JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE NUMBER 66 JUNE 2001


age 18. Initially attacks were confined to summer time, and associated with heat and sweating of the palms. In autumn and winter the eczema tended to clear. After 5 years or so of this pattern, she developed almost constant vesicular erup- tions, intertwined with dry desqumating eczema, irrespec- tive of the season. This continued for many years until the past 2 years, when it was replaced with a much dryer eczema confined to the medical aspects of the hands, little fingers, base of the ring finer and medical aspect of the dorsum of the hands. Close examination revealed lichenifi- cation and fissuring. Very little evidence of vesicular forma- tion was recorded. Her general health was okay, although she complained of sluggish bowels, and on occasions of fatigue. It is clear from the history and the morphology of the lesions, that the most suitable approach to treatment would be to nourish and supplement qi and tonify and cool the blood, scatter wind and regulate the bowels. Lighter fire toxin medicines are also used.


Sheng Di 15 Mu Dan Pi 9 Bai Ji Li 20 Jin Yin Hua 12 Ye Ju Hua 12


Bai Hua She She Cao 15 Huo Ma Ren 20 Bai Zhu 20 Huang Qi 20 Dang Gui 9 Bai Shao 15 He Shou Wu 12 Gan cao 6


Sheng Di Huang has the dual action of nourishing dryness and cooling blood. Mu Dan Pi is able to penetrate deeply and seek out hidden heat from the blood. A large dose of Bai Ji Li is a very important ingredient on all cases of pom- pholyx eczema, but becomes essential for this subtype. Even in clearly deficient cases, it is wise to include lighter


fire toxin clearing medicine. To this end Jin Yin Hua, Ye Ju Hua and Bai Hu She She Cao are used. Although Bai Hua She She Cao is bitter and cold in nature,


it is also considered sweet and therefore well tolerated over the long term. It is suitable for cases of fire toxin co-exciting with deficiency. Huo ma ren along with a large dose of Bai Zhu is used to encourage better function of the bowels. Bai Zhu is gener- ally thought of in cases of weakness of spleen with loose bowels or diarrhoea. A large dose however, is very effective for deficiency of spleen accompanied by constipation. To- gether with He Shou Wu, and Dang Gui, they also have the effect of moistening the skin, and supplementing dryness. Huang Qi, Dang Gui, Bai Shao and He Shou Wu, will nourish qi and blood systemically. The above formula with only minor variation was taken


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