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Scrotal itch

阴囊瘙痒 〔陰囊瘙癢〕yīn náng sāo yǎng

Also yīn sac itch. Itching of the scrotum, in severe cases with thickening of the skin, and rupture by scratching causing exudation of yellow water and subsequent scabbing. Scrotal itch is caused by brewing damp-heat, yīn vacuity and blood dryness, or by lower burner cold-damp.

Patterns

Brewing damp-heat (湿热郁结 shī rè yù jié) scrotal itch starts with severe itching relieved by bathing in hot water, and with pimples like millet grains. Scratching produces a watery exudate and burning soreness. The tongue is yellow and slimy, and the pulse is stringlike, slippery, and rapid.

Medicinal therapy: Clear and drain liver-gallbladder heat with Gentian Liver-Draining Decoction (龙胆泻肝汤 lóng dǎn xiè gān tāng). Bathe with a decoction of purslane (Portulacae Herba, 马齿苋 mǎ chǐ xiàn).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on SP, ST, LR, and LI. Select GV-14 (Great Hammer, 大椎 dà zhuī), LI-11 (Pool at the Bend, 曲池 qū chí), SP-10 (Sea of Blood, 血海 xuè hǎi), SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo), SP-9 (Yīn Mound Spring, 阴陵泉 yīn líng quán), ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ), LR-3 (Supreme Surge, 太冲 tài chōng), and GB-34 (Yáng Mound Spring, 阳陵泉 yáng líng quán); needle with drainage.

Yīn vacuity and blood dryness (阴虚血燥 yīn xū xuè zào) patterns are characterized by severe itching with roughening and thickening of the skin. Scratching produces blood (no watery exudate), which dries to form a regular blood scab. It is associated with thirst, heart vexation, red tongue, and fine rapid pulse.

Medicinal therapy: Use medicinals such as 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), salvia (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix, 丹参 dān shēn), spatholobus (Spatholobi Caulis, 鸡血藤 jī xuè téng), earthworm (Pheretima, 地龙 dì lóng), kochia (Kochiae Fructus, 地肤子 dì fū zǐ), fish poison yam (Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae seu Semptemlobae Rhizoma, 萆薢 bì xiè), cnidium seed (Cnidii Fructus, 蛇床子 shé chuáng zǐ), raw licorice (Glycyrrhizae Radix Cruda, 生甘草 shēng gān cǎo), and cyathula (Cyathulae Radix, 川牛膝 chuān niú xī),

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on back transport points, SP, LR, KI, and ST. Select BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport, 膈俞 gé shù), BL-20 (Spleen Transport, 脾俞 pí shù), BL-23 (Kidney Transport, 肾俞 shèn shù), SP-10 (Sea of Blood, 血海 xuè hǎi), SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo), LR-8 (Spring at the Bend, 曲泉 qū quán), LR-3 (Supreme Surge, 太冲 tài chōng), KI-6 (Shining Sea, 照海 zhào hǎi), and ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ); needle with even supplementation and drainage. For pronounced itching, add HT-8 (Lesser Mansion, 少府 shào fǔ), and Itch Reliever (止痒 zhǐ yǎng).

Lower burner cold-damp (下焦寒湿 xià jiāo hán shī) patterns are characterized by damp scrotum, mild itching, limp aching lumbus and knees, sagging distension in the smaller abdomen, inhibited urination, heavy swollen lower limbs, moist white tongue fur and a forceless sunken moderate pulse.

Medicinal therapy: Warm the channels and disperse cold; eliminate dampness and relieve itch. An effective formula is Five Accumulations Powder (五积散 wǔ jī sǎn).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on CV, SP, and ST. Select CV-4 (Pass Head, 关元 guān yuán), CV-3 (Central Pole, 中极 zhōng jí), ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ), SP-9 (Yīn Mound Spring, 阴陵泉 yīn líng quán), and SP-10 (Sea of Blood, 血海 xuè hǎi); needle with drainage and moxa.

See scrotal wind.

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