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better. The dictionary combines terms, definitions, medications, and acupuncture
prescriptions.
baby moth
Synonyms: nipple moth; throat moth.
Redness, swelling, and soreness of either or both of the throat nodes (tonsils) with a yellowish white discharge visible on their surface. Baby moth is attributable to a)~congesting lung-stomach heat with fire toxin steaming upward; b)~qi stagnation and congealing blood together with old phlegm and liver fire binding to form malign blood; or c)~liver kidney yin-liquid depletion with vacuity fire flaming upward. Accompanying signs include constipation, a thick slimy tongue fur, difficulty in swallowing fluids, and alternating heat~effusion and aversion to cold.
Medication: Congesting lung-stomach heat is treated by coursing wind and diffusing the lung, and by dispersing swelling and resolving toxin; formulas such as Throat-Clearing Diaphragm-Disinhibiting Decoction can be used. Liver fire patterns are treated by clearing he
Acupuncture: Acupuncture: For lung-stomach heat, base treatment mainly on LU, LI, and ST. Select LI-4 (Union Valley), LI-11 (Pool at the Bend), LU-5 (Cubit Marsh), ST-44 (Inner Court), ST-43 (Sunken Valley), and CV-22 (Celestial Chimney); needle with drainage, and pri
back
The rear aspect of the trunk from the shoulder to the buttocks, especially the part excluding the lumbus. The back is considered yang in relationship to the chest and abdomen, which are yin.
back associated point
Synonyms: back transport point.
back pain
Pain in the upper part of the back, as distinct from lumbar (low back) pain. The two main patterns are wind-cold and qi stagnation and blood stasis.
Medication: Medication: Dispel wind and dissipate cold using Notopterygium Dampness-Overcoming Decoction. Channel conductors such as ledebouriella (Ledebouriellae Radix) and notopterygium (Notopterygii Rhizoma) can be used according to the precise location of discomf
Acupuncture: Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on GV, BL, and GB. Select GB-20 (Wind Pool), GV-16 (Wind Mansion), TB-5 (Outer Pass), LI-4 (Union Valley), GV-26 (Human Center), GV-12 (Body Pillar), GV-4 (Life Gate), GV-3 (Lumbar Yang Pass), BL-60 (Kunlun Mountains), a
back transport point
Any of a group of points on the bladder channel, 1.5 body-inches either side of the spinal column, each associated with, and named after, an organ whose qi is said to pass through their locations. The back transport points of the bowels and viscera are given in the list below.
bad breath
Fetid breath. When poor oral hygiene or tooth decay, which are common causes, have been ruled out, bad breath is attributable to stomach heat steaming upward, phlegm heat congesting the lung, or gastrointestinal food accumulation.
Medication: Medication: Clear the stomach and discharge heat with Stomach-Clearing Decoction or Gastrodia and Astragalus Decoction. If there is bowel repletion with constipation, use Diaphragm-Cooling Powder.
Acupuncture: Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on ST, LI, and PC. Select ST-44 (Inner Court), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), LI-4 (Union Valley), and PC-7 (Great Mound). Needle with drainage.
bad odor
Synonyms: head heavy as if swathed.
bag-over-the-head sensation
Synonyms: head heavy as if swathed.
baking heat~effusion
Pronounced, persistent heat~effusion associated with damage to yin, and usually attended by vexation, insomnia, and oppression.
bald scalp sore
Synonyms: bald white scalp sore.
bald white scalp sore
Synonyms: white perverse crop; lai scalp sore.
A disease of the scalp mostly seen in children and characterized by white crusts that spread and coalesce, and that are associated with unbearable itching and hair loss on the affected area. The hair usually grows back once the sores heal. Bald white scalp sores are attributed to wind evil invading the interstices of the scalp or to the use of unclean hair-dressing implements.
Medication: Treat with Chinaberry Root Bark Paste or Bald Sores Oil.
Acupuncture: A disease of the scalp mostly seen in children and characterized by white crusts that spread and coalesce, and that are associated with unbearable itching and hair loss on the affected area. The hair usually grows back once the sores heal. Bald white scal
banking up earth
Supplementing spleen-earth to restore normal movement and transformation. The method of banking up earth is used to treat spleen vacuity with reduced food intake and diarrhea.
banking up earth and repressing wood
Synonyms: fortifying the spleen and coursing the liver.
banking up earth to dam water
A method of treatment used to address water swelling by fortifying the spleen and boosting qi. Here, earth refers to the spleen, but water refers not to the kidney but to water-damp.
banking up earth to engender metal
A method of treatment that involves fortifying the spleen to treat diseases of the lung. Banking up earth and engendering metal is used, for example, in the treatment of phlegm that arises when water-damp gathers and concentrates as a result of impaired splenic movement and transformation. See supplementing the spleen to boost the lung.
bar
The pulse position between the inch and cubit. Any one of the segments in the infant's finger examination.
base joint
The joint at which a digit springs from the hand or foot.
basket-steam
To steam in steaming baskets.
bean curd tongue fur
A lumpy, easily removable fur like crumbs of bean curd (tofu). A bean curd tongue fur indicates the development of sweltering damp-heat in patterns of damage to yin by stomach vacuity. This generally occurs in enduring or severe illnesses and indicates complex patterns that are difficult to treat.
bearing
Upward and downward bearing of qi, e.g., upbearing of clear yang and downbearing of the turbid. See, for example, spleen governs upbearing of the clear and stomach governs downbearing of the turbid.
bearing
The direction of medicinal action, including upbearing, downbearing, floating, and sinking. Upbearing means ascending to the upper body; downbearing means descending to the lower body. Floating means effusing and dissipating; sinking means draining and disinhibiting. Upbearing and floating medicinals (upfloaters) move upward and outward, and have actions such as upbearing yang, effusing the exterior, and dispersing cold. Downbearing and sinking medicinals (downsinkers) move downward and inward, have actions such as subduing yang, downbearing counterflow, astriction, clearing heat, percolating dampness, and draining. Most yang medicinals, which are warm or hot in nature and sweet and acrid in flavor, such as ephedra (Ephedrae Herba), cinnamon twig (Cinnamomi Ramulus), and astragalus (Astragali (seu Hedysari) Radix), are upfloaters. Most yin medicinals, which are cold in nature and bitter or sour in nature, such as rhubarb (Rhei Rhizoma), mirabilite (Mirabilitum), and phellodendron (Phellodendri Cortex), are downsinkers. Generally, flowers and leaves and other light medicinals such as asarum (Asiasari Herba cum Radice), mint (Menthae Herba), and cimicifuga (Cimicifugae Rhizoma), are upfloaters--- inula flower (Inulae Flos) being an exception, whereas seeds, fruits, and heavy items, such as white perilla seed (Perillae Albae Semen), unripe bitter orange (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), and glauberite (Gypsum seu Calcitum), are downsinkers--- vitex (Viticis Fructus) being an exception. Bearing can be imparted to other medicinals. Stir-frying with wine causes medicinals to bear upward; stir-frying with bran causes medicinals to downbear; stir-frying with ginger causes medicinals to dissipate; and stir-frying with vinegar causes medicinals to astringe.
bearing
The environment conducive to supporting the fetus in the uterus.
bearing
Posture and movement. Examining a patient's bearing is an important part of diagnosis. Flailing of the limbs, agitation and talkativeness, or manic agitation and desire to throw off clothing and bedclothes usually indicates a yang disease, i.e., a disease due to heat or repletion. A patient who sleeps curled up, is uncommunicative, who suffers from a general feeling of heaviness and difficulty in movement, and who keeps his body well wrapped, is ordinarily suffering from a yin disease, i.e., a disease of cold or vacuity. groping in the air and pulling at invisible strings and picking at bedclothes indicate that the illness has reached its most advanced stage and that the condition is severe. Deviated eyes and mouth, convulsions of the limbs, shaking of the head, and twitching of the lips or cheeks are conditions mostly attributable to liver wind stirring internally. Pronounced forceful spasm is usually seen in repletion heat patterns, whereas milder forms usually indicate vacuity wind. Rigidity of the neck, arched-back rigidity (opisthotonos), and clenched jaw (trismus) indicate tetany. Hypertonicity of the limbs inhibiting normal bending and stretching, and rigidity, distention, and deformation of the joints usually indicate impediment. Weakness and limpness of the limbs that deprives the patient of the ability to grasp things and move about freely indicates wilting. If the patient suffers from rapid breathing while lying, and is thus forced to sit up, an exuberant evil is present and right qi is vacuous. Dizziness experienced when sitting up, confining the patient to a lying posture, usually indicates either a vacuity pattern or phlegm turbidity harassing the upper body.
bedsore
Synonyms: yin sores.
A sore on the back, sacrum, heels etc., that develops in comatose, paralyzed, or weak patients confined to bed. Bedsores start as red patches which gradually develop into ulcerations that are difficult to heal. They are attributable to major depletion of qi and blood in enduring illness with confinement to bed that causes friction and prevents the normal movement of qi and blood, thus depriving the skin of nourishment.
Medication: Medication: Commonly used medicinals include astragalus (Astragali (seu Hedysari) Radix), ovate atractylodes (Atractylodis Ovatae Rhizoma), codonopsis (Codonopsitis Radix), poria (Poria), tangkuei (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), red peony (Paeoniae Radix Rubr
bedwetting
begrudging milk
A condition attributable to the accumulation of breast milk arising after delivery when either there is no child to feed or the mother produces more milk than the child can take and characterized by hard painful distended breasts that cannot bear even the slightest touch. Small sores may grow on the nipples that may be sore or itchy and that, when scratched, exude yellow water that causes them to spread.
Medication: Clear heat and resolve toxin. Use Forsythia Powder from The Golden Mirror of Medicine. If ruptured, apply Deerhorn Powder which consists of deerhorn (Cervi Cornu) and licorice (Glycyrrhizae Radix) ground to a powder and mixed with egg yolk (Galli Vitellus
begrudging semen sore
Synonyms: gan sore.
belching
Synonyms: belching.
Expulsion of gas (qi) from the stomach that occurs after eating to satiation or eating too quickly, and in stomach diseases. It is one manifestation of stomach qi ascending counterflow.
Acupuncture: Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on ST and CV. Select CV-6 (Sea of Qi), PC-6 (Inner Pass), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), and BL-21 (Stomach Transport); needle with even supplementation and drainage, add moxa if appropriate.
belching of putrid qi
Synonyms: putrid belching.
bell healer
itinerant healer.
bencao
Synonyms: herbal foundation.
bend-center toxin sore
Synonyms: bend-center welling-abscess.
A welling-abscess located at BL-40 (Bend Center), i.e., on the back of the knee (popliteal fossa). A bend-center toxin is attributed to accumulated heat in the gallbladder channel binding in the bladder channel or to stagnation of qi and blood in the kidney channel. Sometimes it develops from other sores at the site. The back of the knee becomes as hard as stone, is slightly red and swollen or scorching hot and red with generalized heat~effusion and aversion to cold. It makes bending and stretching difficult and causes flexing. When the pain and swelling grows more severe day by day and the heat~effusion and aversion to cold do not abated, this is a sign that pus has formed.
Medication: Medication: Quicken the blood and transform stasis. Use Blood-Quickening Stasis-Dissipating Decoction.
bend-center welling-abscess
Synonyms: bend-center welling-abscess.
bent needle
A needle that, owing to poor needle manipulation skill or physical movement by the patient, becomes bent after insertion in the human body.
beverage
A decoction that is left to cool before being taken, e.g., Elsholtzia Beverage. Compare drink.
bian toxin sore
A bubo sore on right side of the body, as distinct from a fish mouth, which is one on the left.
biaoju
Synonyms: tip-abscess
bind
To become tight, hard, or stiff. To cohere or make cohere.
To constipate. Bind denotes a concentration of evils in a specific location, that causes hardness. When phlegm and qi bind, phlegm nodes form. When heat binds in the intestines, the stool becomes dry, solid, and difficult to evacuate. For example, large intestinal heat can cause heat bind, which is characterized by hard bound stool (i.e., constipation). When damp-heat gathers and binds in the lower burner, urinary stones form. In the term "binding depression of qi dynamic," it refers to frustrated movement of qi that can cause accumulation of phlegm or static blood. See stoppage.
binding depression of liver qi
Synonyms: liver depression depressed liver
Stagnation in the liver and liver channel resulting from impairment of the liver's function of free coursing. It arises when affect-mind frustration leads to depression and anger that damage the liver and impair free coursing. Other factors include invasion of external damp-heat and insufficiency of yin-blood depriving the liver of nourishment. The chief signs are affect-mind depression, vexation, agitation, and irascibility. There is also distention and pain in the rib-side, oppression in the chest, and sighing. Other signs include distention and pain in the breasts before menstruation, distention and pain in the lesser abdomen, menstrual irregularities, plum-pit qi, goiter, accumulations and gatherings under the rib-side, jaundice, and epilepsy. The tongue body may be normal. The tongue fur is thin and white. The pulse is stringlike.
Medication: Medication: Binding depression of liver qi is treated by coursing the liver and rectifying qi. Medicinals commonly used to treat binding depression of liver qi include bupleurum (Bupleuri Radix), curcuma (Curcumae Tuber), unripe tangerine peel (Citri Exoc
Acupuncture: Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on LR, PC, SP and back transport points. Select BL-18 (Liver Transport), PC-6 (Inner Pass), LR-3 (Supreme Surge), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), LR-13 (Camphorwood Gate), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), LR-2 (Moving Between), TB-6
binding depression of phlegm and qi
Synonyms: phlegm and qi binding together
binding in yang
From Elementary Questions. A pathomechanism of swelling of the limbs. The four limbs are the root of yang, and when yang qi of the limbs congeals and binds, water collects.
binding in yin
From Elementary Questions. Evil qi binding in the yin channels. The liver belongs to reverting yin and stores the blood; the spleen belongs to greater yin and manages the blood. When evil qi binds in the yin channels, and is not moved by yang qi, in time the yin network vessels are damaged and the blood spills internally causing bloody stool.
birth
Synonyms: childbirth.
birth gate
The cervix of the uterus. The Wings to the Classified Canon states, "At the bottom of the uterus is a door, which in women can be felt with the hand. This is what is commonly called chan3 men2." yin door
bitter
bitter taste in the mouth
Experience of a bitter flavor not attributable to foodstuffs. Bitter taste is the most commonly reported deviation from "harmony of mouth." It is explained in terms of bile in the mouth. The Magic Pivot states, "When bile is discharged, there is a bitter taste in the mouth." It is a sign of liver or gallbladder disease and most commonly reflects steaming of gallbladder qi when there is heat in the liver and gallbladder. Elementary Questions states, "When there is illness marked by a bitter taste in the mouth... the disease is called `gallbladder pure heat'... the person affected is one who plots and schemes indecisively, so that the gallbladder becomes vacuous and qi spills upward to make the mouth bitter."
bitter vomiting
Synonyms: vomiting of bitter water; vomiting of bile.
Vomiting of bitter-tasting fluid. Bitter vomiting is usually a sign of disease in the liver channel.
Medication: Medication: Treat with Bupleurum Gallbladder-Clearing Decoction, which is comprised of bupleurum (Bupleuri Radix), scutellaria (Scutellariae Radix), pinellia (Pinelliae Tuber), tangerine peel (Citri Exocarpium), licorice (Glycyrrhizae Radix), or bamboo sh
Acupuncture: Acupuncture: Base treatment on PC, ST, and CV, and on alarm and lower uniting points of GB. Select CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), PC-6 (Inner Pass), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), LR-3 (Supreme Surge), GB-24 (Sun and Moon), and GB-34 (Yang Mound Spring); needle with
bitterness
The flavor of burnt things; the flavor associated with fire. Bitterness enters the heart; it can drain and dry. See five flavors and five flavor entries.
bitterness enters the heart
Bitter medicinals act on the heart. Examples of bitter medicinals that enter the heart are coptis (Coptidis Rhizoma), scutellaria (Scutellariae Radix), gardenia (Gardeniae Fructus), forsythia (Forsythiae Fructus), moutan (Moutan Radicis Cortex), polygala (Polygalae Radix), dried rehmannia (Rehmanniae Radix Exsiccata), salvia (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix), madder (Rubiae Radix), and peach kernel (Persicae Semen).
bl
Abbreviation for the bladder or the foot greater yang bladder channel.
black
Color associated with water and the kidney in the five phases.
black face
Synonyms: black facial complexion.
black facial complexion
Synonyms: black face
A sign of severe or intractable disease, associated with kidney vacuity and blood stasis. A complexion that is soot-black (black with a tinge of yellow), dark gray, or purple-black may occur in enduring diseases, patterns characterized by kidney essence depletion or in static blood accumulation patterns.
black jaundice
From Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Coffer. Jaundice characterized by a blackish facial complexion. Black jaundice arises in persistent jaundice as a result of liver-kidney debilitation and stasis turbidity causing internal obstruction. The body is yellow and lusterless, while the eyes and face are blackish. There is anguish in the heart, dry skin that is insensitive to scratching, black stool, bladder tension (smaller-abdominal distention and fullness), heat in the underside of the feet, and a weak floating pulse. In severe cases, the abdomen is distended as if containing water, the face is puffy, and pain in the spine prevents the patient from standing erect.
Medication: Medication: Treat by supporting right and supplementing the liver and kidney, supported by attacking evil and transforming stasis. Niter and Alum Powder can be combined with liver-kidney--enriching medicinals.
black mole
A black or dark brown spot, from the size of a millet seed to the size of a soybean, either flat or raised, often growing stringlike hairs. Black moles are found on the face and other parts of the body, and are attributed to turbid qi in the kidney channel binding in the skin. Normally, they require no treatment, but when they gradually grow larger as a result of friction, they can be treated with Water Crystal Paste. Swift appearance or sudden increase in size may indicate what is termed malignancy in Western medicine. Compare blood mole.
black stool
Stool that is extremely dark in color; a sign of static blood.
black teeth
Sudden blackening of the teeth is sign of impending death. If the gums of black, this is expiration of the heart and liver. Black teeth with lumbar pain and reversal cold of the feet is observed in steaming bones.
black tongue fur
A tongue fur presenting a blackish or grayish coloration. Black fur may occur in cold, heat, repletion, and vacuity patterns, but most commonly indicates exuberant evil. A rough dry black fur somewhat parched in appearance, on a red or deep red tongue body indicates damp-heat transforming into dryness or damage to yin by intense heat. A thick slimy black fur usually indicates a phlegm-damp complication. A glossy black fur signifies either stomach or kidney vacuity. A slimy yellow fur with a grayish black coloring generally indicates exuberant damp-heat. A mixed gray and white fur or a gray fur that is thin, slimy, and glossy generally means cold-damp.
black vaginal discharge
blackhead
bladder
One of the six bowels; the organ in the smaller abdomen that stores and discharges urine. The bladder stands in exterior-interior relationship with the kidney. Elementary Questions states, "The bladder holds the office of river island (or Regional Rectifier), stores fluid, and by qi transformation lets it out." The qi transformtion in this context is seen as kidney qi transformation. See kidney governs water.
bladder channel
Synonyms: foot greater yang bladder channel.
bladder cough
From Elementary Questions. Cough with urinary incontinence. See cough.
bladder damp-heat
Synonyms: damp-heat brewing in the bladder; downpour of damp-heat into the bladder.
A disease pattern that arises when damp-heat causes inhibited bladder qi transformation and that manifests in frequent urination, urinary urgency, inhibited urination, painful urination, red or yellow murky urine, or bloody urine. Other signs of bladder damp-heat include heat~effusion, lumbar pain, and sand or stones in the urine. The tongue is red with slimy yellow fur. The pulse is rapid and slippery.
Medication: Clear heat and disinhibit dampness; disinhibit water and free strangury. Commonly used medicinals include mutong (Mutong Caulis), plantago (Plantaginis Herba), knotgrass (Polygoni Avicularis Herba), talcum (Talcum), dianthus (Dianthi Herba), gardenia (Ga
Acupuncture: Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on BL and CV. Select CV-3 (Central Pole), BL-28 (Bladder Transport), SP-9 (Yin Mound Spring), and SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection); needle with drainage. For short voidings of reddish urine, add GV-27 (Extremity of the Mout
bladder damp-heat bloody urine
Synonyms: lower burner damp-heat bloody urine.
Bloody urine attributed to bladder damp-heat. Bladder damp-heat bloody urine is marked by dry pharynx and mouth, tense fullness in the lesser abdomen, rough voidings of reddish urine, dribbling urinary blockage, slimy yellow tongue fur, and a rapid pulse.
Medication: Clear heat and disinhibit dampness. Cephalanoplos Drink.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on BL, CV, and SP. Select BL-28 (Bladder Transport), CV-3 (Central Pole), SP-9 (Yin Mound Spring), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), SP-10 (Sea of Blood), and BL-60 (Kunlun Mountains). Needle with drainage.
bladder disease
Any morbid state of the bladder. Bladder disease manifests in changes in urine and urination. It may take the form of vacuity or repletion. Vacuity patterns are attributable to insufficiency of kidney qi affecting bladder qi transformation (voiding of urine) and take the form of frequent urination, dribbling incontinence, or enuresis. Repletion patterns are usually attributable to damp-heat and are characterized by short voidings of reddish urine, murky urine, frequent urination with difficulty in voiding, heat pain during urination, stones, pus, or bloody urine, and urinary block with painful distention of the lesser abdomen. Vacuity patterns are treated by supplementing the kidney and securing the bladder; damp-heat patterns are treated by clearing heat and disinhibiting dampness.
bladder distention
Fullness of the lower abdomen with inhibited urination, usually attributed to bladder cold
Medication: Medication: Treat with formulas such as Complementarity Decoction. Bladder distention may also be observed in drum distention patterns, for which bladder channel conductors such as talcum (Talcum) and notopterygium (Notopterygii Rhizoma) are added to the
bladder governs fluid storage
The bladder is the collecting point of water passing through the triple burner, from where it is discharged by kidney qi transformation.
bladder heat bind
Synonyms: heat binding in the bladder.
bladder holds the office of the river island; it stores fluids
The bladder stores urine. The "office of the river island" is one interpretation of, by which taken to mean. Other interpretations claim to be a confluence of waters. P.U. Unschuld suggests that literally to mean Regional Rectifier, an official title in ancient China.
bladder impediment
A condition characterized by smaller-abdominal distention with pain exacerbated by pressure and difficult urination, and attended by runny nose with clear snivel (nasal mucus). Bladder impediment arises when wind-cold-damp settles in the bladder, causes bladder vacuity cold, and disrupts normal qi transformation. A pattern of similar smaller-abdominal signs may be the result of damp-heat brewing in the bladder.
Medication: Wind-cold-damp patterns are treated by warming and freeing with formulas such as Kidney Fixity Decoction; damp-heat patterns are treated by clearing and disinhibiting with formulas like Eight Corrections Powder and variations. See impediment.
bladder qi block
Impairment of bladder qi transformation (the action of the bladder) mostly related to inhibited qi transformation of the kidney, lung, or triple burner, resulting in inhibited urination, difficult urination, or urinary block with smaller-abdominal distention. Bladder qi block is a functional disorder of the bladder preventing normal flow of urine, and differs from blockage caused by stones, which is of a mechanical nature.
Medication: For inhibited qi transformation of the bladder due to kidney vacuity, use variations of Life Saver Kidney Qi Pill. For inhibited qi transformation of the bladder due to lung qi congestion, use the method of "raising the pot and removing the lid" (causi
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on KI and BL. Select BL-23 (Kidney Transport), BL-22 (Triple Burner Transport), KI-10 (Yin Valley), BL-39 (Bend Yang), and SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), needle with supplementation and add moxa. For pronounced smaller-abdominal ful
bladder qi transformation failure
Impairment of bladder function. Qi transformation in its widest sense denotes all transformations of qi, blood, fluids, and essence in the body. Bladder qi transformation denotes the function of ensuring the regular uninhibited discharge of urine. Breakdown of bladder qi transformation can result in any of the following: frequent urination; profuse urination at night; enuresis; urinary incontinence; dribble after voiding; urinary urgency; inhibited urination; and painful urination. Inhibited bladder qi transformation is a term often used specifically to denote the pathomechanism that explains frequent urination, dribble after voiding, urinary urgency, inhibited urination, and painful urination, as well as signs such as turbid urine or the passage of sand or stones that frequently accompany them.
bladder vacuity cold
Loss of the retentive power of the bladder due either to insufficiency of qi transformation or to contraction of external cold evil. The main signs of bladder vacuity cold are frequent voidings of clear urine, enuresis, dribble after voiding, or incontinence. Other signs include white turbidity after urination, ungratifying dribbling urination, inability to achieve a full stream, and smaller-abdominal cold pain. Lumbar pain and other kidney yang vacuity signs are usually present. The tongue is pale with a thin moist white fur. The pulse is sunken and fine.
Medication: Stream-Reducing Pill or Dyke-Strengthening Pill.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on BL and CV. Select CV-3 (Central Pole), BL-28 (Bladder Transport), CV-4 (Pass Head), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), and BL-23 (Kidney Transport); needle with supplementation and add moxa. For pronounced vacuity cold, add CV-6 (Sea
bland
bland taste in the mouth
Lack of taste in the mouth. Patients suffering from bland taste in the mouth differ from normal individuals with harmony of mouth in that food lacks flavor and eating leaves no pleasant taste in the mouth. It is attributed to spleen-stomach vacuity or to dampness obstructing the center burner. It may also be observed in patients suffering from aversion to cold and heat~effusion due to external contraction of wind-cold.
blandness
Mild flavor, or the absence of a predominating flavor. The flavor associated with damp-percolating and water-disinhibiting medicinals. See five flavors; five flavor entries.
blast-frying
Stir-frying (medicinal materials) vigorously in an iron wok over a fierce fire until they give off smoke and their surface becomes scorched, swollen, and cracked. Dried ginger (Zingiberis Rhizoma Exsiccatum), aconite (Aconiti Tuber Laterale), and tianxiong aconite (Aconiti Tuber Laterale Tianxiong) may be processed in this way to reduce their harshness. Compare char-frying.
blaze
To burn furiously. Describes heat in the exuberant heat stage of warm diseases. See heat.
blazing bone
A bone on the inside of the foot.
blazing of both qi and blood
Synonyms: qi and blood both ablaze.
blazing of both qi and construction
Synonyms: qi and construction both ablaze
bleed
To put or bring forth blood.
bleeding
The escape of blood from vessels.. See blood spillage
bleeding gums
Synonyms: spontaneous bleeding of the gums.
bleeding hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids with pronounced bleeding.
blister
Synonyms: vesicle.
An elevation in the skin containing fluid; attributable to friction, heat, or to certain heat (febrile) diseases. Blistering occurs in scarring moxibustion; medicinal-induced blister moxibustion. girdling fire cinnabar; heaven-borne blisters; tongue blister; lacquer sore; palm heart toxin sore; plaster wind; wind red sore;
Definition: chicken pox.
block
Blockage. The term block occurs in the terminology of signs and pathomechanisms: (1) blockage of normal discharge from the body, as in menstrual block (amenorrhea), fecal block (constipation), and dribbling urinary block (retention of urine). (2) blockage or disturbance of the pathways of qi as in qi block. See also stoppage
block and repulsion
Urinary stoppage (block) and continuous vomiting (repulsion) caused by insufficiency of the spleen and kidney with depressed lodged damp turbidity transforming into heat and thrusting upward.
Vomiting with the gradual appearance of fecal and urinary stoppage, accompanied by a sense of blockage in the throat. This is a severe form of dysphagia-occlusion .
Exuberance of both yin and yang. When yin qi is overexuberant and yang qi is not nourished, this is called block. When yang qi is overexuberant and yin qi is not nourished, this is called repulsion. When yin and yang are both overexuberant and fail to nourish each other, this is called block and repulsion.
Extremely exuberant wrist and man's prognosis pulses, which are a sign of impending separation of yin and yang.
Medication: Treatment involves the use of Golden Coffer Kidney Qi Pill to provide warming supplementation and boost kidney qi and to warm yang and transform water, and Left-Running Metal Pill to harmonize the stomach and downbear turbidity. Where enduring depression
block pattern
blockage
blood
The red fluid of the body that according to traditional explanations is derived from the essential qi derived from food by the stomach and spleen, which becomes red blood after being transformed by construction qi and the lung. Blood flows to all parts of the body, and is governed by the heart. By the action of the heart and lung, it flows through the vessels, carrying nourishment to the whole of the body. All the bowels and viscera and all parts of the body rely on the blood for nourishment. The heart and liver are said to have their own blood, the terms heart blood and liver blood meaning blood in relation to the functions of those two viscera. See heart qi and heart blood; liver blood.
blood accumulation
An accumulation of static blood due to qi counterflow and blood depression or due to injury from knocks and falls. Blood accumulation is accompanied by a withered-yellow facial complexion with crab claw markings, a lump in the abdomen of rib-side that does not move and frequently causes pain, and constipation or black stool.
Medication: Quicken the blood and transform stasis with formulas like Dead-On Pill, Peach Kernel and Carthamus Four Agents Decoction, Peach Kernel Qi-Coordinating Decoction, or Rhubarb and Wingless Cockroach Pill.
Acupuncture: Main points are blood-quickening stasis-dispelling points such as BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport), SP-10 (Sea of Blood), LI-4 (Union Valley), LR-3 (Supreme Surge), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), and Glomus Root; needle with even supplementation and drainage o
blood amassment
A greater yang cold damage pattern in which evil heat enters the interior to contend with the blood, causing stasis heat amassing and binding internally and manifesting in the form of smaller-abdominal pain and distention, heat~effusion and aversion to cold, clear-mindedness in the daytime that gives way to delirious raving, mania, confused speech, and vociferation and violent behavior at night.
Any substantial or insubstantial blood stasis accumulation due to internal causes or to external injury.
Medication: A greater yang cold damage pattern in which evil heat enters the interior to contend with the blood, causing stasis heat amassing and binding internally and manifesting in the form of smaller-abdominal pain and distention, heat~effusion and aversion to c
blood amassment yellowing
Synonyms: static blood yellowing.
From Cold Damage Life-for-All Collection. Jaundice due to stasis heat amassing internally. On Cold Damage states "Greater yang disease with yellow body, bound sunken pulse, lesser-abdominal hardness and inhibited urination indicates a lack of blood; if there is uninhibited urination and the patient acts like a maniac, this is definitely a blood pattern."
Medication: Treat by offensive expulsion of stasis heat. Peach Kernel Qi-Coordinating Decoction or Dead-On Decoction.
blood arrow
Spontaneous external bleeding of the flesh, attributable to exuberant fire in the heart channel that causes frenetic movement of the blood. Blood arrow is characterized by red macules and bleeding from the pores, in severe cases with blood spurting out like an arrow.
intestinal aggregation
Medication: Enrich yin, downbear fire, and cool the blood using Blood-Cooling Rehmannia Decoction. If bleeding is profuse, use Tangkuei Blood-Supplementing Decoction. Peach Blossom Powder may be applied topically.
blood aspect
Synonyms: defense, qi, construction, and blood.
blood chamber
The uterus. The thoroughfare vessel. The liver.
blood chest bind
A yang-natured cold damage pattern arising when blood ejection is incomplete and blood amasses in the upper burner. It is characterized by distention, fullness, hardness and pain in the chest and abdomen, generalized heat~effusion with only a desire to wet the mouth rather than swallow fluid, forgetfulness, black stool, and inhibited urination.
Medication: Use formulas such as Rhinoceros Horn and Rehmannia Decoction or Dead-On Decoction.
Acupuncture: Base treatment on CV, PC, SP, and LR. Select CV-17 (Chest Center), PC-6 (Inner Pass), SP-10 (Sea of Blood), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), LR-3 (Supreme Surge), PC-5 (Intermediary Courier), and HT-7 (Spirit Gate); needle with drainage.
blood cold
Congealing cold and qi stagnation inhibiting movement of blood causing stasis. Blood cold is observed in mounting qi, concretions, conglomerations, accumulations, and gatherings, delayed menstruation, and scant menstruation, frostbite, and sloughing flat-abscess. Blood cold mostly arises through blood congealing in the liver vessel. Elementary Questions states, "The reverting yin vessel connects with the yin organs (genitals) and ties to the liver; when cold qi settles in this vessel, the blood congeals and the pulse because urgent; hence there is pain from the rib-side to the lesser abdomen."
blood cold delayed menstruation
Delayed menstruation due to blood cold, most commonly observed in postpartum patients who contract external cold that seizes a vacuity and storms the uterus, where it causes stagnation of the blood. Arrival of periods is delayed and flow is dark, clotted, and scant. The condition is associated with gripping abdominal pain relieved by warmth, green-blue or white facial complexion, physical cold, and aversion to cold. If flow is scant and pale and accompanied by dull abdominal pain relieved by warmth and pressure, a bright white facial complexion, dizziness and shortness of breath, the pattern is one of thoroughfare and controlling vessel vacuity cold making the blood powerless to move.
Medication: Repletion cold is treated by warming the channels and moving stagnation using Channel-Warming (Menses-Warming) Decoction; vacuity cold is treated by warming the channels and nourishing the blood with Major Construction Brew.
Acupuncture: Base treatment on the CV and the three yin channels of the foot. Main points: CV-6 (Sea of Qi), KI-13 (Qi Point), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), needle with supplementation and add moxa. To warm the channels and move stagnation, add ST-29 (Return), ST-25
blood cold scant menstruation
Scant menstruation due to yang vacuity engendering internal yin cold, insufficient production of blood due to reduced qi transformation and shortage of blood in the thoroughfare and controlling vessels. A scant thin pale or dark pale or dark flow is accompanied by physical cold and aversion to cold, cold pain in the smaller abdomen relieved by warmth.
Medication: Warm the channels and nourish the blood with formulas such as Major Construction Brew with the addition of blast-fried ginger (Zingiberis Rhizoma Tostum) and, if necessary, aconite (Aconiti Tuber Laterale).
Acupuncture: Acupuncture: The CV, back transport points, SP, and ST provide the main basis for treatment. Select CV-6 (Sea of Qi), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), BL-20 (Spleen Transport), BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), CV-4 (Pass Head), GV-4 (Life
blood collapse
Acute, critical vacuity of the blood.
blood concretion
An abdominal lump attributable to accumulation of static blood congesting the channels. Concretions may occur in the rib-side or below the abdomen. They feel hard to the touch, do not move when pushed, and are associated with local stasis pain. Patients suffering from them also reveal signs such as gradual emaciation, fatigue and lack of strength, reduced food intake, and in women menstrual irregularities or menstrual block.
Medication: Quicken the blood and dissipate stasis. If visceral qi is weak, support right and dispel the evil. Formulas that may be used include Turtle Shell Decocted Pill, Concretion-Transforming Return-to-Life Elixir, Infradiaphragmatic Stasis-Expelling Decoction,
Acupuncture: Base treatment on back transport points, SP, and LR. Main points are blood-quickening stasis-dispelling points such as BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport), SP-10 (Sea of Blood), LI-4 (Union Valley), LR-3 (Supreme Surge), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), and Glomus
blood depletion menstrual block
Menstrual block (absence of menstruation) due to blood depletion arising when loss of blood, early marriage, excessive number of births, or excessive breast feeding causes damage to essence-blood. Blood depletion menstrual block appears gradually, and menstrual flow gradually becomes increasingly scant until it finally ceases. It is accompanied by no thought of food and drink, dry skin, and emaciation.
Medication: Supplement the blood and boost qi using formulas such as Ginseng Construction-Nourishing Decoction or Perfect Major Supplementation Decoction.
Acupuncture: Base treatment on CV and back transport points, selecting CV-4 (Pass Head), BL-18 (Liver Transport), BL-23 (Kidney Transport), BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport), BL-20 (Spleen Transport), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), and the Four Flower
blood depression
A condition that results from sudden violent flights of anger, sprains, or irregular eating and that is characterized by stabbing pain in the chest and rib-side accompanied by lack of strength in the limbs, dribbling urination, bloody stool or a pulse sunken, scallion-stalk, rough, bound, or skipping and scallion-stalk.
Medication: Harmonize the blood and resolve depression with Blood Depression Decoction, Four Agents Depression-Transforming Decoction or Toosendan Powder with the judicious addition of peach kernel (Persicae Semen), tangkuei tails (Angelicae Sinensis Radicis Extremit
blood desertion
Depletion of true yin and emptiness of the sea of blood resulting from insufficiency of the congenital constitution, anxiety, taxation fatigue, sexual taxation, damage by food and liquor, or massive or chronic loss of blood. Blood desertion is characterized by somber white facial complexion that is sheenless and perished, as well as dizziness and flowery vision, heart palpitations or fearful throbbing, shortness of breath and faint breathing, cold limbs, clouding reversal and loss of consciousness. The tongue is pale; the pulse is empty and vacuous, or scallion-stalk, or faint and fine, verging on expiration. Loss of blood deprives the skin and flesh of nourishment, hence the somber white perished complexion and pale tongue. When it deprives the clear orifices of nourishment, there is dizziness and flowery vision. When it deprives the heart-spirit of nourishment, there are heart palpitations or fearful throbbing. The blood is the mother of qi, and qi is the commander of the blood. Massive loss of blood deprives qi of its support, causing qi to desert with the blood and giving rise to signs such as cold limbs and, in severe cases, clouding reversal and loss of consciousness. With the sudden reduction in the volume of blood that results from excessive loss of blood, construction-blood is insufficient and fails to fill the vessels; hence the pulse is empty and vacuous, or faint and verging on desertion. If yang qi loses its support and dissipates outward, there is a scallion-stalk pulse.
Medication: Boost yin and supplement the blood using Construction-Supplementing Decoction or Ginseng Construction-Nourishing Decoction. For acute hemorrhage, supplement qi, nourish the blood, and stem desertion, using Pure Ginseng Decoction or Ginseng and Aconite De
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on back transport points, CV, and SP; select points such as CV-6 (Sea of Qi), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport), BL-20 (Spleen Transport), and BL-21 (Stomach Transport); needle with supp
blood desertion with qi desertion
Synonyms: qi deserting with the blood.
blood desiccation
Blood vacuity manifesting in emaciation, scant semen, and menstrual block.
Insufficiency of the blood due to massive bleeding.
blood desiccation menstrual block
Menstrual block (absence of menses) due to desiccation of the blood. Distinction is made between vacuity and repletion patterns.
blood disease pattern
Any abnormal condition of the bloodBlood Disease Patterns See the entries listed below.
blood vacuity
blood desertion
blood stasis
blood heat
blood dryness
blood cold
blood drum
Synonyms: blood drum distention; blood gu.
Drum distention (pronounced abdominal distention), arising when blood stasis and qi stagnation hamper the movement of water-damp. Blood drum is characterized by enlargement of the abdomen with green-blue prominent vessels (caput medusae), and red-thread marks (spider nevi), black stool, short voidings of reddish urine, and a scallion-stalk pulse. In some cases there is spontaneous external bleeding or blood ejection.
Medication: Quicken the blood and move stasis; fortify the spleen and disinhibit dampness. Use formulas such as Dead-On Pill and Spleen-Firming Beverage.
Acupuncture: Two sets of points may be used: (1) CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), ST-25 (Celestial Pivot), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport), KI-9 (Guest House), and KI-16 (Huang Transport). (2) ~ SP-15 (Great Horizontal), CV-6 (Sea of Qi), SP-6 (Three Yin
blood drum distention
Synonyms: blood drum.
blood dryness
Blood vacuity manifesting in signs of dryness. Blood dryness may occur when essence-blood is depleted in old age or when nutritional disturbances or static blood binding internally reduce the nutritive power of the blood. Blood dryness is characterized by emaciation, rough dry skin (), brittle nails, dry lusterless hair, hard stool, and dry tongue. Itchy and scaling skin, occurring either alone or with the above signs, is known as blood dryness (or blood vacuity) engendering wind.
Medication: Nourish the blood and moisten dryness with dried/fresh rehmannia (Rehmanniae Radix Exsiccata seu Recens), cooked rehmannia (Rehmanniae Radix Conquita), flowery knotweed (Polygoni Multiflori Radix), tangkuei (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), salvia (Salviae Milt
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on ST, SP, LR and KI. Select ST-36 (Leg Three Li), LR-3 (Supreme Surge), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), KI-3 (Great Ravine), KI-6 (Shining Sea), BL-20 (Spleen Transport), and BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport); needle with supplementation.
blood dryness engendering wind
Synonyms: blood vacuity engendering wind.
blood dysentery
Synonyms: red dysentery.
Dysentery characterized by bright bloody stool or passing of pure blood, associated with tenesmus and an exuberant pulse.
Medication: Clear the intestines and resolve toxin with formulas such as Pulsatilla Decoction. For persistent passage of blood, use Coptis and Ass Hide Glue Decoction with the judicious addition of blood-cooling blood-quickening medicinals like lonicera (Lonicerae Fl
Acupuncture: To clear the intestines and resolve toxin, base treatment mainly on ST and LI; select BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport), LI-4 (Union Valley), ST-25 (Celestial Pivot), ST-37 (Upper Great Hollow), ST-36 (Leg Three Li) SP-4 (Yellow Emperor), GV-1 (Long Strong), LI
blood ejection
Ejection of blood through the mouth; vomiting or expectoration of blood (i.e., respiratory tract or digestive tract bleeding); sometimes defined as being associated with neither the sound of retching or of coughing. Blood ejection is attributed liquor damage, food damage, or taxation fatigue causing exuberant heat in the bowels and viscera, effulgent yin vacuity fire, or qi vacuity and spleen cold. The main patterns are accumulated heat in the stomach, intense liver fire, effulgent yin vacuity fire, spleen-stomach vacuity cold, and qi vacuity verging on desertion.
blood failing to nourish the sinews
Insufficiency of liver blood manifesting in hypertonicity of the sinews, numbness or wilting of limbs, or brittle nails. The liver stores the blood and governs the sinews, and the nails are the surplus of the sinews. Hence, insufficiency of liver blood depriving the sinews of nourishment manifests in abnormalities of the sinews and nails.
blood failing to stay in the channels
Escape of blood from the vessels. Examples of blood failing to stay in the channels include flooding and spotting, blood ejection, spontaneous external bleeding, bloody stool, bloody urine, and stasis macules, which may be due to qi vacuity, qi counterflow, blood stasis, fire or heat.
blood falling with qi
Bleeding due to qi vacuity fall. For example, spleen-stomach vacuity can cause qi vacuity fall and deprive qi of the ability to contain the blood, so that blood becomes depressed in the lower body and seeps out. It is accompanied by devitalized essence-spirit, fatigued limbs, somber white facial complexion, pale tongue with scant fur, and a rapid vacuous or forceless fine sunken pulse.
blood flying to the eye
The development of red vessels in the whites of the eye. Blood flying into the eye occurs in a number of eye diseases such as peppercorn sore, millet sores, and fire gan.
blood goiter
A goiter on the neck characterized by purple red coloration of the skin and red intersecting veins. It arises when blood heat stemming from fulminant exuberance of liver fire contends with an externally contracted evil.
Medication: Enrich yin and suppress fire; nourish the blood and transform stasis. Use Scutellaria, Coptis, Anemarrhena, and Fritillaria Pill or combine sargassum (Sargassi Herba), clamshell (Cyclinae (seu Meretricis) Concha), kelp (Algae Thallus), alisma (Alismatis R
Acupuncture: Base treatment on TB, GB, LI, ST, SP, and LR. Needle with even supplementation and drainage at TB-13 (Upper Arm Convergence), LI-4 (Union Valley), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), KI-6 (Shining Sea), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), CV-22 (Celestial Chimney), SI-17 (C
blood gu
Synonyms: blood drum.
blood heat
A condition characterized by heat and blood signs, mostly occurring in externally contracted heat (febrile) diseases, though not uncommon in miscellaneous diseases. When blood heat scorches the vessels causing extravasation of the blood, there is retching of blood, expectoration of blood, bloody stool or urine, nosebleed, or menstrual irregularities (see following entries). This pathomechanism is called frenetic blood heat (or frenetic movement of hot blood). Bleeding is often profuse and the blood is either bright red or purple-black in color. Blood heat can also cause red papules and macules. General signs of blood heat such as heart vexation, thirst, red or sunken red tongue, and rapid pulse all indicate heat. Coma may occur in severe cases.
Medication: Cool the blood, clear heat, and resolve toxin using medicinals such as dried/fresh rehmannia (Rehmanniae Radix Exsiccata seu Recens), fresh imperata (Imperatae Rhizoma Recens), puccoon (Lithospermi, Macrotomiae, seu Onosmatis Radix), moutan (Moutan Radici
Acupuncture: The following points are considered to clear heat and cool the blood: KI-2 (Blazing Valley), LR-2 (Moving Between), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), SP-10 (Sea of Blood), PC-7 (Great Mound), HT-7 (Spirit Gate), PC-3 (Marsh at the Bend), and BL-17 (Diaphragm
blood heat advanced menstruation
Advanced menstruation (i.e., premature arrival of periods) due to blood heat. Blood heat advanced menstruation occurs in women who usually have internal heat or like hot spicy food; it may result from contracting heat evil; it may stem from excessive anger causing qi depression that transforms into fire; it can also be the result of yin vacuity internal heat. In all cases, the heat harasses the thoroughfare and controlling vessels and causes frenetic movement of the blood.
blood heat flooding and spotting
Flooding and spotting (abnormal discharge of blood via the vagina) due to blood heat. Blood heat flooding and spotting forms a repletion pattern when due to constitutional internal heat, excessive consumption of hot spicy food, or contraction of heat evil. It may stem from excessive anger causing qi depression that transforms into fire. It can also be the result of yin vacuity internal heat. In all cases, the heat harasses the thoroughfare and controlling vessels and causes frenetic movement of the blood.
blood heat habitual miscarriage
Habitual miscarriage due to blood heat lying latent in the thoroughfare and controlling vessels, causing frenetic movement of the blood that damages the fetal origin. The patient experiences smaller-abdominal pain, heart vexation, thirst, and desire for cool drinks. Bleeding from the vagina portends stirring fetus and impending miscarriage.
Medication: Clear heat and quiet the fetus with Yin-Safeguarding Brew. See habitual miscarriage.
blood heat profuse menstruation
Profuse menstruation due to blood heat damaging the thoroughfare and controlling vessels and causing frenetic movement of the blood. Distinction is made between vacuity heat and repletion heat.
blood impediment
From Elementary Questions. An impediment pattern that results from evil entering the blood aspect in patients suffering from qi-blood vacuity, often traceable to sleeping in drafts or sweating from exertion. Blood impediment is characterized by numbness, pain in the limbs, and a faint rough pulse that is fine and tight at the cubit.
Wind impediment migrating from place to place with no fixed location.
Medication: Boost qi and harmonize construction; free yang and move impediment . Use formulas such as Tangkuei Decoction or Astragalus and Cinnamon Twig Five Agents Decoction.
Acupuncture: Use the same basic formulas as given for wind impediment, and add points such as ST-36 (Leg Three Li), BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport), BL-20 (Spleen Transport), and LR-3 (Supreme Surge) to boost qi and nourish the blood.
blood in the stool
Synonyms: bloody stool.
blood in the urine
Synonyms: bloody urine.
blood is the mother of qi
The nourishing action of blood is necessary for the activity of qi. The capacity of qi to enable all parts of the body to carry out their various activities is attributable to the adequate supply of nutrition from the blood. Blood is to qi as a mother is to a child. This is one aspect of the yin-yang relationship between qi and blood. See qi is the commander of the blood.
blood loss
Reduction in blood due any form of bleeding, notably spontaneous external bleeding, blood ejection, retching of blood, expectoration of blood, coughing of blood, spitting of blood, spontaneous external bleeding, bloody stool, bloody urine, or bleeding from wounds (see incised wound). Blood loss is attributed fire heat, vacuity cold, blood stasis, or external injury.
blood loss dizziness
Dizziness due to loss of blood through blood ejection, nosebleed, flooding and spotting, or external injury, and accompanied by somber white facial complexion, heart palpitations, spontaneous sweating, pale tongue, and, in severe cases, reversal desertion (i.e., shock).
Medication: Supplement the blood and boost qi with Ginseng Construction-Nourishing Decoction or Spleen-Returning Decoction.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on GV, CV, ST, and SP. Select GV-20 (Hundred Convergences), ST-8 (Head Corner), CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), BL-20 (Spleen Transport), and SP-1 (Hidden White); needle with supplementation and add moxa. For reve
blood management failure
Synonyms: spleen failing to manage the blood.
blood mole
A clearly delineated smooth shiny purple-red patch or swelling on the skin, usually of the face, neck or trunk, that bleeds fresh blood when forcefully ruptured. It is congenital, or attributable to binding depression of fire and anger in the liver channel.
Medication: Apply Borneol and Freshwater Snail Powder. When the mole has disappeared, apply Pearl Powder. If there is pronounced bleeding, take Blood-Cooling Rehmannia Decoction.
blood mounting
Painful binding of static blood in the smaller abdomen manifesting as hard fullness that is palpably circumscribed, and, in severe cases, associated with black stool, inhibited urination, and menstrual irregularities.
Blood swelling of the scrotum following external injury.
Medication: Use Cinnamon Twig and Poria (Hoelen) Pill or Lesser Abdomen Stasis-Expelling Decoction.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on LR and SP. Select LR-2 (Moving Between), SP-10 (Sea of Blood), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), CV-3 (Central Pole), and GB-41 (Foot Overlooking Tears); needle with drainage.
blood network vessel
blood pattern
Any manifestation of disease in the blood. The main blood patterns are blood vacuity, blood stasis, and blood heat. See also blood dryness; blood desiccation; blood cold.
blood pouring into the pupil spirit
A condition characterized by a blood spot in the pupil that obstructs vision. Blood pouring into the pupil spirit may be the result of exuberant liver-gallbladder heat or yin vacuity fire flaming upward and causing frenetic movement of hot blood. It may also be the result of external injury or surgery.
Medication: Clear heat and cool the blood with Rhinoceros Horn and Rehmannia Decoction and variations, by enriching yin and downbearing fire with Anemarrhena, Phellodendron, and Rehmannia Pill, or by clearing heat, cooling the blood, and dissipating stasis with Rhuba
blood reversal
Clouding reversal (clouding of consciousness and cold limbs) due to blood loss (blood desertion) or to sudden violent anger causing qi to move counterflow and blood to become depressed in the upper body.
blood spillage
The escape of blood from the vessels; bleeding; hemorrhage. Blood leaving its channels and flowing out of the body. Although the causes of blood spillage are numerous, they are all embraced by two pathomechanisms: damage to the nextwork vessels due to external injury and qi failing to contain the blood. Spontaneous external bleeding is blood spillage not attributable to external injury. Severe blood spillage gives rise to blood collapse.
blood stagnation abdominal pain
Synonyms: static blood abdominal pain.
blood stagnation menstrual block
Menstrual block (absence of menses) attributable to qi depression and blood stagnation obstructing the thoroughfare and controlling vessels and preventing blood from reaching the uterus. Blood stagnation menstrual block often stems from constrained emotions. Attending signs include purple somber facial complexion, smaller-abdominal pain exacerbated by pressure, with pain sometimes reaching to the rib-sides.
Medication: Resolve depression and move qi; quicken the blood and free the channels. Use Stasis-Freeing Brew or Amber Powder.
Acupuncture: Base treatment on CV, SP, and LR; select CV-3 (Central Pole), SP-8 (Earth's Crux), SP-10 (Sea of Blood), LI-4 (Union Valley), LR-3 (Supreme Surge), and SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection); needle with drainage and add moxa. Point selection according to signs:
blood stasis
Impairment or cessation of the normal free flow of blood. Blood stasis may arise when knocks and falls, bleeding, qi stagnation, qi vacuity, blood cold, or blood heat impair free flow, causing local blood stasis. It manifests in a variety of ways including pain, abdominal masses, bleeding (especially from the vagina), and abdominal distention. The observable signs of blood stasis may be discussed under five headings: Static blood obstructs the channels impeding the flow of blood. Since "when there is stoppage, there is pain," pain is the outstanding feature of blood stasis. The pain associated with blood stasis differs from the acute and scurrying pain characterizing qi stagnation since it is of fixed location and confined to the locality of the obstruction, and is stabbing in nature. When static blood accumulates, it forms masses and swellings. When resulting from knocks and falls, it gives rise to local green-blue or purple swellings (bruises). When occurring internally, it may cause hard swellings that can develop into concretions and accumulations. Since static blood obstructs the vessels, blood may extravasate when unable to pursue its normal course. Periodic bleeding is a common sign of blood stasis, particularly in menstrual irregularities and postpartum diseases, and is generally characterized by dark purple clotted blood. The complexion tends to be soot-black. The tongue is dark and purple, with stasis speckles. The pulse is fine and rough. The skin may be rough, dry, and lusterless (encrusted skin) with red speckles and purple macules (both due to subcutaneous bleeding), red thread marks (spider nevi), and prominent green-blue veins on the abdomen (caput medusae). Such signs are observed in enduring sickness. When blood stasis overwhelms the heart, raving, delirious speech and mania are observed. Static blood obstructing the vessels may also affect the free flow of fluids, causing internal water accumulations, e.g., blood drum. The etiology of such conditions is described in Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Coffer by the phrase, "inhibited blood flow may give rise to water."
Medication: Quicken the blood and transform stasis. Commonly used medicinals include peach kernel (Persicae Semen), carthamus (Carthami Flos), tangkuei (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), salvia (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix), red peony (Paeoniae Radix Rubra), leonurus (Leonu
Acupuncture: Treatment varies according to cause and affected area. Points used to dispel stasis include: CV-17 (Chest Center), BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport), SP-10 (Sea of Blood), LI-4 (Union Valley), LR-3 (Supreme Surge), LR-2 (Moving Between), SP-6 (Three Yin Inters
blood stasis delayed menstruation
Delayed menstruation (late periods) due to blood stasis arising when qi stagnation or congealing cold obstruct the thoroughfare and controlling vessels and prevent the timely arrival of blood to the uterus.
blood stasis flooding and spotting
Flooding and spotting (abnormal discharge of blood via the vagina) due to static blood, which arises when internal damage by the seven affects or externally contracted evils cause static blood to collect before menstrual or postpartum blood has been fully discharged, so that static blood fails to be discharged and new blood fails to stay in the channels. Blood stasis flooding and spotting is characterized by either a sometimes scant, sometimes copious flow or by a dribbling inhibited flow that is dark in color, and thick and clotted in consistency. It is accompanied by abdominal pain exacerbated by pressure and relieved by the passing of clots.
Medication: Quicken the blood and move stasis using Hand-of-Buddha Powder, Sudden Smile Powder, or Leonurus (Motherwort) Paste.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on CV and SP. Select CV-6 (Sea of Qi), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), SP-1 (Hidden White), SP-8 (Earth's Crux), ST-30 (Qi Thoroughfare), and SP-12 (Surging Gate); needle with drainage.
blood stasis infertility
Infertility is due to blockage of the thoroughfare and controlling vessels and the blood vessels of the uterus by static blood that arises when affect-mind internal damage causes inhibited movement of qi and blood, or when contraction of cold evil causes blood to congeal and prevents receptivity to male essence (semen). It is attended by delayed menstruation, inhibited menstrual flow, clotted flow, and abdominal pain exacerbated by pressure.
blood stasis lumbar pain
Synonyms: static blood lumbar pain.
blood stasis menstrual pain
Menstrual pain attributed to blood stasis obstructing the thoroughfare and controlling vessels and the uterine vessels and is characterized by stabbing pain in the smaller abdomen prior to or during menstruation, scant clotted menstrual flow, and relief from discomfort after passing clots.
Medication: Move stasis and quicken the blood using Infradiaphragmatic Stasis-Expelling Decoction, Amber Powder, or Leonurus (Motherwort) Paste.
Acupuncture: Base treatment on the CV, SP, and LR. Select CV-3 (Central Pole), BL-32 (Second Bone-Hole), SP-8 (Earth's Crux), SP-10 (Sea of Blood), ST-29 (Return), CV-6 (Sea of Qi), LR-3 (Supreme Surge), and SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection); needle with drainage. If the
blood stasis scant menstruation
Scant menstruation due to blood stasis, usually caused by congealing cold and stagnant qi causing internal blood stasis inhibiting the movement of blood in the thoroughfare and controlling vessels
blood stasis wilting
Wilting (severe weakness of the sinews that hampers normal movement) due to blood stasis resulting from injuries from knocks and falls or arising after childbirth when static blood flows into the lumbus and knees before the lochia has been fully eliminated. Blood stasis wilting is characterized by wilting, limpness, and pain of the limbs preventing normal movement and a rough pulse.
Medication: Quicken blood and move stasis using Peach Kernel and Carthamus Four Agents Decoction and variations.
Acupuncture: Use the basic treatments given under wilting with points that dispel stasis such as BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport), SP-10 (Sea of Blood), LR-3 (Supreme Surge), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), and BL-40 (Bend Center); needle with even supplementation and drain
blood strangury
Strangury (dribbling urination) with blood in the urine. Distinction is made between blood vacuity, blood cold, blood heat, and blood stasis.
blood swelling
Water swelling due to blood stasis inhibiting the transformation of water-damp. Blood swelling is characterized by swelling, red filiform marks under the skin, and long voidings of clear urine. In women, there may be sudden water swelling after a sudden interruption in the menstrual flow with abdominal pain exacerbated by pressure.
Medication: Use Peach Kernel and Carthamus Four Agents Decoction or Substitute Dead-On Pill and variations.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on the CV, back transport points, and the three yin channels of the foot, selecting BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport), SP-10 (Sea of Blood), LR-3 (Supreme Surge), CV-9 (Water Divide), CV-6 (Sea of Qi), BL-22 (Triple Burner Transport), ST-3
blood thirst
Thirst due to blood vacuity and diminished liquid stemming from loss of blood.
Medication: Treat by major supplementation of the blood with formulas such as Four Agents Decoction or Tangkuei Blood-Supplementing Decoction and variations.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on the back transport points, ST, SP, and LR. Select Gold Liquid and Jade Humor, Sea Source, TB-2 (Humor Gate), BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport), BL-20 (Spleen Transport), BL-21 (Stomach Transport), LR-3 (Supreme Surge), ST-36 (Leg Three
blood tumor
A tumor (a growth on the outside of the body) attributed to blood bind and qi stagnation that block the channels and network vessels and are exacerbated by contraction of external evil. The tumor is purple or red in color, has hard and soft spots, and is surrounded by dimly visible red threads. If accidentally ruptured by grazing, it bleeds persistently. It may grow on the lips, neck, or limbs.
Medication: Cool and nourish the blood; enrich yin and repress fire. Use Scutellaria, Coptis, Anemarrhena, and Fritillaria Pill. See tumor.
blood vacuity
The manifestation of insufficiency of the blood. Blood vacuity may develop from excessive loss of blood before replenishment is complete. It may also be caused by insufficiency of blood formation stemming from splenic movement and transformation failure. A further cause is failure to eliminate static blood and engender new blood. Blood vacuity is characterized by a pale white or withered-yellow facial complexion, dizzy head, flowery vision, relatively pale tongue, and a fine pulse. Other commonly observed signs include heart palpitations or fearful throbbing, insomnia, and numbness of the extremities. Blood vacuity signs can reflect the insufficient supply of blood to nourish specific organs and channels. Thus, general signs must be correlated with organ-specific data to determine the focus of the vacuity. Since the blood is governed by the heart, stored by the liver, and produced and managed by the spleen, blood vacuity is intimately related to diseases of these viscera. Heart blood vacuity is characterized by signs of insufficiency of heart blood and disquieted heart spirit. Heart-spleen blood vacuity is characterized by signs of insufficiency of heart blood and the spleen failing to manage the blood. Liver blood vacuity is characterized by signs of insufficient supply of nourishment to the eyes and sinews or by diseases of the thoroughfare and controlling vessels. Since blood is yin in nature, blood vacuity and yin vacuity have much in common, both presenting such signs as dizzy head, flowery vision, heart palpitations, and a fine pulse. Blood vacuity, however, is not generally associated with heat signs, and may even be accompanied by cold signs when occurring with qi vacuity. It is readily distinguished from yin vacuity (vacuity of fluids in general), which is characterized by signs of heat and dryness such as upbearing fire flush, a rapid fine stringlike pulse, and a distinctly red tongue, all of which indicate internal heat or hyperactivity of yang.
Medication: Supplement the blood. Blood-supplementing medicinals include tangkuei (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), cooked rehmannia (Rehmanniae Radix Conquita), white peony (Paeoniae Radix Alba), flowery knotweed (Polygoni Multiflori Radix), ass hide glue (Asini Corii Gel
Acupuncture: General blood-supplementing points are LR-3 (Supreme Surge), LR-13 (Camphorwood Gate), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport), BL-20 (Spleen Transport), and BL-21 (Stomach Transport). Needle with supplementation
blood vacuity abdominal pain
Abdominal pain due to blood vacuity that results from excessive loss of blood or when excessive thought and anxiety cause wear on yin blood. Blood vacuity abdominal pain is a mild pain of unfixed location, and is exacerbated by hunger and taxation. It is accompanied by a withered-yellow facial complexion, fatigue and lack of strength, and a rough fine or rapid fine pulse.
Medication: Supplement the blood and relieve the center using formulas such as Four Agents Decoction plus saussurea (Saussureae (seu Vladimiriae) Radix) and tangerine peel (Citri Exocarpium), or Tangkuei Center-Fortifying Decoction and variations.
Acupuncture: : Base treatment mainly on the back transport points and CV, selecting BL-20 (Spleen Transport), BL-21 (Stomach Transport), BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct), CV-4 (Pass Head), and SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection)
blood vacuity deafness
Deafness due to liver-kidney essence-blood depletion depriving the ear orifices of nourishment. Blood vacuity deafness is of gradual onset, and is accompanied by limp aching lumbus and knees, tinnitus, night sweating, reddening of the cheeks, and dizziness.
Medication: Enrich yin, supplement the blood, and open the orifices using Lycium Berry, Chrysanthemum, and Rehmannia Pill and variations.
blood vacuity delayed menstruation
Delayed menstruation (late periods) due to blood vacuity and insufficiency of the thoroughfare and controlling vessels preventing the timely filling of the uterus. Blood vacuity delayed menstruation is associated with thin pale menstrual flow, withered-yellow facial complexion, emaciation, and continual abdominal pain relieved by pressure.
Medication: Supplement the blood, nourish construction, and boost qi with formulas such as Ginseng Construction-Nourishing Decoction.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on CV, back transport points, and the three yin channels of the foot. Select CV-6 (Sea of Qi), KI-13 (Qi Point), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), BL-20 (Spleen Transport), BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport), and ST-36 (Leg Three Li); needle
blood vacuity dizziness
Dizziness attributable to yin-blood depletion, which may stem from blood loss, from damage to construction-blood in heat (febrile) disease, from intense vacuity fire, or from heart-spleen qi vacuity. Blood vacuity dizziness is accompanied by vexing heat in the five hearts, insomnia, emaciation, a red tongue, and a fine pulse, which indicate yin vacuity. Signs such as bright white facial complexion, lassitude of spirit and lack of strength, heart palpitations, and reduced food intake indicate dual vacuity of the heart and spleen.
Medication: Enrich yin and nourish the blood or boosting qi and engendering blood. Use Tangkuei Blood-Supplementing Decoction, Anemarrhena and Phellodendron Four Agents Decoction, or Spleen-Returning Decoction.
Acupuncture: Base treatment on SP, ST, and back transport points. Select GV-20 (Hundred Convergences), CV-6 (Sea of Qi), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), BL-15 (Heart Transport), BL-20 (Spleen Transport), and BL-21 (Stomach Transport); needle with
blood vacuity engendering wind
blood vacuity habitual miscarriage
Habitual miscarriage due to blood vacuity. Signs include lassitude of spirit and lack of strength, pale yellow facial complexion, water swelling, aching lumbus, and abdominal pain. Blood vacuity habitual miscarriage occurs when blood vacuity is exacerbated by pregnancy. Miscarriage is heralded by bleeding.
Medication: Supplement the blood and boost qi with Fetal Origin Beverage, adding ass hide glue (Asini Corii Gelatinum) and charred mugwort (Artemisiae Argyi Folium Carbonisatum) if there is bleeding. See habitual miscarriage.
blood vacuity headache
Headache attributable to blood vacuity failing to nourish the upper body. Blood vacuity headache is characterized by pulling pain from the eyebrows to the corners of the head or dull pain in the head, dizzy head and flowery vision, bright white facial complexion and heart palpitations.
Medication: Supplement the blood using formulas such as Four Agents Decoction.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on GV, back transport points, SP and ST. Select GV-20 (Hundred Convergences), BL-15 (Heart Transport), BL-20 (Spleen Transport), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), and CV-6 (Sea of Qi). Needle with supplementation a
blood vacuity heart palpitations
Heart palpitations due to blood vacuity depriving the heart of nourishment. It is associated with lusterless facial complexion, somber white nails, lack of strength in the limbs, dizziness, insomnia, pale tongue, and weak fine pulse.
Medication: Nourish the blood and boost yin. Use Cinnabar Spirit-Quieting Pill or Spleen-Returning Decoction.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on back transport points, CV, HT, PC, and ST. Select BL-15 (Heart Transport), CV-14 (Great Tower Gate), BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport), BL-20 (Spleen Transport), HT-7 (Spirit Gate), PC-6 (Inner Pass), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), SP-6 (Three Y
blood vacuity heat~effusion
Heat~effusion due to blood vacuity. Blood vacuity heat~effusion is attributed most commonly to blood ejection, bloody stool, or postpartum flooding and spotting, but sometimes to internal damage to the spleen and stomach from dietary irregularities or taxation fatigue. Signs include heat in the flesh, a red facial complexion, thirst, and sometimes vexation and agitation, and unquiet sleep. The pulse is large and vacuous and is forceless under pressure.
Medication: Enrich yin and nourish the blood or nourish the blood and boost qi. Use formulas such as Four Agents Decoction, Tangkuei Blood-Supplementing Decoction, or Sagacious Cure Decoction.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on the back transport points, SP, ST, and LI, selecting ST-36 (Leg Three Li), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport), BL-20 (Spleen Transport), BL-21 (Stomach Transport), LI-4 (Union Valley), and LI-11 (Pool at t
blood vacuity impediment
Blood vacuity depriving the limbs of nourishment, sometimes with contraction of wind-damp evil. Blood vacuity impediment is characterized by numbness of the skin, or inability to lift the limbs, and a scallion-stalk pulse.
Medication: Apply the method of nourishing the blood, combined as necessary with boosting qi and dispelling wind. Use formulas such as Tangkuei Center-Fortifying Decoction.
Acupuncture: Use the basic treatments for impediment combined with qi-supplementing blood-nourishing points such as LR-3 (Supreme Surge), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport), BL-20 (Spleen Transport), and BL-21 (Stomach Tra
blood vacuity infertility
Female infertility due to emptiness of the thoroughfare and controlling vessels, preventing the nourishment of essence needed for conception. Blood vacuity infertility stems from spleen-stomach vacuity, from enduring illness, from loss of blood, or from damage to yin, and is accompanied by emaciation, withered-yellow facial complexion, fatigue and lack of strength.
Medication: Supplement the blood, nourish yin, and enrich the kidney using Essence-Nourishing Jade-Planting Decoction, comprising cooked rehmannia (Rehmanniae Radix Conquita), tangkuei (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), white peony (Paeoniae Radix Alba), and cornus (Corni F
Acupuncture: Base treatment on back transport points, SP, and ST. Select BL-20 (Spleen Transport), BL-23 (Kidney Transport), CV-4 (Pass Head), SP-10 (Sea of Blood), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), ST-13 (Qi Door), and Infant's Palace; needle with
blood vacuity lumbar pain
Lumbar pain due to loss of blood or general blood vacuity depriving the sinews of nourishment.
Medication: Nourish the blood using variations of Four Agents Decoction.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on the back transport points, BL, SP and ST. Needle with even supplemenation and drainage at BL-23 (Kidney Transport), GV-3 (Lumbar Yang Pass), BL-40 (Bend Center), and ouch points, and with supplementation and moxa at BL-17 (Diaphra
blood vacuity night sweating
Night sweating due to insufficiency of yin-blood
blood vacuity scant menstruation
Scant menstruation resulting from constitutional vacuity, damage to yin through enduring sickness or blood loss, or insufficiency of the source of engendering transformation from damage to the spleen and stomach. Blood vacuity scant menstruation is marked by a scant thin pale flow, and is accompanied by empty pain in the smaller abdomen, headache, dizziness, heart palpitations, and withered-yellow facial complexion.
Medication: Supplement the blood, boost qi, and fortify the spleen using formulas such as Ginseng Construction-Nourishing Decoction.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on SP, ST, and back transport points, selecting ST-36 (Leg Three Li), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), CV-6 (Sea of Qi), BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport), BL-20 (Spleen Transport), BL-21 (Stomach Transport), and LR-3 (Supreme Surge). Needle
blood vacuity spontaneous sweating
Spontaneous sweating stemming from blood vacuity. Spontaneous sweating is essentially associated with qi vacuity, but since blood vacuity invariably causes some degree of qi vacuity, it is also observed in blood vacuity patterns, especially when due to major blood loss where it is a sign of qi deserting with the blood.
Medication: Enrich yin and supplement the blood using Four Agents Decoction plus astragalus (Astragali (seu Hedysari) Radix). If blood vacuity is accompanied by heat, Tangkuei Six Yellows Decoction can be used. Spontaneous sweating due to major blood loss requires em
Acupuncture: For general blood vacuity, base treatment mainly on back transport points, SP, ST, LI, HT, and SI. Select LI-4 (Union Valley), HT-6 (Yin Cleft), SI-3 (Back Ravine), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport), and BL-2
blood vacuity wilting
Wilting (weakness, limpness, withering) attributable to blood vacuity from postpartum or other major blood loss depriving the sinews of nourishment, characterized by wilting and lack of strength in the extremities hampering movement, and associated with a withered-yellow facial complexion and a weak fine pulse.
Medication: Nourish the blood using Four Agents Decoction combined with Mysterious Two Pill and Yin-Supplementing Pill, or Blood-Supplementing Sinew-Enhancing Pill.
Acupuncture: Use the general treatments given under wilting, and add CV-6 (Sea of Qi), LR-3 (Supreme Surge), and BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport); needle with supplementation and add moxa.
blood wheel
The canthi; related to the heart.
blood-aspect heat toxin
Heat evil in the blood-aspect, characterized by high fever, clouded spirit, macules and papules, and in some cases blood ejection, spontaneous external bleeding, or bloody stool, and a deep crimson or purple-crimson tongue.
Medication: Cool and dissipate the blood. Use Rhinoceros Horn and Rehmannia Decoction.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on HT and PC. Select PC-3 (Marsh at the Bend), PC-9 (Central Hub), HT-9 (Lesser Surge), LI-11 (Pool at the Bend), BL-40 (Bend Center), SP-10 (Sea of Blood), and SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection); needle with drainage or prick to bleed.
blood-aspect pattern
Any warm disease pattern arising when an evil enters the blood aspect. Signs include a deep crimson tongue coloring and signs of frenetic movement of the blood such as bleeding and purple maculopapular eruptions. The tongue may, in addition to being crimson, be bare and smooth like a mirror, indicating damage to yin and fluid desertion. Such a condition may include signs of vacuity stirring internal wind such as convulsions of the limbs or tetanic reversal. These latter signs are nevertheless differentiated from the tetanic reversal and convulsions associated with extreme heat engendering wind. The accent in blood-aspect patterns may be on repletion signs such as frenetic blood movement; or it may be on vacuity of right with a lodged evil, where signs such as desiccated tongue and teeth, dry pharynx and mouth, heart vexation, and a rapid fine pulse indicate that although the heat has abated, the evil is still present and yin humor is severely damaged. See cooling the blood.
bloodletting
Synonyms: network vessel pricking.
An acupuncture method whereby the skin is punctured with a stabbing or picking action, usually with a three-edged needle (or nowadays, especially in the West, with disposable lancets) and a few drops of blood are squeezed out in order to drain heat, quicken the blood, move qi, and reduce swelling. It is performed at the site of a point or at the small veins in the area surrounding a point (such as BL-40). First, pressure is applied to restrict the blood flow of the area, to increase the visibility of the veins and to cause the blood to flow out more easily when the vein is pricked. The point is then swiftly and decisively pricked to a superficial depth of about 0.1 body-inches and a few drops of blood are allowed to escape. Lastly, the point is pressed with sterile cotton until the bleeding ceases. Before bloodletting, explain the procedure to the patient thoroughly to allay any fears. This method is inappropriate for weak, pregnant, or postpartum patients, or those suffering from bleeding, anemia or low blood pressure. Bloodletting is often indicated in this text by the term " prick to bleed" or " pick to bleed." See also diffuse pricking; three-edged needle.
bloody stool
Synonyms: precipitation of blood; blood in the stool.
Loss of blood through the anus, with varying amounts of stool. Bright red blood indicates heat, whereas dark red blood indicates qi vacuity or damp toxin.
bloody urine
Synonyms: blood in the urine.
The presence of liquid blood or blood clots in the urine, without any pronounced discomfort.
Bloody urine is distinguished from blood strangury by the absence of pain on urination. It is also distinct from reddish urine, which is urine darker in color than normal. Bloody urine is usually attributed to insufficiency of kidney yin with effulgent heart-liver fire spreading to the small intestine or to dual depletion of the spleen and kidney preventing the blood from being contained.
blown blossom lichen
Synonyms: peach-blossom lichen.
Reddening of the skin of the face with small papules that form into clearly circumscribed plaques covered with thin scales, slightly itchy and dry.
Medication: Apply a tincture of golden larch (root) bark (Pseudolaricis Kaempferi Cortex (Radicis)).
blue whites of the eye
Whites of the eyes bearing a bluish coloration; observed in the later stages of fire gan, when pain and redness abate to leave purple-blue or blue-gray patches. See fire gan.
bobble wind
Synonyms: scrotal wind.
body
The physical body and constitution.
body odor
body palpation
Palpation of the body surface, palpation of the chest and abdomen, and palpation of the acupuncture points. The chief aim of palpating the body surface is to ascertain the presence of heat and cold, so as to judge the relative strength of the right and evil. Exuberant evil qi is generally characterized by generalized heat in the body surface, especially at the forehead, whereas debilitation of yang qi is reflected in a cold body surface. Palpation of the fleshy exterior does not simply aim to judge the temperature; the degree of heat can help identify exterior and interior, vacuity and repletion. If the patient has heat~effusion, pronounced heat felt on initial palpation that abates with extended palpation indicates heat in the exterior; if the heat becomes more pronounced with extended palpation, it is steaming out from the inner body, i.e., the heat is in the interior. If the body surface feels soft and the patient feels comforted by palpation, the pattern is one of vacuity; if an area is hard and painful, and the pain is exacerbated by palpation, the pattern is one of repletion. If pain is felt by light pressure, there is disease in the surface of the body (e.g., a superficial injury from a knock or fall); if the pain is only felt when heavy pressure is applied, the disease is at a deeper location. By touching the fleshy exterior lightly, the practitioner can determine the degree of moisture and whether or not there is sweating. In an externally contracted heat (febrile) disease of recent onset, the dryness or moistness tells whether sweating has commenced or not. A dry body surface indicates the absence of sweating, whereas a moist surface indicates that the patient is sweating. In enduring conditions, dry skin lacking natural moisture indicates insufficiency of the fluids; severely dry rough hardened skin in patients that are usually emaciated is called encrusted skin, and indicates damage to yin or dry blood in the inner body. In external medicine, sores that are felt to be swollen, hard and numb constitute a cold pattern. Sores that are swollen and scorching hot to the touch indicate heat. Sores with flat bases and diffuse swelling are attributable to vacuity, whereas those with a well-confined base and high swelling are due to repletion. If the affected area is hard, but not markedly hot, or only feels swollen but not painful under heavy pressure, pus has not formed. If, by contrast, there is marked heat, and application of pressure reveals hard outer surface enclosing a soft center, the sore contains pus. The main aim of palpating the extremities is to determine the presence of heat or cold. At the onset of disease, cold extremities indicate yang vacuity and exuberant cold, whereas hot extremities indicate exuberant yang and intense heat. Heat and cold in the extremities can also differentiate externally contracted febrile disease from internal damage. If the dorsal aspects of the hands and feet are hotter than the palms and soles, the disease is an external contraction; if the palms and soles are hotter, the heat~effusion is due to internal damage. The relative degree of heat of the palms and forehead tells whether the heat is in the exterior or interior. If heat in the forehead is more pronounced than heat in the palms, the pattern is one of exterior heat; if the reverse is true, the pattern is one of interior heat. In infants and children, cold fingertips indicate fright reversal. If the middle finger alone is hot, this is an indication of externally contracted wind-cold; if the middle finger alone is cold, measles or pox is about to erupt. Warmth and cold in the extremities are useful in determining the severity of yang vacuity. If in yang vacuity patterns, there is still warmth in the extremities, yang qi has not collapsed. By contrast, reversal cold of the extremities is an unfavorable sign indicating a poor prognosis. Palpation of the chest and abdomen can help to determine interior and exterior patterns, and vacuity and repletion of the bowels and viscera. A light touch can establish the degree of moisture of the skin, so as to determine the presence of heat and cold. By applying medium pressure along the muscle grain or the lines of the channels and by asking the patient when he or she feels discomfort, it is possible to determine the presence of evil qi. By heavy pressing and pushing, it is possible to feel hardness and softness and so identify vacuity or repletion in the bowels and viscera and the degree of accumulation of evils. The main points of palpation of the chest and abdomen are as follows: (1) Vacuous Li ( xu1 li3, the apical pulse): Vacuous li is located at a point between the fourth and fifth rib below the nipple, and reflects the pulsation of the heart. Formerly, it was accorded great importance as a convergence point of all channels and the great network vessel of the stomach. Examination of the apical pulse can help to determine the severity of disease. If it strikes the fingers when palpated, is stirring but not tight, is moderate and not urgent, ancestral qi is accumulated in the chest and there is no disease. If the pulsation is faint or cannot be felt at all, ancestral qi is vacuous. A pulsation felt to beat against the clothing indicates ancestral qi discharging through the outer body. In some cases, such as in states of fright, fear or anger, intoxication or after hard running, marked pulsation is only temporary, and quickly returns to normal. If the pulsation is on the verge of expiration, but there are no fatal signs, the pattern is usually one of phlegm-rheum or food accumulation. Expiration of the apical pulse together with all other pulses is a fatal sign. (2) Chest and rib-side: The chest contains the lung and heart, whereas the rib-side on the right-hand side of the body protects the liver. If the anterior chest is elevated, a sign known as raised chest, and the patient responds to local palpation with panting, the condition is pulmonary distention. If palpation of the chest and rib-side produces a feeling of distention and pain, the cause may be phlegm-heat qi bind or water-rheum. The liver is covered by the ribs and normally cannot be felt. If it is swollen and either hard or soft to the touch, the cause is qi stagnation and blood stasis. It is known from Western medicine that if the liver is felt to have an uneven surface, there may be cancer. If the patient complains of distending pain in the right rib-side, and the local body surface feels hot, but cannot be pressed without causing pain, the cause is a liver welling-abscess. A mass felt under the ribs may be felt in chronic malaria and is referred to as mother-of-malaria. (3) Region below the heart: The area below the breast bone is the point at which the stomach can be felt. If the patient complains of a subjective feeling of fullness or blockage in this area, referred to as glomus, palpation can provide additional information. If the area feels soft and is not tender, the pattern is one of vacuity; if hard, resistant to pressure, and tender, the pattern is one of repletion. Commonly observed repletion patterns include chest bind, which includes minor and major patterns. Tenderness below the heart constitutes minor chest bind pattern, whereas hardness, fullness, and pain stretching into the chest and abdomen constitutes a major chest bind pattern. When there is fullness below the heart and palpation reveals a tangible mass that moves and produces a gurgling sound when pushed, there is water-rheum in the stomach. (4) Abdomen: Abdominal palpation is conducted to detect cold and heat, hardness, distention, lumps, and tenderness. A cold abdomen that likes warmth and pressure is a vacuity cold pattern, whereas scorching heat relieved by cold objects is a repletion heat pattern. Abdominal pain is ascribed to vacuity if it likes pressure and to repletion if it refuses pressure. An area of scorching heat that cannot be pressed without causing severe pain indicates an internal welling-abscess. Abdominal distention feels solid, is tender, and produces a dull heavy turbid sound when tapped is ascribed to repletion. Distention that does not feel solid, is not tender, and produces a hollow sound when tapped is qi distention. A highly enlarged abdomen with a projecting umbilicus is a severe condition called drum distention. Distinction is made between water drum and qi drum. In water drum, the abdomen feels like a bag of water, pressure leaves an indentation, and a gentle patting by one hand on one side of the abdomen produces a wave that can be felt by the other hand resting on the opposite side. In qi drum, tapping produces a hollow drumlike sound, pressure leaves no indentation, and patting produces no wave. The large abdomen of obese people differs from this drum distention by being soft to the touch and having a normal umbilicus. Abdominal lumps can also be felt by palpation. Accumulations and gatherings are lumps that may or many not be painful. Accumulations have a clearly defined shape, do not move, and are associated with pain of fixed location; they are ascribed to disease in the blood aspect. Gatherings are amorphous, move, and are associated with pain of unfixed location, and a clearly defined shape; they are ascribed to disease in the qi aspect. In the lower abdomen, traditionally referred to as the smaller abdomen, a stringlike formation of lumps is a sign of old stool in the intestine. A palpable lump in the smaller abdomen with pain that refuses pressure is an intestinal welling-abscess, i.e., appendicitis. Palpation can reveal three signs that indicate the presence of worms: a) an abdominal lump that is tough as sinew, and is felt to move after long palpation; b) the wriggling sensation felt under the fingers with careful palpation; c) an uneven abdominal wall with a constantly changing topography (constant rising, sinking, gathering and dispersing). The back transport points can be used in diagnosis. If there is disease in one of the bowels or viscera, pressure can produce a pain or even a pleasant sensation at its corresponding back transport point. Transport point palpation finds its earliest mention in The Magic Pivot: "If pressing a spot relieves internal pain, the spot is a transport point." Any channel point, particular the source points, may become a tender spot when its associated bowel or viscus is diseased. The Magic Pivot states, "When there is disease in the viscera, it is reflected in the sources i.e., source points of which there are twelve. The sources each have an exit point. By knowing sources and observing their responses, it is possible to understand disease in the viscera." Thus, disease of the liver is reflected at LR-3 (Supreme Surge); lung disease at LU-9 (Great Abyss); heart disease at HT-7 (Spirit Gate) and PC-7 (Great Mound); spleen disease at SP-3 (Supreme White); and kidney disease at KI-3 (Great Ravine). The modern meridiometer is used for assessment of the channels, of qi and blood, and in electroacutherapy. Modern research shows that channel and nonchannel points have different cutaneous electrical resistance values, which are affected when there is disease in the organs or channels. These changes in resistance are understood to reflect changes in the flow of qi and blood at acupoints. The meridiometer can thus provide information about the flow of qi and blood at various acupoints, the location of disease, and the presence of vacuity and repletion. The use of the meridiometer in diagnosis is, however, still at an experimental stage.
body-inch
Synonyms: cun.
From A Thousand Gold Pieces Prescriptions. A proportional unit of measurement used to determine the location of acupuncture points on the body, calculated from the length of specific body parts according to the finger standard and bone standard.
boil
A small, round, superficial swelling that is hot and painful, suppurates within a few days, and easily bursts. It is attributable to heat toxin or to summerheat-heat and usually occurs in the summer and autumn.
Medication: Clear heat and resolve toxin as for external welling-abscess.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on local and affected channel points. One of a number of methods may be applied individually or combined: (1) Encirclement needling: For boils in the initial stage of swelling prior to suppuration, select 2--4 ouch points around the
boil swelling
A swelling of a boil
boiling
Cooking (foods or medicines) in boiling water or other liquid. Boiling, as a method of processing individual medicinals, has the aim of eliminating toxicity and irritants, preventing side-effects, increasing effectiveness, or facilitating storage. For example, boiling genkwa (Daphnes Genkwa Flos) in vinegar can reduce its toxicity; boiling impure mirabilite (Mirabilitum Non-Purum) with radish can remove impurities, making it into refined mirabilite (Mirabilitum Depuratum). Boiling is also the method of making a formula into a decoction. See processing of medicinals.
boiling reversal
An ancient disease name denoting internal heat that scorches yin fluids, giving rise to clouding reversal. It arises in patients suffering from depletion of yin essence and hyperactivity of yang qi, when they contract summerheat-heat qi. Signs include tinnitus, deafness, blindness, and, in severe cases, sudden clouding reversal.
Medication: Western Medical Concept: cerebrovascular spasm, cerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage.
bolt bone
Synonyms: seat board bone.
bone
The hardest substance of the body that holds the body up and defines the body's shape. Since bone stores marrow, it is an extraordinary organ. See kidney governs the bones and engenders marrow.
bone damage
Any damage to a bone or bones, notably including fracture.
bone erosion
A disease characterized by bone pain, atrophy of the muscles, shrinking of the affected limb, and limping gait. Bone erosion arises when evils entering the body in the presence of vacuity or damage to the sinew and bone causes stagnation of qi and blood and obstruction of the channels.
Medication: Treat with oral formulas such as Harmonious Yang Decoction or Golden Coffer Kidney Qi Pill and topical application of Harmonious Yang Decongealing Plaster.
bone flat-abscess
Synonyms: bone-clinging flat-abscess.
bone fracture
Any break in a bone. Bone fractures result from knocks and falls or pulling of sinews and flesh. They occur more easily in old age, vacuity detriment, and disease affecting the bone. They are characterized by local blood stasis, painful swelling, displacement or deformity, the sound of bones grating against each other, and abnormal movement. Bone-righting manipulation is used to put the affected bone or parts thereof back into place. The fracture is then set with splints and bandages. Medication aims to quicken the blood and transform stasis and to disperse swelling and relieve swelling. Bone-Righting Purple Gold Elixir and Origin-Restorative Blood-Quickening Decoction. Erythrina Decoction can be used as an external wash.
bone impediment
Impediment patterns characterized by pronounced joint signs such as pain and swelling. The bones feel heavy and difficult to lift and there is aching pain in the bone and marrow. It is attributed to wind-cold-damp that seizes vacuity and invades the bones. Distinction is made between repletion and vacuity patterns. Repletion patterns are treated with Five Impediments Decoction with extra tiger bone (Tigris Os) and the addition of duhuo (Angelicae Duhuo Radix), quilled cinnamon (Cinnamomi Cortex Tubiformis), achyranthes (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix), astragalus (Astragali (seu Hedysari) Radix), and fish poison yam (Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Rhizoma). Vacuity patterns are treated with Minor Life-Prolonging Decoction.
Acupuncture: Select BL-11 (Great Shuttle) as the main point. For repletion patterns, select points according to pattern (wind, cold, dampness, or complications). See wind impediment; cold impediment; damp impediment. For vacuity patterns, apply the basic treatments f
bone juncture
Seventh costosternal articulation.
bone pain
Pain felt to come from the bone. It is observed in impediment patterns, bone fractures, and vacuity taxation. Incisive Light on the Source of Miscellaneous Disease states, "Pain in the human body may be caused by wind spreading and dampness stagnating, or by blood pricking and phlegm attacking. When shallow, it is no deeper than the skin and body hair; when deep, it penetrates as far as the channels and network vessels. If it enters the interior and stretches into the bone, causing aching and pain, although it differs depending on whether the cause is cold or heat... It is treated with Tiger Bone Powder or Mysterious Three Powder. If prolonged standing has damaged the bone, or if there is bone damage, causing pain or gradually giving rise to wilting, this urgently requires treatment at onset, using psoralea (Psoraleae Semen), beef marrow (Medulla Bovis), velvet deerhorn (Cervi Cornu Parvum), and drynaria (Drynariae Rhizoma)." Compare aching bones.
bone righting
Treatment of bone fractures and dislocations by manipulating bones into their correct positions and fixing them with splints and bandages, and providing medication to aid healing.
bone standard
The Magic Pivot. A proportional standard for measuring parts of the body based on the size of bones.
bone trough wind
A sore in front of the ear that eventually affects the "bone trough," i.e., the tooth bed. It is heralded by dull pain under the skin stretching into the sinew and bone; it starts as a small node that grows to the size of a walnut. If it bursts, it does not heal easily, and discharges pus that is foul-smelling and sometimes clear and thin. If it persists, rotten bone is discharged, and the gums swell and become purple-black in color, and bleed. In severe cases, the movement of the jaw is inhibited, the tooth bed putrefies, and teeth fall out. It is attributable to wind-fire toxin in the hand lesser yang or foot yang brightness stomach channel, which can be exacerbated by spleen yang vacuity that prevents expulsion of the toxin.
Medication: Dispel wind, dissipate fire, and resolve toxin with Yang-Upbearing Fire-Dissipating Decoction. Persistent cases can be treated with Aconite Center-Rectifying Decoction or Harmonious Yang Decoction to expressing the toxin.
bone tumor
A tumor (growth on the outside of the body) that grows on bone. A disease called "bone flat-abscess" possibly fitting the description of bone tumor was mentioned in The Inner Canon. The term gu3 liu2 first appeared in the in A Unified Treatise on Diseases, Patterns, and Remedies According to the Three Causes in the Song Dynasty, but without any description. Pivot of External Medicine states, "If there is taxation damage to kidney water preventing it from giving luxuriance to the bone, there is swelling which rises from the bone and which is hard to the touch. This is called a bone tumor." Life-for-All Compendium of External Medicine, Patterns and Treatment of the Qing dynasty states, "There is also a bone-clinging tumor that grows on the bone and is extremely painful." This latter description may be that of what Western medicine calls an advanced malignant bone tumor. Bone tumor is attributed to insufficiency of kidney qi and cold-damp carrying phlegm into the bone, causing qi and blood to congeal. In mild (in Western medicine, benign) cases, it develops slowly and is not marked by pronounced signs. In severe cases, onset is characterized by a dull pain that gradually worsens until it becomes unbearable, especially at night; the tumor grows swiftly, and is attached to the bone, immovable, and hard as stone, while the skin becomes purple brown in color with dilated vessels. Accompanying signs include low fever, emaciation, lassitude of spirit, and poor appetite.
Medication: Supplement kidney qi, disperse swelling, and break hardness. Use Kidney Qi Pill as oral medication and apply Harmonious Yang Decongealing Plaster topically.
bone wilting
Synonyms: kidney wilting.
Desiccation of the bone and vacuity of the marrow characterized by limp aching lumbar spine preventing normal movement, weak wilting lower limbs preventing the patient from getting out of bed, desiccated teeth, and a somber black facial complexion; attributed to damage to the kidney by heat evil.
Medication: Enrich yin and clear heat; supplement the kidney and boost essence. Use formulas such as Hidden Tiger Pill or Metal Strength Pill.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on KI and GB. Select BL-23 (Kidney Transport), KI-3 (Great Ravine), KI-6 (Shining Sea), KI-1 (Gushing Spring), GB-30 (Jumping Round), GB-31 (Wind Market), GB-34 (Yang Mound Spring), and GB-39 (Suspended Bell). Needle with supplementa
bone-clinging flat-abscess
Synonyms: bone flat-abscess.
A headless flat-abscess located on a bony and sinewy part of the body, usually caused by congealing stagnation of qi and blood that develops from wind-cold and damp in the sinew and bone. Bone flat-abscess is characterized at onset by alternating heat~effusion and aversion to cold, and subsequently by sinew and bone pain with difficulty in bending and stretching, but without any localized heat or redness. When depressed heat transforms into fire, the flesh becomes putrid and suppuration begins. The flat-abscess takes the form of a broad swelling without a head, and without any change in skin color. After rupturing, there is a persistent dribbling discharge of pus from the opening, which does not heal easily. Any pieces of dead bone must be removed before healing is possible.
bone-clinging tumor
bone-eating flat-abscess
Synonyms: bone flat-abscess.
bone-hole
A hole through or crevice in a bone.
Acupuncture: This term is used in acupuncture point names located at such sites, including BL-31 through BL-34 (Eight Bone-Holes), LI-19 (Grain Bone-Hole), and ST-3 (Great Bone-Hole).
bones stuck in the throat
The condition in which fish or splintered animal bones become lodged in the flesh of the throat. Fish bones and splintered chicken bones may get stuck in the throat if accidentally swallowed. They can give rise to a feeling of blockage, difficulty in swallowing, and bleeding. Nowadays, bones stuck in the throat that fail to dislodge themselves are usually removed by pincers. Traditionally, they were often freed with the aid of decoctions. Clematis (Clematidis Radix) is particularly noted for this action. It can be combined with tsaoko (Amomi Tsao-Ko Fructus), amomum (Amomi Semen seu Fructus), and white sugar (Saccharon Granulatum Album), and decocted in half water half vinegar and sipped slowly.
boost
boosting and supplementing lung qi
A method of treating lung qi vacuity characterized by feeble speech, cough and panting and shortness of breath, using medicinals such as codonopsis (Codonopsitis Radix), astragalus (Astragali (seu Hedysari) Radix), licorice (Glycyrrhizae Radix), and schisandra (Schisandrae Fructus). A representative lung-qi--boosting formula is Lung-Supplementing Decoction.
boosting fire and dispersing yin
Synonyms: boosting the source of fire to disperse the shroud of yin.
boosting fire and engendering earth
Warming and supplementing kidney yang to treat spleen-kidney yang vacuity with signs such as clear-food diarrhea, enduring diarrhea, or early morning diarrhea. In this context, "fire" refers to kidney yang, not to the heart.
boosting qi and engendering liquid
A method of treating qi vacuity and liquid depletion arising from excessive sweating, and characterized by fatigue, shortness of breath, dry mouth and thirst, and a vacuous pulse. An example of a qi-boosting liquid-engendering formula is Pulse-Engendering Powder, which contains ginseng (Ginseng Radix), ophiopogon (Ophiopogonis Tuber), and schisandra (Schisandrae Fructus).
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on CV, ST, SP, back transport points, and KI. Select CV-6 (Sea of Qi), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), BL-20 (Spleen Transport), BL-21 (Stomach Transport), LU-9 (Great Abyss), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), KI-3 (Great Ravine), and KI-6 (Shin
boosting qi and harmonizing the stomach
A method of treatment used to address qi vacuity stomach problems characterized by glomus and oppression in the chest and stomach duct, no thought of food and drink, and, in severe cases, vomiting of food after ingestion.
Medication: A commonly used qi-boosting stomach-harmonizing formula is Saussurea and Amomum Six Gentlemen Decoction.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on ST, CV, and back transport points. Select BL-20 (Spleen Transport), BL-21 (Stomach Transport), CV-6 (Sea of Qi), ST-36 (Leg Three Li), ST-25 (Celestial Pivot), and PC-6 (Inner Pass), needle with supplementation and large amounts o
boosting qi and resolving the exterior
Synonyms: supplementing qi and resolving the exterior.
A method of treatment used to address continual common colds and copious sweat from qi vacuity that increases vulnerability to external evils and reduces the body's ability to expel an evil once it has entered. In such cases, qi-boosting medicinals may be combined with exterior-resolving medicinals. An example of such a formula is Ginseng and Perilla Beverage, which contains codonopsis (Codonopsitis Radix), white perilla leaf (Perillae Albae Folium), pueraria (Puerariae Radix), peucedanum (Peucedani Radix), ginger pinellia (Pinelliae Tuber cum Zingibere Praeparatum), tangerine peel (Citri Exocarpium), platycodon (Platycodonis Radix), poria (Poria), saussurea (Saussureae (seu Vladimiriae) Radix), bitter orange (Aurantii Fructus), and licorice (Glycyrrhizae Radix).
Acupuncture: Use points given under exterior resolution in combination with qi-boosting points such as ST-36 (Leg Three Li), CV-6 (Sea of Qi), CV-4 (Pass Head), BL-20 (Spleen Transport), BL-21 (Stomach Transport), and LU-9 (Great Abyss). Needle with supplementation, a
boosting the source of fire to disperse the shroud of yin
A method of treatment involving supplementation of kidney yang to treat cold patterns. This term is actually a comment by Wang Bing of the Tang dynasty on the line in Elementary Questions that reads "Wherever heat is applied, but cold [remains], treat the yang." The implication of this comment is that wherever the use of warm or hot medicinals to treat cold patterns produces no effect or makes the cold worse, the cold pattern is one of yang vacuity with exuberant yang, i.e., the condition is essentially one of yang vacuity that is treated by supplementing kidney yang (the true fire of the life gate). According to this principle, insufficiency of kidney yang with aching lumbus and weak legs, cold sensation in the lower half of the body, impotence, and seminal cold is treated with Eight-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill, which contains cooked rehmannia (Rehmanniae Radix Conquita), cornus (Corni Fructus), dioscorea (Dioscoreae Rhizoma), poria (Poria), moutan (Moutan Radicis Cortex), alisma (Alismatis Rhizoma), prepared cooked aconite (Aconiti Tuber Laterale Conquitum), and cinnamon bark (Cinnamomi Cortex). Boosting the source of fire to disperse the shroud of yin is now often referred to as boosting fire to disperse yin or supporting yang to abate yin.
boosting the spleen
Synonyms: fortifying the spleen.
boosting the stomach
Supplementing stomach vacuity, which means a)~to warm the stomach and fortify the center to treat stomach qi vacuity cold or b)~to enrich stomach yin in the treatment of insufficiency of stomach yin.
boosting yin
Synonyms: supplementing yin.
borborygmus
Synonyms: borborygmi. rumbling intestines.
border of the red and white flesh
The division between the darker sun-tanned flesh and paler flesh of the backs of the arms and legs. The "red" (sun-tanned) flesh forms the yang side, whereas the "white" (paler) flesh is the yin side. The dividing line between the two represents one of the landmarks in acupuncture point location.
borderland
Region anterior to the ear and inferolateral to the cheek bone.
bound
bound or intermittent pulse
Any pulse that is moderate and interrupted. The Magic Pivot states, "These two evils become conglomerated, and channel qi becomes bound or intermittent.
bound pulse
Synonyms: slow irregularly interrupted pulse.
A pulse that is moderate or slow and pauses at irregular intervals. The Pulse Canon states that it "indicates exuberant yin and bound qi, congested qi and stagnant phlegm, or concretions, conglomerations, accumulations, and gatherings."
bowel
Any of the organs of the exterior (stomach, small and large intestines, gallbladder, bladder, and triple burner). See bowels and viscera.
bowel and visceral fright pattern
Patterns of fright convulsions of the extremites associated with the bowels and viscera. Children's Diseases: Remedies and Sources states, "In liver fright, the eyes are red and the stool is green-blue; In gallbladder fright, the face is green-blue and white below; in heart fright, the face is red; in small intestinal fright, there is night crying through to dawn; in spleen fright, there is heat in the five hearts and dry retching; in stomach fright, there is abdominal distention and inability to eat; in lung fright, there is panting and swallowing of water ( chi1 shui3); in large intestinal fright, there is phlegm rale in the throat; in kidney fright, there is grinding of the teeth in sleep; in triple burner fright, there is fright crying during sleep.
bowel and visceral pattern identification
The correlation of information derived from the four examinations with doctrine of visceral manifestation to determine what bowels or viscera are affected by disease, and identify morbid changes in their qi-blood and yin-yang aspects. The first step of bowel and visceral pattern identification involves identifying the affected organ on the basis of its physiopathological characteristics.
bowel and visceral qi
The qi of the bowels and viscera. Each organ has its own qi, which is the basis of its physiological activity and manifests as a major aspect of its physiological function. The heartbeat is the manifestation of heart qi, and bowel movements are a manifestation of large intestine qi.
bowel and visceral stroke
Wind stroke taking the form of bowel stroke or visceral stroke.
bowel of center clearness
The gallbladder; so named because the gall is considered a clear or pure fluid, rather than waste.
bowel of center essence
Synonyms: The gallbladder. See bowel of center clearness.
bowel stroke
Wind stroke not quite as severe as visceral stroke and marked by sudden clouding collapse that after regaining of consciousness leaves the patient with hemiplegia, deviated eyes and mouth, difficult speech, and possibly urinary and fecal stoppage.
bowels and viscera
Organs of the chest and abdomen. The five viscera are the heart, lung, spleen, liver, and kidney. The pericardium is considered a sixth viscus in channel theory. The six bowels (paired by functional relationship with the viscera respectively) are the stomach, small intestine, large intestine, gallbladder, bladder, and triple burner. The function of the viscera is to produce and store essence, that of the bowels is to decompose food and convey waste. Thus, Elementary Questions states, "The so-called five viscera store essential qi and do not discharge waste. Thus they are full, but cannot be filled. The six bowels process and convey matter, and do not store. Thus, they are filled, but are not full."
brain
Synonyms: head marrow
Extraordinary organ located in the skull. According to traditional doctrine of visceral manifestation, "the brain is the sea of marrow; all marrow belongs to the brain, flowing up to the brain and down to the coccyx." The brain is most closely related to the kidney, which engenders the marrow. Modern observation shows that diminished cerebral function can manifest in signs of insufficiency of kidney essence. The Magic Pivot, "If the sea of marrow is insufficient, the brain turns and the ears ring, there is aching in the neck, dizziness, poor vision, and lethargy." Later, Li Shi-Zhen (1518--1593), Jin Zheng-Xi, and others explicitly stated, "The brain is the seat of the original spirit," and believed that the senses and control of physical movement were related to the brain. However, the main functions of the brain as perceived by Western medicine are ascribed in the doctrine of visceral manifestation to the heart, liver, kidney, and other viscera. The heart stores the spirit refers basically to the brain's function of mental activity and thought. Such conditions as heat entering the pericardium and phlegm confounding the orifices of the heart correspond to what Western medicine describes as disorders of the central nervous system. Imbalance of heart yin and heart yang, and heart qi and heart blood, are explained in Western medicine as disturbance of the brain function. The liver governs free coursing and the liver governs the sinews corresponds to what in Western medicine are brain functions. Disease patterns such as liver qi depression and ascendant liver yang may also be partly explained in Western medicine as being associated with the nervous system.
brain is the house of the original spirit
From The Comprehensive Herbal Foundation. The brain is the seat of mental function.
brain is the sea of marrow
From The Magic Pivot. The ancient Chinese considered the brain and the marrow to be the same in substance. Since the kidney engenders marrow, the brain, as the sea of marrow, is closely related to the kidney. See kidney engenders bone and marrow.
brain leak
A severe form of deep-source nasal congestion.
brain wind
A disease similar to head wind, attributed to wind evil entering the brain, and characterized by aversion to cold on the nape and neck and extreme cold of GV-17 (Brain's Door) area with unbearable pain.
Medication: Warm and dissipate using formulas such as Tangkuei Counterflow Cold Decoction.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on points of the three yang channel, GV and LU. Select GB-20 (Wind Pool), GV-20 (Hundred Convergences), GV-22 (Fontanel Meeting), Greater Yang, GV-23 (Upper Star), LI-4 (Union Valley), LU-7 (Broken Sequence), and SI-3 (Back Ravine).
brain-gripping sand
A disease marked by runny nose with yellow watery discharge associated with dryness in the nose, impaired sense of smell, and occasional nosebleeds, and attributed to damp-heat.
Severe deep-source nasal congestion.
Medication: Treat with Dryness-Clearing Lung-Rescuing Decoction minus gypsum (Gypsum).
brain-squeezing wind
bran-frying
Stir-frying medicinal materials in a wok with bran until a thick yellow-black smoke is given off. This process increases a medicinal's capacity to fortify the spleen and stomach and causes oils that would otherwise cause side effects and unpleasant smells to be absorbed by the bran. The same method is used to process ovate atractylodes (Atractylodis Ovatae Rhizoma) and bitter orange (Aurantii Fructus).
branch
breakdown of heart-kidney interaction
Synonyms: noninteraction of the heart and kidney.
breaking blood
Dispelling static blood with drastic stasis-dispelling medicinals such as rhubarb (Rhei Rhizoma), peach kernel (Persicae Semen), pangolin scales (Manitis Squama), and wingless cockroach (Eupolyphaga seu Opisthoplatia).
breaking qi
Rectifying qi with drastic medicinals such as unripe tangerine peel (Citri Exocarpium Immaturum) and unripe bitter orange (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), which dissipate binds and abduct stagnation. ®ð"±ø: ETERM??DRASTIC/SUPERLATIVE}
breaking stasis and dispersing concretions
breast
Either of two fleshy protruberances of the female chest each headed by a nipple and whose function is produce milk for breast-feeding. The breasts lie on the foot yang brightness channel. The nipples belong to the liver. See also areola; nipple.
breast blowing
Synonyms: mammary welling-abscess.
breast milk stoppage
Synonyms: scant breast milk.
breast node
Synonyms: mammary node.
breastbone
The vertical bone of the center of the chest that joins the ribs.
Any bone of the chest.
breath gate
One of the seven gates. The organ that covers the opening of the wind-pipe in the throat when swallowing; hence the name.
breathing
Synonyms: respiration.
The taking of air into and putting of air out of the lung. Normal breathing depends on the diffusion and depurative downbearing of lung qi. The principal disturbances of normal breathing include panting, shortage of qi, hasty breathing, qi ascent, shortness of breath, and rough breathing. See also lung disease.
brew
decoction; a term occurring in names of decoctions, e.g., Ferry Brew. decoct.To gather, ferment (usually in a concealed or inconspicuous way); describes certain forms of internal (and especially lung) heat. See heat.
bright hall
The nose.
Any of the marks on an acupuncture model that indicate an acupuncture point.
bright white facial complexion
Synonyms: white facial complexion.
brightening the eyes
Enhancing visual acuity.
brittle foot
A form of swelling in pregnancy. The swelling of the foot is marked by pitting and thin shiny appearance of the skin, and is not associated with other discomforts. It arises in women ordinarily suffering from devitalized spleen yang when the growing fetus hampers the spread of spleen-yang, which causes water-damp to pour downward.
Medication: Fortify the spleen and percolate dampness. Use Life-for-All Ovate Atractylodes Powder. Compare wrinkly foot; swelling and distention in pregnancy.
broad and bright
The anterosuperior region of the body.
broken metal failing to sound
Damage to lung qi causing a hoarse voice. The lung governs the voice; in the doctrine of the five phases, it belongs to metal, a substance frequently utilized, as in bells and gongs, for its sonorous qualities. When lung qi is damaged, the voice looses its normal sonorous quality just as a broken bell fails to ring. The lung governs the movement of qi, whereas the kidney governs qi absorption. The voice is therefore dependent not only on the lung but also the kidney.
Enduring loss of voice.
bruise
Local purple or green-blue coloring of the skin due to external injury.
bruxism
Synonyms: grinding of the teeth.
bubo sore
Swelling in the groin. At onset, it is the size of an almond; it can grow to the size of a goose's egg, becoming hard, painful, and either red and scorching hot or mildly reddened and warm. It ruptures to exude pus.
bulging
Synonyms: prominence A general name for diseases of the anterior yin,
including, in males, swelling of the testicles and sagging of one testicle etc, and in females, vaginal protrusion, etc.
bulging fontanel
From The Origin and Indicators of Disease. A condition characterized by bulging at the anterior fontanel (traditionally called the "fontanel gate," see fontanel). Distinction is made between heat and cold patterns. A hard bulging fontanel associated with absence of heat~effusion and lack of warmth in the limbs is attributable to congealing cold and stagnant qi. A soft bulging fontanel associated with red facial complexion and limbs and with purple finger veins is due to upsurge of fire qi.
Medication: For congealing cold and stagnant qi, dissipate cold using Ginseng and Perilla Beverage. For upsurge of fire qi, clear heat using Green-Blue--Draining Pill.
bulging mounting
Swelling of the scrotum. Described by Yang Zi-He as follows: "Bulging mounting takes the form of a scrotum swollen and pendulous like a dipper, without pain or itching; it arises from being in low places with damp qi."
From Elementary questions (su4 wen4, mai4 jie3 pian1). A pattern of abdominal swelling in women.
Protrusion of the vagina.
Medication: Use Tangerine Pip Pill.
Acupuncture: Base treatment mainly on LR, CV, and SP. Select LR-5 (Woodworm Canal), GB-34 (Yang Mound Spring), CV-4 (Pass Head), SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection), and LR-12 (Urgent Pulse); needle with drainage and add moxa.
bundle bone
The fifth metatarsophalangeal articulation (lateral aspect).
burn
To undergo or subject to the destructive or transformative action of fire or heat. In medicinal processing, medicinal materials may be burned (calcined or charred) to enhance certain of their properties.
burn
Injury to the body by burning action of fire, or hot fluids or objects, those specifically being caused by hot liquids being called scalds. Mild burns are characterized by local redness, blistering or erosion of the skin. Severe burns cause damage to deeper tissue, and when the fire toxin attacks the inner body there are general signs such as thirst, heat~effusion, clouding of the spirit, constipation, and inhibited urination.
Medication: Treat mild cases by topical application of medicinals such as powdered sanguisorba (Sanguisorbae Radix) and rhubarb (Rhei Rhizoma) in equal proportions with a pinch of borneol (Borneolum), blended with sesame oil (Sesami Seminis Oleum). For severe burns,
burning mountain fire method
A complex needle manipulation technique that combines a number of simple supplementing techniques such as lifting and thrusting and open and closed needle extraction to treat vacuity cold diseases such as the three yin stages of cold damage disease, impotence, incontinence, vaginal protrusion, and swelling and sagging of one testicle. (1) Determine the depth to which the needle will be inserted. Divide this depth into three equal segments. Proceeding from the surface of the skin, these depths are labeled the level of heaven, the level of human, and the level of earth, respectively. (2) Ask the patient to inhale deeply. Steps 2, 3, and 4 are performed during exhalation. Upon exhalation, thrust the needle quickly and lift slowly nine times to the level of heaven. (3) Thrust the needle quickly and lift slowly nine times in the level of human. (4) Thrust the needle quickly and lift slowly nine times in the level of earth. (5) Ask the patient to exhale, and slowly withdraw the needle. If the procedure is to be repeated, withdraw the needle to the level of heaven and repeat steps 2, 3, and 4; if not, withdraw the needle fully from the skin. (6) Press the site gently with a cotton swab after the needle has been withdrawn.
burning preserving nature
burns and scalds
burnt-yellow tongue fur
A dark yellow or brown tongue fur that is dry and bears the look of having been burnt; a sign of repletion heat bind.
