Allergic purpura according to Chinese Medicine
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Allergic purpura factsheet
Possible causes and remedies:
Heat and Blood Stagnation in the Lower Burner
Symptoms: Thirst Amenorrhea Night fever and five other symptoms
Recommended formula: Tao He Cheng Qi Tang
Symptoms: Fever Delirious speech Black and tarry stools and three other symptoms
Recommended formula: Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang
In Chinese Medicine, allergic purpura can be associated with three so-called "patterns of disharmony". Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted. It is not equivalent to the Western concept of "disease", as a matter of fact here allergic purpura can be caused by three different patterns.
To understand whether someone's allergic purpura might be caused by a given pattern, one needs to look for signs and symptoms associated with the pattern beyond what one might typically experience from allergic purpura alone. For instance when allergic purpura is caused by the pattern Heat and Blood Stagnation in the Lower Burner, patients also experience symptoms such as lower abdominal pain, night fever, delirious speech and irritability. Similarly, patients with Heat and Blood Stagnation in the Lower Burner typically exhibit choppy (Se) or full (Shi) pulses.
We've listed below a description of the three patterns associated with allergic purpura so that you can start to get an understanding of the various possibilities according to Chinese Medicine.
Once identified, patterns are often treated using herbal formulas. Drinking herbal infusions is the most common remedy in Chinese Medicine, together with acupuncture. Here we detail below seven formulas that can help treat the various patterns associated with allergic purpura, depending on which pattern fits your profile.
The three "patterns of disharmony" associated with allergic purpura
The Triple Burner is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Triple Burner in Chinese Medicine
Heat and Blood Stagnation in the Lower Burner
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Full (Shi)
Recommended herbal formula: Tao He Cheng Qi Tang
Symptoms: Thirst Amenorrhea Night fever Irritability Dysmenorrhea Restlnessness Delirious speech Lower abdominal pain
Allergic purpura might be due to Heat and Blood Stagnation in the Lower Burner if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as lower abdominal pain, night fever, delirious speech and irritability. Similarly, patients with Heat and Blood Stagnation in the Lower Burner typically exhibit choppy (Se) or full (Shi) pulses.
Read more about Heat and Blood Stagnation in the Lower Burner here
Water Buffalo Horns (Shui Niu Jiao) is the key herb for Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang, a formula used for Heat in the Blood
Heat in the Blood
Pulse type(s): Fine (Xi), Rapid (Shu)
Tongue color: Bluish-Purple
Recommended herbal formula: Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang
Symptoms: Fever Delirious speech Black and tarry stools Abdominal distention and fullness Thirst with an inability to swallow Frequent bleeding episodes in stools urine or vomit
Allergic purpura might be due to Heat in the Blood if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as fever, black and tarry stools, abdominal distention and fullness and thirst with an inability to swallow. Similarly, patients with Heat in the Blood typically exhibit fine (Xi) or rapid (Shu) pulses as well as a bluish-purple tongue.
The Spleen is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Spleen in Chinese Medicine
Heart and Spleen Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Fine (Xi)
Tongue coating: Thin white coating
Tongue color: Pale
Recommended herbal formula: Gui Pi Tang
Symptoms: Fatigue Anxiety Insomnia Menorrhagia Palpitations Forgetfulness Poor appetite Pale complexion Abnormal uterine bleeding
Allergic purpura might be due to Heart and Spleen Deficiency if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as forgetfulness, palpitations, insomnia and fatigue. Similarly, patients with Heart and Spleen Deficiency typically exhibit fine (Xi) pulses as well as a pale tongue with thin white coating.
The seven herbal formulas that might help with allergic purpura
Tao He Cheng Qi Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Dispels Heat and. Eliminates Blood Stagnation.
Why might Tao He Cheng Qi Tang help with allergic purpura?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat Heat and Blood Stagnation in the Lower Burner, a pattern sometimes associated with allergic purpura. If it looks like you might suffer from Heat and Blood Stagnation in the Lower Burner, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang
Source date: 650 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Treats severe fevers and Heat in the Blood system. Removes Blood Stagnation.
Why might Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang help with allergic purpura?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat Heat in the Blood, a pattern sometimes associated with allergic purpura. If it looks like you might suffer from Heat in the Blood, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Gui Pi Tang
Source date: 1529 AD
Number of ingredients: 12 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies and nourish Qi and Blood. Tonifies Heart and Spleen.
Why might Gui Pi Tang help with allergic purpura?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat Heart and Spleen Deficiency, a pattern sometimes associated with allergic purpura. If it looks like you might suffer from Heart and Spleen Deficiency, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Gui Zhi Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Releases pathogens from the muscle layer. Regulates the Nutritive and Protective Qi.
Why might Gui Zhi Tang help with allergic purpura?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat , a pattern sometimes associated with allergic purpura. If it looks like you might suffer from , this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang
Source date: 1830
Number of ingredients: 12 herbs
Key actions: Invigorates Blood. Unblocks painful obstruction. Relieves pain. Invigorate Qi. Dispels Blood Stagnation. Unblock Channels.
Why might Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang help with allergic purpura?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat , a pattern sometimes associated with allergic purpura. If it looks like you might suffer from , this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Symptoms related to allergic purpura
Delirious speech Lower abdominal pain Night fever Irritability Restlnessness Thirst Amenorrhea Dysmenorrhea Fever Black and tarry stools
