Galloping gān of the teeth and gums

Also galloping gān. Rapidly developing gān of the teeth and gums. Galloping gān of the gums begins with soreness, reddening, swelling, and hardening of the edges of the gum, in severe cases with whitening and putrefaction of the gums. The white color of the gum can easily turn black, and exude a purple-black bloody discharge that is accompanied by a foul smell. The ulcerated area is sore and slightly itchy. If the ulceration is deep, the wings of the nose and surrounding area assume a green-blue or brown color. In the worst cases, the lips are affected, the teeth may drop out, the ulceration may pierce the cheeks, and the bridge of the nose may collapse.

Medicinal therapy: Clear heat, resolve toxin, and dispel putridity, using Aloe Gān-Dispersing Beverage (芦荟消疳饮 lú huì xiāo gān yǐn). For spleen vacuity, Ginseng and Poria Gruel rén shēn fú líng zhōu, which consists of ginseng (Ginseng Radix, 人参 rén shēn) and poria (Poria, 茯苓 fú líng) ground to a powder and cooked as a gruel, may also be taken with the formula.

Etymology

Chin 走马 zǒu mǎ, running or galloping horse; describes the rapid development of the condition.