anal / perineal itching
I was recently approached by a potential patient, seeking information about her "strange symptom" she said. She followed that up saying " Chinese medicine can treat all kinds of strange things right?" ( I thought that was funny)
female age 33 - c/c anal and perineal itching for over 7 years
Approx 7 years ago noticed occasionally intense itching on her perineum and around her anus. Every few days she would find that the itching would start and be incredibly intense and not relieved until she aggressivley itched it. It was always worse at night.
Over the last few years it has gotten progressivley worse. The itchiness is experinced daily and it is common for her to itch so much that there is damage to the local skin and oftem bleeds while she is itching. She notices it is worse at night, around bowel movements, and then sometimes just out of the blue.
She has even used a lancane cream to numb the local area.
She has modifed her diet, hoping that would help - but there is no change. She said that she has permanent scars and small scratches on her perineum and around her anus from all of the scratching.
During more inquiring she mentioned that once about 5 months ago, she had an outbreak of small blisters which turned to one large ulcer in the exact same area she gets the itching. Through a swab and exam with her GP, it wqas discovered that she had had an episode of genital herpes. Sonce then she has had no other outbreaks but she remarked that it seemed strange that the areas were the same.
I asked her about her history if any of other vaginal infections - she has had none that she reported. No yeast infections or any other kinds. No morbid leukorrhea.
She seems quite healthy.
Energy and appetite are good.
She experiecnes occasional constipation but generally her bowel movements are regular and not too loose or hard. No abdominl complaints. Her mentrual cycle is regular and comfortable. Sleep is sound and enough. She leads a healthy lifelstyle with exersice rest and play... good quality locally grown orgnic foods.
Her tongue is slightly pale and puffy with teeth marks and a thin white wet coating which is thicker and greasier at the root.
Pulse is weak.
I am exploring and researching to see what i can do for her. I am looking into parasites, hemerroids, yeast, dryness ????
Any tips, suggestions, or pointers from the community.
I was recently approached by a potential patient, seeking information about her "strange symptom" she said. She followed that up saying " Chinese medicine can treat all kinds of strange things right?" ( I thought that was funny)
female age 33 - c/c anal and perineal itching for over 7 years
Approx 7 years ago noticed occasionally intense itching on her perineum and around her anus. Every few days she would find that the itching would start and be incredibly intense and not relieved until she aggressivley itched it. It was always worse at night.
Over the last few years it has gotten progressivley worse. The itchiness is experinced daily and it is common for her to itch so much that there is damage to the local skin and oftem bleeds while she is itching. She notices it is worse at night, around bowel movements, and then sometimes just out of the blue.
She has even used a lancane cream to numb the local area.
She has modifed her diet, hoping that would help - but there is no change. She said that she has permanent scars and small scratches on her perineum and around her anus from all of the scratching.
During more inquiring she mentioned that once about 5 months ago, she had an outbreak of small blisters which turned to one large ulcer in the exact same area she gets the itching. Through a swab and exam with her GP, it wqas discovered that she had had an episode of genital herpes. Sonce then she has had no other outbreaks but she remarked that it seemed strange that the areas were the same.
I asked her about her history if any of other vaginal infections - she has had none that she reported. No yeast infections or any other kinds. No morbid leukorrhea.
She seems quite healthy.
Energy and appetite are good.
She experiecnes occasional constipation but generally her bowel movements are regular and not too loose or hard. No abdominl complaints. Her mentrual cycle is regular and comfortable. Sleep is sound and enough. She leads a healthy lifelstyle with exersice rest and play... good quality locally grown orgnic foods.
Her tongue is slightly pale and puffy with teeth marks and a thin white wet coating which is thicker and greasier at the root.
Pulse is weak.
I am exploring and researching to see what i can do for her. I am looking into parasites, hemerroids, yeast, dryness ????
Any tips, suggestions, or pointers from the community.
Comments
Hi andrea, There are many
Hi andrea,
There are many western reasons for anal itching including: hemmorhoids, eczema, psoriasis, fungus/ yeast, and lichen simplex (neuro dermititis).
In terms of chinese medicine I would look for damp heat in the lower Jiao. The thick coating at the root of the tongue and the itch which is worse at night, suggests this. Scratching until bleeding is coomon when there is a severe itch. This is because pain trumps itch, it is easier to deal with pain then it is itch.
A wash with She Chuang Zi, Di FU Zi, Ku Shen, and Huang Bai would be a start.
Internally the modified decoction- Bie Xie She Shi Tang
Bi Xie 9
Niu Xi 9
Yi Yi Ren 15
Huang Bai 9
Chi Fu Ling 9
Ze Xie 9
Cang Zhu 9
Bai Xian Pi 9
Bai Ji Li 12
Di Fu Zi 9
Mu Dan Pi 9
Hua Shi 15
Adjust accordingly- if there is lots of redness- (more resolve Fire Toxin)
Hopes this helps
Trevor
Itching
Hi,
Nicely detailed post Atisha!!
I often use the product Yin Care for the external treatment of such problems. It can be used as a wash, spray or gauze compression along with internal herbs. My patients experience best results when applied 3 times per day.
I also tell them to avoid wearing panty hose or to cut a slit into the cottony pany part to allow air flow and use corn starch or plain fragrance free talcum after showering and before working out.
The MD can R/O other medical possiblities with testing.
I have many patients who are basically healthy but also have genital herpes. Depending on the situ I will treat with Long Dan Xie Gan Tang internally for only about one week. This formula drains damp heat in the liver channel which travels along the gential area. Also, many of them report that they feel strange symptoms, some like what your patients is complaining of even if there is not a visible outbreak so she is not alone in this regard. She may have had herpes for many years but just now had a visible outbreak.
I also suggest relaxation and stress reduction techniques to patients.
Best of luck!!!
Be Well,
Juliette Aiyana
http://www.amazinghealing.com
Be Well,
Juliette Aiyana, L.Ac. Herbalist, Author of Chinese Medicine & Healthy Weight Management An Evidence-based Integrated Approach
http://www.amazinghealing.com
Modifified Long Dan Xie Gan
Modifified Long Dan Xie Gan Tang is definitly a good Rx for itchy, sweaty conditions of the lower jiao. Add to it the anti itch herbs like Di Fu Zi, Ku Shen, Bai Xian PI, BAi Ji Li, and She Chuang Zi.
If there is herpes involvment then the addition of herbs to specifically treat herpes would be benificial. These include:
Ma Chi Xian 30g
Ban Lan Gen 30g
Xia Ku Cao 12
Trevor
http://skin.health-info.org/
www.acubalance.ca
I have found a spray to be effective.
I have had a few patients with this itching some could be herpetic some fungal.
It can be tiresome and hard to treat externally. An MD told me this is because the organisms can mutate rapidly and easily become immune to any product used. This requires a client to use maybe two or three products and rotate thier use.
I have found an antifungal tincture with teatree and lavender mixed with a colloidal silver and applied two or three times a day seems to work. The colloidal silver is anti viral fungal bacterial and could be seen energetically as cooling. This combination in a spray which is not available to buy and must be mixed by the client or the practitioner. It has helped many clients with genital itching.
Also I have found taking corn starch and roasting it in the oven at 200 degrees for a half hour or so. to further dessicate the powder and mixing with oregano and or tea tree and or bergamot essentail oils make a highly effective anti itch powder that is highly absorbant with the additional dessication. Not to mention it smells great.
As a last resort for severe itching one can always spray a thin coat of 20-30% food grade hydrogen peroxide. This cauterized the area and will give immediate reliefe for up to four days. Enough time for the area which is blistered to heal and to start other medicinals.
Oregano oil has a similar effect but the burning will be more intense and last for up to 15 minutes as opposed to the 2 to three minutes of intense sensation with the h2O2
Hope these natural remedies help.
Much thanks for all the
Much thanks for all the comments and suggestions. Seems as though this is more common than I thought. I will keep you all posted on any outcomes if a full course of treatment is persued.