Case history

 

Mrs. D., 40 years old, married plus two children, has suffered from chronic low-back pain, for years. Every weather change, especially cooler, or more damp weather, had affected her body. She could not tolerate cold weather in general, apart from its effect on her lower back condition.

 

During the last seven years Mrs. D. has not used any contraceptives, because she was certain she could no longer conceive.

 

Her tongue was pale, flabby with "tooth-marks", and covered with a thin layer of white, damp moss.

 

Mrs. D.’s pulse was sunken, and weak, even more so in both Chi positions.

 

It was apparent that her case was a Kidney-Yang deficiency, with Damp-Cold-Bi in her lower back.

 

Treatment was administered three times a week, based on the points-combination discussed above. In addition to these points, I applied direct moxibustion on her Mingmen (GV-4), every second visit.

 

Following the first session her lower back improved radically, and after three more treatments it did not bother her at all. The frequency of treatments was then reduced to once a week, for four more treatments.

 

Two monthslater, to Mrs. D.’s great astonishment and delight, she became pregnant.

Now Mrs. and Mr. D. have a three year old daughter, in addition to their two former sons, and she very seldom complains about her lower back.

 

 

 

11. DINGCHUAN (EXTRA), TIANTU (CV-22), TANZHONG (CV-17), NEIGUAN (P-6), FENGLONG (ST-40)

 

Main effect and clinical purpose

 

The goal of this much used points-combination is to relieve wheezing, and to abate Phlegm from the chest and respiratory tract.

 

It is therefore used in cases of asthma with excessive phlegm, or bronchitis, or any other lung disease, characterized by much Phlegm, and difficult breathing.

 

Points disscussion

 

Dingchuan is an extra point, located 0.5 cun lateral to the lower end of the spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebra. It is mainly used to stop wheezing and dyspnea, and indeed its effect is, in most cases, very dramatic.

 

Dingchuan belongs to the Hua Tuo Jiaji points, named after the great Chinese physician who discovered them. Hua Tuo lived in the Han period, during the reign of Emperors Shun (136-141 AD), and Huin Di (208 AD).

 

The Jiaji points are located 0.5 cun, on both sides of each vertebra. The Ding Chuan point, being so effective in treating difficult breathing, has thus won a special name of its own.

Dingchuan is also effective in treating urticaria, which is an allergic skin disease, often related to lung diseases.

 

Dingchuan has a remarkable effect on bronchodilation, and relieving spasm of the bronchial branches. It is less effective in clearing the Phlegm from the respiratory tract, and therefore it makes a first choice point in the case of acute ashtmatic attack.

Tiantu was discussed broadly under case number 9. Its indications are:

• To disperse the Lung.

• To resolve and lower Phlegm.

• To regulate Qi.

• To clear and reduce Fire in the throat.

• To stop cough.

• To soothe asthma.

We can see that it is a very appropriate point in all cases involving cough, asthma, excessive phlegm, etc.

 

Tiantu is an important point on Jen Mai, the vessel of conception. This vessel is the "reservoir" of all Yin energy in the body, and thus one of its chief concerns is to regulate body fluids. Sedation of point Tiantu, would then, disperse accumulations of fluids, of which Phlegm is one phenomenon. In order to perform this adequately, via the Jen Mai, it is appropriate to "open" the Jen Mai by stimulating Liehchueh (L7), which serves as its Master point, at the same time.

 

Tanzhong, another point of Jen Mai, was also discussed in this paper, undercase number 8.

  

Besides playing a role in Jen Mai functioning, asdescribed above, Tanzhong serves as the master point of all activities taking place in the chest, and upper Jiao.

 

Because of this, its major indication is to "regulate Qi in the chest,," and to "relax, expand and dispel fullness from the chest". Another indication, Just like the former point Tiantu, is: "To clear the lungs, and resolve Phlegm."

 

Tanzhong is also considered the Mu (alarm) point of the upper Burner, as much as Zhongwan (CV-12) is of the middle Burner, and Yinjiao (CV-7) of the Lower Burner.

Because of this role, Tanzhong is responsible for regulating Qi and Blood in the upper-Burner, and resolving any forms of stagnation there.

 

The Qi collected in the chest is Zong Qi, and is the refined Gu Qi ("grain"-Qi), which ascends as the essence of food, by the Spleen. This Qi is responsible for the functioning of the Heart and Lung, including the Qi dominance over the Blood. This Qi also dominates the voice, and enhances blood circulation to the extremities. The place where Zong-Qi gathers and acts in the chest is called "Sea of Qi", and Tanzhong is the point responsible for activating it (64).

 

One of the commonest stagnations in the body, and especially in the chest, is Phlegm. By utilizing Tanzhong we activate Zong-Qi, enhance its flow in a circular fashion in the chest, and thus disperse Phlegm.

 

Neiguan has also been discussed in this work. (See case Number 6.) It is considered the most powerful point of the Pericardium meridian,and is also its Luo point.

 

Neiguan's functioning is closely related to the chest and diaphragm, mainly because of the route of the Pericardium channel, which traverses the chest, along with its Luo channel that connects with the heart.

 

The function of Neiguan, which relates to the chest says: "It expands the chest, regulates Qi circulation and stops pain." In this regard Neiguan's function is very similar to that of Tanzhong, as it improves Qi circulation in the chest, an activity which necessarily disperses phlegm.

 

Fenglong is the connecting Luo point of the Stomach meridian. The point connects with the Spleen meridian, which is the coupled meridian of the Stomach, in the Yin-Yang relationship.

 

The Spleen, when malfunctioning, is considered the source of Phlegm in the body. By stimulating Fenglong one restores harmony between Stomach and Spleen, readjusts their functioning, and in this way, eliminates Phlegm.

 

Fenglong's qualities are therefore:

• It resolves Phlegm, Damp and Phlegm-Heat.

• It calms and clears the mind.

• It eliminates Phlegm-Fire in the stomach.

Due to these qualities Fenglong is a very important point in any case where Phlegm is abundant, and that, of course, includes asthmatic conditions.

 

These five points are combined, as we can see, in order to have a strong effect on Phlegm accumulation in the respiratory tract.

 

The points which were chosen share a mutual quality of Phlegm abatement, and regulating the Qi of the respiratory organs.

 

The power and great efficacy of this combination is due to the fact that the points which were combined here, belong to different sytems, thus dealing with the problem from different angles.

 

Dingchuan, for example, exerts its influence through the nervous system, directly on the trachea and the bronchus, and relieves their spasm.

 

Tiantu, achieves its main effect by eliminating Phlegm from the trachea.

 

Tanzhong affects the lungs and the bronchioles by eliminating Phlegm, and adjusting their function.

 

Neiguan plays its role as a distant point that regulates, from afar, the whole chest-organ's functioning, and last, but not least, Fenglong deals with the very source of Phlegm, and abates it systemically.