Fatness, corpulence. Traditional literature contains little reference to weight control. With the influence of modern medicine, greater attention is being paid to the problem. Obesity is attributed to phlegm-damp or qì vacuity, or as is often the case, a combination of the two.
Patterns
Phlegm-damp (痰湿 tán shī) obesity is characterized by a large appetite with a predilection for sweet or fatty rich foods, glomus and oppression in the chest and stomach duct, copious phlegm, heavy body, fatigue, aversion to heat, enlarged tongue with thick slimy fur, and a forceful slippery stringlike pulse.
Medicinal therapy: Dispel phlegm and transform dampness using Gallbladder-Warming Decoction (温胆汤wēn dǎn tāng) or Stomach-Calming Powder (平胃散píng wèi sǎn) with the judicious addition of crataegus (Crataegi Fructus, 山楂shān zhā), radish seed (Raphani Semen, 莱菔子lái fú zǐ), and Six-to-One Powder (六一散liù yī sǎn). This treatment should be combined with control of intake of rich food.
Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on CV and ST. Select CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct, 中脘 zhōng wǎn), ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ), ST-40 (Bountiful Bulge, 丰隆 fēng lóng), ST-25 (Celestial Pivot, 天枢 tiān shū), CV-6 (Sea of Qì, 气海 qì hǎi), and CV-9 (Water Divide, 水分 shuǐ fēn); needle with drainage.
Point selection according to area affected: For the shoulder and back, add GV-14 (Great Hammer, 大椎 dà zhuī) and LI-15 (Shoulder Bone, 肩髃 jiān yú). For the chest and breasts, add ST-33 (Yīn Market, 阴巿 yīn shì) and ST-16 (Breast Window, 膺窗 yīng chuāng). For the lower abdomen, add ST-28 (Waterway, 水道 shuǐ dào). For the buttocks and thighs, add GB-30 (Jumping Round, 环跳 huán tiào), GB-31 (Wind Market, 风巿 fēng shì), and SP-10 (Sea of Blood, 血海 xuè hǎi).
Qì vacuity (气虚 qì xū) obesity is obesity accompanied by scantness of breath and laziness to speak, spontaneous sweating at the slightest movement, vacuity swelling of the face, poor appetite, lassitude of spirit, hypersomnia, pale tongue with white fur, and a weak fine pulse.
Medicinal therapy: Supplement qì and fortify the spleen. Use formulas such as Costusroot and Amomum Six Gentlemen Decoction (香砂六君子汤xiāng shā liù jūn zǐ tāng) combined with physical exercise.
Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on back transport points, CV, SP, and ST. Select BL-20 (Spleen Transport, 脾俞 pí shù), BL-21 (Stomach Transport, 胃俞 wèi shù), ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ), CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct, 中脘 zhōng wǎn), LR-13 (Camphorwood Gate, 章门 zhāng mén), CV-6 (Sea of Qì, 气海 qì hǎi), and SP-9 (Yīn Mound Spring, 阴陵泉 yīn líng quán); needle with supplementation and moxa.