Temporada Baja

Summer-heat stroke is a condition involving disorder of body temperature regulation induced by high temperatures or caloradiance. The key symptoms are dizziness, oppression in the chest, profuse sweating, tidal reddening of the face, scorching hot skin, weak limbs and impaired concentration; or,

in severe cases, sudden coma and convulsions. This disease usually has the following causes: general deficiency, physical activity in a hot environment and lack of nutrition and water. It often occurs to older people and children. It is also commonly known as sunstroke, summer-heat damage, summer- heat wind and summer-heat epilepsy in TCM.

Main Symptoms: Dizziness, tinnitus, oppression in the chest, palpitations, nausea, vomiting, a

flushed face, profuse sweating, scorching hot skin, weak limbs and impaired concentration; and, in severe cases, cold damp limbs, pale complexion, a drop in blood pressure, a fast pulse, sudden coma or convulsions.

Acupoints:

• Primary points: Da Zhui (DU-14), Bai Hui (DU-20), Guan Yuan (RN-4), Qi Hai (RN-6), Shen Que (RN-8).

• Symptomatic points: Spasms: Cheng Shan (BL-57), Yang Ling Quan (GB-34); Fever: Qu Chi (LI-11), He Gu (LI-4); Convulsions: Yong Quan (KI-1).

Moxibustion Method:

• Gentle Moxa: Apply moxa for 20–30 minutes per acupoint. A course of treatment consists of one treatment a day for 3 days. Scrub the body with warm water until the symptoms are relieved and slight sweating occurs. (Figure 6.2.1)

• Moxa on Ginger: Apply moxa of 5–7 cones per acupoint, twice or three times a day, or until the patient revives. (Figure 6.2.2)

• Moxa on Salt: Apply moxa on Shen Que (RN-8) and scrub the body with warm water or 30% alcohol until the patient revives. (Figure 6.2.3)

• Ren Dan Application: Grind 15g of Ren Dan (Rendan Mini-Pill) into a fine powder then apply the powder in the umbilicus and fix with gauze. (Figure 6.2.4)

• Tian Luo Application: Remove the shells of three large Tian Luo (freshwater snail; Cipangopaludina), and then mash with Qing Yan (Halitum) and apply on Qi Hai (RN-6). (Figure 6.2.5)

Figure 6.2.2. Moxa on Ginger at Guan Yuan (RN-4)

Figure 6.2.3. Moxa on Salt at Shen Que (RN-8)

Figure 6.2.4. Ren Dan Application at Shen Que (RN-8)

Figure 6.2.5. Tian Luo Application at Shen Que (RN-8)

3. Headache

Headache is a common subjective symptom encountered in clinic, and generally refers to the pain in the upper part of the head. It is characterized by distention and pain in the head, nape and neck, perhaps companied by dizziness and general malaise. The symptom usually has the following causes:

malfunction of meridians in the head, disharmony of qi and blood, collateral blockage or the head being deprived of nourishment as a result of external contraction or internal damage. Headache occurs in hypertension, hemicranias, cluster headache, tension headache, infectious fever, cerebral trauma and ENT conditions.

Main Symptoms: Continuous or intermittent headache and tension radiating to the nape and neck that

is aggravated by emotional stimulation, accompanied by dizziness, tinnitus, a red face and eyes.

Acupoints:

• Primary points: Bai Hui (DU-20), Feng Chi (GB-20), Da Zhui (DU-14), Tai Yang (EX-HN-5), Lie Que (LU-7).

• Symptomatic points: Dizziness: Tai Chong (LR-3); Red face: Qu Chi (LI-11); Heaviness in the head with the sensation of being swathed: Feng Long (ST-40); Tinnitus: Shen Shu (BL-23), Zu San Li (ST-36).

Moxibustion Method:

• Gentle Moxa: Moxa for 15–30 minutes per acupoint. A course of treatment consists of one treatment a day for 3 days. (Figure 6.3.1)

• Pecking Sparrow Moxa: Moxa for 6–20 minutes per acupoint. A course of treatment consists of one or two treatments a day for 3 days. (Figure 6.3.2)

Figure 6.3.1. Gentle Moxa at Feng Chi (GB-20)

Figure 6.3.2. Pecking Sparrow Moxa at Bai Hui (DU-20)

• Moxa on Garlic: Apply 5–7 cones per acupoint. A course of treatment consists of one or two treatments a day for 3 days. (Figure 6.3.3)

• Ginger Application: Wind-cold headache or phlegm-damp headache: Mash an appropriate amount of ginger (retaining the ginger juice), and apply it on Tai Yang (EX-HN-5), once daily, 1–2 hours each time. (Figure 6.3.4)

• Peppermint Leaf Application: Wind-heat headache or liver yang headache: Mash an appropriate amount of peppermint leaves and apply it on the acupoints once daily, 1–2 hours each time. (Figure 6.3.5)

• Juncibustion:* Kidney deficiency headache: Choose 1–3 acupoints to apply juncibustion once. In severe cases, repeat 3–5 days later. A course of treatment consists of 3 days. (Figure 6.3.6)

Figure 6.3.3. Moxa on Garlic at Da Zhui (DU-14)

Figure 6.3.4. Ginger Application at Tai Yang (M-HN-9)

Figure 6.3.6. Juncibustion at Lie Que (LU-7)

4. Hypertension

Hypertension is a chronic general vascular disease characterized by rising systolic and/or diastolic pressure (≥140/90 mmHg). The key symptoms are dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision, a heavy cumbersome body, red face and eyes, palpitations, rashness, impatience, and irascibility. The disease is usually caused by anxiety and anger, mental stress, dietary irregularities, indulgence in alcohol and fatty foods. It can induce vascular disease of the heart, cerebrum and kidney. It often occurs in people over 40 years old, but recently there has been an increase in cases occurring in young people. It falls within the scope of dizziness, liver wind, headache, and wind-stroke in TCM.

Main Symptoms: Dizziness, tinnitus, vertigo, a red face and eyes, rashness, impatience, irascibility,

palpitations, string like pulse, accompanied by a bitter taste in the mouth and dry pharynx, heavy head as if swathed, heavy cumbersome body and numbness of the limbs.

Acupoints:

• Primary points: Feng Chi (GB-20), Bai Hui (DU-20), Tai Yang (EX-HN-5), Gan Shu (BL-18), Shen Shu (BL-23).

• Symptomatic points: Glomus and oppression in the chest and epigastric region: Nei Guan (PC-6); Palpitations and insomnia: Shen Men (HT-7); Numbness of the limbs: Qu Chi (LI-11), Yang Ling Quan (GB-34).

Moxibustion Method:

• Gentle Moxa: Apply moxa for 20–30 minutes per acupoint. A course of treatment consists of one treatment a day for 10 days. (Figure 6.4.1)

• Moxa on Ginger: Apply 5–7 cones per acupoint. A course of treatment consists of one treatment every other day for 10 days. (Figure 6.4.2)

• Moxa on Celery Root: Apply 5–7 cones per acupoint. A course of treatment consists of one treatment every other day for 10 days. (Figure 6.4.3)

• Warm Needle Moxa: Apply acupuncture for 20–30 minutes per acupoint. A course of treatment consists of one treatment every other day for 10 days. (Figure 6.4.4)

Figure 6.4.1. Gentle Moxa at Feng Chi (GB-20)

Figure 6.4.2. Moxa on Ginger at Gan Shu (BL-18) and Shen Shu (BL-23)

Figure 6.4.3. Moxa on Celery Root at Tai Chong (LR-3)

Figure 6.4.4. Warm Needle Moxa at Shen Shu (BL-23)

• Tao Ren Compound Application: Ingredients: 12g each of Tao Ren (Persicae Semen) and Xing Ren (Armeniacae Semen), 3g of Zhi Zi (Gardeniae Fructus), 7 grains of Hu Jiao (Piperis Fructus), and 14 grains of Nuo Mi (Oryzae Glutinosae Semen). Mash the above drugs and mix with an egg white. Apply the compound medicine on unilateral Yong Quan (KI-1) alternately at

bedtime, 6 days for a treatment course. (Figure 6.4.5)

Figure 6.4.5. Tao Ren Compound Application at Yong Quan (KI-1)

• Wu Zhu Yu Compound Application: Ingredients: 100g of Wu Zhu Yu (Evodiae Fructus) prepared with pig’s bile, 50g of Long Dan Cao (Gentianae Radix), 50g of Ming Fan (Alumen), 20g of Liu Huang (Sulphur), and 15g of Zhu Sha (Cinnabaris). Grind the above drugs into a fine powder, and then mix with a Xiao Ji Gen Zhi (Cirsii Herbae seu Radicis Succus) and apply the compound medicine on Shen Que (RN-8). Change the medicine every 2 days, and continue for 10 days for one course of treatment. (Figure 6.4.6)

Figure 6.4.6. Wu Zhu Yu Compound Application at Shen Que (RN-8)

5. Hypotension

Hypotension is a set of symptoms caused by a reduction in blood pressure, manifesting as dizziness, a lack of strength, confusion, a withered-yellow facial complexion and devitalized essence-spirit. The condition is usually caused by a weak constitution, deficiency of qi and yin. It often occurs mainly in women between the age of 20–50 and older people, and falls within the scope of vacuity detriment (severe chronic insufficiency), dizziness, and syncope in TCM.

Main Symptoms: Dizziness, headache, weakness, cold sweating, confusion, shortness of breath, and

even oliguria, fainting or shock; accompanied by a withered-yellow facial complexion, indigestion, devitalized essence-spirit, aversion to cold and cold limbs.

Acupoints:

• Primary points: Bai Hui (DU-20), Shen Que (RN-8), Guan Yuan (RN-4), Shen Shu (BL-23). • Symptomatic points: Dizziness: Tou Wei (ST-8), Jue Yin Shu (BL-14); Fainting: Yong Quan (KI-

1); Palpitations: Xin Shu (BL-15), Nei Guan (PC-6); Orthostatic hypotension: Zhong Wan (RN-12), Pi Shu (BL-20), Gan Shu (BL-18).

Moxibustion Method:

• Gentle Moxa: Apply moxa for 15–30 minutes per acupoint. Combine with digital compression: press hard with the thumb on Yong Quan (KI-1) for 6 seconds while exhaling. Press and relax 20 times. A course of treatment consists of one treatment every day for 10 days. (Figure 6.5.1)

• Pecking Sparrow Moxa: Moxa for 6–20 minutes per acupoint. A course of treatment consists of one treatment every other day for 10 days. (Figure 6.5.2)

• Non-scarring Cone Moxa: Apply 5–7 cones per acupoint. A course of treatment consists of one treatment every other day for 10 days. (Figure 6.5.3)

• Moxa on Fu Zi Cake: Apply 5–7 cones per acupoint. A course of treatment consists of one treatment every other day for 10 days. (Figure 6.5.4)

Figure 6.5.1. Gentle Moxa at Bai Hui (DU-20)

Figure 6.5.3. Non-scarring Cone Moxa at Guan (RN-4)

Figure 6.5.4. Moxa on Fu Zi Cake at Shen Shu Yuan (BL-23)

6. Hyperlipidemia

Hyperlipidemia is a disease that manifests as increased cholesterin and/or triglyceride levels in serum and is characterized by atherosclerosis. The disease usually has the following causes: constitutional spleen deficiency resulting in exuberant phlegm; dietary irregularities such as excessive consumption of fatty and sweet foods; phlegm accumulation and blood stasis caused by debility in old age and decreased visceral qi, which leads to the formation of fat turbidity. It often occurs in the elderly and falls within the scope of phlegm pattern, deficiency detriment, damp obstruction and obesity in TCM.

Main Symptoms: Obesity, palpitations, dizziness, glomus and fullness in the chest and stomach duct,

abdominal distension, intake of turbid food, fatigue and a lack of strength, nausea, drooling from the mouth, thirst with no desire to drink, a pale tongue, oily tongue coating and a soggy pulse. Further symptoms may include heart vexation and a clouded mind, increased food intake, frequent and rapid hunger sensations, a red facial complexion, a dry and bitter mouth, a red tongue, oily yellow tongue coating, and a string-like and slippery pulse.

Acupoints:

• Primary points: Yang Chi (SJ-4), San Jiao Shu (BL-22), Zu San Li (ST-36), Tai Chong (LR-3), Fu Liu (KI-7).

• Symptomatic points: Di Ji (SP-8), Ming Men (DU-4), San Yin Jiao (SP-6), Da Zhui (DU-14), Pi Shu (BL-20), Gan Shu (BL-18), Feng Long (ST-40), Nei Guan (PC-6).

Moxibustion Method:

• Gentle Moxa: Apply moxa for 20–30 minutes per acupoint. A course of treatment consists of one treatment every day for one month. (Figure 6.6.1)

• Moxa on Ginger: Apply 5–7 cones per acupoint. A course of treatment consists of one treatment every other day for one month. (Figure 6.6.2)

• Scarring Cone Moxa:* Apply moxa unilaterally on Zu San Li (ST-36) and Xuan Zhong (GB-39) alternately, once a week for 10 weeks. Usually one course of treatment is sufficient. (Figure 6.6.3)

Figure 6.6.1. Gentle Moxa at Yang Chi (SJ-4)

Figure 6.6.2. Moxa on Ginger at Tai Chong (LR-3)

Figure 6.6.3. Scarring Cone Moxa at Zu San Li (ST-36)