Chinese Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture Can Put A Stop to Tinea Fungal Infections Once And For All

Caused by dermatophytes, tinea is a superficial fungal disorder that’s commonly referred to as ringworm. This tinea fungus can only survive in nails, hair, and the topmost layer of skin cells. An infection of this fungus may look similar several other skin conditions, and therefore an appropriate differential diagnosis is required. One marked difference between tinea fungal infections and other fungal skin infections is that in tinea infections, the skin rashes are asymmetrical.

The most common complaint I hear from my patients suffering from ringworm (tinea fungal) infections with regards to Western drugs, is that their condition often recurs once they stop using those drugs. In Chinese herbal treatment and acupuncture however, the infection is not only resolved but the body and skin are strengthened as well making recurrence highly unlikely. Because of this, I recommend to my patients after their symptoms go away, to continue treatment for a few weeks more to ensure that they are in overall good health and that the healing of the infection is consolidated. The body is less susceptible to infections if it is healthy and strong. Of course, the patient also has to make certain lifestyle changes like, instead of walking bare feet, to wear flip-flops in the locker room, in order to avoid coming into contact with the tinea-causing fungus.

The different types of tinea fungal infections include:

1. Jock itch (Tinea of the groin) – Tinea of the groin or tinea cruris is most common during summer. One can also acquire this type of infection in winter when wearing heavy warm clothing causing sweating. In summertime, continuing to wear wet clothes after swimming or sweating can lead to jock itch. Men are very prone to this type of infection, women rarely experience it. Tinea of the groin manifest as plaques shaped like a half-moon. Some sufferers may also experience some scaling. Commonly, a rash with a vesicular border can develop if the infection spreads out of the groin which may also result in small blisters. The buttocks can be affected although the scrotum rarely is.

2. Tinea unguium (Tinea of the nails) – Typically an after effect of tinea of the feet or hands, tinea of the nails usually develops when the nails are damaged. Difficult to treat, tinea infection of the nails will require adherence to treatment protocols and a lot of patience.

3. Tinea corporis (Tinea of the body) – As the name suggests, this ringworm infection affects the body, as well as the limbs and face. Tinea corporis thrives in warm climates and during summer. Raised borders around the rings and annular lesions (ring-shaped rash) are the distinguishing signs of tinea corporis. These rashes may grow together to make new shapes. The raised borders usually expand and can develop into odd shapes. This type of infection can generate a lot of Itching.

4. Athlete’s Foot, Tinea pedis and Tinea manuum (Tinea of the foot and hand) – This type of tinea is usually acquired from communal showers and locker rooms. It affects the hands and feet. The webs between the toes and fingers are where the rash first appears. It eventually spreads to the rest of the hand or foot. Redness, scaling and peeling often develop, and in certain instances, blistering of the skin can also occur. In some individuals, itching may be felt. In severe cases of athlete’s foot, the skin can crack causing pain.

How does Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture in Edina treat tinea infections?

Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture treat ringworm (tinea infections) in a few ways. These two treatments set about doing this by first restoring balance in the patent’s body and strengthening the patient. Most health conditions develop secondary to a specific type of imbalance. Some herbal medications are applied to the area of infection and some are taken internally. Various types of herbs possess anti-fungal qualities so healing is taking place both internally and externally. Some practitioners prescribe topical washes and herbal soaks to provide a potent treatment directly to the sites of the infection.

There are individuals who may not opt for herbal medicine along with acupuncture. This is fine for most skin conditions, but they should expect healing to take considerably longer as their symptoms may take a longer time to disappear. By itself, acupuncture is unlikely to resolve infections when it comes to treating tinea fungal infections. The key to attaining significant and enduring results is by using Chinese herbal medicine. However, the patient should know that if he wants a complete resolution of his symptoms, even when using herbal medicine, he should still strictly adhere to treatment protocols.