Herpes Chinese Medicine Treatment

Traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine both use different methods to treat human diseases. Generally speaking, Chinese medicine pays more attention to treating human diseases fundamentally. Therefore, when patients suffer from herpes, if they want to choose Chinese medicine treatment, they must be mentally prepared for a slower treatment effect. The following article will explain in detail to patients the methods of treating herpes in traditional Chinese medicine.

Traditional Chinese medicine generally focuses on treating the root cause of the disease, so many people prefer traditional Chinese medicine, especially for diseases such as shingles. After contracting the disease, there will be very obvious nerve pain, and the blisters will be distributed in groups, causing a lot of pain to the patient. So, how does TCM treat herpes zoster infection?

TCM treatment options

1. Heat-prone type:

Main symptoms: local skin lesions are bright red, blister walls are tense, and there is burning and stinging pain. The patient feels bitter in the mouth, dry throat, thirst, irritability, and poor appetite. The urine is red and the stool is dry or uncomfortable. The tongue is red, the tongue coating is thin yellow or thick yellow, and the pulse is stringy, slippery, weak and rapid.

Treatment principle: Clear away dampness and heat, detoxify and relieve pain.

Prescription: Longdan Xiegan Decoction with modifications.

Gentiana 10g, Scutellaria 10g, Gardenia 10g, Isatis Root 15g, Isatis Indigotica 15g, Alisma Orientalis 10g, Plantago 15g, Corydalis 10g, Paeonia lactiflora 10g, Raw Licorice 10g.

Add chrysanthemum if the disease occurs on the head and face; add mulberry branches and turmeric slices if the disease occurs on the upper limbs; add Achyranthes bidentata if the disease occurs on the lower limbs; add Cortex Moutan and Imperata cylindrica if the disease occurs with blood blisters; add Gypsum Fibrosum and Anemarrhena asphodeloides if the patient has dry mouth; add rhubarb if the patient has dry stool; add Dianthus strychnifolia and Taraxacum mongolicum if the rash is secondary to bacterial infection; add Astragalus membranaceus if the patient is elderly and weak.

Chinese patent medicine: You can use Longdan Xiegan Pills plus Isatis Root Granules or antiviral granules.

(II) Wetness-prone type

Main symptoms: lighter skin color, loose blister wall, slightly mild pain, no thirst or thirst without desire to drink, no appetite, abdominal distension after eating, frequent bowel movements, and female patients often have excessive leucorrhea. The tongue is pale and the body is plump, the tongue coating is thick white or greasy white, and the pulse is deep, slow or slippery.

Treatment method: Strengthen the spleen and eliminate dampness, assist with detoxification.

Prescription: Chushi Weiling Decoction with modifications: Poria 15g, raw Atractylodes 10g, dried tangerine peel 10g, Magnolia officinalis 10g, Isatis indigotica 15g, raw Coix seeds 30g, Alisma orientalis 10g, Corydalis 10g, Plantago seed 15g, raw licorice 10g.

(III) Qi stagnation and blood stasis type:

Main symptoms: Local pain persists after the rash subsides. The tongue is dark, the tongue coating is white, and the pulse is stringy and thin.

Treatment method: Promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis, promote qi circulation and relieve pain, and clear away residual toxins.

Prescription: Modified Huoxue Sanyu Decoction.

10g peach kernel, 10g safflower, 15g Millettia reticulata, 15g Phellodendron chinense, 10g Corydalis yanhusuo, 10g Toosendan fruit, 10g earthworm, 6g costusroot, 10g tangerine peel, and 15g double flower vine.

For those with strong vital energy, add Chuanjun to break up blood stasis; for the elderly and weak, add raw astragalus and Codonopsis to strengthen the body.

3. Effects of TCM Treatment

(1) Improve clinical symptoms, shorten the course of the disease, and reduce postherpetic neuralgia.

(2) Reduce the dosage of Western medicine and reduce its side effects.

4. Difficulties in TCM Treatment

Some patients suffer from severe neuralgia. Although modern medicine has nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, tricyclic antidepressants, carbamazepine, tramadol, gabapentin, etc. for pain relief, side effects such as gastrointestinal reactions are common.

5. TCM treatment strategies for difficult issues

Traditional Chinese medicine has certain advantages in treating herpes zoster neuralgia and postherpetic neuralgia, and should be actively explored.