Acne

A disease manifesting in blackheads (comedones) or red papules (pimples) on the face that can be squeezed to produce an oily, chalky substance and that can develop into pustules. Acne is most common in young people. In severe cases, pimples may be large, red, and swollen, and coalesce and spread to the neck, shoulders, and back. Acne is attributed to brewing lung-stomach heat fuming the face, causing heat and stagnation of the blood. It is often found to be related to consumption of rich food.

Medicinal therapy: Diffuse the lung and clear heat, taking Loquat Leaf Lung-Clearing Beverage (枇杷清肺饮 pí pá qīng fèi yǐn) orally and applying Reversal Powder (颠倒散 diān dǎo sǎn) mixed with cold water topically.

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on back transport points, ST, and LI. Select LI-20 (Welcome Fragrance, 迎香 yíng xiāng), LI-4 (Union Valley, 合谷 hé gǔ), LI-11 (Pool at the Bend, 曲池 qū chí), BL-13 (Lung Transport, 肺俞 fèi shù), BL-20 (Spleen Transport, 脾俞 pí shù), ST-44 (Inner Court, 内庭 nèi tíng), and ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ), and needle with drainage. For pronounced heat signs, pick BL-40 (Bend Center, 委中 wěi zhōng) and prick LU-11 (Lesser Shang, 少商 shào shāng) to bleed.

See also drinker’s nose.

Etymology

Chin 粉 fěn, powder; 刺 cì, thorn, prickle.