Treatment of Psoriasis with Traditional Chinese Medicine

One of the most common dermatological pathology in the population is psoriasis and affects both men and women, usually in middle age. We can say that the frequency of occurrence of these skin disorders is increased in persons between 30 and 40. We will see in this article, as Traditional Chinese Medicine through its techniques as acupuncture, herbal medicine, Chinese diet therapy, ear acupuncture, may treat the disease.

Clinically, psoriasis is considered a "scaly erythroderma", characterized by the presence of erythema and desquamation. It is a chronic disease of unknown causes at present, although it is known that a number of conditions that make the patient more prone to developing the disease. It is constituted by a series of injuries in the form of erythematous, scaly plaques with involvement in various parts of human body, being a common feature the presence of repeated relapses throughout life.

Possible triggers

Causes are totally unknown, occurring in the formation of psoriasis, although there are a lot of theories trying to explain to some extent the formation of this disease, increasingly common. It’s thought that a number of factors act, each factor in very specific geographic areas of the emergence of the disease, although it has not completely been able to demonstrate its full impact on the process and of course its mechanism of action in triggering of the disease.

Factors

Metabolic disorders:

When psoriasis appears there is a metabolic disorder in the process of cell division and maturation of the basal layer (innermost cell layer of the epidermis) to the transformation of the same in corneocytes (cells corresponding to the stratum corneum of the skin, the outermost of the epidermis). The normal maturation between 25 and 30 days or so, but in such cases the evolution is much faster coming to last 3 to 5 days. This leads to a thickening of the outer layer, the stratum corneum, and the corresponding accumulation of keratinized cells, including some core and subsequent excessive peeling, precisely because of the large accumulation of dead cells in these small areas of skin.

Psychological factors:

Stress, anxiety and depression are factors which usually occur in a higher incidence in individuals who suffer from these disorders.

Genetic factors:

It was also noted that the condition of the disease is often the same in individuals of the same family, following the family tree, but neither one has a precise and satisfactory explanation at the same time.

Others:

There are cases where the onset of trauma or vaccination in a given area end up leaving in its wake the presence of psoriatic lesions.

Types of psoriasis

Clinically, psoriasis is classified according to two parameters such as the topography of lesions (depending on your location) and morphology (the shape of plates and injuries). Keep in mind that there are usually more than one type of psoriasis in the same individual.

According to the  morphology of these lesions are the following types: drops, plates, nummular, pustules…

According to the topographic location of lesions can differentiate between the following types:

• Psoriasis Vulgaris (most common)
• Psoriasis articular
• Inverse psoriasis (affecting the folds of the joints on the inner face, the bending, also navel and genitals)
• Nail Psoriasis
• Palmoplantar psoriasis (presence of large numbers of pustules)
• Erythrodermic psoriasis (widespread)

Psoriasis Vulgaris

This is the most common form of psoriasis at the clinic, and also to have been able to develop better forecasts of healing, but still cannot speak of a fully effective treatment against the disease.

It manifests as a rash, with red papules or macro papules form, with defined borders, and that becomes whitish and transparent plates after detachment expose hemorrhagic petechiae. Sometimes these bumps can have serious itching. These papules, when are on the scalp, are red and evolve to a whitish gray.

The areas of the body that usually manifest is primarily are: the scalp, the outside folds of elbows and knees, face extension of the arms, also at the lower edge of ears and in the lumbosacral area.
It usually occurs suddenly and on a seasonal basis, in most cases in winter, rarely in summer, as the influence of the sun is highest in summer and encourages the referral of injuries. Throughout the time is usually a tendency to recur.

In the evolution of the eruptions of the skin surface can be distinguished several phases:

• Progressive phase, active: continuously appear rash fresh, healthy, and some old injuries that are gradually expanding, with thick, an apparent swelling with an aura that surrounds the rash, isomorphic, in a strong reaction psoriasis rashes appear on the surface of wounds.
• Stationary phase: there are no new eruptions and existing ones have no increase or reduction. They are held in an inactive state.
• Remission: the lesions tend gradually to subside, are reduced in size, may even disappear, sometimes leaving little pigmentation as a reminder of the injury ever.

Internal and external treatment

In the treatment of this disease, we must consider the internal treatment (systemic) and external (symptomatic).
Only in the case of psoriasis vulgaris, and mainly during the stationary phase and remission, with localized skin lesions, you may follow a single treatment with outpatient therapy. In some cases of psoriasis in the acute treatment is also external type.

At present we still cannot speak of a fully effective treatment for psoriasis, even to the vulgaris.

It is a condition in which the case-both as resolute ignorance is very high. Little is known of the mechanism of action of the disease, although there are many theories about it but none, so far has been inconclusive in its development. There are also conventional treatments which not much is known about its mechanism of action, but apparently if often successful.

However, following the disciplinary theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), you can explain in detail the evolution of the disease so that treatment is very different to that used in the West, which essentially is based on symptomatic treatments; this discipline takes into account both the symptomatic treatment as the etiology.

The techniques used in TCM include: acupuncture, herbal medicine, Chinese diet therapy, ear acupuncture, etc. Not only to minimize the apparent symptoms but also treat the syndrome that is affecting the patient and is responsible for the external manifestation.

But we cannot therefore say that the results of treatment of psoriasis in TCM are fully effective, but unfortunately, also are a number of factors inherent to the patient that may contribute to disease development.
Even in those cases where the response has been positive, relapse is highly less frequent when TCM is used as treatment.

Source: College of TCM, Clinics Guang An Men.

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