Functional Dyspepsia / Gastritis Functional dyspepsia is also called non-ulcer stomach pain and is a term for recurring signs and symptoms of indigestion that have no obvious cause. Gastritis is the…

Psoriasis often present so similarly to Atopic Dermatitis that most patients cannot tell the difference, and just think of it as eczema. Although both Atopic Dermatitis (commonly categorically referred to as Eczema) and Psoriasis can…

Allergic Rhinitis is a common in Singapore, and these are the patients coming in with an itchy, dripping or blocked nose. It is a form of catarrhal inflammation, like a tap…

Anxiety is a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear, that can be mild or severe. In severe cases, the anxiety does not go away and can get worse over time,…

Facial Dermatitis Facial dermatitis is just a blanket term to denote inflammation of the skin on the face. Most of the patients coming in for facial dermatitis are also coming…

Psoriasis is one of the most stubborn diseases of the skin, affecting as many as 3% of the population. With a correct approach to treatment, up to two-thirds of cases can…

You may be surprised, but Chinese herbal treatment can be very helpful in treating psoriasis. At Soma Clinic, we mostly use herbs to treat; there are some patients coming in…

Infant and maternal mortality was high even as recent as 200 years ago. Yet, the nascent beginnings of documented practices and belief began closer to 2000 years ago. It was…

After the initial Chicken Pox infection by the Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV), the virus implants itself in the neural ganglia. Herpes Zoster flares up when  the dormant VZV is reactivated,…

Lichen Planus, known in Chinese Medicine as Zi Dian Feng (紫癫风), which means'purple patch wind,' is a pruritic disease of the skin and mucus membranes that typically occurs in adults,…

Prurigo is a condition in which there are independent itchy papular/nodular eruptions induced by insect bite or allergy. These pruritic papules are thought to be an inflammatory response and are…

Lichen simplex is a localized, well-circumscribed area of thickened skin (lichenification) resulting from repeated rubbing, itching, and scratching of the skin. A solitary plaque of lichen simplex is circumscribed, somewhat…

Viral warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and come in different forms, and the more common variants are common warts, plane warts and plantar warts. Plantar warts (often…

Peri-oral dermatitis commonly shows up as micro-papular and pustular lesions forming around the mouth and chin area. This type of presentation primarily affects females of childbearing age. This condition may…

Herpes simplex viruses  can be categorized into two types: HSV 1 is oral herpes while HSV 2 is genital herpes. When HSV flares up in a person who is already…

Stasis eczema is also known as gravitational/varicose/venous eczema. This form of eczema commonly affects the lower limbs of the elderly, and arises as a consequence of chronic venous insufficiency, which…

What alternatives are there for reducing inflammation? By looking at some of the more recent discoveries on sepsis, we may be able to find out a little more. People with…

Psoriasis is an immune-mediated skin disease that most commonly presents as a red, scaly plaques caused by excessive proliferation of skin cells. Psoriasis is five times less common in Asian…

This is a classic example of atopic dermatitis presenting as Wind in the Four Bends (四弯风). The four bends refers to the flexures of the elbows and knees; wind refers…

A 27 yo female patient was bitten by an insect in Taiwan in Feb 2019. There were multiple insect lesions. Was first treated with steroid injection and other medications (??)…

COPD is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide; its economic and social burdens are substantial and increasing. Several systematic reviews have shown the therapeutic potential of…

Pompholyx Eczema (aka Dishidrotic Eczema) most commonly affects new mothers taking care of their newborns. The immune system of a postpartum mother is often dysfunctional. This is because the recovering…

Researchers from the Fudan University Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital tested the benefits of acupuncture for patients receiving emergency ectopic pregnancy surgery. A ruptured fallopian tube or heavy bleeding necessitates surgical…

Hi Dr Mark, There a lot of things I am still learning. These are the resources that I find useful. Ebook Link (Attached the soft copy as well for your convenience): http://grossbart.com/SkinDeep.pdf I…

Fibromyalgia belongs to one of those conditions that physician find to be difficult to treat. This is because the presentation changes and may come in varying intensities. Fibromyalgia is a…

A healthy diet consists of generous portions of fruits and vegetables, whole-grain, high-fiber foods, and fish and a small amount of saturated and trans-fats. In addition to these recommendations, some…

One day when Danxi and his nephew were on their way home from a patient visit, they passed by a pond and saw a girl washing clothes in the water.…

Here's one case of pompholyx eczema being treated with herbs and acupuncture. Pompholyx eczema is a common dermatitis of the hands, and sometimes of the feet. It is characterized by…

What alternatives are there for reducing inflammation? By looking at some of the more recent discoveries on sepsis, we may be able to find out a little more. People with…

How can we reconcile our understanding of Atopic Dermatitis from the perspective of both Western Medicine and Chinese Medicine? Atopic dermatitis can be said to be due to two main…

Treating Adrenal Fatigue with Body Psychotherapy If you are being diagnosed with adrenal fatigue, where cortisol levels have been elevated for so long the adrenal no longer are able to…

New technologies for Virtual Reality, as evidenced by Snow World, add fuller dimension to the evolving idea of pain relief. The idea of counter stimulation – where sensory stimulation reduces…

Best to have a strainer to hold the dried herbs. Soak the herbs in water (can leave in strainer) for 10mins. You can leave the more 'runny' herbs (e.g. seeds…

Apart from herbal supplements that can help to heal from within, topical creams when applied may help reduce inflammation, relieve itch or aid with wound healing. In the market, there…

As put forward by Jean-Pierre Barral, motion of the body can manifest in various forms, including: Motion controlled by the somatic nervous system: This refers to part of the motor…

I wrote this article because quite a number of patients have requested an opinion on the world of topical creams out there -- these are patients relatively new to eczema…

This spiel is written specifically for those who have come to be treated for skin conditions, for whom I have prescribed washes. For each pack of herbs: 1. Soak in…

Introduction to Bud of Magnolia: In Chinese medicine, there is an herb called Xin Yi (辛夷), directly translated as pungent barbarian. It is the dried bud of the magnolia flower.…

Pueraria (葛根) is known in Chinese Medicine to have the following broad functions: facilitate perspiration to bring down fever e.g. for fever and chills with an added symptom of a…

What is Red Yeast Rice? Monascus purpureus is a species of mold that is reddish in color. When rice is fermented with it, red yeast rice or hong qu is…

Source: Thehomesteadgarden.com Turmeric is one herb available abundantly within Bali's ecoscape. I try to promote its use whenever possible because locals can have cheap access to this herb. Balinese see…

Guava or guajava is recommended as natural treatment for dengue infections here in Bali. As with most viral infections, from the common cold to stomach flu to full blown influenza,…

Vitex Trifolia L. is a Chinese herb known for treating wind-heat, especially if accompanied by pain on the vertex of the head. The Chinese use the seeds, which they call Man…

Japanese honeysuckle flower, a Chinese herb otherwise known as Jin Yin Hua (金银花) has been used for ages in the treatment of 'exterior illnesses' that run the gamut from upper…

Replacement Therapy with Animal Tissue Already in the 7th century AD, the Chinese were already using the thyroid glands of gelded ram, sheep, pigs etc as medicine to treat goiter,…

伤寒有五：有中风，有伤寒，有湿温，有热病，有温病。 – 难经 In the time of Mr. Zhang Zhongjing, all externally contracted diseases were classified Cold Damage (伤寒). Cold Damage was the umbrella term for all classifiable infectious diseases…

Mastering the quantity of each herb used is very important in clinical practice. This is especially so when we want to practice prescribing 经方 i.e. those created by Mr. Zhang…

Some time back, over a dinner conversation, someone brought up the topic of Hongqu (红曲), also known as Red Yeast Rice Extract. Hongqu has now been popularized as a natural…

This articles follows from the Article on Level I & II Hacks Level III Hacks (everything else)  Drain Cleaner: For light drain cleaning, mix 1/2 cup salt in 4 litres…

Chemicals in cleaning products can cause or irritate asthma, allergies, eczema and other autoimmune disorders. Try to avoid contact with harsh chemicals and use natural ingredients instead while housekeeping. Use Organic cleaning agents instead,…

In terms of interventions, the patient should employ a well-rounded approach that includes: Identifying and avoiding triggers - click to access article Addressing the itch, reducing inflammation, maintaining moisture levels…

In terms of interventions, the patient should employ a well-rounded approach that includes: Identifying and avoiding triggers - click to access article Addressing the itch, reducing inflammation, maintaining moisture levels…

In terms of interventions, the patient should employ a well-rounded approach that includes: Identifying and avoiding triggers Addressing the itch, reducing inflammation, maintaining moisture levels and managing barrier dysfunction -…