Acupuncture for erysipelas
by Prof. Lu Shou-Yan (1909-1969)
The Lantern: Volume II, Issue 2 - Article #7
Liu Huo (running fire, or cinnabar toxin of the leg: local streptococcus pyogenes infection of the skin and underlying tissues)
Ms Xu, 45 years of age, presented July, 1948
Three days previously, the right lower leg had suddenly swelled up and turned red like cinnabar. The skin was hot to the touch, and the pain excruciating to the extent that she could not walk. The pulse was floating-weak-thready (ru) and rapid (shuo), the tongue normal looking. Treatment principle: drain heat, eliminate toxicity.
Point selection
- Wei Zhong BL-41 (right, reduce, let blood)
- Yang Ling Quan GB-34 (right, reduce)
- Zu San Li ST-36 (right, reduce)
- Feng Long ST-40 (right, reduce)
- Cheng Shan BL-57 (right, reduce)
Needling method: mainly lift and thrust, letting blood at Wei Zhong.
Immediately after needling, the pain had reduced; after seven treatments she was cured.
Discussion
This disorder is primarily due to heat constraint transforming into fire, then running into the lower leg. In external medicine texts they write that “red and dry is related to fire in the two channels of Heart and Liver, while yellow and damp is related to damp-heat in the two channels of Lungs and Spleen”. Be that as it may, in this case the swelling, distention and pain was observably the result of channel qi accumulation and stagnation in particular channels, and so the treatment necessarily focused upon relieving the toxic heat that was obstructing those channels and collaterals. The choice of points was based on this channel differentiation. Letting blood at Wei Zhong can drain toxic heat from the blood level of the lower leg; it would also be viable to prick the painful area with a three-edged needle to let a few drops of blood; both are methods to clear heat and drain toxicity.
From Lu Shou-Yan Zhen Jiu Lun Zhi Yi An Xuan (Lu Shou-Yan Acupuncture Treatises and Selected Case Histories), Wu Shao-De et al. People’s Health Publishing, Beijing, 1984, p. 250.
