Heel pain

Pain in either or both heels that is usually unassociated with swelling yet makes walking difficult. Heel pain is a sign of kidney vacuity. If associated with intermittent heat in the lower leg, it is due kidney yīn vacuity. If associated with inability to stand for long periods it is due to kidney yáng vacuity sign. In some cases, dampness may collect in the heel causing local swelling. Damp-heat may also be observed.

Medicinal therapy: Kidney yīn vacuity is treated by supplementing the kidney and enriching yīn with Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill (六味地黄丸 liù wèi dì huáng wán) or Four Agents Decoction (四物汤 sì wù tāng) and variations. Kidney yáng vacuity is treated by supplementing the kidney and warming yáng, using Cinnamon Bark and Aconite Eight-Ingredient Pill (桂附八味丸 guì fù bā wèi wán). For swelling due to dampness, use Statesman Shi’s Wine-Steeped Formula (史国公浸酒方 shǐ guó gōng jìn jiǔ fāng). For damp-heat, use Anemarrhena and Phellodendron Eight-Ingredient Pill (知柏八味丸 zhī bǎi bā wèi wán).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on KI, BL, and PC. Main points: KI-3 (Great Ravine, 太溪 tài xī) joined to BL-60 (Kunlun Mountains, 昆仑 kūn lún), KI-6 (Shining Sea, 照海 zhào hǎi), BL-62 (Extending Vessel, 申脉 shēn mài), and PC-7 (Great Mound, 大陵 dà líng); needle with supplementation. For kidney yīn vacuity, add BL-23 (Kidney Transport, 肾俞 shèn shù), BL-52 (Will Chamber, 志室 zhì shì), and SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo); needle with supplementation. For kidney yáng vacuity, add BL-23 (Kidney Transport, 肾俞 shèn shù), GV-4 (Life Gate, 命门 mìng mén), CV-4 (Pass Head, 关元 guān yuán), and KI-7 (Recover Flow, 复溜 fù liū); needle with supplementation and add moxa. For dampness, add SP-9 (Yīn Mound Spring, 阴陵泉 yīn líng quán), and ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ), needling with even supplementation and drainage, and, if appropriate, adding moxa. For damp-heat, SP-9 (Yīn Mound Spring, 阴陵泉 yīn líng quán), LI-11 (Pool at the Bend, 曲池 qū chí), ST-44 (Inner Court, 内庭 nèi tíng), and SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo), needling with drainage.