Eczema, often referred to as atopic dermatitis, is a skin condition caused by an allergic inflammation response. There are many types of eczema, but atopic dermatitis is the most common variety. Because the skin is the tissue linked to the Lungs, people with eczema are more likely to either have or develop asthma or hay fever.
Speaking from my personal experience, I can tell you that I get a kind of dermographic skin itching response right before I have asthma and allergy flares. Anything that touches my skin can cause an itch response. That sux, yo.
Here is a nice set of treatment options for addressing eczema responses with Master Tung acupuncture.
Left: Lu 5, 6, 7 -or- San Shi (33.13-.15) Si Ma San (88.17), St 36, St 37, St 40
Point Discussion:
You can select either the Lung 5, 6, and 8 set or the San Shi Master Tung points. Lung 5 is the He Sea point of the Lung channel, Lung 6 is the Xi Cleft point, and Lung 8 is the Horary Point and is a “dao ma” combination to ‘speak’ to the affected channel. When you needle in this way, you do not need to manipulate or stimulate the points. The San Shi points , also called the Three Scholars, are the option to Lung 5, 6, and 8. San Shi is a 3 point set on the Lung Channel and another dao ma combination. You can use these for wind heat, wind cold, rheumatism, and any other Lung channel disorder. Needle these to about ½ cun if the patient’s arm has enough tissue to go that deep.
Si Ma San, also called Four Horses, is an old reference to strength and wealth in China. The more horses you had to draw your cart or chariot, the stronger and more prosperous you were. Basically, if you had four horses, you were pretty bad ass. So, basically, this is also a bad ass point. It’s great for all kinds of allergies, rhinitis, asthma, and sinus problems. You patient will need a pair of shorts or to shed their expensive jeans for this point.
Huo Ying and Huo Zhu are Master Tung’s Lv 2 and Lv 3. These both cool the blood (ying spring effect) and calm the shen. Liver 6 is the Xi Cleft point of the channel, so it’s great for heat and bleeding as well which calms the itching because rashes are heat in the blood and then bleeding under the surface of the skin with the compulsive and maddening itching/scratching response. Because this also pacifies the Liver, it helps the patient chill out.
The stomach points in this set, Stomach 36, 37, and 40 function as yet another dao ma set. The digestive tract is a large component of the body’s immune response. Tonifying the Earth element will strengthen the body’s ability to respond appropriately. Also, remembering your five element chart, you’ll find that Earth (Stomach/Spleen) is the mother of Metal (Lung). See? That Five Element stuff you had to learn in Foundations comes in handy all the time.