01840nas a2200265   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001700055653000900072653001600081653002600097653002100123653001100144653003400155653001800189653001800207100001000225700002000235700001300255245005900268300001100327490000700338520121500345022001401560       2009                            d  c2009 Jun10aAcupuncture 10aChin10aDermatology10aHistory, 21st Century10aHistory, Ancient10aHumans10aMedicine, Chinese Traditional10aSkin Diseases10aWestern World1 aTan E1 aMillington GW M1 aLevell N00aAcupuncture in dermatology: an historical perspective.  a648-520 v483 a<p>Classical acupuncture focuses primarily on treating the person, and secondarily treating the illness. The "symptoms" are regarded as "branch" expressions of a "root" (constitutional) imbalance. Different root imbalances can produce the same symptoms. Five patients with eczema, for example, may reveal five distinct root imbalances and would all be treated very differently. Because acupuncture treats the whole person, it has something to offer almost every condition. In many cases, acupuncture aims to bring about a complete cure; in others, it aims to manage the problem. Acupuncture remains a substantial part of the traditional Chinese medicine, which is used to treat many conditions including acne, alopecia, dermatitis, pruritus, psoriasis, rosacea, systemic lupus erythematosus, urticaria, herpes zoster, chicken pox, impetigo, leprosy, vitiligo, and tinea. This review introduces the historical context of acupuncture within Chinese medicine and how it relates to skin disease. Specifically, a key question is, what can we learn from the ancients with regard to their use of acupuncture as part of a holistic system of medicine, and how does this relate to the practice of modern dermatology?</p>  a1365-4632