Blood concretion

An abdominal lump attributable to accumulation of static blood congesting the channels. Concretions may occur in the rib-side or below the abdomen. They feel hard to the touch, do not move when pushedand are associated with local stasis pain. Patients suffering from them also reveal signs such as gradual emaciation, fatigue and lack of strength, reduced food intake, and in women menstrual irregularities or amenorrhea.

Medicinal therapy: Quicken the blood and disperse stasis. If visceral qì is weak, support right and dispel the evil. Formulas that may be used include Turtle Shell Decocted Pill (鳖甲煎丸 biē jiǎ jiān wán), Concretion-Transforming Return-to-Life Elixir (化症回生丹 huà zhēng huí shēng dān), Infradiaphragmatic Stasis-Expelling Decoction (膈下逐瘀汤 gé xià zhú yū tāng), and Lesser Abdomen Stasis-Expelling Decoction (少腹逐瘀汤 shào fù zhú yū tāng).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment on back transport points, SP, and LR. Main points are blood-quickening stasis-dispelling points such as BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport, 膈俞 gé shù), SP-10 (Sea of Blood, 血海 xuè hǎi), LI-4 (Union Valley, 合谷 hé gǔ), LR-3 (Supreme Surge, 太冲 tài chōng), SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo), and Glomus Root (痞根 pǐ gēn).

Point selection according to affected area: Chest and abdomen: add CV-17 (Chest Center, 膻中 shān zhōng) and ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ). Rib-side: add SP-21 (Great Embracement, 大包 dà bāo) and GB-34 (Yáng Mound Spring, 阳陵泉 yáng líng quán). Below the umbilicus: add CV-3 (Central Pole, 中极 zhōng jí), SP-8 (Earth’s Crux, 地机 dì jī), and ST-29 (Return, 归来 guī lái); needle with even supplementation and drainage or pricking and cupping. For vacuity of visceral qì, add CV-4 (Pass Head, 关元 guān yuán), BL-20 (Spleen Transport, 脾俞 pí shù), and ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ), and needle with supplementation and add moxa.