Girdling fire cinnabar

Also girdling snake cinnabar; fire-girdle sore. A sore on one side of the chest, rib-side, or abdomen characterized initially by pain and reddening of the skin and in advanced stages by blisters containing clear fluid in a long belt formation. It usually starts with a stabbing pain, slight heat effusion, and fatigue, developing from one side of the trunk, and gradually turning from a bright to a turbid red color. It is attributed to wind-fire in the heart and liver channels, or to spleen-lung channel damp-heat. It usually only affects one side of the body. In older patients, it can last 1–2 months, or even longer.

Biomedical correspondence: herpes zoster (shingles).

Medicinal therapy: Clear heat, disinhibit dampness, and resolve toxin. In the early stages, with burning pain and itching, take Gentian Liver-Draining Decoction (龙胆泻肝汤 lóng dǎn xiè gān tāng); if there are blisters, ulceration, and exudation, and severe pain, take Dampness-Eliminating Stomach-Calming Poria Five Decoction (除湿胃苓汤 chú shī wèi líng tāng), and apply powdered realgar (Realgar, 雄黄 xióng huáng) blended with the juice pressed from garlic chive (Allii Tuberosi Folium, 韭菜 jiǔ cài).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on points surrounding the affected area, LI, LR, and SP. Select LI-11 (Pool at the Bend, 曲池 qū chí), SP-10 (Sea of Blood, 血海 xuè hǎi), TB-5 (Outer Pass, 外关 wài guān), LR-3 (Supreme Surge, 太冲 tài chōng), SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo), and points surrounding the affected area; needle with drainage and retain the needles for 30 minutes. Treat twice a day.

Point selection according to patterns:

• For wind-fire in the heart and liver channels, add HT-8 (Lesser Mansion, 少府 shào fǔ), PC-8 (Palace of Toil, 劳宫 láo gōng), GB-43 (Pinched Ravine, 侠溪 xiá xī), and LR-2 (Moving Between, 行间 xíng jiān).
• For spleen-lung channel damp-heat, add ST-44 (Inner Court, 内庭 nèi tíng), SP-9 (Yīn Mound Spring, 阴陵泉 yīn líng quán), and LI-4 (Union Valley, 合谷 hé gǔ).

Point selection according to affected area:

• For the rib-side, add LI-4 (Union Valley, 合谷 hé gǔ), TB-6 (Branch Ditch, 支沟 zhī gōu) and GB-34 (Yáng Mound Spring, 阳陵泉 yáng líng quán).
• For anywhere above the waist, add TB-6 (Branch Ditch, 支沟 zhī gōu), and PC-6 (Inner Pass, 内关 nèi guān). For anywhere below the waist, add SP-9 (Yīn Mound Spring, 阴陵泉 yīn líng quán).

Ear acupuncture: Lung fèi, Heart xīn, Spleen pí, Liver gān, Spirit Gate shén mén, and Sympathetic jiāo gǎn. If heat is pronounced, add Gallbladder dǎn; if dampness is pronounced, add Stomach wèi. Choose 2–3 points at at time; apply a strong stimulus and retain needles for 20–30 minutes. Treat 1–2 times a day.

Etymology

Chin 缠 chán, wrap around; 腰 yāo, waist, lumbus; 火 huǒ, fire; 丹 dān, cinnabar.