TCM Treatment Of Atopic Dermatitis Study

Atopic Dermatitis (AD), also known as Atopic Eczema, is a type of multi-causal, chronic, and recurring disease characterized by itchiness and inflammation of the skin. This disease is difficult to remedy, and is occurs at relatively higher rates amongst Singaporeans. Due to its complexity, the disease is difficult to treat through solely relying on Western medical practices. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners have documented studies of similar skin diseases for over 2000 years, including an abundance of archives on its diagnosis and treatment. Thorough research of these records will hence provide modern TCM practitioners a safer and more effective means to tackle AD, and knowledge of such valued information can allow medical practitioners to remedy and allay suffering caused by its recurring episodes. Improvements in quality of life of patients can then exemplify the theoretical and practical significance of TCM treatment of AD.This study compiles relevant medical information and valuable experience found in discourses by TCM practitioners of past and present with regard to AD, its causes and pathogenesis, and its associated syndromes and treatments in order to investigate the specific pathogenic mechanisms of each syndrome type in TCM. From this, comparative studies of the pathogenesis of these syndrome types were analysed to infer a set of common pathogenic mechanisms linking a majority of them. Afterwards, the basic treatment corresponding to the set of common pathogenic mechanisms which utilises "Dang Gui Shao Yao San" (ground Angelica sinensis and Paeonia lactiflora powder) were used as a basic formula upon which further enhancements were made accordingly for each syndrome type to improve its clinical efficacy; these are then further supported by clinical evidence.In TCM, AD is mainly attributed to a combination of internal and external pathogenic factors including congenital deficiencies, inborn intolerances, loss of transporting function of the spleen leading to "dampness" generated internally and " damp heat" collecting internally. The TCM phenomena of " Wind (风) " Dampness " (湿) and " Heat" (热) can also be observed collecting and gathering in the skin. AD may also be caused by unrestricted diet and abnormal transporting function of the spleen, leading to "Dampness" being generated and gradually transforming into "Heat", and the "damp heat" discharging externally to the skin. If "dampness" is collected over a long period, bodily fluids will become depleted, nutrition level and blood will become insufficient, "Wind" will be generated, the skin will lose nourishment, and the condition may recur. Although some literature and discourses of TCM show that AD is related to "Wind, Dampness, and Heat", further research suggests AD is in fact related to spleen deficiency, which causes both the obstruction to metabolism of "Water", as well as affecting the transformation and movement of "Qi and Blood", leading to the phenomena of Disharmony between "Qi and Blood", and the Constraint and Stagnation of "Qi and Blood" in the entire body or in localized areas. This pathogenetic contradiction where "Blood" and "Water" co-exist can be seen in almost all stages of AD. Employing a basic fomula which conforms to treatment of this pathogenetic contradiction has thus been selected in this study.This study comply to Handifin and Rajka’s Atopic Dermatitis diagnostic criteria and taking "Dang Gui Shao Yao San" formulation and applies its functions of regulating the Blood and dredging the Liver Qi, as well as strengthening the Spleen and resolving dampness, to treat in a focused manner the pathogenic mechanisms associated with AD, and disharmony Between "Qi and Blood", and "Dampness" generated internally can be resolved and eliminated. This will be the subject of ongoing future investigation and it is hoped that the study will provide useful reference and inspiration for TCM clinical treatments in Singapore as well as new ideas for future clinical treatments, development of TCM medications, and scientific research.