Acne, psoriasis, eczema, diet, digestion and traditional Chinese medicine

The following is an excerpt from Hot and Cold Health by R. G. Heft (Acupuncture Physician FL 1992- 2002) based on traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicines and the questioning and counseling of 10,000+ Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is based on the theory, observation that everything is an ongoing balance of opposites, many of which we control through diet, exercise, sex, thought, etc.

Know the whole before attempting to diagnose and or treat the part, as you cannot cure the part ithout curing the whole. The whole is equal to and greater than the sum of its parts.  If you cannot afford or do not want to risk your money ($20 or less), then I will send, email you the E Book (Adobe file, 1,005 KB) for free.  Your health is  more important than my bank account. Email me (rgheft@netzero.com) your request or questions.  Peace.

The skin is the body's largest organ. It has several functions.

(1) Acts as a protective cover, shield, barrier between the body and the external environment (heat, cold, dryness, dampness, wind)

(2) Has pores, openings allowing the body to release excessive heat, energy (in the form of perspiration) and or retain heat, energy.

(3) Sebaceous glands located throughout the body in the dermis (layer of skin below epidermis, outer layer of skin) secrete sebum an oily liquid that moistens the skin and hair. It also helps the body retain heat. Acne (raised, red lesions, pustules, blackheads, etc.) is an inflammatory disease of the sebaceous glands affecting primarily the face and shoulders

The skin is made from food, nutrients. There are only two kinds of foods, nutrients: building and cleansing. Building nutrients, foods (protein, fat, meat, eggs, cheese, beans, etc.) build and fuel. Cleansing nutrients, foods (water, minerals, fruit, vegetables, grains, etc.) reduce, cleanse, cool and moisten.

Long-term low protein, low fat (milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, beans, etc.) and high carbohydrate (bread, pasta, salads, tropical fruits, juices, smoothies, etc.) diets tend to cool, weaken and dilute digestion, reducing nutrient absorption, decreasing and thinning the blood (blood deficiency). Blood deficiency, in the extreme, tends to weaken, sag, thin, dry, crack and or bleed the skin producing partial facial flushing, red spots, splotches, acne, cracked skin, bleeding, pustules, eczema, exposed capillaries, blue veins and or translucent skin.

Too many building foods, protein and fat, especially animal (red meat, pork, chicken, eggs, cheese, fried foods, oil, etc.), in addition to alcohol, sugar tends to cause raised, red, hard painful, oily pimples, pus, boils and or dry flaky skin; warts, moles, psoriasis, tumors, etc. All excess sugar is turned into fat. Protein and fat build, thicken, fuel and heat. Too much tends to thicken, overbuild and overheat the blood, which in turn, overbuilds, overheats the skin.

The middle diet, meal plan adjusted accordingly is recommended. Try to eat simply and do not overeat. For deficiency, increase protein, fat (eggs, turkey, chicken, etc.), spices, cooked foods, (soups, vegetables), and a small amount of fruit (avoid tropical), for balance. For the overbuilt, eat less animal (red meat, pork, veal, chicken, etc.) and more beans, nuts, seeds, rice, vegetables, fruit (apples, pineapple, etc.). Space and or skip meals, especially dinner. Experience hunger and quench with water.

The beauty, health of the skin, starts in the inside via simple diet. From the outside, you can use good quality soaps, shampoos, cosmetics, etc. I highly recommend Aubrey Organics and Zia Cosmetics. Calendula oil is great for burns helps prevent scarring.

Eczema (cold, damp)

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory condition of the skin that produces blister like formations that weep, release fluid before forming a crust, scale and or flake. Itching may also occur. Poor diet is a major cause.

The body digests, transforms food, nutrients into blood, into structure (skin) into function, into health or disease. There are only two kinds of nutrients, foods: building and cleansing. Building nutrients (protein and fat) build and fuel. Cleansing nutrients (water, sugar, minerals, etc.) reduce, cleanse, cool and moisten. The correct amount of building and cleansing builds and maintains healthy skin (thick, firm, strong, etc. The incorrect amounts, build too much or too little skin. Too little protein and fat tends to under build, thin and weaken the skin causing it to crack, bleed and or infect.

The symptoms of eczema indicate deficiency via breakdown (falling apart). Low protein and low fat diets, in the extreme, tend to thin and weaken all structure and function, including the skin. Too many carbohydrates (pasta, bread, salads, tropical fruits, juices, etc.) tend to dilute and weaken digestion (acid, enzymes) reducing nutrient absorption (especially protein and fat), blood, which in turn, dilutes, weakens and thins everything else skin, hair, bones, memory, vision, etc.

Case history: In 1989, I developed a bad, hideous case of eczema. It first started as a pimple, blister on my index finger (left hand). Over the course of two months, it (blisters, cracked skin, bleeding, pus, etc.) spread to every finger up the back of hand to the arm. My other hand was affected eventually although not as bad. This happened while I was going to acupuncture school. It was gross. I tried every Chinese herbal remedy. Nothing worked. My skin kept getting worse and worse. I eventually turned to Ayurvedic Medicine (Ayurvedic Healing, and Yoga of Herbs by Dr. David Frawley, O.M.D.), which recommended the use of spices. My diet at the time was bland, low protein, low fat, sweet and cooling. I was living in Hollywood. Fl. I reduced juices, fruits, increased protein and fat and started cooking with spices (fennel, cumin, coriander, ginger, etc.). I always used at least five spices. Within three weeks, my eczema cleared up. My digestion also improved less bloating, gas, burping, farting, etc. I did have eczema as a teenager, although not as serious.  

Diet related eczema is simple but time consuming to cure as the skin takes time to rebuild via proper diet. The middle diet, daily meal plan, adjusted accordingly is recommended. Reduce salads, raw vegetables, tropical and citrus fruits, cold drinks, milk and yogurt

Other causes of eczema: low levels of hydrochloric acid, Candidiasis and or food allergies, all of which can all be caused by poor diet (low protein, low fat and high carbohydrate, in the extreme).

        Psoriasis (hot)

Psoriasis is a painful chronic skin disorder characterized by dry, red, scaly skin covering the scalp, genitalia, skin, etc. that alternates between exacerbation and remission. It is a disease of excess, caused in general by too much protein and fat, especially red meat, pork, hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, lasagna, oily, greasy foods (fries, chips, etc.) in addition to alcohol and sweets. Psoriasis generally occurs in conjunction with liver congestion, high cholesterol, atherosclerosis, etc. The colder middle diet, meal plan is recommended.

Hot and Cold Health

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION I PHILOSOPHY AND DIET

Chapter 1 The Way of Thinking Chapter 2 The Way of Food Chapter 3 Digestion, Spices and Chinese Herbs Chapter 4 Cooking Class

SECTION II BIOLOGY, EAST AND WEST

Chapter 5 Three Treasures Chapter 6 Blood and Body Fluids Chapter 7 Spleen Chapter 8 Stomach Small Intestine Chapter 9 Large Intestine and Urinary Bladder Chapter 10 Heart Chapter 11 Liver & Gall Bladder Chapter 12 Lungs Chapter 13 Kidneys Chapter 14 Disease and Diagnosis

SECTION III DISEASES A- Z

Chap 15 A Diseases AIDS 141 Alzheimer s 143 Anal fissure 143 Anemia 144 Anger 145 Aging 146 Anxiety 147 Arthritis 148 Asthma 152 ADD 154 Auto-immune 154 Chap 16 B Diseases Blood 157 Blood Pressure 158 Body Odor 159 Bones 161 Breast lumps 162 Bronchitis 164 Chap 17  C Diseases Candidiasis 167 Canker Sores 169 Cellulite 171 Cholesterol 173 Chronic Fatigue 175 Circulation 176 Cirrhosis 178 Cold hands, feet 178 Cold (lungs) Constipation 180 Coughing 182 Crohn s 182 Chap 18 D Diseases Depression 185 Detoxification 188 Diabetes 191 Diarrhea 193 Diuretics 195 Dizziness 195 Dysmenorrhea 196 Chap 19 E-F Diseases Ear Infections 197 Eczema 197 Edema 200 Endometriosis 202 Eyes 202 Fear 204 Fever 204 Fibrocystic Breasts 204 Fibroids 205 Fibromyalgia 205 Forgetfulness 207 Frigidity 208 Chap 20 G-H Diseases Gall Stones 209 GERD, GIRD 210 Gout 212 Hair Loss 213 Hearing Loss 215 Hepatitis 218 Herpes 220 Hot Flashes 220 Hysteria 221 Chap 21 I-J Diseases Infertility 223 Inflammation 223 Insomnia 224 Irritable Bowel 226 Itching 227 Jaundice 227 Chap 22 K-O Diseases Kidney Stones 229 Miscarriage 230 Mucous 231 M. Sclerosis 231 Nails 233 Nausea 235 Numbness 236 Obesity 237 Osteoporosis 238 Chap 23 P-R Diseases Pediatric 241 Perspiration 244 Plantar F. 244 Pregnancy 248 PMS 250 Prostate 251 Psoriasis 252 Rashes 252 Restless Leg 252 Chap 24 S-Z Diseases Sex 255 Shaking, tremors 257 Sinusitis 258 Skin Diseases 259 Sleep Apnea 261 Snoring 262 Sweaty hands 263 Teeth 264 Tumors 266 Urinary T. I. 267 Varicose Veins 269 Weight loss 270 Yeast infection 274 Chap 25 Case Histories 275

SECTION IV DAILY PRACTICES

 Chapter 26 The Way of Breathing, Chap 27 Exercise, Chap 28 Meditation 303, Chap 29 Spiritual Practices (belief in God)  307 Appendix 313 Bibliography 315 About the Author 317