An Overview of the Treatment of
Pruritus in Thai Traditional Medicine
and Chinese Traditional Medicine
*Center of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University,
**Huachiew Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic, Bangkok, Thailand
Siriraj Medical Bulletin 2022;15(3): 189-195
Suphawadee Tangchitcharean*, Manmas Vannabhum*, Nittaya Panmee*, Nattima Techapipatchai**,
Kharnitsa Jirathitikal**, Mananya Anurakthanakorn**, Somkiat Padint**
Abstract
The most prevalent symptom of skin problem is pruritus. It could be caused by skin pathology or other
disorders. In western medicine, tropical treatments are typically used for dermatological conditions or medical
conditions associated with underlying disorders. Traditional medicine is utilized as an alternative or comple-
mentary therapy, including Thai traditional medicine (TTM) and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This article
provides an overview of the most prevalent pruritus in TTM and TCM. The four elements of earth, water, wind,
and fire were used to evaluate TTM theoretically. TCM considers the five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal,
and water in its conceptual analysis. TTM and TCM both investigated abnormalities in body elements and created
treatment plans. The herbal treatment is personalized to the body elements of each patient. This comparative
perspective could broaden traditional medicine's knowledge. This could be applied to clinical practice or
research in the future, allowing patients to be referred to each other or to a western medicine specialist.
Keywords: body elements; skin disease; skin pruritus; Thai traditional medicine; traditional Chinese medicine
Correspondence to: Manmas Vannabhum
E-mail: manmas.van@mahidol.edu
Received: 4 April 2022
Revised: 15 May 2022
Accepted: 24 May 2022
http://dx.doi.org/10.33192/smb.v15i3.257082
189
Siriraj Medical BulletinSiriraj Medical Bulletin
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
190 ี ่� 15 ฉั่� 3 กรกฎาคม - กันยายน 2565
Original Article





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
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





















Review Article











3

















191
Siriraj Medical BulletinSiriraj Medical Bulletin




192 ี ่� 15 ฉั่� 3 กรกฎาคม - กันยายน 2565
Original Article





























Rhinacanthus nasutus
Acanthus ebracteatus
Smilax corbulariaSmilax
glabra 


Piper
betelClinacanthus nutans
Curcuma longa



6






Hydnocarpus anthelminthicus
Senna alata Smilax corbularia
Smilax glabraSalacia
chinensis 
Acanthus ebracteatus

Azadirachta indica
Cynodon dactylonCurcuma
longaCurcuma zedoaria
Clinacanthus nutans
7

















风瘙痒
痒风血风疮













Review Article
193
Siriraj Medical Bulletin


9




《诸病源
候论》







10


























麻黄汤
荆防方

黄连解毒汤
除
湿胃苓汤
五味
消毒饮
当
归饮子
桃红四物汤











百部，黄柏，
苦参，











Siriraj Medical Bulletin






194 ี ่� 15 ฉั่� 3 กรกฎาคม - กันยายน 2565
Original Article











Smilax corbulariaSmilax glabra
Salacia chinensisSuregada
Acanthus ebrac-

Harrisonia
perforataClerodendrum in-
dicumCapparis micracantha
(Ficus racemosaTiliacora triandra






痿证






















八珍汤人参,
Radix Ginseng熟地黄Radix Rehmanniae Prepa-
rata
白术,Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae茯
苓,Poria当归Radix
Angelicae Sinensis白芍Radix Paeoniae Alba



荆芥，Herba
Schizonepetae防风Radix Saposhnikoviae





























Review Article
195
Siriraj Medical Bulletin






































Siriraj Medical Bulletin