Acupuncture for Diabetes - Treatment Protocols

Submitted by yyh_staff on Wed, 2006-08-02 17:31.

Below you will find some of the more common tcm diagnoses and acupuncture treatment protocols for diabetes. There are many ways to treat this condition with Eastern Medicine and our presentation is only one of many possible options.

Etiology & Pathology:

Differentiation:

Classical Differentiation of Wasting & Thirsting disorder (Xiao Ke):
Classically, Yin Deficiency with Empty Heat is the root cause of wasting & thirsting disorder. The origination a/or effect of the Yin Deficiency may be from/in one of the 3 warmers as described below.
Upper Wasting - LU Heat
Middle Wasting - ST Dryness
Lower Wasting - KD Yin & Jing
Modern Differentiations of Conditions involved with Type-II Diabetes:
These differentiations tend to be more lifestyle related involving poor diets a/or lack of exercise among other factors.
SP Qi Deficiency alone, w/dampness or w/damp-heat
LV Qi Stagnation alone or w/fire

Upper Wasting - LU Heat

Signs & Symptoms:

Dry throat and mouth, thirst, frequent urination.
Tongue: Red w/dry yellow coat
Pulse: Rapid

Treatment Points:

St. John Treatment Points (with modifications):
SP 6 - tonify Yin

ST 36 - tonify Qi
LU 5 - clear LU heat
UB 13 - LU Shu

Middle Wasting - ST Dryness

Signs & Symptoms:

Excessive appetite, epigastric pain, constipation.
Tongue: Yellow dry coat
Pulse: Rapid

Treatment Points:

St. John Treatment Points:
SP 6 - tonify ST/SP
ST 36 - tonify Qi
ST 44 - clear ST heat and dryness
KD 3 - tonify KD
UB 20 - SP Shu
UB 21 - ST Shu

Lower Wasting - KD Yin & Jing

Signs & Symptoms:

Sore back a/or knees, weak lower body, dizziness, blurry vision, frequent copious urination, dry mouth.
Tongue: Red w/no coat
Pulse: Fine, rapid

Treatment Points:

St. John Treatment Points (with modifications):
KD 6 - tonify Yin
KD 3 - tonify KD
CV 4 - tonify Yin
SP 6 - tonify ST/SP and Yin
GV 20 - raise the yang
UB 23 - KD Shu

SP Qi Deficiency

Signs & Symptoms:

Fatigue, weakness, poor appetite, loose stools. May also generate dampness over time, which may combine with heat.
Tongue: Pale w/teethmarks (coating with dampness)
Pulse: Empty (slippery with dampness)

Treatment Points:

St. John Treatment Points (with modifications):
SP 3 - tonify SP
SP 6 - tonify SP & Yin
ST 36 - tonify Qi
CV 12 - ST Mu
UB 21 - ST Shu
UB 20 - SP Shu
If dampness - SP 9
If dampness effecting the head - ST 8
If damp-heat - LI 11

LV Qi Stagnation

Signs & Symptoms:

Depression, easily angered, belching a/or gas, PMS, menstrual irregularities.
Tongue: Normal or Pale/Purple (red w/yellow coat with LV Fire)
Pulse: Wiry (w/rapid with LV Fire)

Treatment Points:

St. John Treatment Points (with modifications):
LV 3 w/LI 4 - four gates tx, harmonize LV
LV 14 - LV Mu
PC 6 - open the chest, calm the spirit
UB 18 - LV Shu
If LV Fire - LV 2

The information on our site is drawn from our own lecture notes and clinical experience. The following lecture notes were consulted within this section:

St. John, Meredith: New England School of Acupuncture, Etiology and Pathology Lecture Notes
Valaskatgis, Peter: New England School of Acupuncture, Etiology and Pathology Lecture Notes

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