Effective Eczema Treatment With an Easy-to-Make Soup

Eczema is a common inflammatory skin condition that affects more than 31 million Americans, causing itchiness, rashes, dry skin, scaliness, and skin infections. Anyone who suffers from chronic eczema knows how difficult it can be to manage.

While many children develop eczema, it may appear during any stage of life and can have a significant impact on quality of life. There are many triggers, including genetic, environmental, and emotional causes.

Dr. Tse See-li, a Hong Kong, registered traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioner, recommends an easy-to-make soup, combined with an effective way to moisturize the skin and relieve itching, to help patients recover from eczema quickly.

In the theory of TCM, when the six external factors of “wind, coldness, summer-heat, dampness, dryness, and fire (heat)” become abnormal, or the seven internal emotions of “joy, anger, worry, thought, sadness, fear, and shock” become excessive, these and other factors, such as injury, can lead to disease.

Tse points out that since the main causes of eczema are usually wind, dampness, and heat, the primary treatment is to clear them. He explains that the term “wind” in Chinese medicine includes both natural weather and wind-like symptoms inside the human body, such as itching. In addition, he says that emotional stress, fried foods, and cold drinks can easily trigger eczema.

Chinese Herbal Medicine Effectively Improves Eczema

In Hong Kong and other Asian regions, many patients take Chinese herbal medicine for eczema. A study by the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) showed that children with moderate to severe eczema experienced significant improvement in symptoms after taking a Chinese herbal syrup for three months.

Another randomized double-blind clinical trial in the British Journal of Dermatology found that compared with patients taking a placebo, patients taking Chinese herbal capsules had a significantly improved quality of life, and the use of steroids was reduced by one-third, with no serious side effects.

In TCM, medicinal materials commonly used to treat eczema include Poria cocos, Semen coicis, Rehmannia glutinosa, yam, etc. which are also common soup ingredients. There is a saying in TCM that medicine and food have the same origin. Eating a medicated diet suitable for one’s physique can help strengthen the body’s immunity and improve disease.

Tse pointed out that there are many reasons for eczema, and TCM practitioners should prescribe appropriate medicines for the symptoms after diagnosis. As for daily health care, he recommends an easily prepared therapeutic soup. Adding heat-clearing Rehmannia glutinosa to the spleen-invigorating Sishen (four-herb) soup, can clear away heat and dampness.

According to the viscera theory of TCM, eczema patients usually suffer from a weak spleen, and the spleen must be invigorated as part of the treatment for it to be able to remove dampness. The spleen mentioned in TCM is not only referring to the organ, but it is also a functional concept. In addition to immune function, the spleen is responsible for the digestive system, which has the function of converting food and water into finer substances, then absorbing and transporting them to the other organs of the whole body. If the function of the spleen is weak, the body’s water metabolism cannot proceed normally, and “dampness” will occur.

The main ingredients of Sishen Decoction, a famous therapeutic recipe in TCM, are Poria cocos, Chinese yam, lotus seeds, and Gorgon euryale seeds—all of which have the effect of invigorating the spleen and stomach. In addition, it is common practice to add barley. Poria cocos and barley both help diuresis and dehumidification.

Therapeutic Rehmannia Glutinosa Sishen Soup

Sishen Decoction helps to invigorate the spleen and stomach. (Gong Anni/The Epoch Times)

Ingredients*:

• Gorgon euryale seeds 30g (1.1 ounces)
• Dried yam 30g (1.1 ounces) or fresh yam 60g (2.2 ounces)
• Poria cocos 30g (1.1 ounces)
• Lotus seeds 40g (1.4 ounces)
• Barley 40g (1.4 ounces)
• Rehmannia glutinosa 40g (1.4 ounces)
• One piece of fresh pork pancreas (see note #2 below)

The main ingredients of Sishen Decoction: Gorgon euryale seeds, Chinese yam, Poria cocos, lotus seeds, barley. (Gong Anni/The Epoch Times)

Rehmannia glutinosa clears away internal heat. (Gong Anni/The Epoch Times)

Preparation:

1. Clean the fresh pork pancreas; boil them in a pot of water; remove the tendons on the surface with scissors; set aside for use later.
2. Soak Gorgon euryale seeds, Chinese yam, Poria cocos, lotus seeds, barley, and Rehmannia glutinosa for 30 minutes to 1 hour; wash; set aside for use later.
3. Add about 1.5-2 liters (3.2-4.2 pints) of water to the above ingredients; bring to a boil on high heat, then cook on low heat for 1-2 hours until the ingredients become soft and pasty; add salt to taste and serve.
4. The pork pancreas can be cut into smaller pieces for easy eating. It can then be put back into the soup or eaten with soy sauce.

Notes:

1. Rehmannia glutinosa feels a bit hard to bite, so it can be discarded after preparation and not eaten.
2. The pork pancreas is the pancreas of the pig. The soup has the effect of invigorating the spleen and stomach. If you don’t have pork pancreas, you can substitute pork ribs, lean meat, or other ingredients.
3. The quantity of the ingredients above can be adjusted according to personal preference.
4. Sishen soup is rich in starch and can replace some staple foods.

Skin Care Antipruritic Formula

For eczema patients with dry and itchy skin, Tse recommends a way to relieve itching and maintain skin moisture—mix brewed rice vinegar and glycerin in a ratio of 7:3 or 8:2, and apply it on the affected area, 2 to 3 times a day.

*Some herbs mentioned in this article may be unfamiliar, but they are generally available in Asian supermarkets.

Note: Because different people have different physical needs, it is recommended to consult your doctor or TCM expert.