Cold phlegm

Phlegm with cold signs. Three patterns are observed: contraction of cold, vacuity phlegm, and phlegm-damp in the kidney channel.

Patterns

Contraction of external wind-cold (外感风寒 wài gǎn fēng hán) causing cough, panting, and expectoration in patients usually suffering from phlegm disease is characterized by clear white phlegm, a white moist tongue fur, and a stagnant stringlike pulse. In some cases, there may be physical cold and cold limbs.

Medicinal therapy: Warm the lung and transform phlegm. Use Cough-Stopping Powder (止嗽散 zhǐ sòu sǎn) plus pinellia (Pinelliae Rhizoma, 半夏 bàn xià) and poria (Poria, 茯苓 fú líng). Alternatively, use Poria, Licorice, Schisandra, Ginger, and Asarum Decoction (苓甘五味姜辛汤 líng gān wǔ wèi jiāng xīn tāng).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on LU and ST. Select 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), BL-13 (Lung Transport, 肺俞 fèi shù), LU-7 (Broken Sequence, 列缺 liè quē), LI-4 (Union Valley, 合谷 hé gǔ), BL-12 (Wind Gate, 风门 fēng mén), and BL-11 (Great Shuttle, 大杼 dà zhù)^mx; needle with drainage and add moxa.

Vacuity phlegm (虚痰 xū tán), i.e., yáng vacuity with contention between cold and dampness, is a cold phlegm pattern characterized by limp aching legs and knees, stiff lumbus and back, cold impediment hán bì in the joints, and bone pain. This condition is sometimes also referred to as vacuity phlegm.

Medicinal therapy: Warm and free the channels and vessels to disperse cold-damp. Use Impediment-Alleviating Decoction (蠲痹汤 juān bì tāng) plus poria (Poria, 茯苓 fú líng), pinellia (Pinelliae Rhizoma, 半夏 bàn xià), bile arisaema (Arisaema cum Bile, 胆星 dǎn xīng), and bamboo sap (Bambusae Succus, 竹沥 zhú lì). For pronounced cold, add cinnamon bark (Cinnamomi Cortex, 肉桂 ròu guì) and aconite (Aconiti Radix Lateralis Praeparata, 附子 fù zǐ); For pronounced dampness, add fangji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix, 防己 fáng jǐ) and coix (Coicis Semen, 薏苡仁 yì yǐ rén).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on GV, CV, ST, and SP. Main points: BL-23 (Kidney Transport, 肾俞 shèn shù), GV-4 (Life Gate, 命门 mìng mén), CV-4 (Pass Head, 关元 guān yuán), ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ), SP-9 (Yīn Mound Spring, 阴陵泉 yīn líng quán), and SP-5 (Shang Hill, 商丘 shāng qiū); needle with drainage and large amounts of moxa. Apply moxibustion on salt or ginger at CV-8 (Spirit Gate Tower, 神阙 shén què). For selection of points according to affected area, see impediment.

Phlegm-damp in the kidney channel (痰湿在肾经 tán shī zài shèn jīng) is characterized by a sunken pulse, black face, urinary urgency with pain on voiding, cold lower extremities, and feelings of fear. The phlegm is copious and thin, with black speckles.

Medicinal therapy: Fortify the spleen, warm the kidney, and transform phlegm.

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on back transport points, CV, KI, and ST. Select BL-20 (Spleen Transport, 脾俞 pí shù), BL-21 (Stomach Transport, 胃俞 wèi shù), 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), BL-23 (Kidney Transport, 肾俞 shèn shù), CV-4 (Pass Head, 关元 guān yuán), and KI-3 (Great Ravine, 太溪 tài xī); needle with supplementation and add moxa.

Point selection according to signs: For urinary urgency and painful urination, add CV-3 (Central Pole, 中极 zhōng jí), SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo), and LR-2 (Moving Between, 行间 xíng jiān).