Boils

Boil frequently occurs on the face, head and extremities. It has different names according to its location and form, e. g. philtrum boil if its 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: [DU10 – DU12 – MH4 – LI4 – B 40].

Supplementary points:

Points may be selected along the meridians related to the location of the boil, e. g. boil on the face: [LU1 – LI11]; on the tip of fingers: [LI11 – LI20]; on temporal region: [GB34 – GB44]; and on the fourth or fifth toe: [GB34 – GB2].

Explanation: DU10 is an empirical point for the treatment of boil. DU12 readjusts the qi of all the yang meridians in order to disperse heat. MH4, the Xi-Cleft Point of the Pericardium Meridian is effective for eliminating heat in the blood and stopping pain, and LI4 for removing the exogenous pathogenic factors from the exterior of the body. BL40 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.