helping to relieve Painful Obstruction Syndrome.- Quyangwei is an extra point located immediately adjacent to the epicondyle when the
elbow is bent (Figure 23.10(463)). This point is extremely effective especially when used
with warming needle. - L.I.-12 Zhouliao is used particularly when the elbow pain radiates upwards.
- T.B.-10 Tianjing is used when the pain is located around the tip of the olecranon.
- S.I.-8 Xiaohai is used when the pain is located around the medial condyle of the
humerus. - LU-5 Chize relaxes the tendons of the arm and is used when the elbow is stiff. The "ABC
of Acupuncture" (AD 259) says: "When the arm cannot be raised to the head or there is
pain in the elbow, needle LU-5".13(464) The "Illustrated Manual of Acupuncture Points
as Shown on the Bronze Man" (AD 1026) says: "LU-5 can treat Wind-Painful
Obstruction Syndrome of the elbow and inability to raise the arm".14(465)
Results are usually very good with a few treatments. Occasionally, in long-standing cases, results
are slow to come. This is especially so if cortisone injections were administered to the elbow as
these tend to slow down the effects of acupuncture. In these cases, it might be useful to try and
needle the healthy side as well as the affected one. A particularly effective way of doing this is
by needling the Connecting point of the affected channel on the opposite side. For example, if
the pain occurs along the Large Intestine channel on the left side, L.I.-6 Pianli on the right side
would be needled. Other points can simply be used bilaterally. A more specific way of doing this
is by reducing the points on the healthy side and reinforcing (especially with warming needle)
those on the affected side. The rationale of this treatment lies in the fact that in chronic channel
problems, the affected side becomes empty and the healthy side relatively full.
Wrist
Pain in the wrists is common in elderly patients. It is usually due to invasion of Damp-Cold,
aggravated by over-use of the joint (e.g. flute-players).
Treatment
The treatment of acute and chronic cases is not significantly different.
In acute cases, one needles the distal point first with reducing method and then uses local points.
Since the wrist is almost at the extremity of the arm, there are no distal points as such along the
channel involved. However, in my experience ST-36 Zusanli can be used as a distal point for
Painful Obstruction Syndrome of the wrist, especially if from Dampness. Other distal points can