There are a lot of formulas in Chinese medicine (TCM) for every illness, according to your constitution. In this article, however, one of the formulas will be selected and explained in order to make you understand how the formula works. This is an article, not a TCM treatment. We hope you will understand our purpose. The web sites concerned will be shown later for those who would like to get additional information about modern medicine.

NOTE

The theory of Chinese herbal medicine is the one which has made an independent development of modern medicine and science. Therefore it may be seen bizarre by those who get used to modern medicine. In fact, I was often confused by the mysterious oriental way of thinking, when I started to study Chinese medicine(TCM). Understanding this system of thought is, however, indispensable to effective use of medicinal herbs. So we recommend that you put your scientific viewpoints and knowledge aside at least during your study of Chinese medicine(TCM), and listen to the oriental way of thinking with an open mind.

Acne

Chinese Herbal Medicine is effective !

Introduction

Acne is a common skin disorder often associated with teenagers, and appears on the face, chest, back and scalp. It tends to occur in people who produce an excess amount of sebum. For further information of contemporary medicine, go to other websites concerning this. Our focus will be on the treatment of Chinese herbal medicine for acne.

Case

16 y.o. female

Occupation : High school student
She says, ”I hate living with many zits. They’re part of being a teenager though.” Acne seems to be affecting her social relationships. Of course she is diligent at washing her face, and using acne lotions on a daily basis. She had been taking medication until she stopped taking oral antibiotics for fear of the side effects.

Physical Findings on TCM

Pulse : fine, rapid

Tongue : scarlet, yellow coating

Today we are going to tell you about formulas which are commonly used by TJM ( Traditional Japanese Medicine ) doctors. Chinese medicine went to Japan more than 1000 years ago. Since then it has been developing independently from China with some modifications. It is called “Kampo” in Japan. I think, however, it would be proper to be called TJM. We intend to introduce it later.

Analysis of Symptoms and Signs ( Pattern Identification )

1. deficiency and stagnation of blood

2. fire toxin by excessive heat

Therapeutic Principle

1. nourishing blood and activating blood flow

2. clearing away pathogenic heat and toxin to purge pathogenic fire

Formula

Un-Sei-In = < Shi-motsu-Tou > + < Oren-Gedoku-Tou >

*Shi-motsu-Tou ( Siwu Tang )

*Oren-Gedoku-Tou ( Huanglian Jiedu Tang)

A) nourishing blood

B) activating blood circulation

C) promoting the flow of qi

D) purging pathogenic fire

E) removing pathogenic fire by inducing diuresis

		A	B	C	D	E
Angelica sinensis ( Chinese angelica root )	Radix	+	+
Rehmannia glutinosa ( prepared rehmannia root, Chinese foxglove(cooked root) )	Radix Praeparata	+
Ligusticum chuanxiong ( Chuanxiong rhizome, Szechuan lovage rhizome )	Rhizoma		+	+
Paeonia lactiflora ( white peony root )	Radix	+
Scutellaria baicalensis ( scutellaria root, black skullcap root, baical skullcap root )	Radix				+
Coptis chinensis ( coptis root )	Rhizoma				+
Phellodendron amurense ( phellodendron bark )	Cortex				+
Gardenia jasminoides ( capejasmine fruit, gardenia )	Fructus					+