COMMON BIOMEDICAL SYNDROMES

Traditional Chinese Medical Differentiation and Treatment with Acupuncture and Herbs

Compiled by Michael James Hamilton, L.Ac.

Copyright © 2001 by Michael James Hamilton, L.Ac.

All rights reserved. Reproduction of any kind without prior written permission of the compiler is prohibited.

PREFACE

In ancient China, the Taoists believed that sickness came to those who were unrighteous, or lived incorrectly; sinned. Living morally and frugally, by collecting good deeds, was the principal technique for a Taoist adept to become an immortal, or harmonize the spirit with the source of creation. Merging the spirit with the source, or void, was considered the final step in spiritual cultivation, when an adept becomes a sage. This can be expressed in the state of the Taoist mind: being there, yet there is no form in it (you), and at the same time does not exist yet it accomplishes everything (wu).

"Maintain yourself in calm non-intervention, and there will be no need for exorcism or invocation; the Tao is here and not far away, and our fate lies in ourselves, not in the exterior world." –Zhuangzi

Thus, the Taoists developed a system of living that promoted longevity (conservation), prosperity (honesty), and happiness (contentment), and named it the way, or Tao. The Taoist longevity techniques also included: acupuncture and moxibustion, medicinal herbs, talismans and curses, therapeutic music, nutrition, and qigong. These longevity techniques were the core of what would later be called Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

Traditional Chinese Medicine is an amazing treasure, in which its theories and practices are now available for all. Now, it is becoming more common that Traditional Chinese Medicine is being integrated into hospitals and Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO). Because of this, many TCM practitioners are getting patients referred by medical doctor specialists. Many of these patients have already been diagnosed with a common biomedical syndrome. Therefore, it is essential that these syndromes can be differentiated and treated using TCM.

This book serves as a quick reference guide that provides diagnostic differentiations and treatment plans for common biomedical (western) syndromes using Traditional Chinese Medicine. This book is targeted for TCM professionals. It is recommended that the reader have a background in TCM etiology, pathogenesis, and differentiation and treatment prior to using this manual. TCM etiology consists of the six exogenous factors, the seven emotional factors, food and drink, physical labor, unregulated sexual activity, traumatic injury, phlegm fluid and stagnant blood. Pathogenesis consists of disease occurrence, development, and change within the body. Differentiation consists of the eight principles, qi and blood, triple warmer, four portions, five elements, six meridian levels, meridians and collaterals, zang-fu organs, and finally common biomedical syndromes. Treatment consists of the combination of various acupuncture prescriptions and related point utilizing modalities, and herbal formulas.

The method in which the information was compiled involved the following procedure:

1)       Discovering the most common syndromes that have known TCM treatment plans

2)       Discovering the various TCM differentiations and symptoms associated with each common syndrome

3)       Discovering various TCM treatment plans, including acupuncture and herbal prescriptions

The information is presented in tabular format for quick referencing. The common syndromes are classified according to anatomical system, and generally arranged from exterior to interior, or superior to inferior. The common syndromes are introduced by biomedical (western) definition, and then differentiated according to TCM by row. The first row after the biomedical definition will most often be general differentiation.

The table consists of four columns. Columns 1 and 2 differentiate common syndromes by compiling diagnostic information, while Columns 3 and 4 formulate treatment plans by compiling acupuncture and herbal prescriptions. These two TCM modalities represent a more simple scope  of the five TCM modalities, acupuncture, herbology, tuina, qi gong, and nutrition. Acupoints can be applied also to bodywork (tuina and qi gong), while herbology can be applied also to nutrition.

Column 1 is diagnostic differentiation (or energetic pattern) and its causes, or etiology. Common syndromes are often translated into pinyin. Differentiations are in bold, while the causes are in regular script. The differentiations are often followed by one or more energetic etiologies and physical or emotional lifestyle causes. Sometimes biomedical differentiations will be included.

Column 2 is pathological symptoms, or effects, including signs, tongue, and pulse. Sign, tongue, and pulse designations are bold, while the symptoms are regular script. Sometimes, biomedical symptoms and pathogenesis will be included.

Column 3 is the acupuncture treatment plan including the general point prescription, supplemental point prescriptions, and in some instances auricular acupoints. This column may also include notes on moxibustion, plum blossom needling, electro-stimulation, cupping, hot packs, and other needling protocols. Points are given following a particular treatment plan or specific symptom. It is practical to use discretion when selecting from the given points (it is not necessary to use all the given points.) Treatment plans are given in bold, while points are regular script. General acupoints are demarked by a bulls-eye symbol. General biomedical syndromes may also include remarks to be considered during treatment.

Column 4 is the herbal treatment plan including action categories (bracketed in bold), traditional formulas, patent formulas, and herbal modifications specific to certain differentiations. Following the formula the page number is given where the formula can be found. Traditional formulas come from Bensky, while patent formulas come from Fratkin. In some instances, key symptoms that differentiate the formula’s use may be given after the page reference. See also the key prior to the tables.

Differential Scopes of Traditional Chinese Medicine:

The differential scopes which unfold from simple to complex, also demonstrate similarities in pathology.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PRELIMINARY

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS     i

PREFACE     ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS     v

MAIN WORK    

COMMON SYNDROMES     1

KEY     3

DERMATOLOGICAL     5

Acne     7

Dermatitis (Eczema)     7

Folliculitis     7

Furuncles     7

Carbuncles     7

Urticaria (Hives)     9

Erysipelas (Herpes Zoster)    9

RHEUMATOLOGICAL/MUSCULOSKELETAL AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE     11

Arthritis     13

Joint Pain     13

   Spine     14

   Stiff Neck     14

   Shoulder (Bursitis)     14

   Elbow (Tennis Elbow/Tendonitis)     14

   Wrist Tenosynovitis/Tenosynovial Cyst     15 

   Carpal Tunnel Syndrome     15

   Knee pain     15

   Ankle sprain     15

   Foot pain/Gout     15

   Paget’s Disease     16

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorder     17

Low Back Pain     17

Fibromyalgia     19

NEUROLOGICAL     21

Headache     23

Vertigo     27

Amnesia     29

Coma     30

Seizures (Epilepsy)     30

Movement Disorders     33

   Spasm/Cramp     33

   Paralysis     34

Tetanus (Lockjaw)     36

Poliomyelitis     37

Neuralgia     38

   Trigeminal     38

   Carpal Tunnel Syndrome      38

   Polyneuritis/Multiple Neuritis (Multiple Sclerosis)     38

Intercostal Neuralgia     40

Sciatica     41

OPTHALMOLOGICAL     43

Hyperopia     45

Myopia     45

Color Blindness     45

Night Blindness     45

Glaucoma     45

Conjunctivitis     46

Papillitis (Optic Neuritis)     48

Optic Atrophy     48

Strabismus     49

OTOLARYNGOLOGICAL     51

Meniere’s Disease (Aural Vertigo)     53

Tinnitus/Deafness     53

Otitis Media     55

Earache     55

Epistaxis     55

Sore Throat     56

   Tonsillitis     57

   Pharyngitis     57

   Laryngitis     57

   Esophagitis     58

DENTAL AND ORAL     59

Toothache and Infection     61

Stomatitis (Mouth Ulcers)     61

   Gingivitis     61

   Thrush     61

   Glossitis     61

Parotitis (Mumps)     62

PULMONARY     65

Influenza (Common cold)     67

Cough     68

   Pertussis     68

   Hemoptysis     68

Bronchitis     72

Pleurisy     75

Hydropneumothorax     75

Asthma     75

Pulmonary Tuberculosis     78

Drowning     78

CARDIOVASCULAR     81

Arteriosclerosis     83

Hypertension     83

Shock     84

Syncope      85

Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA) (Stroke)     86

Heatstroke/Heat Exhaustion     88

Chronic Heart Failure      89

Valvular Heart Disease      89

Infective Endocarditis      89  

Myocarditis      89

Coronary Artery Disease    91

Palpitations     91

Buerger’s Disease     92 

GASTROINTESTINAL     95

Gastralgia (Stomachache)     97

Dyspepsia (Indigestion)     99

Hiccup     100

Vomiting     101

Gastritis (Gastric and Duodenal Ulcer)     103

Constipation     105

Diarrhea     107

Cholera     110

Dysentery     110

Typhoid Fever     112

Intestinal Obstruction     112

Appendicitis     112

Entero-colitis     113

Hemorroids     114

Rectal Prolapse and Procidentia     115

HEPATIC AND BILIARY     117

Peritonits     119

Ascites     119

Pancreatitis     119

Malaria     120

Cirrhosis   121

Hepatitis     121

Jaundice     123

Cholecystitis     124

Hernia     125

GENITOURINARY     127

Edema     129

Glomerulonephritis     130

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)     132

   Cystitis     132

   Urethritis     132

   Orchitis     132

   Prostatitis     132

   Gonorrhea     132

Dysuria     133

   Stones     133

Urinary Retention     135

Chyluria     135

Incontinence     135

Enuresis     135

Impotence     136

Seminal Emission/Spermatorrhea     137

   Premature Ejaculation     137

   Nocturnal Emission     137

GYNECOLOGICAL AND OBSTETRICS     139

Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (Irregular Menstruation)     141

Amenorrhea     144

Menopausal Hot Flash     146

Dysmenorrhea     147

   Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)     147

Uterine/Vaginal Prolapse     148

Leukorrhea     149

Salpingitis (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease)     151

Fibroids     153

Morning Sickness     153

Eclampsia     154

Prolonged Labor     154

Post-partum Recovery     155

Lactation Disorders     157

   Insufficient Lactation     157

   Mastitis     157

   Breast Distention     157

ENDOCRINE     161

Hypothyroidism     163

Hyperthyroidism (Graves Disease, Plummer’s Disease)     163

Goiter     163

Adrenal Cortico Hypofunction (Addison’s Disease)     165

Diabetes     165

HEMATOLOGICAL     169

Anemia     171

Leukemia     171

Beriberi     171

IMMUNOLOGICAL     173

Filiarial Elephantiasis     175

Scrofula     175

Bubonic Plague     175

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome     175

AIDS     176

PSYCHIATRIC     179

Drug Dependence     181

   Cessation of Smoking     181

   Alcoholism     181

Insomnia     181

Neurosis     184

   Anxiety     184

   Phobia     184

   Obsessive-Compulsive     184

   Posttraumatic Stress     184

   Neurasthenia     184

   Insanity/Schizophrenia     185

   Mania/Depression     186

   Hallucinations     186

   Hysteria     186

BIBLIOGRAPHY     188

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Anderson, Kenneth, editor. Mosby’s Medical, Nursing, and Allied Health Dictionary. St.Louis: Mosby, 1994.

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Berkow, Robert, M.D., Editor-in-Chief. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy (16^th Edition).  Rahway, N.J.: Merck Research Laboratories, 1992.

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HealingPeople.com. “Dermatitis; Erysipelas; Osteoarthritis; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome; TMJ; Fibromyalgia; Vascular Headache; Sciatica; Tinnitus; Influenza; Allergy; Bronchitis; Asthma; Arteriosclerosis; Hypertension; Indigestion; Constipation; Diarrhea; Entero-colitis; Hemorrhoids; UTI; Incontinence; Impotence; Amenorrhea; Menopause; Dysmenorrhea; PMS; Hypothyroidism; Hyperthyroidism; Diabetes; Anemia; Chronic Fatigue Syndrome; Insomnia; Anxiety; Depression; Alcoholism.” Professional Encyclopedia. <HealingPeople.com>. 15 September 2001.

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