Weak pulse. The dullness of some of the headaches and the fact that
they improve lying down indicates that they are due to a deficiency, in
this case of Liver-Blood. The location of the headaches on top of the
head, also indicates Liver-Blood deficiency. Liver-Yang rising accounts
for the more severe headaches and the vomiting and diarrhoea, due to
Liver-Qi invading Stomach and Spleen, preventing Stomach-Qi from
descending (vomiting) and Spleen-Qi from ascending (diarrhoea).Treatment principle Nourish Liver-Blood and subdue Liver-Yang. In this case, although the
severe headaches are due to Liver-Yang rising, the pattern is still
primarily one of deficiency, as evidenced by the tongue. For this reason,
the treatment was aimed primarily at nourishing Liver-Blood.
Acupuncture The main points used were: P-6 Neiguan, T.B.-4 Yangchi, ST-36
Zusanli, LIV-8 Ququan, SP-6 Sanyinjiao and LIV-3 Taichong.
The first two points were used with even method, LIV-3 was reduced
and all the other were reinforced. Warming needle was applied to
ST-36.Explanation P-6 was used to regulate Liver-Blood, calm the Mind and settle the
Ethereal Soul.
T.B.-4 was used in conjunction with Neiguan P-6 as a combination of
Connecting and Source point. This combination strengthens the effect of
P-6, while it also regulates the Lesser Yang channels. In addition,
Yangchi T.B.-4 has a general tonifying effect.ST-36 and SP-6 were used to nourish Blood.LIV-8 was used to nourish Liver-Blood.LIV-3 was used to subdue Liver-Yang.Herbal treatment The prescription used was a variation of Si Wu Tang Four Substances
Decoction to nourish Liver-Blood. This prescription was chosen in
preference to one of those to subdue Liver-Yang, because the condition
was deemed to be primarily one of deficiency (of Liver-Blood). Herbs
were added to subdue Liver-Yang. The prescription used was:
Dang Gui Radix Angelicae sinensis 9 g
Bai Shao Radix Paeoniae albae 6 g
Chuan Xiong Radix Ligustici wallichii 6 g
Shu Di Huang Radix Rehmanniae glutinosae praeparata 6 g
Shi Jue Ming Concha Haliotidis 9 g
Gou Teng Ramulus Uncariae 6 g
Man Jing Zi Fructus Viticis 4 g