A traditional combination of five Chinese herbs may alleviate eczema, new research suggests.
After a study in Hong Kong, determining the effect of 'pentaherbs formulation' on patients aged five to 21, scientists found that the quality of life improved by a third for those taking the five-herb concoction.
The study also revealed that those taking the herbal medicine did not need to use as much of the steroid cream that is usually prescribed to eczema sufferers.
Nina Goad from the British Association of Dermatologists said: 'These early studies shows that children with atopic eczema may benefit from a specific concoction of traditional Chinese herbs, which could eventually pave the way for this remedy to find its way into mainstream medicine.'
