ZOSTER TREATED BY ACUPUNCTURE AND MOXIBUSTION

Zhou Deyi, Dong Guangxia, Wang Zhenqin.

(Hospital of Anhul Institute of TCM, Hefei)

21 cases of zoster were treated by acupuncture and moxibustion, Therapy

(1) Acupuncture: Taking the points of Dazhui, Quchi (double), Weizhong (double) and Sanyinjiao (double) with 10 to 15 minutes of stationary insertion,

(2) Special treatment: After the regular sterilization of the affected area, prick each (of the larger) pox at the bottom of it with an acupuncture needle held horizontally, clear the pox fluid with alcohol cotton, then broil it with a portable moxibustion broiler for 20 to 30 minutes. The treatment is kept once a day, five times make a therapeutic course.

(3) Therapy of complications: For those with fever, bleed slightly by one thrust or two with a rectangular needle at the points of Chize and Quze; for those having blisters on the face and a high fever, bleed slightly at the points of Taiyang and Xaohai; for those having neuralgia as the sequelae, add the points of Zhigou, Neiguan and Yanglingquan.

Clinical Indications.

(1) Slight: four cases. 1-3 days after the rash began to develop. The infected skin was red and spotted with miliary papules. There exist two or three groups of blisters, occupying an area that was comparatively small. The patient complained of burning pain, tiredness, systemic discomfort and loss of appetite; his tongue was red, his pulses were of the type of bow-string. After treatment of three or four times, cure succeeded.

(2) Medium: eight cases. Having been ill for four or five days, the patient had a slight fever and complained serious burning pain in the infected area, tiredness, discomfort, and very poor appetite; his tongue was red, his pulses were of the bow-string and rapid type. The affected skin was scarlet with quite a number of blisters and the affected area was as broad as 20-43 cm. After treatment of five to seven times, cure succeeded.

(3) Serious: nine cases. It was 6 to 10 days since the attack of the disease. Large areas of skin were affected and the damage was serious. Pustulocrusts and papules and blisters as large as mung beans, soy beans or even spiders were seen in heaps, feeling hot and looking red or purple. The affected areas were distinctly swollen with an unbearable pain. The patient had a high fever, being restless both mentally and physically and hardly having an appetite. Other symptoms included yellow urine, constipation, and a red tongue with thick yellow coating. After treatment of seven to eleven times, cure succeeded.