ALLERGIC PURPURA (HENOCH-SCHONLEIN PURPURA)

Clinical Manifestations
  • Allergic purpura (AP), a form of vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels), is a disease characterized by inflammation of the small arterial vessels (capillaries) in the skin, kidneys, and intestinal tract. Symptoms include:
    A purple spotted skin rash
    Abdominal pain
    Gastrointestinal upsets
    Joint inflammation, swelling and pain
  • Although the exact cause of the disease is unknown, it often develops following a recent viral or bacterial infection of the respiratory tract and is an abnormal reaction of the immune system to the infection.
  • AP may occur suddenly, or it may develop slowly over a period of weeks. The characteristic rash is always present in the disease. The rash begins as areas of redness and as small hives, which may develop anywhere on the body, but especially on the legs and buttocks, and may itch. The rash is caused by inflamed capillaries rupturing, allowing small amounts of blood to accumulate in the surrounding tissues. Through time the rash changes color from red to a bruised, purple color. Each rash spot will last about five days, and the rash can reoccur several times. The skin rash is the most obvious symptom of AP but is not the most serious, for the joints, gastrointestinal tract, and kidneys may also be affected.
Treatment Principle
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Aversion to Wind
  • Mild, or severe chills
  • Fever which may be persistent
  • Uneasiness from fever
  • Spontaneous perspiration
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Nasal irritation
  • Nasal obstruction
  • Tendency to snore
  • Itchy throat
  • Purpura
  • T: Normal
  • C: Thin and white
  • P: Superficial and slow or Moderate and maybe weak
Treatment Principle
  • Create sweat to relieve the Exterior and expel Wind
  • Harmonize Ying and Wei to protect digestion and nourish Wei Qi
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Purpura
  • High fever
  • No chills
  • Aversion to Heat
  • Cough
  • Asthma
  • Restlessness
  • Thirst
  • Dark yellow urine
  • Dyspnea
  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Thick yellow Phlegm
  • T: Red
  • C: Thick and yellow, maybe dry and sticky
  • P:  Rapid, maybe slippery, maybe forceful
Treatment Principle
  • Clear Heat in Lungs
  • Strengthen when weak or elderly
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Purpura
  • Lingering fever from a febrile disease
  • Vomiting
  • Irritability
  • Thirst with a desire to drink
  • Parched mouth, lips and throat
  • Choking cough
  • Restlessness
  • Insomnia
  • Nausea
  • Anorexia
  • Profuse perspiration
  • A dry mouth
  • Indigestion
  • Listlessness
  • Chest oppression
  • Ulcerations of the mouth
  • Coarse skin
  • Cough
  • Night sweats
  • Stifling sensation in the chest or epigastrium
  • T: Red
  • C: Little or None
  • P: Rapid and Deficient or Thready and rapid
Treatment Principle
  • Clear Heat
  • Generate fluids
  • Tonify Qi
  • Harmonize the Stomach
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Anhidrosis
  • Pain and stiffness of the head and neck
  • Stuffy nose
  • Blood shot eyes
  • Sores that are red, swollen and painful
  • Generalized body aches and pain
  • Headache
  • Swollen eyes
  • Thirst or no thirst
  • T: Normal
  • C: Thin white
  • P: Floating or Floating and rapid
Treatment Principle
  • Induce sweat
  • Release the Exterior
  • Dispel Wind-Cold-Damp
  • Alleviate pain
  • Treat skin and External diseases
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Weepy, itchy, red skin lesions
  • Lesions may range over a large portion of the body
  • Thirst
  • Rashes
  • Lesions may be worse in hot weather
  • Severe itching
  • T: Pink
  • C: Yellow or White
  • P: Superficial, forceful and rapid or Soft and rapid
Treatment Principle
  • Disperse Wind
  • Eliminate Dampness
  • Clear Heat
  • Cool Blood
  • Nourish the Blood
  • Stop itch
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Anorexia
  • Abdominal distention and discomfort
  • Suffocating sensation in the chest
  • Epigastric mass
  • Maybe abdominal pain on palpation
  • Yang jaundice (sclera and skin are bright yellow)
  • Dislike of oily foods
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Lassitude
  • Scanty, dark urine
  • Maybe thirst or thirst with no desire to drink
  • Diarrhea with foul smell or
  • Constipation
  • Fever
  • Sweet sticky taste or bitter taste in mouth
  • T: Pink
  • C: Thick, yellow and greasy (maybe sticky)
  • P: Soft and rapid
Treatment Principle
  • Clear Heat
  • Benefit Dampness
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Sallow or pale complexion
  • Anorexia
  • Four limbs feel tired and heavy
  • Physical and mental exhaustion
  • Abdominal and epigastric distention after eating
  • Maybe acid regurgitation or vomiting
  • Loose or unformed stools
  • Shortness of breath
  • Dizziness
  • Palpitations
  • Functional Uterine Bleeding
  • Purpura
  • Epistaxis
  • Hemafecia
  • Hematuria
  • Menorrhagia
  • Metrorrhagia
  • T: Pale and flabby - may have teethmarks
  • C: White
  • P: Thready and weak
Treatment Principle
  • Benefit Qi
  • Conserve Blood
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Purpura
  • Abdominal distention and pain
  • Gas
  • Borborygmus
  • Diarrhea
  • Distention and pain in the sides or flanks
  • Suffocating sensation in the chest
  • Tendency to sigh
  • Melancholy
  • Depression
  • Irritability
  • Inappropriate anger
  • Women:
    Irregular menses
    Dysmenorrhea
    Breast distention and pain before and during menses
  • T: Pink
  • C: White and greasy
  • P: Slippery and wiry
Treatment Principle
  • Soothe the Liver
  • Invigorate the Spleen
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Purpura
  • Dizziness
  • Tinnitus or deafness
  • Poor memory
  • Aching, soreness or weakness of the low back
  • Spermatorrhea or
  • Premature ejaculation
  • Aching in the bones
  • Aching in the leg and heel
  • Dry mouth
  • Thirst
  • Night sweats
  • Five Sole Heat
  • Malar flush
  • Low grade fever in the afternoon
  • Dry throat, maybe recurrent sore throat
  • Dry stools and/or
  • Constipation
  • Urine short and red
  • Heightened libido
  • Toothache
  • Loose teeth
  • Bleeding gums
  • Frontal headache
  • Irritability
  • Fever
  • Thirst with a desire to drink cold beverages
  • Epistaxis
  • Dysphoria
  • Excess hunger
  • Hemoptysis
  • Dry throat
  • Hematemesis
  • Restlessness
  • Warm sensations
  • T: Red and dry
  • C: White or Yellow and dry
  • P: Superficial, full, slippery, deficient and large or Gigantic and rapid or Rapid
Treatment Principle
  • Nourish Yin
  • Subdue Fire
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Purpura
  • Hypochondriac pain
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Red sore eyes
  • Hearing loss
  • Swelling in the ears
  • Bitter taste in the mouth
  • Irritability
  • Short temper
  • Difficult and painful urination with a heat sensation in the urethra
  • Swollen and itchy genitalia
  • Yellow, foul smelling leukorrhea
  • Short menstrual cycle with reddish-purple blood
  • Ear discharge
  • Yellow urine
  • Chest pain
  • Constipation
  • Turbid urine
  • Dry throat
  • Hematuria
  • Pain in the armpits
  • Sweating in the groin
  • T: Red or Red edges
  • C: Yellow or Yellow and greasy
  • P: Wiry, Excess and rapid
Treatment Principle
  • Clear and Drain Damp-Heat
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Purpura
  • Pain that is fixed, stabbing and /or severe
  • Pan is worse with pressure
  • Dark complexion
  • Fixed, palpable masses
  • Bleeding with clots
  • Purple lips
  • Purple nails
  • Dry skin
  • Blue, dark or purplish discoloration of skin in small or large areas
  • Varicose and spider veins
  • Cold hands and feet
  • Tendency to hemorrhage dark blood or clots
  • T: Purple, possible purple or red spots
    Red purple if there is Heat
    Blue purple if there is Cold
  • C: White
  • P: Choppy or Wiry and choppy
Treatment Principle
  • Invigorate the Blood
  • Break up Stagnation
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Purpura
  • Hypochondriac pain
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Red sore eyes
  • Hearing loss
  • Swelling in the ears
  • Bitter taste in the mouth
  • Irritability
  • Short temper
  • Difficult and painful urination with a heat sensation in the urethra
  • Swollen and itchy genitalia
  • Yellow, foul smelling leukorrhea
  • Short menstrual cycle with reddish-purple blood
  • Ear discharge
  • Yellow urine
  • Chest pain
  • Constipation
  • Turbid urine
  • Dry throat
  • Hematuria
  • Pain in the armpits
  • Sweating in the groin
  • T: Red or Red edges
  • C: Yellow or Yellow and greasy
  • P: Wiry, Excess and rapid
Treatment Principle
  • Clear and Drain Damp-Heat
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • High fever
  • Irritability
  • Fidgeting
  • Dry mouth
  • Dry throat
  • Incoherent speech
  • Insomnia
  • Dark urine
  • Deep-rooted boils
  • Maculae
  • Carbuncles
  • Hematemesis
  • Hemoptysis
  • Palpitations
  • Furuncles
  • Tinnitus
  • Purpura
  • Red face
  • Rashes
  • Deep-rooted boils
  • Red eyes
  • Itchy skin
  • Fidgeting
  • Dry lips
  • Delirium
  • Dysentery with fever
  • Jaundice
  • Epistaxis
  • Hematuria
  • Cloudy mind
  • Diarrhea
  • T: Red
  • C: Yellow
  • P: Rapid and forceful
Treatment Principle
  • Clear Heat
  • Resolve Toxicity
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Purpura
  • Acute lower abdominal pain
  • Incontinence of urine
  • Night fevers
  • Delirious speech
  • Irritability
  • Restlessness
  • Thirst
  • May be mania (severe)
  • Dysmenorrhea
  • Amenorrhea
  • Hard stool
  • Dark red complexion
  • Headache
  • Vertigo
  • Tinnitus
  • Insomnia
  • Palpitations
  • Constipation
  • Frequent urination
  • Emotional instability
  • Chills in the waist and feet
  • Afternoon fever
  • Tremors
  • Excruciating abdominal pain with cold
  • Black stool
  • May be chills and fever
  • Hemoptysis
  • Hematuria
  • Red eyes
  • Pain and distention of the head
  • Toothache
  • Irregular menstruation
  • Lochioschesis
  • Severe wheezing
  • Distention of the chest
  • T: Red and dry
  • C: Yellow
  • P: Deep and forceful or Choppy
Treatment Principle
  • Drain Heat
  • Break up Blood Stasis
Herb Formulas
Points