What makes the neem tree worthy to be named Tree of the 21st Century? For thousands of years, humans have sought to fortify their health and cure various ills with herbal remedies. The search for the true panacea, or cure-all, has been undertaken by virtually every civilization. While hundreds of substances have been tried and […]

I enjoy every season, but as a student of nature and a herbalist I have to admit I love spring the most – observing the gradual return of birds that flew south for the winter, and watching all of my plant friends awaken from their winter slumber. My anticipation begins with the return of red-winged […]

Over the last few months, several of my eczema patients have brought up Red Skin Syndrome and asked for my thoughts on it. This syndrome was named by a California dermatologist, Dr. Marvin Rapaport, who concluded after decades of dermatology practice that Red Skin Syndrome happens as a result of long-term use of topical steroids […]

The word eczema comes from the Greek word ekzein, meaning “to boil over.” To early doctors it may have appeared that the skin was boiling over. Today, the word eczema is commonly (and improperly) used to describe any kind of dermatitis or inflammatory skin condition. Eczema is a long-term recurring inflammation of the skin. While […]

Eczema is a many headed beast. Some cases are textbook-clear and relatively easy to treat, while others fall between types, present paradoxically, or engage in shape shifting deception.  Successful treatment of these conditions resembles a chess game, with the practitioner trying to stay a step ahead and to eventually checkmate the wiley opponent. Fortunately, in […]

"What should I eat?" That is the question I am asked most often by skin patients in my Traditional Chinese Medicine practice. They ask it in a tone of despair and frustration, because they have already been avoiding various foods on the advice of health writers, bloggers, nutritionists and naturopaths, and yet their skin condition […]

Eczema is a generic term that defines inflammatory conditions of the skin, namely vesiculation in the acute stages. The word is broadly applied to a range of persistent skin conditions that includes dryness and recurring skin rashes. Skin ailments that qualify as eczema are characterized by one or more of the following symptoms: redness, skin […]

One category of skin diseases with interesting visual manifestations is the “lichen” group, so named because the different types resemble the lichen that grows on rocks and trees. They are generally dry, rough, thickened, or hardened clusters of skin bumps or plaques, and rather than showing the fiery-red inflammation of psoriasis, eczema, and other forms […]

Burdock root has many important medicinal uses. First and foremost, it is an excellent depurative or detoxifying herb. As a result it benefits any chronic inflammatory disease of the skin, muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints. These include acne, eczema, psoriasis, gout and rheumatoid arthritis. Burdock also reduces congestion of the liver and gallbladder, improves digestion […]

Fungal and yeast infections of the skin are some of the most common and tenacious dermatological complaints. Parasitic organisms that colonize the skin of susceptible individuals produce these infections. They particularly like warm, moist places such as the feet and groin. If the infection is recent and has not occurred before, it might easily be […]