Constraining sweat and securing the exterior

A method of treatment used to address exterior vacuity with copious sweating. Exterior vacuity may take the form of qì vacuity or yīn vacuity.

Patterns

Qì vacuity (气虚 qì xū) patterns are characterized by spontaneous sweating, heart palpitation, susceptibility to fright, shortness of breath, heart vexation, fatigue, and large forceless pulse.

Medicinal therapy: Representative sweat-constraining exterior-securing formulas for qì vacuity include Oyster Shell Powder (牡蛎散 mǔ lì sǎn) and Jade Wind-Barrier Powder (玉屏风散 yù píng fēng sǎn).

Yīn vacuity (阴虚 yīn xū) patterns are characterized by night sweating, postmeridian tidal heat, dry lips and mouth, red tongue, and a rapid fine pulse.

Medicinal therapy: Use formulas such as Chinese Angelica Six Yellows Decoction (当归六黄汤 dāng guī liù huáng tāng) and Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Decoction (六味地黄汤 liù wèi dì huáng tāng) plus oyster shell (Ostreae Concha, 牡蛎 mǔ lì), light wheat (Tritici Fructus Levis, 浮小麦 fú xiǎo mài), and glutinous rice root (Oryzae Glutinosae Radix, 糯稻根须 nuò dào gēn xū).

Acumoxatherapy: For qì vacuity, base treatment mainly on BL, ST, and LI. Select BL-13 (Lung Transport, 肺俞 fèi shù), BL-43 (Gāo-Huāng Transport, 膏肓俞 gāo huāng shù), ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ), LI-4 (Union Valley, 合谷 hé gǔ), and KI-7 (Recover Flow, 复溜 fù liū); needle with supplementation and moxa, if necessary. For yīn vacuity, base treatment mainly on KI, SI, and HT. Select KI-6 (Shining Sea, 照海 zhào hǎi), KI-3 (Great Ravine, 太溪 tài xī), LU-5 (Cubit Marsh, 尺泽 chǐ zé), SI-3 (Back Ravine, 后溪 hòu xī), and HT-6 (Yīn Cleft, 阴郄 yīn xī), needle with supplementation.

See constraining sweat.