TABLE 2.
Summary of CAM cutaneous side effect profiles on dermatologic and non-dermatologic conditions
| CAM AGENT | ORIGINAL CAM INDICATION |
|---|---|
| Contact dermatitis (select agents of note) | |
| Metals (e.g. nickel) in TCM | AD, others |
| Metals (e.g. zinc) in acupuncture needles | Multiple |
| Aromatherapy essential oils | Multiple |
| Mercury contamination (homeopathy, TCM, Indian ayurvedic) | Coughing, others |
| Echinacea | Immune stimulant |
| Chamomile | Anti-inflammatory |
| Turmeric | Anti-inflammatory |
| Tea tree oil | Acne, infections, others |
| Other Dermatitides | |
| Metal contamination in homeopathy—AD exacerbation | Multiple |
| Dead sea salt—Erythrodermic psoriasis flare-up | Psoriasis |
| Stevens-Johnson Syndrome | |
| Ophiopogonis tuber (TCM) | “Health drink” |
| References (Mochitomi, Monk) | |
| Multi-component herbal tablet | “Health tonic” |
| Photosensitivity | |
| Aromatherapy oils (bergamot; constituent psoralens) | Multiple |
| Citrus (Rutaceae), carrot/parsley, fig, legume/pea | Insect bites, multiple others |
| St. John’s Wort (constituent hypericins) | Depression, other psychological |
| Bruising, lesions, skin injuries | |
| Coin rubbing–Petechiae bruising | Multiple |
| Cupping–petechiae/ecchymosis, bullae, panniculitis, burns | Pain, spondylosis, herpes zoster, others |
| Acupuncture—Argyria, lymphocytoma cutis, other | Multiple |
| Alopecia (with polyneuropathy) | |
| Thallium in Chinese herbal remedy | Multiple |
| Erythema nodosum | |
| Echinacea | Immunostimulator, others |
| Sweet’s Syndrome | |
| Arnica; capsaicin (jalapenos) | Multiple; pain, others |