Chronic Idiopathic Pruritus Using Traditional Chinese Dietary Considerations.

Chronic ideopathic pruritus is an itch originating from unknown sources that lasts greater than six weeks. A 30-year-old female reported a chief complaint of chronic idiopathic pruritus. From a traditional Chinese medicine perspective she displayed signs and symptoms consistent with Spleen qi deficiency with accumulation of Damp-Heat, Liver qi stagnation and Blood deficiency leading to deficient and stagnant Heat stirring Wind. She had been previously seen by an internist, four dermatologists, two neurologists, and an allergist at the Mayo Clinic, showing inconclusive results of all biomedical tests. While there were clear pathophysiological mechanisms within traditional Chinese medicine that affected this case, the patient was unusually slow to respond to treatment. Careful case management and the introduction of traditional Chinese dietary considerations ultimately proved to be an effective intervention for this patient. This case history shows the need for further research to determine efficacy and establish effective mechanisms of action for treatment of this condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]