How is vitiligo treated with traditional Chinese medicine?
Disease description:
My son is thirteen years old. He recently visited the hospital due to the appearance of white patches on his skin and was diagnosed with vitiligo. How can vitiligo be treated using traditional Chinese medicine?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Wang Xiaoyan
The TCM treatment for vitiligo mainly focuses on regulating the body's qi and blood, expelling wind and dampness, and modulating the immune system. Specific methods include:
1. **Internal administration of Chinese herbs**: Using herbs with functions such as replenishing qi and nourishing blood, promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis, and dispelling wind-damp, such as *Psoralea corylifolia* (Buguzhi), *Polygonum multiflorum* (He Shou Wu), and *Ligustrum lucidum* (Nuzhenzi), to regulate the patient's internal environment and promote the recovery and growth of melanocytes.
2. **Topical application of Chinese herbs**: Preparing specific Chinese herbs into ointments or lotions and directly applying them to the depigmented areas, helping improve local skin conditions and promoting pigment recovery.
3. **Acupuncture therapy**: Stimulating acupuncture points to regulate the circulation of qi and blood, enhance immunity, and facilitate the treatment of vitiligo.
4. **Cupping therapy**: Utilizing the negative pressure created by cupping to improve local blood and qi circulation in the skin and promote melanin production.
