Clinical Observation of Acupuncture for Acute Urticaria｜A Single Case Report Summary

Acute urticaria case report summary｜Key acupoint and technique notes (LU10 Yuji)

Acute urticaria is a sudden-onset skin reaction, typically presenting with wheals of varying sizes and intense pruritus. It is commonly associated with dilation and increased permeability of small cutaneous blood vessels, and can be frequent yet difficult to predict. It is estimated that nearly 20% of people may experience at least one episode during their lifetime. Conventional care relies primarily on anti-allergic medications such as antihistamines and corticosteroids; however, medications may be associated with discomfort or adverse effects in some patients. For this reason, non-pharmacological approaches are also discussed and explored in certain situations.

Below is a structured summary of a published case report describing acupuncture for acute urticaria.

Case background

At the time of onset, the patient did not have access to commonly used urticaria medications (e.g., antihistamines), and therefore received acupuncture as an immediate intervention.

Acupoint selection and procedure

Because wheals appeared across multiple body regions, selecting local points at each affected area was considered impractical. The treatment adopted a traditional meridian-based framework using the Five Shu points concept (Jing-well, Ying-spring, Shu-stream, Jing-river, He-se), and selected the Ying-spring point Yuji (LU10) on the Lung meridian as the primary intervention point.

• Disinfection: Thorough disinfection of the practitioner’s hands and the acupoint areas.
• Needles: Two disposable stainless-steel needles (0.3 mm diameter, 40 mm length).
• Point location: Bilateral Yuji (LU10) (palmar aspect of the hand; Ying-spring point of the Lung meridian).
• Insertion depth: Approximately 10 mm.
• Manipulation: Lifting/thrusting and rotation to elicit Deqi; repeated every 5 minutes; total needle retention time 30 minutes.

Clinical observation and outcome

Note: This is a single-case observation. Acute urticaria can be self-limited, and spontaneous improvement cannot be excluded; therefore, a single case should not be used to infer general efficacy.

How this fits within current medical and acupuncture literature

Current standard care for acute urticaria typically recommends second-generation non-sedating antihistamines as first-line therapy. If symptoms are not adequately controlled, short-term corticosteroids may be considered in clinical practice. Pharmacologic blockade of allergic pathways remains the primary strategy.

As a longstanding non-pharmacological therapy, acupuncture has also been used in clinical contexts for skin symptoms, immune-related reactions, and symptom regulation. In parts of Asia, clinical use for urticaria and related allergic skin conditions has accumulated over many years.

However, from an evidence-hierarchy perspective, acupuncture research for urticaria remains largely composed of case reports, clinical trials in chronic urticaria, and systematic reviews. More high-quality studies are needed to clarify effectiveness and applicability across patient populations.

Conclusion and clinical notes

This case report illustrates a clinical observation in which acupuncture was followed by rapid symptom relief in acute urticaria, particularly in a situation where medications were not available. However: