Healing the Skin: Holistic Approaches to Treating Skin Conditions

by Lueder Jachens, Anna R Meuss (Translator)

Overview

Our skin is the visible barrier between what is inside and what is outside our bodies. It can respond with sensitivity to tender contact, allowing us to experience pleasure, or, when harmful influences arise, it can contract or erupt and lead to pain. The increasing prevalence in recent years of various types of skin conditions is an indication that toxic influences are on the increase.

A dermatologist, allergist, and physician, Lueder Jachens offers wise advice in Healing the Skin, an expertly written and helpful "owner's handbook." His concern is not only to offer his insights into the individual conditions, their causes, and how best to treat them, but also to present a holistic understanding of the skin itself--the largest human organ--to help us develop better health and harmony in the longer term.

Dr. Jachens' authoritative guide begins with an anatomy of the skin and its relationship to the physical and spiritual levels of existence. He then goes on to study various specific conditions and their treatment, including psoriasis, dermatitis, acne, boils, hayfever, alopecia (hair loss), melanoma, abscesses, impetigo, fungal infections, herpes, scabies, head lice, sunburn, and much more.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781902636917
Publisher:	Rudolf Steiner Pr
Publication date:	04/28/2008
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Lueder Jachens, MD, born in Bremen in 1951, participated in anthroposophic medical student groups while studying medicine in Göttingen and Kiel, Germany. He specialized in dermatology and allergology before working in medical departments at an anthroposophically oriented hospital. Since 1992, he has worked in private practice as a skin specialist in Stiefenhofen/Allgaeu, Germany. He also developed the Christophorus Medical Center in Stiefenhofen.

Table of Contents

Important Note     ix
Translator's Note     xi
Introduction     1
Seeing the skin in a new way from the anthroposophical point of view     1
The human skin     5
Anatomy of the skin     6
The epidermis     6
The dermis or corium     10
The subcutis     14
The skin and the fourfold human being     16
The holistic view of the human being in anthroposophy     17
The level of mind and spirit-the I     19
The level of the soul     20
The level of life     22
The physical level     23
The skin and the threefold human being     25
The neurosensory system     25
Metabolism and limbs     26
The rhythmical system     29
The skin in the field of tension between matter and form     32
Differences and effects of the powers of matter and of form     32
Acids protecting the skin     36
Why are humans naked?     37
Skin diseases     41
Causes of skin conditions     42
Skin disease and yeasts in the intestine     43
Treating skin conditions     45
Treatingchildren's skin     48
Special nature of anthroposophical medicines     49
Cortisol     53
Individual skin conditions     54
Neurodermatitis     54
Psoriasis (vulgaris)     73
Contact dermatitis     79
Dermatitis on the eyelids (palpebral eczema)     84
Hand dermatitis     85
Stasis dermatitis     87
Dermatitis in the genital and anal region     88
Intertrigo     90
Nappy/diaper rash     91
Dermatitis in the elderly     92
Lichen planus     93
Seborrhoeic dermatitis     94
Acne     95
Rosacea     99
Perioral dermatitis (inflammatory lesions around the mouth)     100
Granuloma annulare     100
Urticaria (nettle rash)     101
Hay fever     104
Sunlight sensitivity (allergy to sunlight)     108
Alopecia (hair loss)     109
Patchy hair loss (alopecia areata)     111
Vitiligo     112
Scleroderma (systemic sclerosis)     112
Pigmented moles (naevi, birthmarks)     114
Port-wine stain (naevus flammeus) and strawberry marks (haemangioma)     116
Warts of old age (seborrhoeic keratosis)     116
Age spots (lentigines)     117
The ageing skin     117
Melanoma (malignant melanoma)     119
Basal cell carcinoma     127
Squamous cell carcinoma and actinic keratosis     128
Folliculitis (infection of hair follicles)     129
Boils (furuncles)     130
Abscesses     131
Epidermal cyst (wen, milia)     131
Impetigo     132
Erysipelas     132
Pityriasis lichenoides     133
Pityriasis rosea     134
Fungal skin infections - tinea corporis     135
Fungal skin infections - athlete's foot (tinea pedis)     136
Fungal infection of nails (onychomycosis)     138
Common warts (verrucae vulgares)     140
Molluscum contagiosum     141
Condyloma acuminata     142
Herpes simplex     142
Shingles (herpes zoster)     143
Scabies     145
Head lice     146
Insect bites and stings     147
Ingrown toenail (onychocryptosis)     149
Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers)      150
Varicose veins (varices)     151
Haemorrhoids (piles)     155
Skin problems connected with pregnancy     157
Skin conditions with diabetes     158
External injuries     160
Abrasions     160
Lacerations     161
Cuts, puncture wounds and bites     162
Bumps and bruises     162
Burns, scalds     164
Sunburn     165
Chemical burns     166
In conclusion     167
Useful addresses     169
Further Reading     170
Index     171