Large intestine damp-heat

Also damp-heat pouring down into the large intestine (downpour of damp-heat into the large intestine). A disease pattern generally characterized by abdominal pain and diarrhea with ungratifying defecation and foul-smelling stool. An alternative pattern is dysentery characterized by frequent defecation and blood and pus in the stool, abdominal pain, tenesmus, and a burning sensation in the rectum. In both cases, general signs include heat effusion, bitter taste in the mouth, and a slimy yellow tongue fur.

Biomedical correspondence: colitis, dysentery.

Medicinal therapy: Clear heat and disinhibit dampness; resolve toxin. Use medicinals such as pulsatilla (Pulsatillae Radix, 白头翁 bái tóu wēng), ash (Fraxini Cortex, 秦皮 qín pí), coptis (Coptidis Rhizoma, 黄连 huáng lián), scutellaria (Scutellariae Radix, 黄芩 huáng qín), phellodendron (Phellodendri Cortex, 黄柏 huáng bǎi), sanguisorba (Sanguisorbae Radix, 地榆 dì yú), and purslane (Portulacae Herba, 马齿苋 mǎ chǐ xiàn). A basic formula is Pulsatilla Decoction (白头翁汤 bái tóu wēng tāng).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on LI and ST. Select BL-25 (Large Intestine Transport, 大肠俞 dà cháng shù), LI-4 (Union Valley, 合谷 hé gǔ), LI-11 (Pool at the Bend, 曲池 qū chí), ST-25 (Celestial Pivot, 天枢 tiān shū), ST-37 (Upper Great Hollow, 上巨虚 shàng jù xū), and ST-44 (Inner Court, 内庭 nèi tíng); needle with drainage and add moxa.