Withdrawal

Also withdrawal disease. A disease characterized by taciturnity, soliloquy (talking to self), and feeble-mindedness and attributed to binding depression of phlegm and qì or to dual vacuity of the heart and spleen. See mania and withdrawal.

Medicinal therapy: Withdrawal is treated by rectifying qì and resolving depression, transforming phlegm, and opening the orifices. Suitable formulas include Coptis Gallbladder-Warming Decoction (黄连温胆汤 huáng lián wēn dǎn tāng), Alum and Curcuma Pill (白金丸 bái jīn wán), or Qì-Normalizing Phlegm-Abducting Decoction (顺气导痰汤 shùn qì dǎo tán tāng), i.e., Phlegm-Abducting Decoction plus cyperus (Cyperi Rhizoma, 香附子 xiāng fù zǐ), lindera (Linderae Radix, 乌药 wū yào), aquilaria (Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum, 沉香 chén xiāng), and costusroot (Aucklandiae Radix, 木香 mù xiāng). For patients with dual vacuity of heart and spleen, Heart-Nourishing Decoction (养心汤 yǎng xīn tāng) or Spleen-Returning Decoction (归脾汤 guī pí tāng) may be used.

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on back transport points, HT, PC, LR, and SP. Needle with supplementation at BL-18 (Liver Transport, 肝俞 gān shù), BL-15 (Heart Transport, 心俞 xīn shù), BL-20 (Spleen Transport, 脾俞 pí shù), ST-40 (Bountiful Bulge, 丰隆 fēng lóng), and SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo), and with drainage at HT-7 (Spirit Gate, 神门 shén mén), PC-7 (Great Mound, 大陵 dà líng), LR-3 (Supreme Surge, 太冲 tài chōng), and GV-20 (Hundred Convergences, 百会 bǎi huì).

Point selection according to signs: For abnormal laughing and crying, add PC-5 (Intermediary Courier, 间使 jiān shǐ) and PC-8 (Palace of Toil, 劳宫 láo gōng) (guǐ kū, Ghost Cave). For no thought of food and drink, add CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct, 中脘 zhōng wǎn). For enduring withdrawal, the thirteen ghost points (十三鬼穴 shí sān guǐ xuè) can be needled. See mania and withdrawal. Compare lost heart wind.