How Do You Treat Urticaria in Your Practice?

Urticaria is known as Feng Zhen Kuai (Wind rash patch) in Chinese Medicine. It comes in two varieties: acute and chronic. Acute urticaria is generally attributed to an external invasion of Wind-Heat or Wind-Cold in the context of a Wei Qi deficiency induced by Lung and/or Spleen Qi imbalance. ¹ When the Lung Qi is deficient, the invasion occurs through the skin or respiratory tract after exposure to pollens or irritant fumes. When the Spleen Qi is affected, there is an accumulation of Damp-Heat, which then manifests in the skin after exposure to triggers such as shellfish. Chronic urticaria, on the other hand, is usually attributed to an internal stirring of Wind and Heat, in association with Blood deficiency.

One simple acupuncture approach involves 4–8 standard points, supplemented by 1 or 2 pattern-specific points determined by pulse and tongue findings.^1,2 Acute urticaria is generally straightforward. Picure four basic points: LI 11 (Qichi); SP 10 (Xuehai); ST 36 (Tsusanli); and SP 6 (Sanyinjiao), either alone or together with a couple of pertinent points for Wind-Heat or Wind-Cold (See Tables 1 and 2). One or two treatments are often sufficient.

Chronic urticaria is more of a challenge, and a course of 6–12 treatments once or twice a week would seem reasonable. In the latter case, picure the same 4 basic points plus LI 4 (Hegu), BL 40 (Weizhong), GB 20 (Fengchi) and GB 31 (Fengshi), along with points to build the Blood (see Tables 1 and 2), and then add some ear points, sending the patient home with a tack or two in place. ² The main ear points to explore are Lung, Endocrine, Subcortex (Thalamus) and Shenmen, with secondary options including Sympatheticus, Adrenals (stress control), and the urticarial (Allergy) point (Fig. 1).

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FIG. 1.

Ear points for treating urticaria.

Herbs are always useful adjuncts and can be aimed at the putative imbalance. For example, for Wind-Heat, use Xiao Feng Tang (Derma Wind Release [Kan Herbs, visit: www.kanherb.com]); for Wind-Cold, use Gui Zhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig [Golden Flower Herbs, visit: www.gfcherbs.com]); for Blood deficiency, use Si Wu Tang (Tang Kuei and salvia [Golden Flower]); ⁴ and for Lung/Spleen Qi deficiency, use Astra 8 (Health Concerns Herbs, visit: www.healthconcerns.com).