Acupuncture for Hypochondriac Pain - Treatment Protocols
Below you will find some of the more common tcm diagnoses and acupuncture treatment protocols for hypochondriac pain. There are many ways to treat this condition with Eastern Medicine and our presentation is only one of many possible options.
- Etiology & Pathology:
- Etiology:
- Emotional depression - for women hypochondriac pain is usually more associated with breast pain/distention.
- Trauma - costal chondriasis.
- LV bile storing/excretion.
- Internal causes.
- Xinnong (CAM) & Maciocia Differentiations:
- Constricted LV Qi - usually associated with anger.
- Blood Deficiency - LV related, seen more with women, related to menstrual issues, low level PMS.
- Congealed Blood
- Hanging Mucus
- LV/GB Damp-Heat (from Maciocia)
- Differentiation:
- Constricted LV Qi
- Signs & Symptoms:
- Irritability, migrating pain that varies in intensity, chest/epigastric fullness a/or distention, belching, vomiting, sighing.
- Tongue: Normal or slightly purple
- Pulse: Wiry
- Treatment Principle:
- Smooth LV Qi
- Treatment Points:
- Blood Deficiency
- Signs & Symptoms:
- Pain, dizziness, hot flashes, pale face, tired spirit.
- Tongue: Pale
- Pulse: Wiry, thin could be choppy
- Treatment Points:
- Congealed Blood
- Signs & Symptoms:
- Sharp, stabbing pain, worse at night, dark stools, fever possible.
- Tongue: Purple a/or purple spots
- Pulse: Rough, choppy
- Treatment Points:
- Hanging Mucus
- Signs & Symptoms:
- LV/GB Damp Heat (Maciocia)
- Signs & Symptoms:
- Inflammed LV a/or GB, jaundice possible (organ involvement), hypochondriac pain, fullness, heaviness, heat signs, costal area stagnation, sticky insipid taste, nausea, yellow sclera.
- Tongue: Greasy, yellow (on both or just one side - if one side GB related)
- Pulse: Slippery, fast, possibly wiry
- Treatment Points:
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
