Mammary aggregation

A disease of the breast characterized by a swollen lump like a plum or mume or like an egg that is hard and painful, and that moves when pushed. Mammary aggregation is unassociated with cold or heat or skin color. It arises most commonly when thought damages the spleen and depressed anger damages the liver, causing qì stagnation and congealing phlegm. It may also be due to liver-kidney yīn vacuity.

Biomedical correspondence: hyperplasia of the mammary glands, benign tumor of the mammary glands.

Patterns

Depressed liver qì (肝气郁 gān qì yù) patterns are characterized by dizziness, rib-side distension, oppression in the chest, belching, distending pain in the lesser abdomen, inhibited menstruation, thin tongue fur, and stringlike pulse.

Medicinal therapy: Course the liver and resolve stasis; transform phlegm and disperse binds. Use Free Wanderer Powder (逍遥散 xiāo yáo sǎn) plus curcuma (Curcumae Radix, 郁金 yù jīn), tangerine pip (Citri Reticulatae Semen, 橘核 jú hé), prunella (Prunellae Spica, 夏枯草 xià kū cǎo), and gizzard lining (Galli Gigeriae Endothelium Corneum, 鸡内金 jī nèi jīn).

Liver-kidney yīn vacuity (肝肾阴虚 gān shèn yīn xū) patterns are marked by postmeridian tidal heat, dull dark complexion, reddening of the cheeks, dizzy head, tinnitus, lumbar and back pain, scant menstrual flow, red tongue, and a fine rapid pulse.

Medicinal therapy: Supplement the liver and kidney with Menses-Stabilizing Decoction (定经汤 dìng jīng tāng) plus Zhejiang fritillaria (Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus, 浙贝母 zhè bèi mǔ), curcuma (Curcumae Radix, 郁金 yù jīn), tangerine pip (Citri Reticulatae Semen, 橘核 jú hé), zedoary (Curcumae Rhizoma, 莪朮 é zhú), and asparagus (Asparagi Radix, 天门冬 tiān mén dōng).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment on yáng brightness (yáng míng), reverting yīn (jué yīn), and greater yīn (tài yīn). Main points: ST-15 (Roof, 屋翳 wū yì), CV-17 (Chest Center, 膻中 shān zhōng), ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ), and SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo); needle with even supplementation and drainage.

• For depressed liver qì, add PC-6 (Inner Pass, 内关 nèi guān), GB-21 (Shoulder Well, 肩井 jiān jǐng), and LR-3 (Supreme Surge, 太冲 tài chōng).
• For liver-kidney depletion, add BL-18 (Liver Transport, 肝俞 gān shù) and BL-23 (Kidney Transport, 肾俞 shèn shù).