Objective By observing the curative effect of Yangxue Zhiyang Capsule (YZC) on guinea pigs and senile rats, therapeutic effect of YZC for senile pruritus and its mechanism was assessed. Methods Animal models with pruritus induced by exogenous histamine were used to observe the effect of YZC in relieving itching. Senile rat models of blood deficiency induced by acetophenylhydrazine (APH) were applied to measure the effect of YZC on red blood cells (RBC) counting, blood hemoglobin (Hb), plasma estrogen (E2), testosterone (T) and proesterone(PO), sexual organ weight and the amount of sebaceous gland and its secretory function. Results YZC could raise the itching threshold of guinea pigs with pruritus, elevate RBC amount and Hb content, increase E2,T and PO levels, elevate the weight of sexual organs and the number of sebaceous glands, and promote the secretory function of sebaceous glands in rats with blood deficiency. Conclusion YZC has good effect in relieving itching of guinea pigs with pruritus and nourishing blood of rats with blood deficiency by raising the levels of sex hormones, increasing the number of sebaceous glands and stimulating sebaceous gland secretion.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) diagnostic methods contain inspection, auscultation-olfaction, inter-rogation and palpation. The clinical doctor collects information through the four diagnostic methods. Various symp-toms of the disease are especially used as the main evidence to determine different diseases and to identify the syndrome. Therefore, the TCM four diagnostic methods are the basic means of disease understanding in TCM. This article collected and analyzed clinical data in order to summarize the unique features and focused aspects of TCM four diagnostic methods application on TCM surgery and dermatology. This article was aimed to provide new ideas for TCM four diagnostic methods in the clinical diagnosis of dermatological diseases.

Chloasma is a common pigmentation on facial skin among middle-aged or young women. The characteris-tic of chloasma is acquired brown spots on exposed facial regions. Modern traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clini-cal treatment mostly follows syndrome differentiation and treatment as well as prescriptions of TCM doctors from pre-vious dynasties. On the basis of different facial location of chloasma, the author explored the correlation between the facial lesion location and five zang-organ under the guidance of TCM holism concept. The creativeness of combining division differentiation and channel pattern differentiation, and the application of channel tropism medicine, provide new ideas for chloasma treatment.

Collateral vessels in cutaneous regions are the channel of qi， blood and body fluids transmission among the skin and striae and interstices， and is also the path of pathogens invasion. It is believed that the key pathogenesis of polymorphic light eruption （PLE） was toxins damaging to the skin， in which the cutaneous collaterals fail to nourish， insecurity of the muscle surface as the basis of disease， the pathogens offending qi collaterals and heat constraint to toxins as the driving factors， gradually affecting fluid collaterals and dryness-dampness coexist as the middle link， and latent pathogens in blood level and waiting for the opportunity to onset as the final stage. It is proposed that the basic treatment is to resolve toxins and tranquilize collaterals， and the internal and external treatments are combined together. The internal treatment is to resolve toxins， strengthen collaterals， and assist in unblocking the collaterals， and the modified self-prescribed Wuteng Decoction （五藤饮） plus Yigong Powder （异功散） were selected as the basic formulas， which promotes the discharge of toxin pathogens and strengthens the power of the cutaneous collaterals to protect against pathogens. For external treatment， according to the performance of skin lesions， scraping， tapping with medicinal solution， ointment were selected to drive away pathogens and resolve toxins， and soothe the cutaneous collaterals. In the early stage， the skin temperature rose with itching， tingling and no rash， scraping with the self-prescribed Yinhuangcao Clearing Oil （银黄草清解油） could be used to activate blood and regulate qi， relieve heat and resolve toxins； if the lesions showed erythema， pimples， itching， tapping with the self-prescribed Qian'ai Xunxi Formula （千艾熏洗方） could be used to diffuse qi and fluid， unblock the collaterals and clean toxins； if the skin lesions thickened with scales， the self-prescribed Yufu Ointment （愈肤膏） for external application could be used to resolve toxins and activate collaterals， moisten skin and heal up sore.

The membranous tube of sanjiao （三焦） is not only the path of the transport of fluid and qi， but the way of the invasion of pathogenic factors， therefore， it cooperates with the skin mucous membrane physically and influence on each other pathologically. It is believed that the core pathogenesis of chronic urticaria is pathogens intruding sanjiao， membrane collaterals acute spasm， and fluid and qi disturbance， of which defense qi insufficiency and pathogens intruding sanjiao initiates the disease， while struggle between healthy and pathogenic qi and membrane collaterals acute spasm is the intermediate stage， and disturbed fluid， qi and blood movement is the terminal stage. Following the core treatment principle of dredging sanjiao， the internal treatment is to open striae and interstices and dispel pathogens out using self-made Guben Shufeng Decoction（固本疏风汤）modifications， and the external treatment is to dredge and regulate membrane collaterals， move qi and fluid， and treat sanjiao simultaneously， commonly using cutting therapy on Danzhong （RN 17） to move qi and fluid， seal umbilical therapy on Shenque （RN 8） to supplement and nourish ying-wei （营卫）， and natural moxibustion on Xuehai （SP 10） to move blood and unblock collaterals.