Acupuncture Treatment of Diseases Dermatology 2: Herpes Zoster （ shingles) 蛇丹

Definition: Characterized by cluster of blisters suddenly distributed like a belt along one side of the body. Accompanied by burning sensation and pricking pain Mostly distributed on the waist, abdomen, chest, back and face. Caused by varicella-herpes zoster virus in western medicine.

Causes and Pathogenesis : Mainly caused by: 1.Excessive fire of the liver and the gall bladder 2.Improper diet or emotional stress leading to internal brewing of damp-heat in the spleen channel 3.Seasonal Fire-heat evils leading to congestion of heat toxin in the channels, coagulated in the skin surface, channels and vessels

Clinical Manifestations: Chief symptoms: i.Burning sensation and pricking pain and cutaneous redness of skin. (followed by): ii.Millet-sized cluster of papulo-vesicles distributed like a belt along one side of the body (waist and flank). (The pain may remain after disappearing of blisters)

Clinical Manifestations: 1.Fire toxin of liver-gall bladder type Stated manifestations with: i.Bright red herpes with burning sensation and pain. ii.Bitter taste in the mouth. iii.Vexation and irritability. iv.Wiry and rapid pulse.

Clinical Manifestations: 2.Damp heat of spleen and stomach type Stated manifestations with: i.Light-red herpes with yellowish-white thin wall blisters. ii.Liquid exudation and erosion. iii.Somatic heaviness and abdominal distension yellow greasy coating. iv.Slippery rapid pulse.

Treatment : General principle Purge fire toxin, relief pain Dredge the yangming channel qi to clear and remove evil toxin. Principle Channels: 1.Large Intestine channel. 2.Ex-O points. 3.Ashi acupoints.

Principle acupoints and explanation : 1.LI 11 Quchi 曲池 : dredge the yangming channel qi to clear and remove evil toxin 2.LI 4 Hegu 合谷 : as above. 3.EX B2 Jiaji 夹脊： purge fire toxin, relief pain 。 4.Ashi acupoint: : extinguish fire toxin (encirclement needling or pricking needling with cupping method).

Principle of treatment 1.Fire toxin of liver-gall bladder type Purge fire toxin, relief pain Dredge the yangming channel qi to clear and remove evil toxin. Principle acupoints: as stated Supplementary acupoints: i.LR 3 Taichong 太冲.

Principle of treatment 2. Damp heat of spleen and stomach type Purge fire toxin, relief pain Dredge the yangming channel qi to clear and remove evil toxin. Principle acupoints: as stated Supplementary acupoints: i.SP 9 Yinlingquan 阴陵泉.

TCM medical advises: 1.Avoid cold and raw food and spicy food. 2.Avoid invasion by pathogenic wind, cold and damp. 3.Prevention of infection.