Tooth decay

Rotting of the teeth characterized by the cavities and toothache. Tooth decay is attributed to a lack of oral hygiene or to wind, phlegm, dampness and heat steaming in the hand and foot yáng brightness (yáng míng) channels, which enter the lower and upper teeth respectively.

Medicinal therapy: Clear heat and relieve pain using Stomach-Clearing Powder (清胃散 qīng wèi sǎn), Jade Lady Brew (玉女煎 yù nǚ jiān), or Coptis Gallbladder-Warming Decoction (黄连温胆汤 huáng lián wēn dǎn tāng). Attention should be paid to oral hygiene. Wash mouth regularly with a decoction of lonicera (Lonicerae Flos, 金银花 jīn yín huā), forsythia (Forsythiae Fructus, 连翘 lián qiáo), mint (Menthae Herba, 薄荷 bò hé), and raw licorice (Glycyrrhizae Radix Cruda, 生甘草 shēng gān cǎo).

Acumoxatherapy: Plain Questions (素问 sù wèn, miào cì lùn) states, For toothache, needle the hand yáng brightness (yáng míng). Base treatment mainly on LI and ST. Select LI-4 (Union Valley, 合谷 hé gǔ), LI-5 (Yáng Ravine, 阳溪 yáng xī), ST-6 (Cheek Carriage, 颊车 jiá chē), ST-44 (Inner Court, 内庭 nèi tíng), and ST-7 (Below the Joint, 下关 xià guān); needle with drainage. To course wind, add GV-14 (Great Hammer, 大椎 dà zhuī) and TB-5 (Outer Pass, 外关 wài guān).

See toothache.