Severe damage to the skin and flesh that arises when cold and wind cause qì and blood to congeal and stagnate. Frostbite usually affects the hands and feet and the ears. The affected areas present a somber-white complexion that gradually turns purple-red and forms macules, burning sensation, itching, and numbness and, in severe cases, rupture and the development of sores that heal with difficulty. Frostbite can be prevented by adequate clothing and physical movement.
Medicinal therapy: Warm yáng and dispel cold; regulate provisioning and defense. Oral: Chinese Angelica Counterflow Cold Decoction (当归四逆汤dāng guī sì nì tāng). Topical: Red Spirit Wine (红灵酒hóng líng jiǔ) or boil ginger and chillies to make a wash. For open sores, apply Flesh-Engendering Jade and Red Paste (生肌玉红膏shēng jī yù hóng gāo).
Acumoxatherapy: Localized frostbite: Base treatment mainly on ouch points and local points.
Method: Prick the surrounding area, then apply moxa to quicken the blood and free the network vessels, and to warm the vessels and disperse cold.
Point selection according to affected area: For the back of the hand, select LI-4 (Union Valley, 合谷 hé gǔ), Eight Evils (八邪bā xié), and TB-4 (Yáng Pool, 阳池 yáng chí). For back (upper face) of the foot, select BL-60 (Kunlun Mountains, 昆仑 kūn lún), LR-2 (Moving Between, 行间 xíng jiān), and GB-41 (Foot Overlooking Tears, 足临泣 zú lín qì); needle with even supplementation and drainage and add moxa. Generalized frostbite: Main points: GV-14 (Great Hammer, 大椎 dà zhuī), GV-26 (Human Center, 人中 rén zhōng), and KI-1 (Gushing Spring, 湧泉 yǒng quán); needle with supplementation. For generalized frostbite with shock, select GV-20 (Hundred Convergences, 百会 bǎi huì), ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ), and pole CV-8 (Spirit Gate Tower, 神阙 shén què), CV-6 (Sea of Qì, 气海 qì hǎi), and CV-4 (Pass Head, 关元 guān yuán); needle with supplementation and add moxa. Biomedical treatment may be necessary.