【Beating Eczema】Severe Rashes Cleared in 1 Month: How Herbal Medicine, Cupping, and Acupuncture Healed a Female Patient's Skin

▲ Poor hygiene habits can often trigger or worsen eczema. Registered Chinese Medicine Practitioners, Dr. Li Kwong-kai and Dr. Huang Jing-jing, recently shared a challenging clinical case involving a female patient who had been suffering from severe eczema for the past six months.

The patient presented with widespread redness, swelling, and intense itching across her back and limbs. By April of this year, her scalp had also begun to weep and ooze fluid. Shortly after, she developed acute allergic symptoms. Clinical testing confirmed that she had contracted an unknown-source infection of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a drug-resistant bacteria. Although Western medical doctors prescribed various strengths of topical steroids, the condition remained stubborn and uncontrolled.

Turning to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the patient underwent a tailored one-month treatment plan consisting of customized Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture. Following this intensive care, her skin condition showed remarkable and visible improvement.

According to data from the Department of Health, MRSA typically causes infections of the skin and soft tissues, manifesting as pustules, boils, abscesses, or wound infections. Infected areas commonly experience redness, swelling, tenderness, or pus drainage. In severe cases, it can escalate to life-threatening complications such as septicaemia, pneumonia, or necrotizing fasciitis.

The patient presented with redness, swelling, and intense itching across her abdomen, back, and limbs.

The patient had previously received Western medical treatment. Western doctors recommended oral steroids or strong antibiotics. However, these strong antibiotics could damage the liver, and the patient preferred not to take them if given the option. Simultaneously, the patient was a hepatitis B carrier and needed to take a liver medication; alternatively, they could undergo liver-protective ablation twice a week for 10 minutes each time, costing HK$700 per session, for 3 to 4 months. This would significantly increase their financial burden. Later, the patient sought treatment from Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners Li Guangji and Huang Jingjing stated that when the patient sought treatment, she had numerous round, patchy eczema lesions covering her back, abdomen, limbs, and scalp. The lesions were red, swollen, and extremely itchy, significantly disrupting her sleep. Due to the intense itching, she frequently scratched herself, which they believe was due to infection with antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus through contact with her fingernails and hands. Additionally, the patient had a thick tongue coating, indicating poor digestive function and excessive dampness in her body.

The following are traditional Chinese medicine treatments and relief methods:

• Traditional Chinese medicine, including herbs to strengthen the spleen, remove dampness, clear heat, and detoxify, is used in conjunction with bloodletting, cupping, and acupuncture to alleviate itching symptoms.

• Pine tar shampoo and body wash are used to improve inflammation and control skin damage.

After receiving traditional Chinese medicine treatment, the patient's condition was brought under control and the rash gradually subsided. Now, the patient only needs to apply topical steroids and sunbathe three times a week.

Acute eczema symptoms

Registered Chinese medicine practitioner Huang jingjing stated that approximately one in five people in Hong Kong suffers from eczema. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that eczema flare-ups are influenced by both congenital factors and acquired factors such as diet, irregular lifestyle, and stress. Symptoms of acute eczema include blisters, oozing, redness, heat, swelling, and itching. In some cases of long-term chronic eczema, the skin becomes rough and thickened, and the skin color darkens.

Causes and treatment of acute eczema

• Acute eczema is closely related to dampness and heat.

• Traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions for clearing heat, detoxifying, removing dampness, and relieving itching can be taken internally.

• For acute eczema, bloodletting at specific acupoints, combined with cupping, can help clear heat and remove dampness.

• Bloodletting with a plum blossom needle on the affected skin can reduce swelling and stop bleeding. After bloodletting, patients will experience itching, immediate relief of swelling, and improved sleep quality.

Dr. Huang Jingjing explained that cupping therapy can remove blood stasis and promote new blood flow, releasing stagnant blood from eczema lesions and allowing fresh blood to flow in, thus accelerating skin repair and enriching the treatment options for patients with severe eczema. However, it depends on the patient's specific condition; this method is not suitable for infants or pregnant women. If you have any questions, please consult your attending TCM doctor.