What Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatments are used for urticaria?

Urticaria is a common allergic skin disorder characterized by the appearance of red or skin-colored, pruritic plaques on the skin. These plaques typically resolve spontaneously within several hours but may recur repeatedly. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), urticaria is treated according to the principle of “pattern differentiation and syndrome-specific treatment,” with herbal prescriptions selected based on the patient’s constitution and clinical manifestations. TCM theory attributes urticaria to pathogenic factors such as wind, dampness, heat, and blood deficiency. Accordingly, the following categories of herbs may be employed: - Heat-clearing and detoxifying herbs—e.g., *Lonicera japonica* (Jinyinhua) and *Forsythia suspensa* (Lianqiao)—to eliminate internal heat-toxin; - Dampness-resolving herbs—e.g., *Poria cocos* (Fuling) and *Alisma orientale* (Zexie)—to dispel damp pathogens; - Blood-activating and stasis-resolving herbs—e.g., *Carthamus tinctorius* (Honghua) and *Ligusticum chuanxiong* (Chuanxiong)—to improve blood circulation; - Wind-calming and itch-relieving herbs—e.g., *Cicada molting* (Chantui) and *Dictamnus dasycarpus* (Baixianpi)—to alleviate pruritus. Additionally, herbal formulas are individualized according to each patient’s specific condition. It is essential to use herbal medicines only under the guidance of a qualified TCM practitioner to ensure both safety and therapeutic efficacy.