Treatment of scleroderma on April 30, 1979

Treatment of scleroderma on April 30, 1979

The cause of this disease is kidney yang deficiency, leading to weak defensive qi and allowing wind-cold pathogens to invade the skin and muscles, causing blockage and stagnation, resulting in disharmony between nutritive and defensive qi. It is more common in women and can manifest in patchy, band-like, or spotted forms. The treatment should focus on warming yang and dispelling cold, using Yanghe Tang. Localized scleroderma only shows localized skin tightness and smoothness, with a waxy appearance, clear borders, and firm texture upon palpation; over time, it may lead to atrophy, but the patient’s overall health is generally unaffected. Diffuse scleroderma, however, can affect the entire body, impacting subcutaneous tissues and surrounding blood vessels, even internal organs like the heart and lungs, and in severe cases, can lead to death. Western medicine treats this condition with corticosteroids, thyroxine, and testosterone propionate, while traditional Chinese medicine typically treats it based on kidney yang deficiency. The popular medical handbook “Dermatology” provides a prescription that is considered an excellent remedy.

Prescription: Curculigo orchioides 10g, Epimedium 10g, raw Salvia miltiorrhiza 30g, turmeric 15g, Guizhi 10g, safflower 10g, Angelica sinensis 15g, Ligusticum chuanxiong 10g, red peony 10g, raw Rehmannia glutinosa 20g, Millettia reticulata 30g.

Mnemonic: “Curculigo warms the spleen, raw Salvia nourishes the spirit, turmeric and safflower together with four substances and chicken.”

This formula has been repeatedly tested and proven effective, truly an excellent prescription. (Liang Jianhui, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine)