Treatment
Acute Stage
The treatment in the acute colicky stage is aimed at expelling the stones and stopping pain.
Acupuncture
General Prescription
BL-23 Shenshu, ST-25 Tianshu, Ren-6 Qihai, SP-9 Yinlingquan, LIV-3 Taichong and KI-3
Taixi. Reducing method. In the acute stage, moxa may be used to tonify Yang and facilitate the
movement of the stone, even if there is Kidney-Yin deficiency.
Insert the needles deeply. Obtain the needling sensation to radiate horizontally for ST-25 and
Ren-6 and vertically (upwards) for SP-9, LIV-3 and KI-3. Ideally, the needling sensation from
these last three points should radiate all the way to the abdomen. If possible, two practitioners
can manipulate the points in the back and front at the same time. Retain the needles for 1 hour or
even longer and manipulate them every time the pain returns.
Use the points unilaterally. If the stones have not moved after 5 treatments, use distal points
bilaterally and apply electrical stimulation with high frequency.
Other Points According to Location of Pain
Other points are chosen according to the location of pain which follows the movement of the
stones along the urinary tract.
- Stones in the kidney (lumbar-loin pain): BL-23 Shenshu, BL-22 Sanjiaoshu, G.B.-25
Jingmen and BL-52 Zhishi. - Stones in upper ureter (loin and upperabdomen pain): ST-25 Tianshu, SP-15 Daheng,
BL-23 Shenshu and BL-24 Qihaishu. - Stones in middle-lower ureter (pain lower abdomen): ST-27 Daju, ST-28 Shuidao, ST-29
Guilai and BL-26 Guanyuanshu. - Stones in the bladder (hypogastric pain): Ren-3 Zhongji, Ren-2 Qugu, BL-32 Ciliao and
BL-28 Pangguangshu.