Photo-urticaria

[Guest guest]

Hi Sarah & All,

 

 

> ... any experience treating photo-urticaria ... quite a rare condition

> ... deemed " incurable " in the Western medical literature. Basically

> it's an allergy to sunlight and visible light. I have a case I've been

> treating for a several months now with marked reduction in symptoms but

> not a cure. Any guidance on prognosis (from a CM perspective) or any

> tips specific to this condition (other than treat according to

> manifestation, pattern diff, etc.) would be greatly appreciated. Many

> thanks, Sarah

 

Photosensitivity, with dermatitis, itch & /or urticaria is very common in

animals with pale skin / hair exposed to bright sunlight.

 

Hepatotoxic plants, including Hypericum, may trigger it, as may any liver

toxin, including many veterinary drugs, such as older anthelmintics (PTZ,

CCl4, etc). Removal of the offending agent + covering pale-areas of the skin

with a non-toxic paint or high-factor sun-block helps a lot.

 

I have not seen or treated the condition in humans, but I would try LV-

Protective Herbs (such as LIV52 from www.himalayahealthcare.com/ ) and

acupuncture at points like LV03, GB34, BL18, BL20 and immune-active

points like ST36, LI04, LI11 & GV14.

 

Apart from LV, ANY of the other Yin organs (HT, SP, LU, KI) can influence

the skin in Five Phase Theory. If other S & Ss suggest, for example KI

involvement, I would address that with acupuncture or herbs also.

 

Also consider skin-contact allergens, especially any change in cosmetics /

detergents.

 

Best regards,

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hypericum isn't hepatotoxic. Millions of doses are taken of Saint

Johns Wort every year with no sign of liver damage. Did you mean to

say something else?

 

- Bill

 

>

> Hepatotoxic plants, including Hypericum, may trigger it, as may any

liver

> toxin, including many veterinary drugs, such as older anthelmintics

(PTZ,

> CCl4, etc). Removal of the offending agent + covering pale-areas of

the skin

> with a non-toxic paint or high-factor sun-block helps a lot.

[Guest guest]

> Apart from LV, ANY of the other Yin organs (HT, SP, LU, KI) can

influence

> the skin in Five Phase Theory. If other S & Ss suggest, for example KI

> involvement, I would address that with acupuncture or herbs also.

>

> Also consider skin-contact allergens, especially any change in

cosmetics /

> detergents.

 

Thanks, Phil, for your response,

 

In answer to your questions, there is a lot of LU involvement here--a

noticibly weaker (as compared w/ other organs) and at times textbook

" weak " lung pulse; a bad bout of bronchitis, resulting in

hospitalization, less than two months before the initial presentation;

and a history of pneumothorax of unknown cause.

 

She has vastly improved her diet, regularity of meals, etc in the time

we've been working together, so the spleen is much less taxed. She's

trying to eat out less and get off processed foods, so there are many

fewer food additives, and much less white flour, sugar, and wheat.

 

As far as the liver goes, her signs of liver-blood xu are much

improved, probably thanks to the stronger spleen. The pulse is no

longer so thin, tongue has more color. I don't see much LR constraint,

for a New Yorker she's got a fairly unstressful life.

 

The kidneys are okay. She's mid-thirties, no signs of premature aging

that I've seen, hair is still all brown, teeth fine, menses unchanged.

The only question is a history of knee pain, but she's an avid amature

soccer (football) player and has a physically demanding job (she's a

pediatric physical therapist), so there's some history of trauma.

 

I don't think contact allergens play a large role here. She is

sensitive to them, but is careful about what she uses. She's very on

top of her condition and the latest research.

 

Her report on her progress is that she's still equally reactive but

her reactions are much less severe. And that she's now able to pursue

the activities she enjoys with much less discomfort, still needs to

cover up and wear sunscreen. She says she's 60% cured.

 

Any further thoughts?

 

--Sarah

 

Sarah E. Rivkin, MS, LAc, Dipl. OM

www.slopeacupuncture.com