Urticaria (Hives)

Antihistamines provide rapid symptom relief by blocking histamine receptors, but symptoms often recur when the medication is stopped. In cases of chronic urticaria where symptoms are not controlled even by increasing the dosage of second-generation antihistamines (such as cetirizine and loratadine), biological agents like omalizumab (an anti-IgE antibody) are considered. Korean traditional medicine treatments are used in conjunction with these standard treatments or as a complement for patients who wish to reduce the burden of long-term medication use. At Dongjedang Korean Medicine Clinic, for the Wind-Heat type, we utilize prescriptions based on differential diagnosis, employing herbal medicines that disperse or expel wind-heat, while for the Weak Stomach type, we utilize prescriptions that soothe the stomach or boost Qi. There is an increasing number of studies showing that acupuncture treatment (on areas such as the elbow, inner knee, thigh, and ankle) is effective in suppressing histamine secretion and regulating skin immunity. Generally, changes are evaluated after 4 to 8 weeks of treatment.