INVASION OF DAMP-HEAT
Symptoms and signs
Pain in the entire body with an acute onset, or chronic pain with an acute aggravation, a hot and heavy sensation in the entire body, swelling of the body, aggravation of the pain by heat, alleviation of the pain by cold, lumbago, scanty and yellow urine, constipation, fever and an aversion to cold, headache, a bitter taste in mouth, thirst, a red tongue with a thick yellow coating and a slippery and rapid pulse.
Principle of treatment
Clear Heat and eliminate Damp.
HERBAL TREATMENT
Prescription
BAI HU JIA GUI ZHI TANG
White Tiger Ramulus Cinnamomi Decoction
Shi Gao Gypsum Fibrosum 30 g
Zhi Mu Rhizoma Anemarrhenae IOg
Gui Zhi Ramulus Cinnamomi 10 g
Qiang Huo Rhizoma seu Radix Notopterygii 10 g
Du Huo Radix Angelicae Pubescentis 10 g
Jing Mi Semen Oryzae 15 g
Zhi Gan Cao Radix Glycynhizae Praeparata 6 g
Explanations
• Shi Gao and Zhi Mu clear the Heat and reduce the Fire.
• Gui Zhi dispels the Wind and eliminates the Damp.
• Qiang Huo and Du Huo help Gui Zhi eliminate the Wind and relieve the pain in the body.
• Jing Mi and Zhi Gan Cao tonify the Qi and protect the Stomach-Qi from being damaged by the other Cold herbs. Also, Zhi Gan Cao harmonises the actions of the other herbs in the prescription.
Modifications
1. If there are swollen and painful joints, add Qing Feng Teng Caulis Sinomenii 20 g, Hu Zhang Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati 15 g and Luo Shi Teng Caulis Trachelospermi 15 g to dispel the Wind, to eliminate the Damp-Heat and relieve the pain.
2. If there is fever, add Sheng Ma Rhizotm Cimicifugae 10 g and Chai Hu Radix Bupleuri 12 g to clear the Heat and relieve the pain.
3. If there is swelling of the body, add Ku Shen Radix Sophorae Flavescentis 10 g, Lian Qiao Fructus Forsythiae 10 g and Jin Yin Hua Flos Lonicerae 10 g to eliminate the Damp-Heat and relieve the swelling.
4. If there is constipation, add Da Huang Radix et Rhizoma Rhei 10 g and Mang Xiao Natrii Sulfas 10 g to clear the Fire and promote defecation.
Patent remedy
Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan Sweet Dew Special Pill to Eliminate Toxin
ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT
LI-4 Hegu, LU-7 Lieque, TE-5 Waiguan, LR-4 Zhongfeng, SP-9 Yinlingquan and GB-34 Yangling-quan. Reducing method is used on these points.
Explanations
• LI-4, the Source point of the Large Intestine channel, eliminates the Damp-Heat by promoting sweating.
• LU-7, the Connecting point of the Lung channel, regulates the Lung-Qi in order to eliminate the Damp-Heat.
• TE-5, the Connecting point of the Triple Burner channel, promotes the circulation of Qi and relieves the pain.
• LR-4, the River point of the Liver channel, eliminates the Damp-Heat in this channel.
• SP-9, the Sea point of the Spleen channel, removes the Damp-Heat by promoting urination.
• GB-34, the Sea point of the Gall Bladder channel and the Gathering point for the tendons, regulates the Qi circulation and eliminates the DampnHeat in order to relieve the pain.
Modifications
1. If there is fever, add LI-Il and GV-14 to clear the Damp-Heat and to lower the fever by inducing sweating.
2. If there is swelling of the muscles, add SP-6 and TE-6 to eliminate the Damp-Heat and reduce the swelling.
3. If there are painful joints, add BL-11, BL-40 and some local Ah Shi points to remove the Qi stagnation in order to relieve pain.
4. If there is headache, add GV-20 and GB-20 to regulate the Qi circulation and relieve the headache.
5. If there is constipation, add ST-25, the Front Collecting point of the Large Intestine and ST-37, the Lower Sea point of the Large Intestine, to promote defecation.
6. If there is lumbago, add BL-23 and BL-58 to strengthen the lower back and to relieve the pain.
STAGNATION OF LIVER-QI
Symptoms and signs
Chronic pain in the entire body, accompanied by a distending sensation, aggravated by negative emotions, with a headache, dizziness, insomnia, irritability, palpitations, irregular menstruation, a poor appetite, a dull stomach, pain in the lower abdomen, a red tongue with white coating and a wiry pulse.
Principle of treatment
Regulate Liver-Qi, remove Qi stagnation and relieve the pain.
HERBAL TREATMENT
Prescription
XIAO YAO SAN
Free and Relaxed Powder
Chai Hu Radix Buplcuri 10 g
Bo He Herha Menthae 3 g
Dang Gui Radix Angelicae Sinensis 10 g
Yan Hu Suo Rhizoma Corydalis 12 g
Bai Shao Radix Paeoniae Alba 20 g
Bai Zhu Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae 10 g
Fu Ling Poria 15 g
Sheng Jiang Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens 5 g Gan Cao Radix Glycyrrhizae 5 g
Explanations
• Chai Hu and Bo He regulate and promote the circulation of Liver-Qi in order to remove the Qi stagnation in the Liver.
• Bai Shao and Dang Gui nourish the Blood and strengthen the Liver. These two herbs can also relieve body pain directly.
• Yan Hu Suo regulates the Blood circulation and relieves the pain.
• Bai Zhu, Fu Ling and Sheng Jiang tonify the Spleen and Stomach.
• Gan Cao harmonises the actions of the other herbs in the prescription.
Modifications
1. If there is headache or dizziness, add Chuan Xiong Radix Ligustici Chuanxiong 10 g and Qiang Huo Rhizoma seu Radix Notopterygi 10 g to regulate the Qi circulation and relieve the headache and
dizziness.
2. If there is bad temper, add Xinag Fu Rhizoma Cyperi 10 g and Yu Jin Radix Curcumae 10 g to promote the circulation of Liver-Qi and remove Qi stagnation.
3. If there is irregular menstruation, add Huai Niu Xi Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae 10 g and Yi Mu Cao Herba Leonuri 10 g to regulate the menstruation.
Patent remedies
Xiao Yao Wan Free and Relaxed Pill Shu Gan Wan Soothe Liver Pill
ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT
LR-3 Taichong, BL-18 Ganshu, PC-6 Neiguan, GV-20 Baihui, LI-4 Hegu, SP-6 Sanyinjiao and ST-36 Zusanli. Even method is used on these points.
Explanations
• LR-3, the Source point and the Stream point of the Liver channel, regulates the Liver-Qi to relieve pain in the entire body.
• BL-18, the Back Transporting point of the Liver, can regulate the Liver-Qi to remove Qi stagnation in the Liver.
• PC-6, the Connecting point of the Pericardium channel and the Confluence point of the Yin Linking Vessel, regulates the Qi circulation and calms down the Mind.
• GV-20 is the patent point to calm down the Mind and regulate the Qi circulation.
• LI-4, the Source point of the Large Intestine channel, regulates the Qi circulation to relieve the pain.
• SP-6, the crossing point of three Yin channels of the leg, can remove Liver-Qi stagnation and calm down the Mind.
• ST-36, the Sea point of the Stomach channel, tonifies the Stomach-Qi and relieves the pain in the leg.
Modifications
1. If there is headache or dizziness, add GB-20 and TE-4 to calm the Liver and to stop the headache.
2. If there is a poor appetite, add CV-12 and SP-3 to strengthen the Spleen and Stomach and improve the appetite.
3. If there is irregular menstruation, add CV-6 and KI-3 to regulate the menstruation.
4. If there is insomnia, add BL-15 and HT-7 to calm down the Mind and improve the sleep.
5. If there is irritability, add LR-2 and HT-8 to regulate the Qi circulation, to calm down the Mind and improve the mood.
Case history
A 52-year-old woman had suffered pain in the entire body for 6 months. She had the pain, which was movable and changeable, especially when she got angry or distressed. She was diagnosed with menopausal syndrome in a hospital. In addition to Western medical treatment, she asked for acupuncture. Besides pain in her whole body, she mentioned she had irregular menstruation, lumbago, sweating with a hot or coid sensation, dizziness, palpitations, irritability and a poor appetite. Her tongue was red and had a thin coating and she had a wiry pulse.
Diagnosis
Stagnation of Liver-Qi and deficiency of Kidney-Yin.
Principle of treatment
Regulate Liver-Qi, remove Qi stagnation and nourish Kidney-Yin.
Herbal treatment
XIAO YAON SAN Free and Relaxed Powder for Liver-Qi regulation
Chai Hu Radix Bupleuri 10 g
Dang Gui Radix Angelicae Sinensis 10 g
Bai Shao Radix Paeoniae Alba 20 g
Bai Zhu Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae 10 g
Fu Ling Paria 15 g
Gan Cao Radix Glycyrrhizae 5 g
Yan Hu Suo Rhizama Corydalis 15 g
Yu Jin Radix Curcumae 10 g
Chuan Xiong Radix Ligustici Chuanxiong 6 g
LIU WEI DI HUANG WAN Six-Flavour Rehmanniae Pill for Kidney-Yin nourishment, 10 pills, 3 x day
Explanations
• Chai Hu and Chuan Xiong regulate and promote the circulation of Liver-Qi in order to remove Qi stagnation in the Liver.
• Bai Shao and Dang Gui nourish the Blood and strengthen the Liver. These two herbs can also relieve the body pain directly.
• Bai Zhu and Fu Ling tonify the Spleen and Stomach.
• Yan Hu Suo and Yu Jin regulate the circulation of Liver-Qi and relieve the pain.
• Gan Cao harmonises the actions of the other herbs in the prescription.
• Liu Wei Di Huang Wan nourishes Kidney-Yin and calms down Liver-Yang.
The patient took the herbal decoction Xiao Yao San Free and Relaxed Powder and a patent pill of Liu Wei Di Huang Wan daily. After 50 days of treatment, her body pain had disappeared. Upon consultation 2 years later she reported being free of pain since completing the herbal treatment.
