Urticaria
AliasUrticaria
Traditional Chinese Medicine Definition
Urticaria, known as "Yin Zhen" in traditional Chinese medicine, is a disease characterized by the appearance of itchy wheals on the skin as the primary manifestation. According to the records in "Internal Medicine of Traditional Chinese Medicine," the onset of Yin Zhen is often due to the invasion of wind pathogen, disharmony of Nutritive qi andDefensive qi, and derangement of Qi and blood circulation. Its characteristics include the appearance of itchy wheals on the skin, varying in size and shape, appearing and disappearing intermittently.
In the clinical practice of traditional Chinese medicine, the core pathogenesis of urticaria is wind pathogen invasion and disharmony between the nutritive and defensive qi. Common triggers include improper diet, internal damage by emotional factors, and excessive fatigue. During pattern differentiation, attention should be paid to distinguishing different patterns such as wind-cold and wind-heat, as well as the changes in cold, heat, deficiency, and excess.
The wind-cold pattern manifests as pale wheals that worsen upon exposure to cold and lessen with warmth; the treatment approach is to dispel wind and scatter cold, and harmonize the nutritive and defensive qi. The wind-heat pattern manifests as red, burning wheals that worsen upon exposure to heat; the treatment approach is to disperse wind and clear heat, and cool the blood to relieve itching.
In the clinical practice of traditional Chinese medicine, the treatment of urticaria emphasizes treatment based on pattern differentiation, adopting corresponding therapeutic methods according to different patterns. The overall direction of regulation suggests harmonizing the nutritive and defensive qi, dispersing wind and releasing the exterior, and clearing heat and resolving toxin, so as to achieve the goal of alleviating symptoms and restoring health. It should be noted that this is a popular science overview of pattern differentiation, and specific diagnostic and treatment plans need to be formulated by professional physicians according to the actual conditions of patients.
Common Syndrome Types and Key Points of Differentiation
Wind-cold syndrome
Main Manifestations: Wheals with light color become worse with cold, and improve with warmth
Management Approach: Eliminate Wind and Dispel Cold, Harmonize Ying and Wei
Wind-heat syndrome
Main Manifestations: Fengtuan Seshi Zhuozhe, Yu Re Zaoji
Management Approach: Relieve Wind-Heat, Cool Blood and Stop Itching
The above syndrome information is based on traditional Chinese medicine textbooks and clinical standards. Specific differentiation should be completed by a practicing traditional Chinese medicine physician in person.
Physician's Clinical Insights
In clinical observation of patients with urticaria, it is often necessary to differentiate between wind-heat and blood deficiency. Wind-heat is easy to disperse, while blood deficiency is difficult to eliminate.
— Tang Yulan Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner (Apprentice)
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This page is for the popular science of traditional Chinese medicine knowledge and does not constitute medical advice. Specific diagnosis should be completed by a licensed traditional Chinese medicine practitioner in person.
This article has been reviewed by licensed TCM physicians at Hangzhou Kezhentang TCM Clinic. It is for TCM popular science reference only and does not involve specific treatment plan recommendations.
References: Internal Medicine of TCM (13th Five-Year Plan Textbook), Diagnostic and Therapeutic Effectiveness Standards for TCM Diseases and Syndromes (ZY/T001.1-94), Classification and Codes of TCM Diseases and Syndromes (GB/T 15657-2021)