Chinese Medicine for Eczema
Damp-Heat, Wind and Blood Dryness in atopic skin
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Eczema (湿疹 shī zhěn) is classified in Chinese medicine by the character of the lesion rather than the diagnosis. Weeping, red, intensely itchy skin points to Damp-Heat; dry, thickened, lichenified skin points to Blood Deficiency with Wind-Dryness. The same patient often moves between these pictures across a flare cycle, so the prescription should move with them.
TCM Pattern Insight
Core patterns are Damp-Heat (湿热), Wind-Heat (风热), Blood Deficiency with Wind-Dryness (血虚风燥) and Spleen Deficiency with Damp (脾虚湿蕴). LI 11 Qū Chí, SP 10 Xuè Hǎi, SP 6 Sān Yīn Jiāo and LI 4 Hé Gǔ are the working core.
Common TCM Patterns
Damp-Heat
湿热- •Red, weeping, vesicular lesions with crusting
- •Intense itch, burning heat, worse at night
- •Yellow greasy coat, slippery rapid pulse
Wind-Heat
风热- •Rapid-onset red papules that migrate
- •Itch that moves site to site, minimal exudate
- •Thin yellow coat, floating rapid pulse
Blood Deficiency with Wind-Dryness
血虚风燥- •Dry, scaly, lichenified plaques
- •Chronic course, itch worse at night, poor sleep
- •Pale tongue with little coat, thin pulse
Spleen Deficiency with Damp
脾虚湿蕴- •Pale, puffy, slowly weeping lesions
- •Fatigue, loose stools, poor appetite
- •Pale swollen tongue with teeth marks, weak slippery pulse
Key Acupuncture Points
| Point | Action |
|---|---|
| LI 11 Pool at the Bend (Qū Chí) | Clears Heat, cools Blood, expels Wind — principal point for skin disease |
| SP 10 Sea of Blood (Xuè Hǎi) | Cools and invigorates Blood, resolves itch of Blood Heat or Blood Dryness |
| SP 6 Three Yin Intersection (Sān Yīn Jiāo) | Nourishes Blood and Yin, resolves Damp, harmonises Liver, Spleen and Kidney |
| LI 4 Joining Valley (Hé Gǔ) | Expels Wind, releases the exterior, regulates the face and skin |
| SP 9 Yin Mound Spring (Yīn Líng Quán) | Drains Damp and Damp-Heat, useful in weeping lesions |
Classical Herbal Formulas
消风散
Xiāo Fēng SǎnWind-Heat with Damp: acute itchy, weeping, red eruptions
龙胆泻肝汤
Lóng Dǎn Xiè Gān TāngDamp-Heat in the Liver channel with intense, burning, exudative lesions
当归饮子
Dāng Guī Yǐn ZǐBlood Deficiency with Wind-Dryness: chronic dry, scaly, lichenified skin
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Frequently Asked Questions
How does Chinese medicine classify eczema?+
By lesion morphology rather than the Western diagnosis. Weeping and red indicates Damp-Heat, migrating papules indicate Wind-Heat, and dry, thickened, night-itchy skin indicates Blood Deficiency with Wind-Dryness. Most chronic patients shift between these across a flare cycle.
Which acupuncture points are used for eczema?+
LI 11 Qū Chí and SP 10 Xuè Hǎi form the base pairing for nearly all presentations, with SP 9 Yīn Líng Quán added for weeping Damp and SP 6 Sān Yīn Jiāo for the dry, Blood-deficient picture.
Can Chinese herbs be used alongside topical steroids?+
Concurrent conventional treatment is common and should be managed with the prescribing doctor. Never advise a patient to reduce or stop a prescribed topical or systemic medication — that decision belongs to their medical practitioner.
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Evidence & sources
A neutral summary of where mainstream guideline bodies currently position acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. This is background reading only — not a claim of effectiveness for any individual.
- Several international and national bodies recognise acupuncture as a treatment that may be considered alongside conventional care for selected conditions. The strength of evidence varies by condition and is still evolving.
- Systematic reviews (e.g. Cochrane) reach different conclusions for different presentations. Some show benefit over usual care or sham; others find evidence inconclusive or insufficient.
- Information on this page is intended as an educational reference for registered practitioners and informed patients. It is not a diagnosis and not a substitute for individual medical advice.
Guideline-level references
What the strength-of-evidence tags mean
- Guideline-endorsedNamed in a current clinical guideline as an option that may be considered alongside standard care.
- Guideline-listed (optional)Listed in a guideline as one of several optional approaches; recommendation is conditional or weak.
- Mixed evidenceSystematic reviews reach differing conclusions depending on population, protocol, and comparator.
- Limited evidenceFew or small studies; findings are preliminary and should not be read as confirmation of benefit.
- Insufficient evidenceCurrent research does not allow a reliable conclusion either way about clinical effect.
- Traditional useSupported by classical TCM literature and customary practice; not assessed in modern guideline reviews.
Tags describe how mainstream guideline bodies or reviewers currently position a modality. They are not predictions of individual outcome and do not imply effectiveness for any specific person.
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