Pain attributed to qì stagnation arising from binding depression of the seven affects, from stagnation of phlegm-heat, from damage by dietary irregularities, or from taxation fatigue. It may affect the chest, rib-side, abdomen, or lumbus.
Patterns
Upper burner: Qì stagnating in the upper burner with glomus and pain in the chest and heart region.
Medicinal therapy: Use Bitter Orange and Tangerine Peel Decoction (枳橘汤zhǐ jú tāng). Wherever there are signs of qì stagnation causing blood stasis, blood-quickening stasis-transforming medicinals can be included.
Acumoxatherapy: Main points (applicable to all patterns): CV-6 (Sea of Qì, 气海 qì hǎi), PC-6 (Inner Pass, 内关 nèi guān), and LR-3 (Supreme Surge, 太冲 tài chōng); needle with drainage; for qì stagnation causing blood stasis, add BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport, 膈俞 gé shù), SP-10 (Sea of Blood, 血海 xuè hǎi), LI-4 (Union Valley, 合谷 hé gǔ), and SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo), needling with drainage. For qì stagnation in the upper burner, add CV-17 (Chest Center, 膻中 shān zhōng), CV-15 (Turtledove Tail, 鸠尾 jiū wěi), and PC-5 (Intermediary Courier, 间使 jiān shǐ).
Center burner: Qì stagnating in the center burner is marked by stabbing pain in the abdomen and rib-side.
Medicinal therapy: Use Costusroot Qì-Breaking Powder (木香破气散mù xiāng pò qì sǎn). Blood-quickening stasis-transforming medicinals can be added if necessary.
Acumoxatherapy: To the main points given above add CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct, 中脘 zhōng wǎn), ST-25 (Celestial Pivot, 天枢 tiān shū), ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ), TB-6 (Branch Ditch, 支沟 zhī gōu), and GB-34 (Yáng Mound Spring, 阳陵泉 yáng líng quán).
Lower burner: Qì stagnating in the lower burner is marked by mounting-conglomeration (shàn jiǎ) or lumbar pain.
Medicinal therapy: Use Four Milled Ingredients Beverage (四磨饮sì mò yǐn) or Costusroot and Areca Pill (木香槟榔丸mù xiāng bīng láng wán). Blood-quickening stasis-transforming medicinals can be added if necessary.
Acumoxatherapy: To the main points given above add BL-23 (Kidney Transport, 肾俞 shèn shù) and ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ), and moxa CV-4 (Pass Head, 关元 guān yuán).
External body: Qì stagnating in the external body is marked by generalized stabbing pain.
Medicinal therapy: Use Qì Flow Drink (流气饮子liú qì yǐn zi) or Costusroot Qì Flow Beverage (木香流气饮mù xiāng liú qì yǐn). Blood-quickening stasis-transforming medicinals can be added if necessary.
Acumoxatherapy: To the main points given above add LI-4 (Union Valley, 合谷 hé gǔ), TB-5 (Outer Pass, 外关 wài guān), and GV-20 (Hundred Convergences, 百会 bǎi huì).