Sunstroke

is an acute case occurring in summer, manifested by high fever, irritability, nausea, or even followed by collapse and loss of consciousness. The onset ofthis disease is due mostly to prolonged exposure to the sun, or to anenvironment with high temperature.

Etiology and Pathogenesis Summer heat, a pathogenic factor, isprevalent in summer time when the weather is scorching. Long exposure to the sunand to an environment with high temperature damages qi. Invasion of pathogenicsummer heat in a condition of lower resistance brings about sunstroke. Summerheat is a pathogenic factor of yang nature with a tendency to attack the humanbody quickly. Therefore the onset is abrupt and the changing of the pathologicalcondition is rapid. Pathogenic summer heat is likely to damage the primary qiand consume the body fluid, leading to exhaustion of qi and yin. Furthermore, pathogenic summer heat may penetrate the pericardium and disturb the mind, followed by impairment of consciousness. Sunstroke, according to its clinicalmanifestations, may be classified into mild and severe types.

Main manifestations: Headache, dizziness, profuse sweating, hot skin, feel hot, red complexion, dizziness, irritability, coarse breathing, dry mouth and tongue, dire thirst, T- red with yellow coat, P- floating rapid

Analysis: Pathogenic summer heat tends to attack the head and gives rise to headache and dizziness. Hot skin results from the accumulation of pathogenic summer heat in the body surface. Profuse sweating, coarse breathing, dry mouth and tongue, dire thirst are all due to evaporation of body fluid by the summer heat. Superficial, large and rapid pulse is a sign showing the presence of the pathogenic summer heat.

Treatment

Method: Reducing is applied to the points of the Du, Pericardium and Large Intestine Meridians to eliminate the summer heat. Clear summer heat, regulate middle Jiao to relieve superficial

Prescription:

[DU14 - MH6 - LI 11 - BL40]. Or,
[DU14 - MH6 - LI4 - ST43 - ST 36]
• headache: ST8
• nausea: RN12

Explanation: DU14, the meeting point of the Du Meridian and all yang meridians, BL40, and LI11, an important point for eliminating heat, are used to dispel the summer heat. MH6, the luo-connecting point of Jueyin Meridian of Hand, is chosen to reduce the fire and to protect the heart. ST43 helps purging heat.

Main manifestations: Headache, dire thirst, and shortness of breath at first, and then collapse, loss of consciousness, sweating, T- red with yellow coat, P- strong surging or weak hidden

Analysis: This syndrome mostly occurs in those doing physical labor in the scorching summer sun. Over fatigue plus the attack of summer heat results in lowered body resistance and excessiveness of the pathogenic factor with consumption of qi and body fluid. So there are headache, dire thirst and shortness of breath at the very beginning. The pathogenic summer heat can rapidly penetrate into the interior, affecting the pericardium and disturbing the mind. Therefore loss of consciousness follows. Sweating and deep, forceless pulse indicate exhaustion of qi and body fluid. The heat invades the Pericardium and injures Qi and Yin, high fever, no sweat, burning hot skin with red complexion and eyes, dry mouth and lips, thirst, very irritable, spasm/convulsions, collapse, lose consciousness,

Acupuncture

Method: Reducing is applied to the points of the Du Meridian to promote resuscitation, and to dispel the summer heat.

Prescription:

[DU20 - DU26 - shixuan - [MH3 - BL40]]. Or,
[DU20 - DU26 - shixuan - [MH3 - BL40] - LI4 - LI11]

Explanation: Summer heat is a pathogenic factor of yang nature, which is apt to attack the pericardium and disturb the mind. DU26 and DU20 are selected to promote resuscitation. MH6, the he-sea point of Hand - Jueyin, BL40, the he-sea point of Foot Taiyang are pricked superficially to remove ying and xue heat. Blood letting at shixuan can reduce heat and promote resuscitation.

auricular – bleed apex, shenmen, adrenal, HT, occiput, strong stimulation for over 20 minutes)

This illness includes thermoplegia, thermospasm, heliosis, etc.

Scraping therapy: It is a popular treatment for mild sunstroke. Dip a smooth spoon into water or vegetable oil and scrape the both sides of the spine, the neck, intercostal spaces, shoulder regions, cubital and axilla fossae until purplish red colour appears.