Case Studies
Herbals & Eczema: Skimming the Surface
Oscar Sierra, L.Ac. Dipl. CH, RH(AHG)
A search on the Internet for the prevalence of eczema diagnosis will produce a startling number of studies that highlight its rise within the last century. Many people complain of red, irritated skin that may also be bumpy, flaky, itchy, or have fissures or cracks. It is an uncomfortable condition that can manifest spontaneously without warning and can affect us mentally and emotionally by diminishing self-confidence in our appearance.
Conventional treatments from a Western medicine provider may come in the form of topical pharmaceuticals, such as steroids or antihistamines. And while there may be some benefit and relief by using these prescriptions, we should ask: is the problem only skin deep?
Functional Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are similarly focused on treating the root cause of an ailment, despite being juxtaposed by thousands of years. TCM views ALL disease, from cancer to hepatitis, hangnails, and eczema, as manifestation of the same fundamental premise: The body as a whole and the body with context of physical, societal, spiritual, & climacteric environments.
Wise Man Say:
“When normal Qi is harbored internally, harmful factors cannot affect [the body]”
TCM and Dermatology
It should be noted that the Yellow Emperor’s Huangdi Neijing, or “Classic of Internal Medicine,” records more skin ailments than any other medical text of that era. Here are a few examples of the samples*:
Qiyang = itching.
Yangjie = candidiasis.
Tu = eczema or tinea on the head, or scalp.
Jin Yin Chuang = exfoliative dermatitis w/ peeling & scales, acute dermatitis/eczema.
*Source: William Morris, PhD, L.Ac.
TCM and Eczema
According to TCM, eczema is going to be a manifestation of an imbalance within some aspect: Deficiency vs Excess; Yin & Yang; Qi & Blood;and/or Organ dysfunction. The patient’s diet and lifestyle play a role in all of these.
There are 6 external excesses that can contribute to eczema:
- Wind (feng)—itchy, mobile, changy, sudden onset, especially during Spring, typically expressed in the upper body first, as open pores, or pruritus.
Can carry Damp, Heat, Cold, & Dry with it
- Cold—Causes constriction, stagnation, localized pain, masses, slow to resolve, Dark/purple cool vs red & warm to touch, susceptible when one sweats or gets wet then immediately exposed to cold air/wind.
- Damp—Especially common in summer or post exposure to wet environments. Has a heavy or sinking nature, feeling of fatigue, weak limbs, open sores, blistering, pus, recalcitrant, swelling, potential necrosis, can also have extreme itch.
- Dry—Most common in Fall with cracked or scaly skin, carbuncles/furuncles of hands/feet, righteous body juices (Blood & Yin) are consumed, Lungs are affected.
- Heat 6) Fire—Too much Yang can leave you feeling hot, burny, typically with rapid onset, often upper body/head, red, sheen on skin, can be very painful. Sometimes can be Fire when internal organs are involved and/or with infection, purulence, necrosis, red/purple macules, petechiae etc. Strong emotions can also engender rising Fire excess.
How to Diagnose?
A low tech, immediate diagnosis can come from a TCM approach, which involves looking and asking.
Appropriate questions are asked to the patient while at the same time looking over their body to “listen” for non-verbal answers. Tongue and pulse diagnosis are used to see if the pulse is fast, staccato, floating, deep, and if the tongue is red, dry, scalloped, wet or coated.
The modern Functional Medicine approach will involve similar question asking, however, it also utilizes modern lab testing to determine underlying biologic and genetic conditions that may be contributing to the issue at hand. Testing may include food sensitivities panels, vitamin, blood and blood protein tests, or urine yeast testing.
- ELISA/LRA for Food/Env. Sensitivities
- Vit. D ideally >70
- CRP ideally <1.0
- Eos ideally <1.0%
- Ttl. IgA, IgE, IgG: ideally mid range
- Urine yeast metabolites: OAT (GPL)
SBCM Model
The SBCM model is based on the Eclectic Triphasic Medical System (ETMS) developed by renowned Clinical Master Herbalist and Certified Nutritionist, Donnie Yance, wherein the whole micro and macro cosom of the patient is considered. An immediate diagnosis is usually available through TCM tongue and pulse assessments, allowing us to provide recommendations in the short-term while we wait for conventional lab testing to confirm and narrow our awareness to the root cause of the patient’s symptoms.
Treatments
Cold to treat Heat
Remember that in TCM, we want to find balance. If there is an excess, then there must exist a deficiency.
Below are some ways to use cold, or cooling type remedies to address an excess of heat.
Eg Huang Lian/Coptis (berberine et al) used to treat Hot types.
Liu Huang/6 Yellows—mostly in a topical application.
Ku Shen/Sophora—used to treat itchiness.
Bleeding
Bloodletting (small lancing) can be used to drain stagnant heat toxins, relieve swelling, and/or pain. However, we are not releasing a lot of blood, nor are we attaching leeches to the body (necessarily). Instead, specific acupuncture points are chosen and only a few drops of blood are released. This can have a profound immediate effect.
Compresses / Poultices
Topical herbal treatments span the history of human healing remedies. De-Zhi discusses wet topical compresses for the treatment of skin disorders in 1335 AD.
Common, proven herbs used as compresses include:
Calendula, or marigolds
Saint John’s Wort
Avena sativa, or milky oats.
Example treatment for acute damp heat, in a situation where oozing limits lotion topicals:
Huang Bai compress
100ml water, 10g herb = 10% solution;
Add Huang Lian (coptis) and Huang Qin (Chinese skullcap) to Huang Bai (San Huang) and Ku Shen if erythema or papules exist; three (3) times a day.
Custom Tinctures and Granules
In addition to topical solutions, TCM offers us the ability to use concentrated herbal formulas in the form of alcohol-based tincture extractions and decoction-dried herbal extractions. These formulations allow increased potency compared to dried herbs alone. Below are a couple sample formulas.
Acute Eczema: Clear Heat, Dispel Wind Damp
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Chronic Eczema: Nourish Blood, Dispel Wind, Clear Heat, Transform & Drain Damp
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Conventional Treatments
Corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory medications that are prescribed to treat a broad range of conditions, including eczema. From a TCM perspective, these steroids work by introducing a Cold and powerful “Exterior Resolving” (pushing things up & out) agent to push Stagnant Heat out of the body. Generally, they work well for this purpose, however, they can also push out the righteous Qi & Fluids as a side effect. In the short term, they can provide a quick and strong response that relieves swelling, heat, pain, and itching. Care should be taken to prevent/mitigate side effects if employed.
Best of Both Worlds
Creating Synergy
It is possible to combine herbal and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) WITH conventional Western medicine. By combining exterior resolving (diaphoretics & peripheral vasodilators) herbals, which can clear Heat and Wind, along with corticosteroids, it is possible to synergize our treatment. By doing this, it is possible to:
- LOWER the dose of a corticosteroid.
- SHORTER duration the prescription is used.
Example, when combine with Gan Cao, or licorice:
- Potentiates corticosteroids, making it stronger and more effective.
- Mitigates Qi and fluid depletion.
- Vitamin C is good to take here too before/during/after.
Mitigating Side-effects
Not only are herbs useful in complimenting the efficacy of conventional treatments, they can also be used to MITIGATE side effects of Corticosteroids. These herbs nourish fluids and to some extent also synergize with the cooling aspect of steroids:
- Sheng Ma – Actea, baneberry
- Sheng Di – (raw) Rehmannia root
- Mai Men Dong – Ophiopogon
Prevention
Prevention can take many forms, from the commonsensical to abstract. When considering the agitation that can be experienced with bouts of eczema, it would make sense to avoid introducing any more agitation. Washing the affected area with hot water or abrasive soaps; keeping fingernails short and breaking the itch cycle, these are common sense approaches. However, what about diet or allergy? TCM would recommend we avoid Damp Hot foods, qualities similar to our condition, such as meats and seafood, spicy or greasy foods. Functional medicine would ask us to consider environmental allergens and foods.
Topical Recommendations
Soap
Emily’s Soap – Formulated by a fellow herbalist and acupuncturist to address his baby daughter’s severe dry eczema.
Oil
Sea Buckthorn – this herb can be administered topically, as well as orally, to stabilize & moisten Hot, Dry type dermatitis. Potential dose could be: 500mg-1g/ day.
Body Wash, Feminine specific
Over-the-counter Yin-care®Herbal Wash is a comprehensive can be applied as a wash, rub, sitz bath or compress and is a great liquid topical wash especially for Wind, Heat, Toxic Heat type presentations.
Bath
Avena sativa, or oats, are a centuries old skin remedy that can have benefits when made into a colloidal mixture.
Oat Bath Recipe:
Using organic steel ground oats, rinse and let dry. Grind or mill them into a powder, using a coffee grinder or blender. Add ½ – 1 cup of powder to a tub of water.
Plaster
*A plaster of the above recipe can also be made and applied for 20 minutes to treat dry itch.
Yi Yi Ren/Hato Mugi/Job’s Tears plaster can be used to treat Damp eczema.
Job’s Tears Recipe:
Rinse, Cook, Overcook w/ more water, mash (like potatoes, frijoles), add unbleached organic wheat flour to thicken to a consistency similar to creamy peanut butter. Apply paste on to a paper towel or clean cloth and apply to the affected area for 15-25 minutes.
Add more organic flour if drying out occurs.
Dietary Recommendations
Cleanse
Potential dietary treatments could include a guided cleanse for 6-14 days.
Example routines could include just squash & Hato Mugi (Job’s Tears), gradually adding hypoallergenic protein powders, sweet potato, kitcheree or congee, lotus root, burdock root.
Immune Boosters
Mushrooms are generally recommended for immune dysregulation. There is one account of childhood eczema resolution after the father added Pleurotus ostreatus, or oyster mushrooms, to his morning omelette.
*Caution: Shiitake Dermatitis
There are cases of individuals who experience toxic reactions to Lentinula edodes, or Shiitake mushrooms, that can resemble eczema.
Patient testimonial:
“I have unknowingly had toxic responses to shiitake mushrooms for as long as they have been available at the grocery store near me. It produced highly sensitive and very itchy “scratch” marks and bumps everywhere except my legs, including my face and head. It was originally diagnosed as eczema. but would not improve for nearly 2 weeks each time.”
“I have eaten shiitake for the last 20 years or so. Because I didn’t react when I consumed it cooked, and because the symptoms take AT LEAST 24 hrs to surface, I was never able to connect the dots. I would not have figured it out if it was not for NAMA’s website.”
Patient Treatment:
4oz Aloe Vera juice, 2 times a day for 3 – 4 days. Aloe drains Heat
Alternative Recommendations
Colonic
With guidance, up to 5 within 3 weeks. Colonics can be used to flush the large intestine, potentially removing toxins and accumulated wastes.
Retention Enema
Enemas can be used to clean up and clear out. We recommend using reverse osmosis water, combined with binders to eliminate toxins. They can also be used to administer treatments rectally.
Bitter Clear Ht. Fx’s
Butyrate, Colostrum
Lung and Large Intestine Energetics
Considering an integrative perspective of the body, we can note that both the lungs and digestive tract are composed of epithelial tissues and layers. We can practice “releasing” or “letting go” by being mindful of our breath and practicing breathing exercises.
Case Study
Successful, Non-Conventional Treatment of Lymphoma
Oscar Sierra, L.Ac. Dipl. CH, RH(AHG)
Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system, a system that comprises various centers and organs of the body, including: bone marrow; spleen; thymus gland; and lymph nodes. This system is a crucial part of the body’s immune response and cancers of this type are considered rare, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S. annually (source Mayo Clinic).
Lymphatic cancers are of 2 types, Hodgkin’s or Non-Hodgkin’s, and conventional treatment varies by case and could comprise combinations, or individual treatments, of radiation or chemotherapy, bone marrow transplant, or immunotherapy medications. Conventional medicine also is uncertain the root cause of this particular disease. However, diagnosis typically includes mutated lymphocytes as an indication of lymphoma.
Finally, according to the Mayo Clinic’s website on lymphoma, no supplements have been found to treat this condition. Alternative medicines such as acupuncture, meditation, massage, or music therapy among others, may help patients cope with stress related to the diagnosis or side effects of conventional treatments.
Patient Background, Key Points
The patient had come to our practice prior to the lymphoma diagnosis to treat other issues and was noticing systematic relief from. Additionally, the patient and their oncologist remained open throughout the process, allowing SBCM to implement a robust protocol without interference.
Presentation
A 60 year old female patient presented with a chief complaint of fatigue. Other symptoms include:
- Shortness of Breath
- Chest Pain, worse with exertion
- Gastrointestinal bloating (history of GERD)
- Peripheral numbness and spasms
- Food and Environmental sensitivities
- Night sweats, Hot upper body
Assessment
TCM diagnostics revealed Kidney Yin Deficiency, Deficiency Heat, Qi Deficiency, Dampness, Tightness, suggesting what many practitioners might label “Low Adrenal Function” and impaired digestive capacity.
Signs and Symptoms
Tongue Diagnosis
The patient’s tongue was slightly Scalloped, slightly Wet, with no sublingual markers.
Pulse Assessment
Pulse was Rootless and weak.
Observable Assessment
Slight edema in legs.
*Many symptoms started after a Prednisone prescription.
Plan of Action
Inclusive of our comprehensive approach, the patient’s initial protocol included gathering additional data with broad laboratory testing while implementing lifestyle and nutritional changes, as well as herbal remedies in the forms of adaptogenic tinctures, decoctions, and carminatives.
Testing
- Full cardiovascular blood test, including CMP, CBC, Homocysteine, MTHFR, GSH, 8-OHdG (urine)
- Organic Acids Urine test
- Comprehensive Stool Analysis
Diet
Patient was recommended to eliminate dairy, while introducing more clean Omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids as well as foods to Nourish Kidneys, Yin, and Vital Essence.
Test Results
Blood testing later revealed elevated lipid and inflammatory markers.
Lab Results
Follow-up Appointment, Six Days Later
The patient reported positive effects since her first appointment. She reported less bloating and bitterness in tastes following a HCl challenge. She also reported decreased anxiety with the adaptogenic tincture, though needing to administer a higher dosage.
Sleep also improved; 4 of the 6 nights there was no night sweating. She still complained of fatigue and leg spasms.
Protocol Adjustments
- She was recommended to take good, methylated B vitamins, Calcium, Magnesium, and trace minerals.
- With food, to take either Apple Cider Vinegar, or to prepare her own Nettle Vinegar extract to use as a specific carminative shrub.
- It was recommended to continue with more brown rice, cooked well, with a demulcent mix, to aid in digestive comfort.
- Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan, a classical TCM herbal formula was recommended to address the TCM pattern disharmonies.
Progress
5 Months Post Initial Consult
May 2015
Improvements:
- Mood & Qi MUCH better.
- Leg neuropathy became better after intestinal polyp was removed, which was revealed during a colonoscopy.
- Digestion much better, with the patient reporting no nausea, and improved digestion with homemade meals.
- Tongue finally not scalloped.
Issues:
- Still some hot flashes during day; tongue ~ dry
Done/Doing:
Treatments Herbal decoctions (TWBXD), Adaptogenic Tinctures, carminative/Demulcent teas,
Foods Rice/Rice Bran, Job’s Tears, Miso, 3,6,9 oil,
Functional Medicine additional lab work, swimming
Cancer Diagnosis June 2015
Improvements:
- Personal realization: Patient takes care of herself last, others first.
Issues:
- Diagnosed with Follicular Lymphoma, with high expression of BCL-2, KI-67 between 30-60%
- Tongue was Dry, Scalloped, and Slightly Red
- Pulse was slightly Fast, Restless, Defined on the Left.
Done/Doing:
Review lab work for additional information.
July 2015 #1
Improvements:
- MD recommended wait and watch, to avoid chemo if possible.
- Hot flashes down to 1-2 per day compared to 12 times per day.
Issues:
- Official diagnosis from the physician was a Stage 3 classification due to tumor presence around the body (Head/neck, armpit, and groin).
Done/Doing:
New herbal tincture to target lymph system/ Custom cytotoxic topical for lymph glands, Added daily smoothie, EPA/DHA Omega Fatty Acids, and cumin.
Perform another scan within 3-6 months.
July 2015 #2
Improvements:
- None to report.
Issues:
- New bumps on back of skull, occiput.
- Unable to exercise (swim) due to pain and swelling from hip bone marrow biopsy.
- Low Qi and hot flashes related to mood.
Done/Doing:
Adding Morning herbal mix with Saint John’s Wort and Albizzia to address BCl-2, also increasing vitamins D & K.
July 2015 #3
Improvements:
- Qi is much better.
- She is swimming again, started yoga.
Issues:
- MD concerned the cancer is “aggressive” with a SUV score of 11.5
- Appetite has diminished, dropped 6 lbs.
Doing/Done:
August 2015
Improvements:
- Hot flashes under control.
Issues:
- Higher mental stress load.
- Appetit and Qi were still low.
Done/Doing:
Added black sesame seeds oil – 1250mg twice daily with food. Additional Natura products: Botanical Treasures and MenoBreeze.
Budwig diet for energy.
September 2015 #1
Improvements:
- Qi better with diet.
Issues:
- Still worried about size/growth of tumors
Done/Doing:
Increased strength on topicals; Added nourishing protocol to include kelp and miso.
September 2015 #2
Improvements:
- Tumors/Bumps have not grown.
Issues:
- Tongue is still scalloped.
Done/Doing:
Will be adding Donnie Yance’s “Sacred Tea” ointment to custom topical. We recommended to the patient a weekly rotation of Phyto-Cyto (one week on, one week off), which did not occur.
October 2015 #1
Improvements:
- Lumps feel smaller.
- Qi is good.
- Tongue is slightly less scalloped.
- Even less hot flashes.
Issues:
- Still slight scalloped tongue.
- Sinus issues.
Done/Doing:
We switched the type of Nigella to aid in synergy with Vitamin E to assist during and after a CT scan. Also prepared custom Neti pot tea for sinus.
October 2015 #2
Improvements:
- Nodules have shrunk significantly, or have disappeared, and are stable. No new lesions formed as well.
- SUVs down by an average of 7.5.
Five Years Later
August 2020
Patient is still NED and performs yearly MRI of the neck. Toxicology tests revealed hydrocarbons and mycotoxins in urine samples. We were able to begin addressing these issues with water and air filtration systems, removal of old carpet, and oral NAC.
Anxiety is better when not watching nightly news, however the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a spike.
Night sweating has dramatically reduced, with the occasional 1 to 2 nights weekly of mild heat or sweat. Previously, we had implemented oregano oil in the patient’s protocol and will now stay on only black sesame oil with food.
Content coming soon. In the meantime, ask your practitioner about ways to improve your living and working conditions to minimize exposure to harmful substances.
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