Goose-foot wind

A skin disease of the hand characterized by vesicles, itching, and thickening of the skin. Goose-foot wind is caused by wind toxin or dampness invading the skin. In the initial stages, it is characterized by small vesicles and itching. Later, the white skin sheds. When it persists for long periods, the skin becomes thick and rough and tends to crack, especially in winter, and, in severe cases, the nails may thicken, turn gray, and crack.

Biomedical correspondence: tinea manus and eczema rhagadiforme.

Medicinal therapy: Use Vinegar Soaking Formula (醋泡方 cù pào fāng). This formula is is made by soaking schizonepeta (Schizonepetae Herba, 荆芥 jīng jiè), saposhnikovia (Saposhnikoviae Radix, 防风 fáng fēng), lycium root bark (Lycii Cortex, 地骨皮 dì gǔ pí), carthamus (Carthami Flos, 红花 hóng huā), gleditsia (Gleditsiae Fructus, 皂荚 zào jiá), hydnocarpus (Hydnocarpi Semen, 大风子 dà fēng zǐ), and alum (Alumen, 白矾 bái fán) in vinegar for three or four days. The formula is applied by soaking the affected parts for half and hour each evening (each batch can be used for two weeks).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on LI, SI, and PC. Select LI-4 (Union Valley, 合谷 hé gǔ), SI-3 (Back Ravine, 后溪 hòu xī), PC-8 (Palace of Toil, 劳宫 láo gōng), HT-8 (Lesser Mansion, 少府 shào fǔ), PC-7 (Great Mound, 大陵 dà líng), LI-11 (Pool at the Bend, 曲池 qū chí), and Eight Evils (八邪 bā xié). Needle with drainage.