Boil and Red - Thread Boil

Boil frequently occurs on the face , head and extremities . It has different names according to its location and form , e . g . philtrum boil if it is located at the median line of the upper lip , snake - head boil if it occurs at the finger tip which looks like the head of a snake , red - thread boil if there is a red line extending outward from the boil .

Etiology and Pathogenesis

Boil is usually caused by fatty and spicy food or contamination of the skin . The former may lead to accumulation of heat in zang - fu organs and then production of endogenous toxicity . The latter may result in invasion of the exogenous toxic factor and stagnation of qi and blood . It would be dangerous if the pathogenic toxic factor is transmitted into the meridians and the zang - fu organs .

Differentiation

Main manifestations : Boil on the head , face or extremity first appears like a grain of millet in yellow or purple color . A blister or pustule with a hard base is formed , usually accompanied by tingling . Later there is increased redness , swelling and pain with burning sensation , often accompanied by chills and fever . Sometimes a red thread - like line extends proximally if the boil toxicity attacks the interior , there will be high fever , restlessness , dizziness , vomiting , impaired consciousness , reddened tongue with yellow coating , and rapid pulse , indicating that the toxicity is deeply rooted .

Analysis : When the toxic heat stays in the skin and muscles and drops into the meridians , resulting in stagnation of qi and blood , a swollen indurations is formed . Since the stagnation is not severe , there is only mild tingling . Further accumulation of heat and toxicity causes aggravation of redness , swelling and burning pain . Since the pathogenic factors are in the exterior portion of the body , there are chills and fever . Toxicity and heat travel along the vessels and bring about a red thread - like line extending proximally . High fever , restlessness and impairment of consciousness are due to invasion of the pathogenic heat and toxicity into the pericardium . Reddened tongue with yellow coating and rapid pulse are signs of toxic heat .

Treatment

Method : Points of the Du and Hand - Yangming Meridians are selected as the principal points . The reducing method or pricking with a three - edged needle to cause bleeding is used . For red - thread boil , prick with a three - edged needle to cause bleeding at two - inch intervals along the red line proximally towards the focus .

Prescription : Lingtai ( Du 10 ) , Shenzhu ( Du 12 ) , Ximen ( P 4 ) , Hegu ( Li 4 ) , Weizhong ( B 40 ) . Supplementary points : Points may be selected along the meridians related to the location of the boil , e . g . boil on the face : Shangyang ( L 1 ) , Quchi ( Li 11 ) ; on the tip of fingers : Quchi ( Li11 ) , Yingxiang ( L 1 20 ) ; on temporal region : Yanglingquan ( G 34 ) , Zuqiaoyin ( G 44 ) ; and on the fourth or fifth toe : Yanglingquan ( G 34 ) , Tinghui ( G 2 ) .

Explanation : Lingtai ( Du 10 ) is an empirical point for the treatment of boil . Shenzhu ( Du 12 ) readjusts the qi of all the yang meridians in order to disperse heat . Ximen ( P 4 ) , the Xi - ( Cleft ) Point of the Pericardium Meridian is effective for eliminating heat in the blood and stopping pain , and Hegu ( Li 4 ) for removing the exogenous pathogenic factors from the exterior of the body . Weizhong ( B 40 ) is effective for clearing away toxin from the blood . These points used together act on relieving toxicity and dispersing heat . Pricking the points to cause bleeding expels toxin and heat from the blood . Points combined with the main ones are used to remove the obstruction of qi and blood of the local meridians . The selection of points along the meridians related to diseased area is based upon the following theory : The therapeutic effect will reach where the meridian is opened up .

Remarks

Another effective method for treating boil is to prick and tilt with a three - edged needle into small papules found alongside the thoracic vertebrae . Treatment is given once a day .