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Red eyes

目赤 〔目赤〕mù chì

From Plain Questions (素问 sù wèn, wǔ cháng zhèng dà lùn). Red whites of the eye of either or both eyes. Zhāng’s Clear View of Medicine (张氏医通 zhāng shì yī tōng) states, There are three [kinds of] red eyes: the first is wind assisting fire to become depressed in the upper body; the second is exuberant fire; the third is dryness damaging the liver. Sudden reddening of the eyes is observed in externally contracted wind-fire (wind-heat) and in heaven-current red eye. In wind-fire patterns, the eyes are swollen and painful with hot tears and aversion to light. Accompanying signs include aversion to cold with heat effusion, headache and nasal congestion, a thin white tongue fur, and a rapid floating pulse. Heaven-current red eye, also associated with discharge, is marked by being contagious. Reddening of the eyes of gradual onset is observed in internal damage patterns such as a) liver heat attacking the upper body (liver fire flaming upward) marked by red whites of eyes or red areola surrounding the black wheel; and b) liver-kidney yīn vacuity or liver-lung yīn vacuity, characterized by pale red whites of the eyes with mild intermittent pain and clouded vision. In alcoholics, red or yellow-red eyes are attributable to internally brewing liquor toxin.

Medicinal therapy: For wind-fire eye or heaven-current red eye, course wind, discharge heat, and resolve toxin, use Wind-Expelling Heat-Dispersing Drink (驱风散热饮子 qū fēng sàn rè yǐn zi). For liver heat attacking upward, clear the liver and drain fire, using Gentian Liver-Draining Decoction (龙胆泻肝汤 lóng dǎn xiè gān tāng). For liver-kidney yīn vacuity or liver-lung yīn vacuity, enrich yīn and nourish the blood, and clear the liver and downbear fire. Use Ten-Gem Decoction (十珍汤 shí zhēn tāng) which contains dried/fresh rehmannia (Rehmanniae Radix, 生地黄 shēng dì huáng), Chinese angelica (Angelicae Sinensis Radix, 当归 dāng guī), white peony (Paeoniae Radix Alba, 白芍药 bái sháo yào), lycium root bark (Lycii Cortex, 地骨皮 dì gǔ pí), anemarrhena (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma, 知母 zhī mǔ), moutan (Moutan Radicis Cortex, 牡丹皮 mǔ dān pí), asparagus (Asparagi Radix, 天门冬 tiān mén dōng), ophiopogon (Ophiopogonis Radix, 麦门冬 mài mén dōng), ginseng (Ginseng Radix, 人参 rén shēn), and licorice (Glycyrrhizae Radix, 甘草 gān cǎo). For internally brewing liquor toxin in alcoholics, clear heat and disinhibit dampness, using Virgate Wormwood and Poria Five Powder (茵陈五苓散 yīn chén wǔ líng sǎn).

Acumoxatherapy: Points in the region of the eye should only be given mild stimulation. For wind-fire eye or heaven-curent red eye, base treatment mainly on BL, GB, LI, and LR. Draim BL-1 (Bright Eyes, 睛明 jīng míng), GB-20 (Wind Pool, 风池 fēng chí), and LI-4 (Union Valley, 合谷 hé gǔ); prick Greater yáng (tài yáng) (太阳 tài yáng), GV-23 (Upper Star, 上星 shàng xīng), and LU-11 (Lesser Shang, 少商 shào shāng) to bleed. For liver heat attacking upward, base treatment mainly on GB and LR. Select BL-18 (Liver Transport, 肝俞 gān shù), LR-2 (Moving Between, 行间 xíng jiān), GB-43 (Pinched Ravine, 侠溪 xiá xī), LR-3 (Supreme Surge, 太冲 tài chōng), GB-1 (Pupil Bone-Hole, 瞳子髎 tóng zǐ liáo), GB-15 ((Head) Overlooking Tears, (头)临泣 tóu lín qì), and Greater yáng (tài yáng) (太阳 tài yáng); needle with drainage. For liver-kidney yīn vacuity or liver-lung yīn vacuity, base treatment mainly on KI, LR, BL, and GB. Select BL-1 (Bright Eyes, 睛明 jīng míng), GB-37 (Bright Light, 光明 guāng míng), ST-1 (Tear Container, 承泣 chéng qì), LI-4 (Union Valley, 合谷 hé gǔ), SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo), KI-3 (Great Ravine, 太溪 tài xī), KI-6 (Shining Sea, 照海 zhào hǎi), LR-3 (Supreme Surge, 太冲 tài chōng), BL-18 (Liver Transport, 肝俞 gān shù), and BL-23 (Kidney Transport, 肾俞 shèn shù); needle with supplementation.

See also tangled red-thread vessels; red areola surrounding the black wheel; red vessels invading the eye.

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