Resolving the exterior

A method of treatment used to eliminate evil from the fleshy exterior by effusing sweat (see sweating [2]). Exterior-resolving medicinals include schizonepeta (Schizonepetae Herba, 荆芥 jīng jiè), saposhnikovia (Saposhnikoviae Radix, 防风 fáng fēng), notopterygium (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix, 羌活 qiāng huó), perilla leaf (Perillae Folium, 紫苏叶 zǐ sū yè), fresh ginger (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, 生姜 shēng jiāng), scallion white (Allii Fistulosi Bulbus, 葱白 cōng bái), ephedra (Ephedrae Herba, 麻黄 má huáng), and cinnamon twig (Cinnamomi Ramulus, 桂枝 guì zhī). The method of resolving the exterior takes various forms depending on the evil. See the entries listed below.

Resolving the Exterior

• Resolving the exterior with coolness and acridity
• Resolving the exterior with warmth and acridity
• Enriching yīn and resolving the exterior
• Boosting qì and resolving the exterior
• Assisting yáng and resolving the exterior
• Resolving the flesh
• Outthrusting papules
• Coursing the exterior

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on LU, LI, GB, and TB. Main points: GV-20 (Hundred Convergences, 百会 bǎi huì), GB-20 (Wind Pool, 风池 fēng chí), and TB-5 (Outer Pass, 外关 wài guān).

• For wind-cold, add BL-11 (Great Shuttle, 大杼 dà zhù), GV-16 (Wind Mansion, 风府 fēng fǔ), BL-12 (Wind Gate, 风门 fēng mén), LI-4 (Union Valley, 合谷 hé gǔ), and LU-7 (Broken Sequence, 列缺 liè quē); needle with drainage and moxa.
• For wind-heat, add GV-14 (Great Hammer, 大椎 dà zhuī), LI-4 (Union Valley, 合谷 hé gǔ), LI-11 (Pool at the Bend, 曲池 qū chí), LU-5 (Cubit Marsh, 尺泽 chǐ zé), and LU-10 (Fish Border, 鱼际 yú jì); needle with drainage and prick LU-11 (Lesser Shang, 少商 shào shāng) to bleed with a three-edged needle.