Blood drum

Also blood drum distension; blood gǔ. Drum distension (pronounced abdominal distension), arising when blood stasis and qì stagnation hamper the movement of water-damp. Blood drum is characterized by enlargement of the abdomen with green-blue prominent vessels (caput medusae), and red-thread marks (spider nevi), black stool, short voidings of reddish urine, and a scallion-stalk pulse. In some cases, there is spontaneous external bleeding or blood ejection.

Biomedical correspondence: ascites due to schistosomiasis (blood fluke infestation) or other causes.

Medicinal therapy: Quicken the blood and move stasis; fortify the spleen and disinhibit dampness. Use formulas such as Dead-On Pill (抵当丸 dǐ dàng wán) and Spleen-Firming Beverage (实脾饮 shí pí yǐn).

Acumoxatherapy: Two sets of points may be used:

1. CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct, 中脘 zhōng wǎn), ST-25 (Celestial Pivot, 天枢 tiān shū), ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ), BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport, 膈俞 gé shù), KI-9 (Guest House, 筑宾 zhú bīn), and KI-16 (Huang Transport, 肓俞 huāng shù).
2. SP-15 (Great Horizontal, 大横 dà hèng), CV-6 (Sea of Qì, 气海 qì hǎi), SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo), BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport, 膈俞 gé shù), KI-9 (Guest House, 筑宾 zhú bīn), and KI-16 (Huang Transport, 肓俞 huāng shù).

The sets may be alternated, needling with drainage. Pole CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct, 中脘 zhōng wǎn), CV-4 (Pass Head, 关元 guān yuán), and bilateral SP-15 (Great Horizontal, 大横 dà hèng) for 30–60 minutes each time after needling.