Pricking, cupping and Qu Feng Tiao Ying decoction for treatment of chronic urticaria

By: Daihong, Liu

Pricking, Cupping and Qu Feng Tiao Ying Decoction for Treatment of Chronic Urticaria by Liu Daihong: Of a total 71 cases, there were 34 males and 37 females, aged between 18 and 58 (mean: 41.8) years, with a disease duration from 3 months to 15 years (mean: 3.2 years). Randomly, they were divided into 3 groups: the treatment group (N=26, treated with pricking, cupping and Qu Feng Tiao Ying (QFTY) decoction (Wind Dispelling and Ying System-Regulating Decoction); control group I (N=24, treated with QFTY decoction only), and control group II (N=21, treated with Western drugs). The three groups were statistically comparable in sex, age, disease course and severity of the illness (P>0.05). For the treatment group, pricking and cupping were applied at Dazhui DU-14, bilateral Feishu BL-13 and bilateral Zusanli ST-36. For those with emotional stress, Ganshu BL-18 was added; if there was damp-heat in the Spleen channel, Pishu BL-20 was added, and if there was general debility due to chronic illness, Shenshu BL-23 was added. In cases of severe facial swelling and fever, blood letting at the ear apex was performed where 3 to 5 points were pricked with a three-edged needle until a little amount of blood was drawn out. The treatment was given once every other day. Dazhui DU-14 was a must in each treatment session, while the other points were used alternately. The cupping therapy lasted for 10-15 minutes. The patients were also prescribed the QFTY decoction, which consisted of Shu Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae Conquitae) 15g, Mu Dan Pi (Cortex Moutan Radicis) 12g, Chi Shao (Radix Paeoniae Rubrae) 12g, Jing Jie (Herba seu Flos Schizonepetae Tenuifoliae) 10g, Fang Feng (Radix Ledebouriellae Sesloidis) 10g, Xiao Hu Ma (Tenne) 12g, Ma Huang (Herba Ephedrae) 10g, Gui Zhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi Cassiae) 12g, Bai Shao (Radix Paeoniae Lactiflorae) 12g, Huang Qi (Radix Astragali) 15g, He Shou Wu (Radix Polygoni Multiflori) 15g, Ye Jiao Teng (Caulis Polygoni Multiflori) 30g and Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis) 10g. The dosage of the wind-dispelling drugs was increased for severe itching, the heat-clearing and blood-cooling drugs for frequent onset, and the Spleen-invigorating and dampness-eliminating drugs for heaviness sensation in the lower limbs. Blood and qi-reinforcing drugs were added where there had been a long-standing disease. The hot decoction of about 250 ml was taken before going to bed. Immediately after that, 250 ml hot millet gruel was taken before covering the patient with a blanket to induce slight sweating. The decoction was taken once a day, 6 days constituting one therapeutic course. Control group II received, over a course of 6 days, intramuscular injection of 10 mg of chlorpheniramine and 5 mg dexamethasone for 3 days and oral 10 mg of cetirizine tablets once a day for 6 days. A second therapeutic course consisted of oral administration of 10 mg of cetirizine tablets once daily. Two weeks after termination of the treatment, 18 of the 26 in the treatment group were completely clear of wheals and itching, with another 4 showing only a few patches. In the control group of 24 cases, 10 were cured and another 5 markedly improved. In control group II (21 cases), 7 were cured and another 4 patients had a few patches remaining. Not only were the therapeutic effects in the treatment group were far superior to those in the control groups, the recurrence rate within 3 months was also significantly lower.