Spring is a wonderful time of year. Winter is melting, and life is remerging from the recesses. The temperature is warming, and the spring wind brings with it the scent of fresh air and flowers. However, with spring comes an array of allergies that affects both humans and animals.
Likely your allergy patients will be coming through the door soon with the usual hair loss, hot spots, pustules, and red itchy skin. Some of the most common conditions vets see during this time is pruritus, allergic dermatitis, alopecia, and flea allergies.
Some common dermatology patterns include External Wind (mild), Wind-Heat (moderate), and Damp- Heat (severe). Even further severe patterns are Blood Deficiency and Yin Deficiency.
| Pattern | Discription | Acupoints | Herbal Formula |
|
Eternal Wind |
Pruritus that moves and may be seasonal. This is allergic pruritus or allergy. Tongue: Slightly dry, red, quivering Pulse: Superficial, may be fast. |
LI-4, LI-11, BL-10,GB-20, GV-14, BL-13, TH-5 |
EXTERNAL WIND |
|
Wind-Heat |
Pruritus with crusts, often lesions will affect the face, neck and top line. Crusts may be present on the top line. Also erythematous wheals. Tongue: Red Pulse: Superficial and fast. |
LI-4, LI-11, BL-10, GB-20, GV-14, BL-13, TH-5, SP-6, BL-17, SP-10 |
WIND TOXIN |
|
Damp-Heat |
Moist stinky skin with dermatitis. Often will affect dependent areas of the body such as ventrum and feet. Tongue: Red Pulse: Slippery |
LI-4, LI-11, SP-6, ST-36, CV-4, CV-6, GV-14, BL-20, LIV-3 |
DAMP HEAT SKIN |
|
Blood Deficiency |
Dry skin with dandruff (large flake) and dry pads. Skin may be thickened and pigmented (hyperkeratosis). Pruritus may not be that severe. No temperature preference. Tongue: Pale and dry Pulse: Fine |
LI-4, LI-11, SP-6, SP-10, BL-17, BL-18, BL-20, CV-4 |
SI WU XIAO FENG SAN DANDRUFF FORMULA |
|
Yin Deficiency |
Intense Pruritus that may be worse at night. The skin will be dry and the patient may be cool seeking. Frequently, the alopecia and skin changes will be worse on the caudal portion of the patient. Often seen in older patients. Tongue: Red and dry Pulse: Thready |
LI-4, LI-11, SP-6, KID-3, BL-18, BL-23, GV-14, |
DANDRUFF FORMULA YANG YIN ZHI YANG |
Hypothetical Case 1
Species: Canine
Breed: Irish Setter
Age: 5 years
Gender: S
Clinical Diagnosis (conventional): Atopic dermatitis with secondary superficial pyoderma
Conventional Indications: Diagnosed two weeks ago with superficial pyoderma. The patient just completed the first week of a combination of apoquel and clavamox tablets. The pruitus has decreased from a 10/10 to a 2/10. The ventrum, however, still shows multifocally diffuse erythematous scales. Skin scrape was negative for mites. Skin cytology reveals TNTC cocci, no Malassezia.
Traditional Indications: This pet has a good appetite. Her stools occasionally can be soft and may contain a small amount of mucus. Her hair coat is slightly dull with multifocal areas of alopecia with numerous, greasy, erythematous scales on the ventrum. Prior to the apoquel this pet was chewing her feet and licking her flanks and ventrum excessively. There is a strong smell to the skin.
Tongue: Red
Pulse: Slippery
TCVM Diagnosis: Damp-Heat Skin
TCVM Assessment:
- Soft stools- Spleen Qi Deficiency
- Mucus in the stool- Damp
- Pruitus- Wind
- Lesions on the ventrum-Suggest Damp as Damp is heavy and sinks
- Red, greasy scales-Damp and Heat
- Strong smell to the skin- Heat
- Red tongue- Heat
- Slippery pulse- Damp
Treatment Principles:
- Clear Heat
- Resolve Damp
- Clear Wind
- Release the Exterior
- Tonify the Spleen
Acupoint Prescription:
LI-4, LI-11, GV-14, SP-6, SP-10, BL-18, BL-20, LIV-3
- Clear Wind, Release the Exterior- LI-4, LI-11, GV-14
- Clear Heat-LI-4, LI-11, GV-14, SP-10, LIV-3 (Cools the Blood)
- Resolve Damp- LI-11, SP-6, BL-20
- Benefit the Spleen-SP-6, SP-10, BL-20, (LIV-3 and BL-18 by harmonizing the middle jiao and helping to move Qi to move Damp).
Chinese Herbal Prescription:
- Damp Heat Skin concentrated*
Dose: 0.5g/ 20 lbs of body weight
*This formula was created by Dr. Huisheng Xie and is based on the classical formula Qing She Re Tang.