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Acupuncture Treatment For Psoriasis

Although may not be a best way to treat the psoriasis, however, acupuncture treatment is consider to
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Psoriasis is a long-lasting autoimmune disease characterized by patches of abnormal skin. These skin patches are typically red and itchy. This disease varies in severity from localized patches to full body coverage. Moreover, injury to the skin can trigger psoriatic skin changes at these locations. Psoriasis is thought to be a genetic disease triggered by environmental factors, thus suggesting that genetic factors predispose to psoriasis. This condition is not contagious and its underlying mechanism includes the immune system over reacting to skin cells. Therefore, infections and psychological stress also play a role.1

 

RESEARCH


In traditional chinese medicine (TCM) the following patterns represent the contributing factors for the development of psoriasis: liver wind, blood stagnation and heat in the blood. Psoriasis is referred as a blood heat disorder in traditional chinese medicine to indicate that an inflammatory process is occurring in the bloodstream, which manifests as red and itchy patches on the skin. Thus, acupuncture points with cooling properties that work at the blood level are recommended. In this vein, one acupuncture treatment includes points GV-14, BL-13, LI-11, LI-4, SP-10 and SP-6. In the case of blood-heat type, the treatment goal is to clear away heat and remove toxic substances. Now, in the case of blood-dryness type, the goal is to enrich the blood and to moisten the skin.2

In the case of liver wind, it is possible that psoriasis arises from liver blood deficiency, liver yang rising or from internal heat, muscle spasms, convulsions or high fever. The recommended treatment here is based on stimulating the following 22 acupuncture points. A subset of these should also be useful with acupressure stimulation. These are LU-11, SI-3, SI-8, ST-1, ST-3, ST-4, ST-5, ST-6, ST-7, ST-8, ST-42, ST-45, BL-1, BL-2, BL-3, BL-4, BL-5, BL-6, BL-9, BL-10, BL-18, BL-41. In the case of blood stagnation, the recommended treatment here includes stimulating the following 7 acupuncture points. A subset of these should be useful with acupressure stimulation as well. These are KD-18, LI-16, SP-8, SP-10, ST-37, ST-38, BL-17. 3

Footnotes

  1. Guidelines of care for the management of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis- jaad.org – 2008, http://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(08)00273-9/fulltext
  2. Treatment of psoriasis by acupuncture plus Chinese herbs- link.springer.com – 2004, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02861396
  3. Chinese Herbal and Acupuncture Treatment Protocols for Psoriasis – theory.yinyanghouse.com – 2017, https://theory.yinyanghouse.com/conditions-treated/alternative-natural-options-for-psoriasis