Flesh impediment

An impediment (bì) pattern characterized by pain in the flesh that may be accompanied by sweating, limp wilting limbs, numbness of the skin, and clouded essence-spirit. Flesh impediment is usually attributed to damage by cold-damp, but distinction is made between repletion and vacuity patterns.

Biomedical correspondence: dermatomyositis.

Medicinal therapy: Repletion patterns are treated with Five Impediments Decoction (五痹汤 wǔ bì tāng) and vacuity patterns are treated with Wondrous Effect Astragalus Decoction (神效黄芪汤 shén xiào huáng qí tāng).

Acumoxatherapy: For repletion patterns, base treatment mainly on CV, ST, SP, and GV. Select BL-23 (Kidney Transport, 肾俞 shèn shù), GV-4 (Life Gate, 命门 mìng mén), CV-4 (Pass Head, 关元 guān yuán), ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ), SP-9 (Yīn Mound Spring, 阴陵泉 yīn líng quán), and SP-5 (Shang Hill, 商丘 shāng qiū); needle with drainage and large amounts of moxa. For vacuity patterns, base treatment mainly on CV, ST, SP, and GV. Select BL-23 (Kidney Transport, 肾俞 shèn shù), BL-20 (Spleen Transport, 脾俞 pí shù), GV-4 (Life Gate, 命门 mìng mén), CV-4 (Pass Head, 关元 guān yuán), ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ), LI-10 (Arm Three Lǐ, 手三里 shǒu sān lǐ), SP-9 (Yīn Mound Spring, 阴陵泉 yīn líng quán), SP-5 (Shang Hill, 商丘 shāng qiū), and SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo); needle with supplementation and large amounts of moxa.