A herbal 'cure' for eczema

I read an interesting Article in the Daily Mail today about treating eczema with a combination of Chinese herbs.Read on below:

A herbal 'cure' for eczema

A cocktail of Chinese herbs used by the Chinese for thousands of years could combat the painful skin condition of eczema, scientists claim. They say the potion containing five raw herbs reduced suffers need for conventional medicines and improved the quality of life for those being treated for atopic eczema.

It is the most common form of skin condition, affecting 10 per cent of children and around 3 per cent of adults. Dermatologists at the Chinese University of Hong Kong found the mixture- which contained Japanese honeysuckle, peppermint, root bark of tree peony, underground stem of the atractylodes herb and bark from an Amur cork tree - had a dramatic improvement on eczema sufferers aged 5 to 21

During the study, 85 patients were given either a tablet containing the herbs or a placebo.

Those who took the traditional Chinese medicine said their quality of life improved by a third, while those taking the placebo reported no improvement, the British Journal of Dermatology reports.

Researchers also revealed the herbal remedy reduced patients need of conventional treatments such as steroids, by an average of four days a month.

It is thought the herbs reduced the effects of four proteins and cytokines believed to cause eczema, they added.

Nina Goad, of the British Association of Dermatologists welcomed the findings but warned against using the herbs without first consulting a doctor. 'Some retailers may not be reputable and the product maybe of low standard' she added.