Spitting of blood

1. Coughing of phlegm-blood. Plain Questions (素问 sù wèn, ké lùn) states, The signs of lung cough are cough with noisy panting, and in severe cases spitting of blood.

2. Expulsion of blood with saliva; attributed to the spleen failing to control blood, yīn vacuity with effulgent fire, or the liver failing to store blood.

Patterns

Spleen failing to control blood (脾不统血 pí bù tǒng xuè) causes spitting of blood accompanied by heart palpitation or fearful throbbing, vexation, and insomnia, reduced eating and lassitude of spirit.

Medicinal therapy: Use Spleen-Returning Decoction (归脾汤 guī pí tāng).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on SP, ST, HT, CV, and back transport points. Select BL-20 (Spleen Transport, 脾俞 pí shù), BL-15 (Heart Transport, 心俞 xīn shù), CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct, 中脘 zhōng wǎn), ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ), SP-4 (Yellow Emperor, 公孙 gōng sūn), SP-1 (Hidden White, 隐白 yǐn bái), PC-6 (Inner Pass, 内关 nèi guān), and HT-7 (Spirit Gate, 神门 shén mén); needle with supplementation and moxa.

Effulgent yīn vacuity fire (阴虚火旺 yīn xū huǒ wàng) spitting of blood is accompanied by fine rapid pulse.

Medicinal therapy: Use Yīn-Enriching Fire-Downbearing Decoction (滋阴降火汤 zī yīn jiàng huǒ tāng).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on KI, SP, and PC. Select KI-3 (Great Ravine, 太溪 tài xī), KI-6 (Shining Sea, 照海 zhào hǎi), KI-2 (Blazing Valley, 然谷 rán gǔ), SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo), BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport, 膈俞 gé shù), PC-6 (Inner Pass, 内关 nèi guān), and PC-7 (Great Mound, 大陵 dà líng); needle with drainage or with even supplementation and drainage.

Liver failing to store blood (肝不藏血 gān bù cáng xuè) can cause spitting of blood attended by headache, thirst, and constipation.

Medicinal therapy: Use Chinese Angelica, Gentian, and Aloe Pill (当归龙荟丸 dāng guī lóng huì wán) or Heart-Draining Decoction (泻心汤 xiè xīn tāng).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on LR and CV. Select LR-3 (Supreme Surge, 太冲 tài chōng), LR-2 (Moving Between, 行间 xíng jiān), PC-8 (Palace of Toil, 劳宫 láo gōng), PC-7 (Great Mound, 大陵 dà líng), PC-6 (Inner Pass, 内关 nèi guān), BL-18 (Liver Transport, 肝俞 gān shù), and BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport, 膈俞 gé shù); needle with drainage.