Dermatitis 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.

Dermatitis factsheet

Possible causes and remedies:

Exterior Cold invading with Interior Heat from Stagnation

Symptoms: Thirst Irritability Generalized body pain and one other symptom

Recommended formula: Da Qing Long Tang

Phlegm-Fluids in the limbs

Symptoms: Thirst Irritability Absence of sweating and four other symptoms

Recommended formula: Da Qing Long Tang

In Chinese Medicine, dermatitis can be associated with two 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 dermatitis can be caused by two different patterns.

To understand whether someone's dermatitis 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 dermatitis alone. For instance when dermatitis is caused by the pattern Exterior Cold invading with Interior Heat from Stagnation, patients also experience symptoms such as severe fever and chills without sweating, generalized body pain, thirst and irritability. Similarly, patients with Exterior Cold invading with Interior Heat from Stagnation typically exhibit floating (Fu) or tight (Jin) pulses.

We've listed below a description of the two patterns associated with dermatitis 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 five formulas that can help treat the various patterns associated with dermatitis, depending on which pattern fits your profile.

The two "patterns of disharmony" associated with dermatitis

Ephedra (Ma Huang) is the key herb for Da Qing Long Tang, a formula used for Exterior Cold invading with Interior Heat from Stagnation

Exterior Cold invading with Interior Heat from Stagnation

Pulse type(s): Floating (Fu), Tight (Jin)

Recommended herbal formula: Da Qing Long Tang

Symptoms: Thirst Irritability Generalized body pain Severe fever and chills without sweating

Dermatitis might be due to Exterior Cold invading with Interior Heat from Stagnation if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as severe fever and chills without sweating, generalized body pain, thirst and irritability. Similarly, patients with Exterior Cold invading with Interior Heat from Stagnation typically exhibit floating (Fu) or tight (Jin) pulses.

Ephedra (Ma Huang) is the key herb for Da Qing Long Tang, a formula used for Phlegm-Fluids in the limbs

Phlegm-Fluids in the limbs

Pulse type(s): Tight (Jin), Wiry (Xian)

Tongue coating: Sticky coating, Thick white coating

Tongue shape: Swollen

Recommended herbal formula: Da Qing Long Tang

Symptoms: Thirst Irritability Absence of sweating Feeling of heaviness Generalized body pain Alternating fever and chills Superficial edema in the extremities

Dermatitis might be due to Phlegm-Fluids in the limbs if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as feeling of heaviness, generalized body pain, superficial edema in the extremities and alternating fever and chills. Similarly, patients with Phlegm-Fluids in the limbs typically exhibit tight (Jin) or wiry (Xian) pulses as well as a tongue with sticky coating, thick white coating.

The five herbal formulas that might help with dermatitis

The top herbs in Da Qing Long Tang are Ephedra (Ma Huang), Gypsum (Shi Gao) and Cinnamon Twigs (Gui Zhi)

Da Qing Long Tang

Source date: 220 AD

Number of ingredients: 7 herbs

Key actions: Promotes sweating. Releases the Exterior. Clears Interior Heat.

Why might Da Qing Long Tang help with dermatitis?

Because it is a formula often recommended to help with the patterns Exterior Cold invading with Interior Heat from Stagnation and Phlegm-Fluids in the limbs which are sometimes associated with dermatitis. If any of these patterns look like something you might suffer from, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).

Ren Shen Bai Du San

Source date: 1119 AD

Number of ingredients: 12 herbs

Key actions: Releases the Exterior. Dispels Wind and Dampness. Augments Qi.

Why might Ren Shen Bai Du San help with dermatitis?

Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat , a pattern sometimes associated with dermatitis. If it looks like you might suffer from , this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).