Yáng jaundice

Also yáng yellowing. Jaundice attributable to contraction of external evils, damp-heat invading the liver and gallbladder, and resultant gallbladder heat causing bile to percolate through to the skin. Yáng jaundice is a vivid yellow described as being like the color of tangerines; it is accompanied by heat effusion, thirst, urine the color of strong tea, constipation, abdominal distension, rib-side pain, slimy yellow tongue fur, and a rapid stringlike pulse.

Biomedical correspondence: acute infectious hepatitis; obstructive biliary tract diseases.

Medicinal therapy: Clear and disinhibit liver-gallbladder damp-heat with formulas such as Virgate Wormwood Decoction (茵陈蒿汤 yīn chén hāo tāng), Gardenia and Phellodendron Decoction (栀子柏皮汤 zhī zǐ bǎi pí tāng), Ephedra, Forsythia, and Rice Bean Decoction (麻黄连翘赤小豆汤 má huáng lián qiào chì xiǎo dòu tāng), and Major Bupleurum Decoction (大柴胡汤 dà chái hú tāng), and with specific medicinals such as moneywort (Lysimachiae Herba, 金钱草 jīn qián cǎo), hanging stonecrop (Sedi Herba, 石指甲 shí zhǐ jiǎ) (also called shí zhǐ jiǎ), bearded scutellaria (Scutellariae Barbatae Herba, 半枝莲 bàn zhī lián), schisandra (Schisandrae Fructus, 五味子 wǔ wèi zǐ), isatis root (Isatidis Radix, 板蓝根 bǎn lán gēn), and lesser hypericum (Hyperici Japonici Herba, 地耳草 dì ěr cǎo) (also called tián jī huáng).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on GB and SP. Select BL-19 (Gallbladder Transport, 胆俞 dǎn shù), GB-34 (Yáng Mound Spring, 阳陵泉 yáng líng quán), LR-3 (Supreme Surge, 太冲 tài chōng), SP-9 (Yīn Mound Spring, 阴陵泉 yīn líng quán), ST-44 (Inner Court, 内庭 nèi tíng), and GV-9 (Extremity of Yáng, 至阳 zhì yáng); needle with drainage.

Point selection according to signs: If heat is predominant, add GV-14 (Great Hammer, 大椎 dà zhuī) and LI-11 (Pool at the Bend, 曲池 qū chí). If dampness is predominant, add SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo) and ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ). For constipation, add TB-6 (Branch Ditch, 支沟 zhī gōu).

See also damp-heat jaundice.