What Chinese patent medicines can be used to treat eczema?
Nov 10, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Liu Wenmin
Introduction
Commonly used Chinese patent medicines for treating eczema include Longdan Xiegan Pills, Shidu Qing Capsules, Danggui Kushen Pills, Fangfeng Tongsheng Pills, and Qingdai Pills, which should be selected according to specific syndrome patterns.
Longdan Xiegan Pills: The primary effects are clearing liver and gallbladder heat and eliminating damp-heat. They are suitable for eczema due to damp-heat in the liver and gallbladder, characterized by skin erythema, vesicles, severe itching, accompanied by symptoms such as bitter taste in the mouth, dark yellow or reddish urine, and sticky bowel movements.
Commonly used traditional Chinese patent medicines for treating eczema include Longdan Xiegan Pills, Shiduqing Capsules, Danggui Kushen Pills, Fangfeng Tongsheng Pills, and Qingdai Pills. Selection should be based on specific syndrome differentiation. Detailed analysis is as follows:
1. Longdan Xiegan Pills: The primary functions are clearing liver and gallbladder heat and eliminating damp-heat. Suitable for eczema due to damp-heat in the liver and gallbladder, characterized by skin erythema, blisters, severe itching, bitter taste in the mouth, dark yellow urine, and sticky stools. This formula alleviates skin inflammation and itching by clearing internal damp-heat.
2. Shiduqing Capsules: Function to nourish blood, moisten dryness, resolve dampness, detoxify, dispel wind, and relieve itching. Indicated for eczema due to blood deficiency with wind-dryness, commonly presenting with dry, flaky skin, recurrent itching, pale complexion, and dry mouth. These capsules relieve itching by nourishing blood to moisturize the skin and resolving damp-toxins.
3. Danggui Kushen Pills: Excel at promoting blood circulation to remove stasis and drying dampness to clear heat. Suitable for eczema due to obstruction from damp-heat and blood stasis, manifested as red, swollen skin, papules, pustules, or pigmentation, often accompanied by local burning sensation. It improves microcirculation of the skin and promotes resolution of inflammation by activating blood circulation, unblocking meridians, and clearing damp-heat.
4. Fangfeng Tongsheng Pills: Possess the effects of releasing exterior symptoms, regulating interior conditions, clearing heat, and detoxifying. Appropriate for eczema with excess conditions both externally and internally (exterior-interior excess syndrome), where symptoms include skin itching, rashes, fever, headache, constipation, and short, dark urine. This medicine clears wind pathogens from the surface and accumulated heat from the interior, balancing both external and internal factors to alleviate eczema symptoms.
5. Qingdai Pills: Mainly function to clear heat and detoxify, cool the blood, and resolve maculae. Used for eczema due to intense heat-toxin, presenting with bright red, swollen skin, ruptured blisters with exudation and pain, thirst, and irritability. This formulation strongly eliminates internal heat-toxin, cools the blood, protects the skin, and reduces inflammatory responses.
Treatment of eczema with Chinese patent medicines should be conducted under the guidance of a qualified physician based on proper syndrome differentiation; self-medication according to symptoms is not recommended. During treatment, avoid spicy, greasy, raw, and cold foods to prevent exacerbation of internal damp-heat.
