Damp leg qì

Leg qì characterized by severe swelling from the foot to the knee, attended by numbness, heaviness, and limpness of the lower limbs, inhibited urination, slimy white tongue fur, and a soggy moderate pulse. Damp leg qì is attributed to water-damp congesting the channels.

Biomedical correspondence: beriberi (attributed to vitamin B₁ deficiency).

Medicinal therapy: Diffuse congestion and expel dampness. Use Cockcrow Powder (鸡鸣散 jī míng sǎn) and variations. Where damp-heat is prevalent with signs such as thirst, reddish urine, slimy yellow tongue fur, and soggy rapid pulse, treat by clearing and disinhibiting with formulas such as Fangji Beverage (防己饮 fáng jǐ yǐn).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on SP, ST, and GB. Select ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ), SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo), SP-9 (Yīn Mound Spring, 阴陵泉 yīn líng quán), SP-5 (Shang Hill, 商丘 shāng qiū), GB-34 (Yáng Mound Spring, 阳陵泉 yáng líng quán), GB-39 (Suspended Bell, 悬钟 xuán zhōng), ST-41 (Ravine Divide, 解溪 jiě xī), and Eight Winds (八风 bā fēng). Needle with drainage.

Point selection according to signs: For pronounced damp-heat, add GB-41 (Foot Overlooking Tears, 足临泣 zú lín qì), LI-4 (Union Valley, 合谷 hé gǔ), and LI-11 (Pool at the Bend, 曲池 qū chí), and prick LI-1 (Shang Yáng, 商阳 shāng yáng) to bleed. For heat effusion and aversion to cold, add LI-4 (Union Valley, 合谷 hé gǔ), GV-14 (Great Hammer, 大椎 dà zhuī), and TB-5 (Outer Pass, 外关 wài guān).