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Lesser yīn (shào yīn) disease pattern
少阴病证 〔少陰病證〕shào yīn bìng zhèng
Any pattern of lesser yīn (shào yīn) disease.
Lesser yīn (shào yīn) disease patterns occur in the latter stages of externally contracted disease. They are usually critical. The lesser yīn (shào yīn) is associated with the heart and kidney, that is, the viscera of water and fire and the root of yīn and yáng. When the disease enters the lesser yīn (shào yīn) aspect, it damages the heart and kidney, causing debilitation of yáng qì, damage to yīn-blood, and a decline of heart and kidney functions. Hence, the pulse is faint and fine, and the patient desires only to sleep.
Depending on differences in constitution, lesser yīn (shào yīn) disease patterns may take one of two forms: cold transformation and heat transformation, the former being the more common.
- In lesser yīn (shào yīn) cold transformation, heart-kidney yáng debilitation causes the evil to develop under the influence of cold. It manifests in generalized vacuity cold signs.
- Lesser yīn (shào yīn) heat transformation, which occurs less commonly, is a pattern of yīn vacuity with hyperactive yáng, in which the disease evil transforms into heat under the influence of the yáng. It manifests in the form of yīn vacuity with effulgent fire.
Lesser yīn (shào yīn) Cold Transformation Pattern
Main name:
A disease pattern chiefly characterized by fear of cold and cold limbs; clear-grain diarrhea; a pulse that is faint and fine.
Description: Absence of heat effusion with aversion to cold; lying in curled-up posture; reversal cold of the limbs; desire only for sleep; absence of thirst or thirst with desire for hot drinks; clear-grain diarrhea; desire to vomit but failure to vomit; long voidings of clear urine; pale tongue with a white fur; a pulse that is faint and fine on the verge of expiration.
Pathogenesis: Debilitation of heart and kidney yáng qì in cold damage, giving rise to exuberant yīn cold. This usually occurs in people with weak constitutions and arises when disease evils strike the lesser yīn (shào yīn) directly or when enduring disease in other channels spreads to the lesser yīn (shào yīn).
Analysis of signs
- Exuberant internal yīn cold: Cold signs include aversion to cold with absence of heat effusion, lying in curled-up posture, reversal cold of the limbs, long voidings of clear urine, and a pulse that is faint and fine.
- Debilitation of yáng qì: When yáng qì fails to drive the blood, the pulse is faint and fine on the verge of expiration. When it fails to nourish the spirit, there is desire only for sleep and listlessness of essence-spirit.
- Kidney yáng vacuity depriving the spleen of warmth: Clear-grain diarrhea and desire but failure to vomit.
- Qì failing to produce liquid: Thirst with desire for hot drinks.
- Pulse: Faint and fine.
Treatment
Medicinal therapy: Return yáng and stem counterflow using sì nì tāng (四逆汤 Counterflow Cold Decoction).
Acumoxatherapy: Moxa GV-4 (mìng mén) CV-8 (shén què) KI-3 (tài xī), CV-6 (qì hǎi), and ST-36 (zú sān lǐ). For desire only for sleep,
Lesser yīn (shào yīn) Heat Transformation Pattern
Main name:Description: Heart vexation, sleeplessness, and dry mouth and pharynx. The tongue is red at the tip or crimson with little liquid. The pulse is fine and rapid.
Pathogenesis: This pattern arises when there is yīn vacuity in the lesser yīn (shào yīn) giving rise to yáng exuberance that causes the evil to transform into heat.
Analysis of signs
- Depleted kidney-water and hyperactive heart-fire: Heart vexation, sleeplessness, and a red-tipped tongue.
- Yīn vacuity with effulgent fire: Dry mouth and pharynx, red or crimson tongue with little fur, and a pulse that is fine and rapid.
Treatment
Medicinal therapy: Enrich yīn and clear heat using huáng lián ē jiāo tāng (黄连阿胶汤 Coptis and Ass Hide Glue Decoction).
Acumoxatherapy: For heart vexation,