Exterior heat

Exterior heat patterns are characterized by pronounced heat signs, such as a red sore pharynx and a relatively red tongue with dry fur. In addition to the regular external signs, the pulse is floating and rapid. Other signs include cough and the production of thick white or yellow phlegm. Most exterior heat patterns are attributable to contraction of wind-heat evil. Note that identification of exterior heat patterns is based on assessment of heat and cold signs rather than the actual body temperature. Heat effusion as a sign does not necessarily correspond to heat in the sense of the eight principles.

Medicinal therapy: Exterior heat patterns are treated with cool acrid exterior-resolving medicinals such as mint (Menthae Herba, 薄荷 bò hé), arctium (Arctii Fructus, 牛蒡子 niú bàng zǐ), fermented soybean (Sojae Semen Praeparatum, 淡豆豉 dàn dòu chǐ), and mulberry leaf (Mori Folium, 桑叶 sāng yè). Formulas include Lonicera and Forsythia Powder (银翘散 yín qiào sǎn) and Mulberry Leaf and Chrysanthemum Beverage (桑菊饮 sāng jú yǐn).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on LU, LI, and PC. Select BL-13 (Lung Transport, 肺俞 fèi shù), GB-20 (Wind Pool, 风池 fēng chí), TB-5 (Outer Pass, 外关 wài guān), LU-10 (Fish Border, 鱼际 yú jì), LU-5 (Cubit Marsh, 尺泽 chǐ zé), LI-4 (Union Valley, 合谷 hé gǔ), LI-11 (Pool at the Bend, 曲池 qū chí), and GV-14 (Great Hammer, 大椎 dà zhuī); needle with drainage. For red sore pharynx, prick LU-11 (Lesser Shang, 少商 shào shāng) and LI-1 (Shang Yáng, 商阳 shāng yáng) to bleed with a three-edged needle.