Thirst

A sensation of dryness in the mouth with a desire to drink. Thirst most commonly reflects insufficiency of yīn fluids and/or the presence of heat that causes fluid loss through sweating, as observed in lung-stomach heat, yīn vacuity, and blood vacuity. It may occur when water-damp, phlegm, or static blood cause obstruction. It can also reflect impaired transportation of the essence of food and water due to spleen vacuity or in impaired transformation of fluids due to kidney vacuity.

Patterns

Lung-stomach heat (肺胃有热 fèi wèi yǒu rè) thirst is characterized by desire for cold drinks and is associated with constipation, reddish urine, yellow tongue fur, and rapid pulse.

Medicinal therapy: Clear heat and drain fire with formulas such as Lung-Clearing Drink (清肺饮子 qīng fèi yǐn zi), White Tiger Decoction (白虎汤 bái hǔ tāng), or one of the Qì-Coordinating Decoctions (承气汤 chéng qì tāng).

Acumoxatherapy: Commonly used main points for all forms of thirst are Gold Liquid and Jade Humor (金津玉液 jīn jīn yù yè), Sea Source (海泉 hǎi quán), TB-2 (Humor Gate, 液门 yè mén), KI-6 (Shining Sea, 照海 zhào hǎi), and SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo), needle with supplementation. For lung-stomach heat, add LU-7 (Broken Sequence, 列缺 liè quē), LU-5 (Cubit Marsh, 尺泽 chǐ zé), LI-11 (Pool at the Bend, 曲池 qū chí), LI-4 (Union Valley, 合谷 hé gǔ), ST-44 (Inner Court, 内庭 nèi tíng), and ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ), and needle with drainage.

Yīn vacuity and diminished liquid (阴虚津少 yīn xū jīn shǎo) thirst is characterized by dry throat and mouth, heat vexation and upbearing fire flush, red lips, tongue with scant liquid, and a fine pulse.

Medicinal therapy: Nourish yīn and engender liquid using formulas such as Humor-Increasing Decoction (增液汤 zēng yè tāng), Five Juices Beverage (五汁饮 wǔ zhī yǐn), and Adenophora/Glehnia and Ophiopogon Decoction (沙参麦冬汤 shā shēn mài dōng tāng).

Acumoxatherapy: Use the main points for thirst described above, and add BL-23 (Kidney Transport, 肾俞 shèn shù), KI-3 (Great Ravine, 太溪 tài xī), and KI-2 (Blazing Valley, 然谷 rán gǔ), needling with supplementation.

Blood vacuity (血虚 xuè xū) thirst is most commonly observed after major blood loss and is attended by pale lips, bright-white complexion, dizziness, pale tongue, and vacuous or scallion-stalk pulse.

Medicinal therapy: Supplement qì and boost the blood with formulas such as Chinese Angelica Blood-Supplementing Decoction (当归补血汤 dāng guī bǔ xuè tāng) or Eight-Gem Decoction (八珍汤 bā zhēn tāng).

Acumoxatherapy: To the main points for thirst, add BL-20 (Spleen Transport, 脾俞 pí shù), BL-21 (Stomach Transport, 胃俞 wèi shù), LR-3 (Supreme Surge, 太冲 tài chōng), ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ), SP-10 (Sea of Blood, 血海 xuè hǎi), and BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport, 膈俞 gé shù), needling with supplementation.

Water-damp (水湿 shuǐ shī) thirst is characterized by thirst with no desire to drink, i.e., a thirst that is unquenched by drinking; it indicates not a lack of fluid in the body, but failure of fluids to reach the mouth. Thirst in such cases is associated with oppression in the chest, torpid intake, abdominal distension, swollen limbs, inhibited urination, slimy tongue fur, and a soggy pulse.

Medicinal therapy: Dry dampness and disinhibit water with formulas such as Stomach-Calming Poria Five Decoction (胃苓汤 wèi líng tāng) or Five-Peel Beverage (五皮饮 wǔ pí yǐn).

Acumoxatherapy: Add to the main points for thirst CV-9 (Water Divide, 水分 shuǐ fēn), CV-6 (Sea of Qì, 气海 qì hǎi), BL-22 (Triple Burner Transport, 三焦俞 sān jiāo shù), ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ), BL-20 (Spleen Transport, 脾俞 pí shù), and SP-9 (Yīn Mound Spring, 阴陵泉 yīn líng quán), and needle with drainage.

Phlegm-rheum (痰饮 tán yǐn) thirst is associated with oppression in the chest, shortness of breath, heart palpitation, and ejection of phlegm-drool.

Medicinal therapy: Warm yáng and transform rheum using formulas such as Poria, Cinnamon Twig, White Atractylodes, and Licorice Decoction (苓桂朮甘汤 líng guì zhú gān tāng).

Acumoxatherapy: To the main points for thirst add CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct, 中脘 zhōng wǎn), ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ), ST-40 (Bountiful Bulge, 丰隆 fēng lóng), LI-4 (Union Valley, 合谷 hé gǔ), PC-6 (Inner Pass, 内关 nèi guān), and PC-4 (Cleft Gate, 郄门 xī mén), and needle with supplementation and add moxa.

Blood stasis (血瘀 xuè yū) thirst is characterized by thirst but with a desire only to wash the mouth rather than to swallow fluid and is attended by withered lips, purple tongue, and a rough pulse. Treat by quickening the blood and dispelling stasis with formulas like Peach Kernel and Carthamus Four Agents Decoction (桃红四物汤 táo hóng sì wù tāng) and House of Blood Stasis-Expelling Decoction (血府逐瘀汤 xuè fǔ zhú yū tāng).

Acumoxatherapy: To the main points for thirst add BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport, 膈俞 gé shù), SP-10 (Sea of Blood, 血海 xuè hǎi), CV-6 (Sea of Qì, 气海 qì hǎi), LI-4 (Union Valley, 合谷 hé gǔ), and LR-3 (Supreme Surge, 太冲 tài chōng); needle with even supplementation and drainage or prick to bleed with a three-edged needle.

Spleen vacuity (脾虚 pí xū) with impaired transportation of liquid causing thirst is characterized by desire for warm drinks and the intake of fluids in small amountsand is attended by fatigued cumbersome limbs, clear urine, and sloppy stool.

Medicinal therapy: Fortify the spleen with formulas such as Center-Rectifying Decoction (理中汤 lǐ zhōng tāng) and Seven-Ingredient White Atractylodes Powder (七味白朮散 qī wèi bái zhú sǎn).

Acumoxatherapy: To the main points for thirst add CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct, 中脘 zhōng wǎn), BL-20 (Spleen Transport, 脾俞 pí shù), ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ), SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo), and SP-4 (Yellow Emperor, 公孙 gōng sūn), needling with supplementation and adding moxa.

Kidney yáng debilitation (肾阳虚衰 shèn yáng xū shuāi) thirst is characterized by physical cold and aversion to cold, shortness of breath, swollen limbs, cold aching lumbus and legs, and long voidings of clear urine or dribbling urination, sunken pulse, and pale tongue.

Medicinal therapy: Warm yáng and supplement the kidney using formulas such as True Warrior Decoction (真武汤 zhēn wǔ tāng) or Golden Cabinet Kidney Qì Pill (金匮肾气丸 jīn guì shèn qì wán). Thirst with frequent intake of fluids, increased food intake, and copious urine is a sign of dispersion-thirst.

Acumoxatherapy: To the main points for thirst add BL-23 (Kidney Transport, 肾俞 shèn shù), CV-4 (Pass Head, 关元 guān yuán), GV-4 (Life Gate, 命门 mìng mén), KI-3 (Great Ravine, 太溪 tài xī), and KI-7 (Recover Flow, 复溜 fù liū), needling with supplementation and adding moxa.