Many eczema patients have been using a class of immunosuppressants called Cyclosporine. Some patients see great results with these drugs but some experience negative side effects. Others are concerned about becoming dependent upon a drug for an indefinite amount of time. In these scenarios, it is very common for me to meet patients who are wondering, “What other treatments are out there?”
In this edition of our newsletter, we’ll address the commonly asked questions and their answers. Hopefully, this will help anyone who is facing this decision.
Should I stop using immunosuppressants before coming to Amethyst?
No. It’s typically not a good idea to stop abruptly. As such, Amethyst starts treating patients while they are still using their prescribed immunosuppressants.
How do we start?
Once you decide you are ready to begin the process of weaning off immunosuppressants, you will meet with your Amethyst herbalist for a full medical history intake. This helps us understand how your eczema story has unfolded, how it presented before taking the pharmaceuticals and the general state of your current health.
Based upon the intake findings, we will prescribe a customized herbal formula to bolster your system in preparation for the weaning process while also hedging the symptoms that are likely to reappear.
How often will my Amethyst appointments be?
In general, you can expect to meet with your Amethyst herbalist every 2 weeks. However, the frequency of appointments will vary depending upon your response. We do our best to see patients who find they need more frequent attention.
How do we wean off cyclosporine?
Once you have taken the initial herbal formula for a few weeks, we will work with your doctor to begin the weaning process by steadily increasing the time between usage of your immunosuppressant prescription. For example, if you are taking 2 doses a day, your doctor may recommend moving to 1 dose a day for a period of time. After that, s/he may recommend moving to 1 dose only on weekends. Whatever your doctor feels is best for you, we will monitor your response and adapt the herbal formula to meet whatever comes up for you during the weaning process.
Each time the spacing increases, our appointments will be used to assess your response and adjust your herbal formula to meet any new needs. We may also add ingredients to anticipate any needed support before the next decrease of dosage.
The goal of treatment is to keep your skin as stable as possible. When your skin appears ready for the next change, we will work with your doctor to continue in this manner until you’re ready to stop taking immunosuppressants altogether.
What can I expect?
This a very difficult question to answer since everyone responds incredibly different. The best way to approach this is to allow the process to unfold however it will for you, Amethyst will do our best to support you all along the way.
What happens after the weaning-off process?
After the weaning process, the herbal medicine treatment will be adjusted to address whatever remains of your eczema. The goal at this point is to promote complete healing of the body and healthy skin. Once that is achieved, most patients find that they don’t need any further medicines, herbal or otherwise.
Need Help with Eczema?
If you know someone who would like to heal their eczema, this video provides more information on herbal medicine and dermatology, as well as what to expect during a first consultation.
Want to Learn More?
Click Here for our free e-course “Healing Eczema Inside and Out.” Along with the course, you will also receive our Amethyst Holistic Skin Solutions Eczema Newsletter. Both will give you interesting information about Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) via articles, before/after pictures, and case studies of Amethyst Eczema patients.
About the Author
Dr. Olivia Hsu Friedman, LAc, DACM, Cert. TCM Dermatology is the owner of Amethyst Holistic Skin Solutions and treats eczema patients via video conferencing using only herbal medicine. Olivia serves on the Advisory Board of LearnSkin, is the Chair of the American Society of Acupuncturists Board of Directors, and is a faculty member of the Chicago Integrative Eczema Support Group sponsored by The National Eczema Association.