Pulmonary heart disease is induced by pulmonary hypertension. It is often caused by chronic bronchitis, emphysema pulmonum or pulmonary vascular disease. Acute respiratory infection is the common incentive. The disease often occurs in winter or spring in people over the age of 40. It falls within the category of cough and panting, accumulation of fluid in the body and oedema in TCM.
Main Symptoms: Cough and panting, expectoration of phlegm, palpitations, dyspnoea, aggravated by
movement, shortness of breath, and a deep and fine pulse; accompanied by turning blue, lack of strength, poor food intake, oedema and scanty urine. In severe cases, coma, profuse sweating, haemorrhage and bloody stools may occur.
Acupoints:
• Primary points: Fei Shu (BL-13), Shen Shu (BL-23), Tian Tu (RN-22), Zhong Fu (LU-1), Dan Zhong (RN-17), Ju Que (RN-14).
• Symptomatic points: Shortness of breath: Qi Hai (RN-6); Chi Ze (LU-5); Palpitations: Nei Guan (PC-6), Shen Men (HT-7); Copious phlegm: Zu San Li (ST-36), Feng Long (ST-40).
• Non-scarring Moxa: Apply 5–7 cones per acupoint. Repeat once daily for 10 days to complete one course of treatment. (Figure 6.10.1)
• Gentle Moxa: Apply 6–15 minutes per acupoint. Repeat once daily for 10 days to complete one course of treatment. (Figure 6.10.2)
• Moxa on Salt: Apply 5–7 cones on Shen Que (RN-8) once daily to relieve the symptoms of an acute attack. (Figure 6.10.3)
Figure 6.10.1. Non-scarring Moxa at Fei Shu (BL-13)
Figure 6.10.2. Gentle Moxa at Zhong Fu (LU-1)
Figure 6.10.3. Moxa on Salt at Shen Que (RN-8)
• Moxa on Ginger: Apply 5–7 cones on Bai Hui (DU-20) once daily to relieve the symptoms of an acute attack. Alternatively apply 5–7 cones on 3–5 acupoints and repeat once daily for 10 days to complete one course of treatment. (Figure 6.10.4)
• Moxa on Fu Zi Cake: Choose 3–5 acupoints and apply 5–7 cones per acupoint. Repeat once daily for 10 days to complete one course of treatment. (Figure 6.10.5)
Figure 6.10.4. Moxa on Ginger at Dan Zhong (RN-17)
Figure 6.10.5. Moxa on Fu Zi Cake at Shen Shu (BL-23)
11. Arrhythmia (Palpitations)
Arrhythmia, also known as palpitations, is often found in various kinds of organic heart disease, especially in CHD, myocardiosis and rheumatic heart disease. It is characterized by a subjective sensation of an accelerated heart rate and precordial discomfort. This disease usually has the following causes: malnourishment of the heart, inhibited blood flow in the heart vessels caused by a weak constitution, taxation damage, internal damage by the seven affects, qi stagnation and blood stasis. It falls in the category of fright palpitations and fearful throbbing in TCM.
Main Symptoms: Palpitations and shortness of breath, fatigued spirit and spontaneous sweating,
insomnia, profuse dreaming, dizziness, blurred vision, and a fine and weak pulse. In extreme cases susceptibility to fright and agitation when sitting or lying. Accompanying symptoms include a sombre white or withered-yellow facial complexion, poor food intake, a lack of strength, tinnitus, aching lumbar region and oppression in the chest.
Acupoints:
• Primary points: Xin Shu (BL-15), Ju Que (RN-14), Nei Guan (PC-6), Xi Men (PC-4), Shen Men (HT-7).
• Symptomatic points: Susceptibility to fright: Da Lin (PC-7), Dan Shu (BL-19); Spontaneous sweating and shortness of breath: Zu San Li (ST-36), Fu Liu (KI-7); Profuse dreaming: Shen Shu (BL-23), Tai Xi (KI-3); Red face: Lao Gong (PC-8).
Moxibustion Method:
• Non-scarring Moxa: Apply 5–7 cones per acupoint. A course of treatment consists of one treatment per day for 10 days. (Figure 6.11.1)
• Gentle Moxa: Apply 6–15 minutes per acupoint. A course of treatment consists of one treatment per day for 10 days. (Figure 6.11.2)
• Warm Needle Moxa: Apply 6–15 minutes per acupoint. A course of treatment consists of one treatment per day for 10 days. (Figure 6.11.3)
Figure 6.11.1. Non-scarring Moxa at Ju Que (RN-14)
Figure 6.11.2. Gentle Moxa at Shen Men (HT-7)
Figure 6.11.3. Warm Needle Moxa at Nei Guan (PC-6)
• Juncibustion:* Apply 6–15 minutes per acupoint. A course of treatment consists of one treatment every 3 days for 5 treatments in total. (Figure 6.11.4)
Figure 6.11.4. Juncibustion at Xi Men (PC-4)
• Moxa on Fu Zi Cake: Choose 3–5 acupoints and apply 5–7 cones per acupoint, performed once daily or every other day for 7 treatments in total. (Figure 6.11.5)
Figure 6.11.5. Moxa on Fu Zi Cake at Xin Shu (BL-15)
12. Bronchitis
Bronchitis is a common clinical respiratory disease. It is characterized by long-term recurrent cough, expectoration of phlegm or panting. It is often caused by externally contracted wind-cold, wind-heat or wind-dryness and attacks in autumn and winter. It falls within the category of cough, accumulation of fluid in the body, and panting rale in TCM.
Main Symptoms: Long-term recurrent cough, expectoration of phlegm, panting, aggravated in the
morning or evening, copious white or sticky phlegm; accompanied by fever or headache.
Acupoints:
• Primary points: Ding Chuan (EX-B-1), Feng Men (BL-12), Da Zhui (DU-14), Fei Shu (BL-13), He Gu (LI-4).
• Symptomatic points: Qi deficiency: Qi Hai (RN-6), Tian Tu (RN-22); Chest pain: Dan Zhong (RN-17); Copious phlegm: Feng Long (ST-40).
Moxibustion Method:
• Gentle Moxa: Apply for 20–30 minutes per acupoint. Repeat once or twice a day for 5 days to complete a course of treatment. (Figure 6.12.1)
• Moxa on Ginger: Apply 5–7 cones per acupoint. Repeat once or twice a day for 7 days to complete a course of treatment. (Figure 6.12.2)
Figure 6.12.1. Gentle Moxa at Da Zhui (DU-14)
Figure 6.12.2. Moxa on Ginger at Fei Shu (BL-13) and Ding Chuan (EX-B-1)
• Moxa on Garlic: Apply 5–7 cones per acupoint. Repeat once or twice a day for 5 days to complete a course of treatment. (Figure 6.12.3)
• Warm Needle Moxa: Apply 5–7 cones per acupoint. Repeat once or twice a day for 7 days to complete a course of treatment. (Figure 6.12.4)
Figure 6.12.3. Moxa on Garlic at Feng Men (BL-12)
• Moxa on Ginger with Medicinal Application: Ingredients: 3g of Bai Jie Zi (Sinapis Albae Semen), 3g of Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma), 0.5g of Gong Ding Xiang (Caryophylli Flos), 5g of Ma Huang (Ephedrae Herba), 2g of Xi Xin (Asari Herba), and a small amount of She Xiang (Moschus). Grind the above into a fine powder, apply to the umbilicus and cover with a piece of ginger. Apply 5–7 large cones per acupoint. Repeat once daily for 10 days to complete a course of treatment. (Figure 6.12.5)
Figure 6.12.5. Moxa on Ginger with Medicinal Application at Shen Que (RN-8)