01/03/2019 / By RJ Jhonson
Dong quai (Angelica sinensis), also known as female ginseng, is a medicinal plant widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. A study found that among its various medicinal benefits is the ability to provide relief from atopic dermatitis, otherwise known as eczema.
In the study, the researchers induced eczema in mice by applying 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB), a skin irritant known for causing skin allergies. Dong quai was then applied to the affected areas for 11 days.
The researchers found that with repeated applications, dong quai was able to inhibit the thickening of the affected area of the skin. Thickened and irritated skin is one of the hallmark effects of eczema. The treatment also reduced the number of histamine-producing mast cells and of serum immunoglobulin E, both of which tend to occur prominently in people with eczema.
Furthermore, the treatment caused a reduction in the expression of pro-inflammatory proteins that are responsible for the skin inflammation that characterizes eczema. All these changes contributed to a decrease in scratching behavior among the animal subjects.
These findings led the researchers to conclude that dong quai can indeed be used as a topical treatment for the itchiness and inflammation caused by eczema. The authors did admit, however, that further studies are needed to validate the results of their study.
The study was published in the Journal of Medicinal Food.
Atopic dermatitis is a condition that causes red and itchy skin. Although more common in children than in adults, it can occur in people of any age.
It is a chronic condition that has no cure, which means people who have it will experience periodic flare-ups throughout their life. Avoiding common triggers, however, as well as taking certain specific steps, can help in managing the condition, its symptoms, and its complications.
The following tips may ease the symptoms of atopic dermatitis:
Learn how to soothe the symptoms of eczema through natural means at Remedies.news.
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Tagged Under: Angelica sinensis, anti-inflammatory, anti-pruritus, atopic dermatitis, dong quai, eczema, female ginseng, food as medicine, herbal treatment, itchiness, medicinal food