While creams containing steroids for the relief of eczema and psoriasis can be an important remedy to bring about rapid improvement of ones symptoms, many physicians will agree that the relief is just temporary. Almost 300 years ago a famous doctor named Hsu Ta- ch’un warned of medicines that are too strong, having the ability to quickly subdue illness temporarily, but that weaken the body in the process.
When drugs of ferocious strength are applied, the evil influences [inflammation, etc.] hide for the time being, but the proper influences [ones own body, immune system, etc.] are harmed too.
Steroids only suppress the problem, and in doing so they can have negative side effects – permanent thinning of the skin being one of them. By having such a strong effect on subduing inflammation steroidal creams applied to the skin can also weaken the pituitary-adrenal-axis, thus weakening the bodies ability to fight off disease naturally on its own. Thin and frail skin combined with a weakened immune system leads to further flaring of ones eczema, psoriasis or other skin issue – possibly even worse than it was before! This has been dubbed the “re-bound effect”, or the consequential worsening of a condition after too strong of therapy is used.
Again Hsu Ta-ch’un warns,
It appears as if the treatment was effective for a while, but as soon as the force of the drugs is exhausted, the evil influences will recover, and the patient’s original influences will have been injured significantly in the meantime.
The proper treatment of most skin conditions, in my opinion, is through gradual improvements, rather than quick shotgun style suppression. In order for long term resolution of a skin disorder to occur, Hsu Ta-ch’un recommended in 1757,
The evil influences that have invaded the patient must be diminished gradually, and the patient’s original influences must be supported step by step; as a final result, the evil influences will be exhausted.
When I treat chronic debilitating conditions like eczema and psoriasis, I need to use herbal medicines that not only bring down the symptoms of inflammation, but I also need to use medicines that help nourish and strengthen the body. This process is an art of balancing ones individual prescription so as to provide both aims, at the appropriate times during treatment. It is in this way the long term health of the skin may be achieved, without the danger of re-bound effects.
Please read my article, “Slow and steady wins the race! The herbal treatment of psoriasis” for a case example of these principles in action.
Wishing you health,
Dr. Trevor Erikson
Reference; All Hsu Ta-ch’un quotes were borrowed from Paul Unschuld’s excellent translation of the famous doctor’s “Forgotten Traditions of Ancient Chinese Medicine.“
Copyright © 2019 Dr. Trevor Erikson