Silerex™

TCM herbal formula for itching, rash, urticaria, eczema, dermatitis, and skin allergies from drugs, chemicals, or foods — antihistamine, antipruritic, and anti-inflammatory herbs that disperse wind, clear heat, cool blood, and drain dampness

⚠️ Silerex relieves symptoms but does not cure the allergy — it is NOT recommended for long-term use simply to suppress symptoms. Every effort should be made to identify and avoid the allergen. If no improvement after 2–3 weeks, consider modifying the herbal formula. Contains Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) which invigorates blood — use with caution or avoid with Coumadin (warfarin) or anticoagulant/antiplatelet therapy due to higher risk of bleeding and bruising.

CLINICAL APPLICATIONS

* Skin disorders: itching, rash, urticaria, dermatitis, and eczema

* Skin allergies induced by drugs, chemicals, or foods

Background: Itching may be caused by external disorders (atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, dry skin, infection, urticaria) or internal disorders (allergic reactions to foods, drugs, or chemicals; cholestasis; chronic renal failure). While itching can be treated effectively with herbs, efforts must be made to identify and eliminate the cause. The optimal approach to allergy is prevention — isolate the allergen and minimize exposure as much as possible.

Clinical note — genital itching: Use Gentiana Complex both internally and externally. For external treatment, wash the affected area with mild soap, then mix 5 grams each of Ku Shen (Radix Sophorae Flavescentis) and She Chuang Zi (Fructus Cnidii Monnieri) with 2 cups of warm water. Soak the affected area for 5 minutes then rinse. Repeat once daily until itching is relieved.

Key herb-level clinical data:

— Ku Shen (Radix Sophorae Flavescentis): drains dampness; treats weepy lesions; antipruritic — inhibits scratching in a dose-dependent manner; reduces eicosanoid-related skin inflammation including atopic dermatitis; sophoraflavanone G inhibits cyclooxygenase-2; clinically: 148 patients with rashes, itching, and eczema treated with 79% effective rate

— Jing Jie (Herba Schizonepetae): releases external wind; relieves itching; antipruritic — inhibits itch-scratch response induced by substance P; topical powder showed marked effect for measles, pruritic rash, and itching

— Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae): tonifies and moves blood; extinguishes wind; marked antiallergic activity — suppresses expression of cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules in atopic dermatitis; clinically: 37 patients with rashes, urticaria, and contact dermatitis — 28 complete recovery, 3 significant improvement, 5 slight improvement, 1 no effect

— Niu Bang Zi (Fructus Arctii): cools and detoxifies blood; relieves itching; marked antiallergic effect — inhibits scratching behavior in atopic dermatitis and allergy-related diseases; inhibits expression of IL-4 and IL-5

— Mu Dan Pi (Cortex Moutan): cools and detoxifies blood; relieves itching; antiallergic and antihistamine — significantly suppresses histamine release and prostaglandin D2 synthesis from mast cells; anti-inflammatory — inhibits prostaglandin synthesis and decreases blood vessel permeability

— Fang Feng (Radix Saposhnikoviae / Siler): extinguishes wind; treats itching, rash, urticaria, and eczema; anti-inflammatory — inhibits nitric oxide production

— Ji Li (Fructus Tribuli): releases external wind; relieves itching

— Lian Qiao (Fructus Forsythiae): cools and detoxifies blood; relieves itching

— Zhi Zi (Fructus Gardeniae): clears heat; reduces redness and inflammation; anti-inflammatory — suppresses vascular inflammation via TNF-alpha inhibition

— Che Qian Zi (Semen Plantaginis): drains dampness through urination; treats weepy lesions; anti-inflammatory — inhibits nitric oxide production

— Di Fu Zi (Fructus Kochiae): drains dampness through urination; treats weepy lesions; anti-inflammatory — suppresses vascular inflammation via TNF-alpha inhibition

— Bai Xian Pi (Cortex Dictamni): antifungal — relieves fire toxicity; anti-inflammatory — inhibits prostaglandin synthesis and decreases blood vessel permeability; clinically: topical fine powder 100% effective in treating 33 cases of suppurative dermatological disorders

— Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis): tonifies and moves blood; extinguishes wind; relieves rashes and itching; anti-inflammatory — inhibits prostaglandin synthesis; clinically: 353 patients with dermatological disorders treated by ear point injection every other day for 10–20 days with 90.7% effective rate

WESTERN THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS

* Antihistamine / antipruritic — Mu Dan Pi (histamine↓, prostaglandin D2↓, mast cells); Niu Bang Zi (IL-4↓, IL-5↓, scratching↓); Ku Shen (dose-dependent scratching inhibition, cyclooxygenase-2↓); Jing Jie (substance P itch-scratch response↓)

* Anti-inflammatory — Fang Feng + Che Qian Zi (nitric oxide↓); Mu Dan Pi + Dang Gui + Bai Xian Pi (prostaglandin synthesis↓, blood vessel permeability↓); Di Fu Zi + Zhi Zi (TNF-alpha↓, vascular inflammation↓)

* Antibiotic / antifungal — Bai Xian Pi (antifungal, fire toxicity)

CHINESE THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS

* Disperses wind to relieve itching (Fang Feng, Jing Jie, Ji Li)

* Clears heat; cools the blood (Zhi Zi, Mu Dan Pi, Niu Bang Zi, Lian Qiao)

* Drains dampness (Ku Shen, Che Qian Zi, Di Fu Zi)

* Tonifies and moves blood; extinguishes wind (Dang Gui, Di Huang)

DOSAGE

Standard: 5–6 capsules with warm water on an empty stomach every six hours as needed. Taking Silerex prior to exposure to the allergen may prevent or reduce the risk of developing an allergic reaction.

Supplementary formulas: Excess fire — add Gardenia Complex. Psoriasis — add Dermatrol (PS). Weepy skin conditions — add Dermatrol (Damp). Dry skin conditions — add Dermatrol (Dry). Heavy metal poisoning, chemical allergy, or unknown allergy — combine with Herbal DTX. Chronic allergy from allergen accumulation — use with Liver DTX. Enhance antiviral function — add Herbal AVR. Enhance antibacterial function — use Herbal ABX. Pus or swelling on lesions — add Resolve (AI). Respiratory discomfort with allergies — add Respitrol (Heat) or Respitrol (Cold). Headache — add Corydalin (AC) or Corydalin (CR). Food allergy — cleanse colon with GI DTX. Itching worsens with stress — add Calm or Calm (ES). Yin deficiency with heat — add Nourish.

Nutrition: Avoid seafood, sushi, duck, goose, onions, garlic, sugar, alcohol, and foods that are raw, spicy, fried, and greasy — many meats and dairy products increase skin irritation by increasing the acidity of body tissue. Increase flax seed oil consumption to reduce inflammation.

Tao of Nutrition (Dr. Maoshing Ni and Cathy McNease) — Eczema: Recommended foods — potatoes, broccoli, dandelion, mung bean, seaweed, pearl barley, cornsilk, water chestnut, winter melon, and watermelon. Apply fresh potato locally, changing every 4 hours, for 3 days. Apply honey to area. Apply mashed daikon radish to area. Make tea from mung beans and pearl barley. Boil soup from seaweed and winter melon — drink at least once daily for 10 days.

Tao of Nutrition — Hives: Recommended foods — winter melon rind, chrysanthemum, vinegar, papaya, ginger, dried prunes, black sesame, black beans, and pearl barley. Take a sea salt bath, rubbing salt on the hives. Cook papaya, ginger, and rice vinegar until vinegar dries — eat twice daily for at least 10 days. Mix honey with rice wine and steam — drink 2 tablespoons on an empty stomach every morning. Cook black sesame seeds, black beans, and Chinese black dates — eat at least once daily. Eat 2–3 dried prunes daily. Avoid shellfish and allergic foods.

Tao of Nutrition — Allergy: Recommended foods — ginger, onions, garlic, bamboo shoots, cabbage, beets, beet top tea, carrots, leafy greens, yams, ganoderma mushroom. Drink ginger tea to induce sweating. Drink beet top tea as a water source. Avoid wheat, citrus fruits, chocolate, shellfish, dairy products, eggs, potatoes, polluted meats, and polluted air.

Lifestyle: The best long-term treatment is to identify and avoid the allergen. Balancing and strengthening health and immunity will also reduce the frequency of allergic reactions. Cotton or silk clothing is recommended over synthetic fibers for better ventilation.

CASE STUDIES

— 62-year-old patient (K.B.): Chronic bilateral rash on arms — purple and dark in color, occurring daily; light alcohol, cigarette smoking, spicy foods; pain with itching and skin peeling toward end of day; Lung and Liver fire. Gardenia Complex + Silerex, both at 4 capsules 3x/day. Result: skin completely cleared within 2 weeks; continued same combination for 2 additional months.

— 39-year-old female (S.T.): Hives with redness, itchiness, and blotchiness; red quivering tongue with thin coat; wind-heat with dampness. Silerex 4 capsules 3x/day. Result after 2 months: hives lessened; symptoms returned when herbs were stopped; patient continued taking herbs.

Related Reading

Also see: Gardenia Complex – for excess fire | Dermatrol (PS) – for psoriasis | Dermatrol (Damp) – for weepy skin conditions | Dermatrol (Dry) – for dry skin conditions | Herbal DTX – for heavy metal or chemical allergy | Liver DTX – for chronic allergy from allergen accumulation | Herbal AVR – to enhance antiviral function | Herbal ABX – to enhance antibacterial function | Resolve (AI) – for pus or swelling on lesions | Respitrol (Heat) – for respiratory discomfort with allergies | Respitrol (Cold) – for respiratory discomfort with allergies | GI DTX – for food allergy | Calm – for stress-related itching | Calm (ES) – for stress-related itching | Nourish – for yin deficiency with heat | Hair, Skin & Nails Support Collection.