| Common Acne,named as facial red spots by Chinese herbalist,is a chronic disease generally found in adolescents.Modern medical analysis attributes its occurrence to causes such as hyperfunction of male hormone and sebaceous gland,and bacterial inflammation of pores.Acne mainly appears on sebaceous areas such as the face,the chest and the back of adolescents.It is characterized by appearance of pimples,papules,pustules,milia,cysts and scars.Overseas studies also associate occurrence of acne with unstable psychological states such as anxiety,depression and sleeping disorders. According to a study on "Clinical Analysis of Patients of Acne" by Y.S.Ng et al,acne affects not only the patients' appearances,but also their emotions,career and social lives,or even family relationships in a few cases. Clinical observation and examination show that acne affects adolescents in their appearance,physical and psychological health.Nowadays,treatment for acne has become one of the major topics among Western doctors and Chinese herbalists,and they promoting a number of different therapies,such as herbal treatment,laser therapy and acupuncture.However,clinical investigations prove that no single treatment can achieve satisfying results and this study aims to find out a therapy which is both efficient and appropriate.Objective:To examine the therapeutic effects of the following in curing common acne(lung-stomache irregulation type) -(ⅰ) using the traditional Chinese herbal "lung-clearing" drink with loquat leaf;(ⅱ) applying acupuncture, and(ⅲ) combining acupuncture with the herbal drink.Methodology:192 adolescents of both sex,aged from12-27,suffering from common acne(lung-stomach in irregulation type ) were assigned to 3 groups,namely the herbal treatment group,the acupuncture group and the combination group using acupuncture and herbal drinks.The three groups had no significant differences in age,sex and physical conditions(P＞0.05).Patients of the herbal treatment group were prescribed traditional Chinese herbal "lung-clearing" drink with loquat leaf.Patients from the acupuncture group were treated with needles inserted at acu-points such as Hegu,Quchi,Yingxiang,Sibai,Dicang,Tiansgu assisted with acu-massage at acu-points such as Zhigou,Zusanli,Fenglong,Sanyinjiao, Xuehai,Chize.Patients of the combination group received acupuncture treatment,supplemented with 'laser' treatment or some exterior paste treatment,alongside with the traditional Chinese herbal "lung-clearing" drink with loquat leaf.The herbal drink was prescribed to patients twice daily,once in the morning and the other in the evening.The acupuncture treatment was conducted by inserting the needles into the acu-points for around 30 minutes,rotating the needles at five to ten-minute intervals,and using different strategies in the insertion of needles which most suited to the health conditions of the patients.The acupuncture therapy was conducted every two days.The patients in all the three groups received 2 courses of treatment,each lasted for four weeks.Findings:1.Prominent therapeutic effects for treatment of common acne were found in all three groups of patients(P＜0.05) in reduction of lesion,with the most satisfying results shown in the combination group.2.The results of this study show that the therapeutic effects of the combined use of acupuncture and herbs in reducing symptoms of common acne such as whiteheads,blackheads,papules,scars and milia are statistically significant(P＜0.05),demonstrating that the combined therapy has more prominent therapeutic effects over the use of only herbs or acupuncture.3.The therapeutic effects in reducing inflammation and improving the colour of papules on the face shown in the three groups are statistically significant(P＜0.05),illustrating that the combined therapy has more prominent effects over the use of only herbs or acupuncture.4.There is significant difference(P＜0.05) in the results of the three groups in improving the patients' health conditions,and the combines therapy produced far better results(P＜0.05) than the other two groups.Clinical observation also concluded that improved health conditions led to improvement in the colour of papules,reduction of pimples and lesion and the two are positively correlated,proving that the therapeutic effects of the combined therapy surpassed the other two methods.Case Studies:Male(26),having common acne for 8 years - After the first 4-week course of combined therapy,the colour of papules has improved and the ache has most recovered,together with improvement in the quality of sleep and emotions at work.He now receives treatment every week and he considers the combined therapy effective in maintaining his good health and preventing reoccurrence of acne.Female(18) studying at F.7 and also suffering from serious nasal allergy for over 10 years - She has breathing problems at bedtime,sneezes in the mornings,runny and stuffy nose during daytime.To tackle the problem, adjustment has been made to her prescription,using Chuanxiong tea in addition to the "lung-clearing" drink with loquat leaf,and applying needles at acu-points in the lungs,intestine and stomache.In the third week,her facial acne had disappeared,leaving only small pimples on the forehead.Most important of all,her nasal blockage has been cleared with reduced sneezing, her mental state has greatly improved and she has become more optimistic.This further proves that the appropriate use of the combined therapy can bring about desirable effects.Conclusion:1.The three kinds of therapy are proved to be effective in reducing common acne,improving lesion and reducing inflammation.However,the combined therapy using acupuncture and herbs works with better and longer-lasting effects as compared with the remaining two methods.2.All three kinds of therapy aim to improve the health conditions of the patients to achieve the best effect and the combined therapy reinforces the therapeutic effectiveness.This belief matches what Shen Si Mil,a famous herbal master in Tong Dynasty,said,"Herbal medicine regulates our body, acupuncture fights the diseases,and cure is on the way."... |
PDF Full Text Request