Wind-Cold in the Lung Defensive Qi portion: aversion to cold,
temperature, sore throat and ache in muscles. After some time, Cold
turned into Heat, Dampness settled in the body and the condition turned
into Heat Painful Obstruction Syndrome characterized by Dampness
(swelling of joints) and Heat (hot joints). In addition, she also had
general symptoms and signs of Damp-Heat such as achy muscles,
feeling of heaviness, lethargy, weight-gain, a sticky-yellow tongue
coating and a Slippery-Rapid pulse. She also had signs of a residual
pathogenic factor (in the form of Wind-Damp-Heat) as evidenced by the
recurrent sore throats and the thick yellow coating in the Lung area on
the tongue. This latter sign usually indicates the presence of a residual
pathogenic factor after an exterior invasion which has not been cleared
properly.Treatment principle She was treated with acupuncture and the treatment was aimed at
clearing Heat, resolving Damp, and removing obstructions from the
channels.
Acupuncture The main points used were:
L.I.-11 Quchi, ST-43 Xiangu and Du-14 Dazhui to clear Heat;SP-9 Yinlingquan to resolve Dampness;L.I.-15 Jianyu and Baxie points as local points.All the points were needled with reducing method since the condition
was still fairly acute and the pattern still Full on the whole. She made a
complete recovery after 21 weekly treatments.Case History 23.2
Painful Obstruction Syndrome: Heat-Female, Age 35
A 35-year-old woman had been suffering from rheumathoid arthritis for the past 4 years. When it
first started all her small joints were painful, swollen and hot. After a few months, some of her
joints developed bone deformities. Her tongue was Red with a sticky-yellow coating and her
pulse was Slippery and Rapid.
Diagnosis This is a clear example of Heat Painful Obstruction Syndrome
complicated by Phlegm in the joints as evidenced by the swelling and
bone deformities.
Treatment principle The treatment principle adopted was to clear Heat, resolve Dampness,
and remove obstructions from the channels.
Acupuncture The main points used were a selection of the following: