Is it detoxification if I drink Chinese medicine and my whole body itches?

If you experience itching when taking Chinese medicine, you should pay attention. This is not necessarily a detoxification phenomenon. It may be an allergy to the Chinese medicine, which will have a certain impact on your health. Allergy to Chinese medicine is relatively common in life and is related to your personal physical constitution. You should temporarily stop taking the medicine and go to the hospital for corresponding examinations. Especially when taking some Chinese medicines containing insects, allergies are most likely to occur.

Allergy to Chinese medicine is related to personal constitution

Any medicine, even food, may cause an allergic reaction, including Chinese medicine. Most people are fine taking Chinese medicine for a long time, but some patients will have an allergic reaction immediately after taking it.

Allergies to traditional Chinese medicine often have little to do with usage and dosage, but are instead related to individual physical differences, such as the user's genetic genes, metabolic enzymes in the body, and immune system. Just like some people are allergic to mangoes and dust mites, the principle is similar.

Most people believe that Chinese medicine is natural and will not cause allergies. In fact, cases of allergies to Chinese medicine are not uncommon. We just don’t realize that if the medicine is not stopped in time, it will lead to adverse consequences.

Including Chinese herbal decoctions, Chinese patent medicines, as well as external use, intramuscular injection, and intravenous injection, all of which can cause allergic reactions. According to outpatient clinic conditions, most people who are allergic to Chinese medicine have allergic constitutions. Therefore, people with allergies must be careful before using Chinese medicine.

Insect-related Chinese medicines most commonly cause allergies

To prevent Chinese medicine allergies, which Chinese medicines should we be careful about? Yu Tugen said that insect-based Chinese medicines most often cause allergies. According to their sources, Chinese medicines are generally divided into herbal medicines, animal medicines and mineral medicines. Among them, insect herbal medicines are the most important. For example, insect-based Chinese medicines such as mylabris, red ladybug, and scorpion are often used to treat some difficult and strange diseases or malignant tumors because of their special effects and strong medicinal properties.

Most of these insects are poisonous and can easily cause adverse reactions, the most common of which are allergies, such as urticaria, eczematous dermatitis, and scarlet fever-like rash. Allergic reactions may also occur when insecticides are used externally. Direct contact with the skin may cause local skin redness and burning, blisters and ulcers. People who are allergic to foreign proteins should use insect medicines with caution; if contact dermatitis occurs, topical medications should be discontinued immediately and anti-allergic treatment should be given.

In addition, photosensitivity Chinese medicines are also more likely to cause allergies, including Psoralea corylifolia, Angelica dahurica, Rhizoma Cibotii, Schizonepeta tenuifolia, Saposhnikovia divaricata, Adenophora ginseng, etc. Yu Tugen explained that this type of Chinese medicine is photosensitizing. If patients take it and then expose themselves to the sun, their photosensitivity will increase, and they may develop solar dermatitis, etc. Psoralea corylifolia is often used in prescriptions for nourishing the kidney and strengthening yang. Angelica dahurica is mainly used to relieve pain, promote blood circulation and eliminate rheumatism. Gardenia jasminoides is used to treat children with phlegm-heat, epilepsy, convulsions and night crying. These medicines are relatively common, so everyone should pay attention to sun protection. When going out, you should apply appropriate sunscreen and carry a parasol. In summer, you should arrange your outdoor time reasonably and avoid going out between 12:00 and 15:00 when the ultraviolet intensity is highest.