TCM Solutions for Hives and Eczema

Food and the environment can trigger symptoms. Learn about how ancient Chinese medicine tackles these skin conditions.Skin conditions such as hives (urticaria), eczema (atopic dermatitis), and dyshidrosis, a type of eczema involving blisters, are troubling for many people. In severe cases, they affect people’s mood, sleep, and quality of life.Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has its own ways of helping you nip these conditions in the bud to relieve itchiness without resorting to medication.HivesUrticaria, commonly known as hives, is an inflammatory skin disease that affects up to 20 percent of the world’s population during their lifetime. Urticaria is divided into acute and chronic, and most of them are acute.An acute case of hives is generally related to infection, certain drugs, or food and usually lasts no more than six weeks. Chronic hives are mostly related to work pressure, anxiety, and irritability. It can be spontaneous or induced and usually continues for over six weeks. Most of these cases could last more than a year.According to a 2019 cross-sectional analysis of U.S. census data on more than 55 million patients, the prevalence of chronic hives is higher in patients aged 40 to 59 than in any other age group. It is 2.7 times more prevalent in women than in men. Global comprehensive data also show that chronic urticaria, especially chronic spontaneous urticaria, is most common among women over 30 years old.Studies have shown that chronic hives may be related to stress, with some people experiencing high stress levels before the onset of the condition.To prevent acute hives, consider the following.Avoid Inflammatory FoodAvoid eating things considered inflammatory, “stimulating,” or prone to inducing allergies.Related StoriesThis usually refers to certain foods that can induce or aggravate conditions. Typical items in this group include bamboo shoots, mushrooms, mango, seafood, beef, duck, peanuts, nuts, chocolate, and seasonings such as satay sauce (spicy peanut sauce), chili flakes, etc.Apply Ice to Relieve ItchingWhat should you do if you develop hives triggered by food? For quick relief, you can apply an ice pack for 10 minutes to the area to reduce itchiness, redness, and swelling. Rest for five minutes, then repeat the application. Do not apply ice for more than 10 minutes to avoid rapid dilation of blood vessels, which could worsen itching.Acute hives usually resolve within two to three days.Avoid Medication and ScratchingThe treatment of chronic urticaria with Western medicine is often quite complicated. It starts with a variety of antihistamines, and if the symptoms cannot be controlled, you will be referred to a specialist for treatment with immunomodulators. In some cases, a three-to-10-day dosage of corticosteroids is also employed to control the condition. The skin typically fully recovers after three months without using any drugs. This is precisely how I got cured, with no scars.Scratching will aggravate the condition. The human body has its own self-healing power. If you can resist scratching, the skin will gradually heal by itself.Take 3 Steps to Prevent RecurrenceTCM posits that hives are related to “wind, dampness, and heat.” “Wind” refers to the abnormal wind that changes with the four seasons; “dampness” refers to accumulated moisture inside the body due to the body’s inability to transport and transform water normally. For example, moisture collects inside the body if the climate turns wet and humid or if you habitually drink iced drinks or cold salad. “Heat” refers to abnormal heat from the weather or eating foods with thermogenic properties, such as fried and heavy-flavored foods.Chronic urticaria takes an average of four years to resolve, so to avoid its recurrence, you must monitor your diet and the environment. There are three ways to do this:Avoid allergens: Find where the allergens are and avoid contact or consumption.Eat whole foods: Choose natural, simply seasoned foods, avoid processed foods, and read the ingredients on the packaging carefully.Avoid alcohol: Alcohol will aggravate urticaria.EczemaAtopic dermatitis, also called eczema, is a chronic condition that causes inflammation, redness, and irritation of the skin. It is common in young children but can occur at any age.If a child has eczema, prickly heat powder can help relieve itchiness. It absorbs water, keeps the skin dry, and has a particularly favorable effect on alleviating symptoms such as itchy skin and allergies.TCM proposes that eczema is caused mainly by toxins originating from excessive “heat,” as too much heat can overstimulate the immune system and cause abnormal reactions. To survive, internal organs and their cells will try to move the toxins caused by heat accumulated in the body to the surface, and the skin, as the end receptor, will react vigorously.TCM suggests barley soup and sanmiao powder to detoxify, remove dampness, and relieve itchiness. Barley is cool in nature and can clear the heat;