Furuncle
A furuncle is an acute suppurative infection of a single hair follicle and its associated sebaceous gland. Furunculosis refers to recurrent episodes of multiple furuncles in a particular area or scattered across the body. Lesions may resolve in one area only to appear elsewhere; the condition may persist over time, and treatment may not prevent recurrence. Furuncles can occur in any season and at any age, and may affect any part of the body, but are more common on the back of the neck, in the axillae, and on the buttocks.
TCM Pattern Differentiation and Medication Reference
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Lesions commonly occur on the nape and back, often near the original lesion, or recur in dozens of scattered sites across the body. They may be accompanied by hard stools, dark yellow urine, a thin, yellow, greasy tongue coating, and a wiry, slippery, rapid pulse.
In everyday terms:
- Lesions are commonly found on the back of the neck and back, often near the original site, or recur in dozens of scattered areas across the body.
- Stools are hard and difficult to pass.
- Urine is yellow and dark in color.
- The tongue coating is thin, or yellow and greasy.
- The pulse feels tense, somewhat slippery, and relatively rapid.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Dispel wind, clear heat, and promote urination to resolve dampness.
In everyday terms:
- Dispel wind: ease wind-associated wandering itch, redness, and discomfort that appears and fades suddenly, helping to settle the skin and its surface tissues.
- Clear heat: address accumulated heat internally and externally, and ease signs associated with excess heat, such as redness and a burning sensation, dry mouth, irritability, and a red, sore throat.
- Resolve dampness: support the processing and elimination of dampness, and address signs associated with excess dampness, such as sticky discharge, heaviness of the limbs, swelling, and a thick, greasy tongue coating.
|Related Products
The following products are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
This pattern often develops in people with chronic illness. Lesions may occur in scattered areas across the body, often without a fixed location. Furuncles may be larger and more likely to develop into carbuncles or deep-seated suppurative lesions with a pus head. They may be accompanied by fever, headache, thirst, dry throat, and dry lips; a thin coating on a red tongue; and a fine, rapid pulse.
In everyday terms:
- It often occurs after a chronic illness and is considered secondary to it.
- Lesions appear in scattered areas across the body, often without a fixed location.
- The furuncles are relatively large and may suppurate and develop into larger carbuncles, or progress into deep-seated sores with a pus head.
- Fever, headache, thirst, a dry throat, and dry lips are common accompanying symptoms.
- The tongue is somewhat red with a thin coating, and the pulse is fine and relatively rapid.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Tonify qi and nourish yin; clear heat and resolve toxin.
In everyday terms:
- Support the body’s vital qi and nourish yin, addressing discomforts such as low energy, fatigue, dry mouth and tongue, and irritability with a sensation of heat, to help restore balance.
- Clear excess heat and resolve toxins, addressing heat-toxin signs such as fever, thirst, sore throat, and skin sores.
|Related Products
The following products are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
References
- Li Shunhua. Application of Sanhuang Lotion in skin diseases[J]. Jiangxi Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1996(S2): 113.
- Yi Jianping. Clinical efficacy observation of topical Jinhuang Gel in the treatment of 60 cases of furunculosis[C]//Proceedings of the National Symposium on Innovation and Development in Traditional Chinese Medicine. China Association of Chinese Medicine, 2005: 1.
- Yang Jiaxin. Modified Maxing Ganshi Tang for the treatment of 25 cases of furunculosis[J]. Jiangsu Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1992(5): 7.