao (Indigo Naturalis Ointment): clears damp-heat, especially for oozing, red lesions.
Zi Cao Gao (Lithospermum Ointment): nourishes Yin, reduces dryness and scaling.
Huang Lian Gao (Coptis Ointment): clears heat, dampness, and inflammation.
Zi Yun Gao (Purple Cloud Ointment): moistens skin, reduces itching, supports regeneration.

💡 Topical ointments are best combined with internal formulas and acupuncture to address both the root imbalance and surface symptoms.

A Holistic Path Forward

Eczema isn’t just skin-deep—it reflects the body’s internal balance. By combining acupuncture, internal herbs, and topical ointments, many patients find longer-lasting relief and better quality of life.

Key takeaway: Oozing eczema reflects unresolved dampness and can occur in both acute and chronic stages. By tailoring treatment to your specific pattern, TCM works on both symptom relief and deeper healing.

FAQ: Eczema and TCM

1. Is eczema contagious?
No. Eczema is not contagious—it’s related to genetics, immunity, and internal imbalances.

2. Can acupuncture really help eczema?
Yes. It reduces inflammation, itching, and stress, while regulating internal balance.

3. How long does it take for TCM herbs to work?
It varies. Some improve in weeks, while chronic cases may take months. Herbs are adjusted as patterns change.

4. Are there side effects to herbal medicine?
When prescribed correctly, TCM herbs are safe. The key is matching the formula to the patient’s unique pattern.

5. Can diet affect eczema?
Yes. Foods that create dampness or heat (fried, greasy, spicy) often worsen eczema, while cooling, hydrating foods can soothe symptoms.

6. Do I need both acupuncture and herbs?
Not always. Some benefit from one approach, but combining acupuncture, herbs, and ointments often provides the strongest results.

Focus: Do Steroid Creams Really Help Eczema?

Steroid creams (corticosteroids) are commonly prescribed for flare-ups.

Pros:

Fast relief during flare-ups
Effective at reducing redness and itching

Cons:

They only suppress symptoms—they don’t stop eczema from returning.
Long-term use can thin the skin and cause rebound flares once stopped.

The TCM Perspective

Steroids suppress inflammation but don’t resolve the root cause (damp-heat, blood heat, yin deficiency). TCM instead focuses on:

Clearing damp-heat and oozing
Cooling blood and calming itching
Nourishing Blood and Yin to prevent dryness
Strengthening digestion to stop dampness from re-forming

By treating both the branch (symptoms) and the root (imbalance), TCM aims for lasting relief without the side effects of steroids.

Grace Kim