Healing Naturally through Alternative Medicine
Natural Acne Cure
Ask the Acupuncturist- Natural non-Drug Acne Healing
Q: My child has acne and the dermatologist we have been going to just keeps giving them antibiotics. The problem got slightly better but now they want them to keep taking antibiotics long term. I am concerned about this, and the long term effects of the drugs on my child. Is there anything that acupuncture, Chinese medicine or other holistic therapies can do to heal this?
A: Thank you for your question, and it is a common question indeed! First of all, the presence of acne (usually in adolescence) is a manifestation of a systemic disorder from a Chinese medicine perspective. Therefore, in order to attempt to cure the acne, one MUST address the reason the acne is there in the first place. From a Western medicine perspective often the finger is pointed at “hormone imbalance” as the cause of acne. However, if this were the case then all teenagers would have acne, which is not the case. The question of “why are the hormones out of balance?” needs to be asked on an individual basis. This will then assist in getting down to the bottom of the issue, and therefore the cause of acne. When this is done in a thoughtful and educated manner, then their is hope for finding a cure for that acne sufferer.
From my Chinese medicine experience, usually the child’s diet is a major factor in contributing to the cause of acne. In addition, the gut’s micro flora (healthy gut bacteria such as L.Acidophillus, etc.) which is in part responsible for the proper breakdown of food, is often wiped out due to repeated courses of antibiotics. This is true because as the antibiotics attack the infection causing bacteria, they ALSO DESTROY HEALTHY, IMMUNE ENHANCING , HEALTH PROMOTING BACTERIA that lives in your body. Unfortunately, this will, in the long run hinder the person’s ability to assimilate food and nutrients, and will cause a weakening of the person overall. Of course, this does not lend itself to a healing environment of the body-mind.
Therefore, the Chinese medicine holistic time-tested approach to treatment is one that takes into consideration the entire person, and their unique lifestyle, diet, stresses, etc. This is the way to promote long term systemic health. Health not just for the skin, but for the entire person’s well-being. The skin is just an external manifestation of the health of the internal environment of the body.
For treatment often what we recommend is a combination of modifying what one is eating so as to not promote infection causing foods. This in combination with getting the whole person back into homeostasis or balance from an energetic or “Qi” standpoint, will help the person heal. In addition, to teach each individual about their constitution so they can learn about exactly what makes them healthy, because everyone's health needs are unique and different. All these methods are coupled with topical use of true essential plant oils in an aloe gel base that help the skin heal externally, while simultaneously healing the internal environment.
Please write with questions on your or a family member’s health & what you would like know about to info@RootandBranchOM.com.
Q: My child has acne and the dermatologist we have been going to just keeps giving them antibiotics. The problem got slightly better but now they want them to keep taking antibiotics long term. I am concerned about this, and the long term effects of the drugs on my child. Is there anything that acupuncture, Chinese medicine or other holistic therapies can do to heal this?
A: Thank you for your question, and it is a common question indeed! First of all, the presence of acne (usually in adolescence) is a manifestation of a systemic disorder from a Chinese medicine perspective. Therefore, in order to attempt to cure the acne, one MUST address the reason the acne is there in the first place. From a Western medicine perspective often the finger is pointed at “hormone imbalance” as the cause of acne. However, if this were the case then all teenagers would have acne, which is not the case. The question of “why are the hormones out of balance?” needs to be asked on an individual basis. This will then assist in getting down to the bottom of the issue, and therefore the cause of acne. When this is done in a thoughtful and educated manner, then their is hope for finding a cure for that acne sufferer.
From my Chinese medicine experience, usually the child’s diet is a major factor in contributing to the cause of acne. In addition, the gut’s micro flora (healthy gut bacteria such as L.Acidophillus, etc.) which is in part responsible for the proper breakdown of food, is often wiped out due to repeated courses of antibiotics. This is true because as the antibiotics attack the infection causing bacteria, they ALSO DESTROY HEALTHY, IMMUNE ENHANCING , HEALTH PROMOTING BACTERIA that lives in your body. Unfortunately, this will, in the long run hinder the person’s ability to assimilate food and nutrients, and will cause a weakening of the person overall. Of course, this does not lend itself to a healing environment of the body-mind.
Therefore, the Chinese medicine holistic time-tested approach to treatment is one that takes into consideration the entire person, and their unique lifestyle, diet, stresses, etc. This is the way to promote long term systemic health. Health not just for the skin, but for the entire person’s well-being. The skin is just an external manifestation of the health of the internal environment of the body.
For treatment often what we recommend is a combination of modifying what one is eating so as to not promote infection causing foods. This in combination with getting the whole person back into homeostasis or balance from an energetic or “Qi” standpoint, will help the person heal. In addition, to teach each individual about their constitution so they can learn about exactly what makes them healthy, because everyone's health needs are unique and different. All these methods are coupled with topical use of true essential plant oils in an aloe gel base that help the skin heal externally, while simultaneously healing the internal environment.
Please write with questions on your or a family member’s health & what you would like know about to info@RootandBranchOM.com.
Comment
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Comment by Taryn on August 21, 2008 at 5:49pm - I've been there too - have been battling with very severe cystic acne since I was 14 years old (27 now). I've been on just about every acne medication and topical creme there is. Sometimes I would cry the acne was so deep and painful. Plus my self esteem was zilch. The only medicine that worked was Acutane. For those of you who aren't familiar with that medication, it's a very very powerful drug that basically kills your oil producing glands. It seemed to do the trick for the most part but I still break out every now and then. Now I worry about the other, possibly unknown damage Acutane and all those other medications might have done to me. Being a little older now (and I hope wiser) I am working with my dermatologist to get off the medications and cremes and start looking at more natural ways to take care of my occasional breakouts. I think however, that since acne is such a case by case basis, you should not completely throw out the idea of going to a dermatologist. Maybe a dual approach would be best, seeing both a dermatologist and a holistic practitioner - that way you can attack from all sides. Then again, I don't know much about holistic medicine - which is basically why I am here!
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Comment by Robyn Morris on August 2, 2008 at 11:52pm -
As someone who has suffered from acne since adolescents - it never went away once I became an adult and have in fact had two bouts of cystic acne in my 20s and 30s - I can tell you that everything Geoff mentions above is so true.
Diet is extremely important. I have learned that I am gluten intolerant, I might even have celiac disease I don't know, and that I am allergic to nuts. If I eat flour or anything that contains wheat or any nuts, my skin breaks out horribly.
Acne is a sign of an imbalance somewhere in the body and during my own exploration of m health issues, I discovered that I have adrenal fatigue. A holistic health practitioner gave me adrenal support supplements during a time when I was having cystic acne outbreaks and within two weeks of being on the supplements the cysts went away. I still have hormonal breakouts during my menstrual period even with the diet and the supplements so I have not figured out how to fully balance everything internally yet. But I'm closer than I have ever been thanks to seeing alternative health practitioners and my own research.
Before I got on the path of true healing from the inside, I did see dermatologists regularly and all they did was pump me with antibiotics, something I regret taking as I now have digestive issues I have to deal with that thankfully probiotic supplements are helping with. In fact I really don't recommend seeing a dermatologist for acne at all. See an alternative health practitioner like Geoff.
What he says about essential plant oils is true as well. Citrus oils like grapefruit and lime have been working extremely well for me. And when I get larger breakouts, tea tree oil does wonders.
So please if you are a family member are suffering from acne, don't see a dermatologist they will just suppress the outbreaks on the surface. Only a holistic health care practitioner will look for where the imbalance is coming from and begin to address that. It takes longer but it's much better for your health and wellbeing.
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