Those who have suffered from eczema know all too well that it often involves repeated bouts. When flare-ups occur, symptoms like oozing yellow fluid and intense itching can significantly disrupt daily life and work. Why does eczema tend to recur so frequently?
Eczema results from a combination of internal and external factors, but at its core, dysfunction of the spleen and stomach is the primary culprit!
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory holds that the spleen and stomach act as the body’s "logistics manager," responsible for transforming and transporting fluids. If their function is impaired, dampness accumulates in the body and turns into pathogenic dampness.
Dr. Que Poh Yuen Albert, a TCM dermatology specialist at Gong Fang Tang TCM Clinic (Singapore), explains that poor dietary habits—such as excessive consumption of spicy, greasy, or raw cold foods, as well as alcohol—can damage the spleen and stomach, leading to the accumulation of dampness and turbidity.
Additionally, emotional stress and liver qi stagnation can further "overwhelm" the spleen and stomach, impairing their function and exacerbating dampness.
In hot and humid climates, sweat pores open wider, making it easier for wind, dampness, and heat pathogens to invade the body, irritating the skin and triggering eczema.
Moreover, dampness is stubborn—over time, it depletes yin and blood, leaving the skin undernourished and prone to chronic, recurring eczema flare-ups.
TCM’s treatment philosophy is one of "alignment"—understanding the root cause of illness and assisting the body in expelling pathogens.
While eczema has many causes, from a TCM perspective, the most common culprit is dampness. When dampness lingers, it generates heat, leading to a combination of damp-heat that accumulates in the skin, resulting in red rashes. Modern medicine assigns various names to these rashes—eczema, allergic dermatitis, neurodermatitis, papules, erythema, herpes, etc.—but the underlying cause remains the same, summarized in four words: damp-heat accumulation.
Therefore, most eczema cases can be resolved by clearing dampness and heat. So, what formula is used? Don’t worry—there’s a proven eczema remedy called "Dampness-Clearing and Itch-Relieving Decoction" (除湿止痒汤). Since its development, this formula has helped countless patients with stubborn eczema and dermatitis, earning its reputation as a verified prescription.
Formula:
Bai Xian Pi (白鲜皮) 30g
Di Fu Zi (地肤子) 9g
Ku Shen (苦参) 9g
Tu Fu Ling (土茯苓) 30g
Xu Chang Qing (徐长卿) 15g
Sheng Di Huang (生地) 20g
Dan Pi (丹皮) 9g
Sheng Gan Cao (生甘草) 3g
Preparation: Decoct in water and take warm, one dose per day, divided into morning and evening servings.
Since the root of eczema and dermatitis lies in dampness, eliminating it is the key to a lasting cure. To achieve this, the formula uses:
Bai Xian Pi, Ku Shen, Di Fu Zi, Tu Fu Ling, and Xu Chang Qing to clear dampness.
Together, these herbs work synergistically to clear heat, resolve dampness, dispel wind, and relieve itching. This formula can be confidently applied to conditions like eczema, neurodermatitis, and allergic dermatitis—as long as the pattern is damp-heat accumulation, presenting with symptoms such as erythema, papules, vesicles, crusting, scaling, and itching, along with a red tongue, thin white coating, and wiry-slippery or fine-rapid pulse.
Patient: Male, 55 years old.
Chief Complaint: The patient developed erythema and papules on both lower limbs two weeks prior, accompanied by intense itching (worse at night). Scratching led to localized oozing, and the rash gradually spread to the lower back and upper limbs.
Pattern Diagnosis: Eczema (Spleen deficiency with heart fire).
Treatment Principle: Strengthen the spleen, clear heart fire, resolve dampness, and relieve itching.
Prescription:
Fu Ling (茯苓) 20g
Bai Zhu (白术) 15g
Sheng Yi Yi Ren (生薏仁) 30g
Deng Xin Hua (灯心花) 5 bundles
Dan Zhu Ye (淡竹叶) 15g
Yu Xing Cao (鱼腥草) 20g
Bai Xian Pi (白鲜皮) 15g
Xu Chang Qing (徐长卿) 15g
Sheng Di Huang (生地) 20g
Dan Pi (丹皮) 20g
Mu Li (牡蛎) 30g (decocted first)
Gan Cao (甘草) 5g
Dosage: 7 doses, decocted in water and taken daily.
Adjunctive Therapy: External wash with an anti-inflammatory and itch-relieving herbal solution (containing Ku Shen, Di Yu, Da Fei Yang, etc.), applied once daily.
Second Visit: After 7 doses, itching reduced, rash faded, but sleep remained poor. Modified prescription: replaced Fu Ling with Fu Shen (茯神) and added Bai Ji Li (白蒺藜) 15g. After another 7 doses, skin lesions nearly disappeared—clinically cured.
