Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture and naturopathy addressing the internal root of atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, acne and rosacea — not just suppressing the surface.
Book a Skin Consultation Alternative MedicineConventional dermatology predominantly addresses skin conditions from the outside — with topical creams, antihistamines, immunosuppressants and biological drugs. These approaches can be valuable and necessary, particularly in severe cases. But they often manage rather than resolve the underlying condition, leaving patients in cycles of flare, suppression and dependence.
At Health Therapies Clinics in Lane Cove, we approach skin conditions from the inside out — identifying and treating the internal patterns driving skin inflammation, and addressing the gut, immune system, hormonal and stress-related factors that perpetuate them. Chinese herbal medicine has a particularly rich tradition of treating skin conditions, documented over two millennia and increasingly validated through modern research.
Our integrative approach combines the precision of TCM pattern differentiation (which distinguishes between different types of eczema as distinct internal conditions requiring different treatment) with the science of naturopathic gut-skin axis medicine and nutritional medicine. We see patients from Chatswood, Artarmon, Willoughby, Neutral Bay and across the North Shore who are seeking more than symptom management.
Initial Consultation: $200 / 90 minutes
Follow-up: $175 / 60 minutes
Herbal/Telehealth: $95 / 30 minutes
Hours: Monday – Sunday, 9am – 9pm
Location: Suite 1, Level 1, 141 Longueville Road, Lane Cove NSW 2066
Private Health: HICAPS — Medibank, BUPA, HCF, NIB, HBF, AHM
Please photograph your skin condition before your appointment — photos help us assess distribution, morphology and severity accurately, particularly for areas that may be difficult to view during the consultation.
Book OnlineThe TCM diagnostic framework for skin conditions is sophisticated and practically useful — different patterns produce different clinical presentations and require distinctly different treatment approaches. The most common patterns we see include:
Characterised by oozing, weeping, crusting, oedematous and intensely itchy skin lesions. Red, inflamed base with yellow exudate. Typically worse in hot, humid weather. Common in acute eczema, seborrhoeic dermatitis and infected skin conditions. Treatment clears Heat, drains Dampness and relieves toxicity — formulas such as Long Dan Xie Gan Tang (modified), Huang Lian Jie Du Tang. Avoid spicy foods, alcohol and dairy.
Bright red, rapidly spreading skin eruptions with intense itching; worsened by heat, spicy food and emotional upset. Common in psoriasis, acute urticaria (hives) and some forms of rosacea. Treatment cools Blood, clears Heat and relieves Wind — formulas such as Qing Ying Tang, Si Wu Tang (modified). This pattern often has a stress component that amplifies the Heat.
Dry, scaly, thickened, lichenified skin with fine scaling; itching that is worse at night and in winter; pale complexion. Common in chronic eczema, psoriasis and ichthyosis-type presentations. Reflects depletion of Blood and Yin failing to nourish and moisten the skin. Treatment nourishes Blood and Yin, moistens Wind-Dryness — formulas such as Di Huang Yin Zi, Dang Gui Yin Zi. Increase dietary fats and Blood-building foods.
Chinese herbal medicine is arguably the most powerful tool in the integrative medicine toolkit for chronic skin conditions. The ability to prescribe individualised combinations of herbs — internal formulas taken as tea or tablets, combined with topical preparations applied directly to the skin — allows treatment to work on multiple levels simultaneously.
Internal Chinese herbal formulas address the underlying constitutional pattern — the root cause of the skin condition rather than its surface manifestation. Classical formulas for skin conditions include Qing Pi Tang for Damp-Heat, Xiao Feng San for Wind-Heat with itching, and Dang Gui Yin Zi for Blood Deficiency patterns. All formulas are individualised to your specific presentation and adjusted at each consultation as your condition evolves.
External applications — herbal washes, creams, ointments and plasters — can be prepared from the same herbs used internally, applied directly to the affected area. Herbs such as Ku Shen (Sophora root), Huang Bai (Phellodendron), Di Fu Zi (Kochia) and Bai Xian Pi (Dictamnus) have demonstrated antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antipruritic (anti-itch) properties in research settings.
Modern microbiome science has confirmed what both naturopathy and Chinese medicine have long maintained: the health of the gut profoundly influences the health of the skin. The "gut-skin axis" describes the bidirectional communication between the gastrointestinal microbiome, the immune system and the skin — with gut dysbiosis, intestinal permeability ("leaky gut") and microbial imbalance all contributing to systemic inflammation that manifests in the skin.
Our naturopath assesses and treats gut health as a central component of skin care. This includes: microbiome assessment and targeted probiotic therapy; intestinal permeability repair (L-glutamine, zinc carnosine, collagen); food sensitivity identification and elimination trial; anti-inflammatory dietary guidance; and liver support for improved clearance of inflammatory mediators and histamine. Many patients with chronic skin conditions find that gut-directed treatment produces the most significant and lasting skin improvement.
Targeted nutrients for skin conditions include essential fatty acids (omega-3, GLA) for skin barrier integrity and inflammation; vitamin D for immune regulation; zinc for wound healing and immune function; vitamin A for skin cell turnover; and quercetin and other flavonoids for histamine regulation. Dietary patterns — particularly the elimination of known triggers such as dairy, refined sugar, gluten and food additives — are assessed and addressed at your consultation.
The most common skin condition we manage — affecting all ages from infants through adults. We distinguish between acute weeping eczema (Damp-Heat pattern), chronic dry eczema (Blood Deficiency) and stress-related flares (Liver Qi Stagnation generating Heat). Treatment protocols are pattern-specific and age-adjusted.
A complex autoimmune inflammatory condition with multiple TCM patterns — most commonly Blood Heat (acute red plaques) and Blood Stasis with Dryness (thick, stable plaques with scaling). Chinese herbal medicine and naturopathic anti-inflammatory protocols can produce significant improvement in plaque area and severity over three to six months of consistent treatment.
Acne is typically addressed as Lung-Stomach Heat or Phlegm-Damp accumulation in TCM. Rosacea patterns include Stomach Heat and Blood Heat. Both benefit enormously from gut-directed treatment alongside herbal medicine. Dietary triggers are central to management and are identified through careful intake history.
Yes. We work alongside conventional dermatological management, not instead of it. Many patients continue topical steroids or immunomodulators during integrative treatment and find they need less over time as the internal condition improves. We do not advise stopping prescribed medications — any reductions should be made gradually and in discussion with your dermatologist.
This varies with the severity and chronicity of the condition. Acute presentations often improve rapidly — within two to four weeks. Chronic conditions that have been present for years require longer — typically three to six months of consistent treatment for significant and durable improvement. The skin renews itself on a four to six week cycle, so meaningful change requires at least two to three cycles of treatment.
Yes. Chinese herbal medicine has an excellent safety record for children when prescribed by a qualified practitioner, using appropriate paediatric doses and formulas. Children with eczema often respond faster and more dramatically than adults. The approach for children is typically gentler — using milder formulas at lower doses, often in liquid or granule form rather than raw herb teas.
Topical preparations prescribed by our practitioners are made with high-quality, tested ingredients and are safe for most skin types. A patch test is always recommended before first use on larger areas. Please disclose any known allergies to plants or botanicals. We do not use aristolochic acid-containing herbs, which have been implicated in safety concerns in some older TCM topical products.
Integrative skin care at Health Therapies Clinics, Lane Cove. Chinese herbal medicine, naturopathy and acupuncture for eczema, psoriasis, acne and rosacea. Open seven days, 9am–9pm.
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