Acupuncture Therapy for Intestinal Abscess
Intestinal abscess includes acute and chronic appendicitis, perianal abscesses, etc. It is a common surgical emergency. The disease arises due to anatomical features of the appendix, obstruction of the appendix cavity, and bacterial infection. Clinical characteristics include fixed tenderness in the right lower abdomen, muscle rigidity, and rebound tenderness.
[Pathogenesis]
This condition often results from indulgence in rich food, excessive consumption of raw cold foods, or binge eating, damaging the spleen and stomach, impairing gastrointestinal transformation and transportation, causing qi stagnation. Or, after overeating, sudden vigorous movement or falling injury leads to damage of intestinal meridians and blood vessels, blood stasis, heat accumulation in the intestines, forming abscess due to heat and blood stasis.
[Pattern Differentiation]
In early stage, discomfort around the epigastrium or umbilicus shifts to the right lower abdomen, pain intensifies upon palpation, fixed location, right leg cannot straighten, accompanied by fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, constipation, yellow urine, thin greasy yellow tongue coating, rapid strong pulse. If condition worsens, presenting abdominal wall rigidity, tenderness, possible palpable mass, high fever with spontaneous sweating, large rapid pulse, indicating severe case.
[Treatment]
1. Acupuncture
Treatment principle: Mainly select points on the Hand and Foot Yangming Meridians. Use draining method with filiform needles, retain needles for 20–40 minutes. Typically, acupuncture once or twice daily; for severe cases, every four hours.
Prescription: Zusanli (ST36), Lanwei (EX-LE10), Quchi (LI11), Tianshu (ST25)
Explanation: The main effect of this formula is to regulate qi flow in hand and foot Yangming meridians, adjust intestinal fu-organs, achieving effects of dispersing stasis, reducing swelling, clearing heat, and relieving pain. Based on the principle “Hollow points treat internal organs,” selecting the Luo point Zusanli (ST36) helps clear blockages in the foot Yangming meridian. Lanwei is an effective point specifically for treating appendicitis and located on the stomach meridian, capable of clearing accumulated heat in the intestines. Quchi, the He point of Large Intestine Meridian, drains heat from the intestine. Tian-shu, the Mu point of Large Intestine, regulates intestinal qi.
2. Water Acupuncture
Select Points: Lanwei point, tender point on abdomen
Method: Inject 2–5 ml of 10% glucose solution, depth 0.5–0.8 cun, once daily.
3. Auricular Acupuncture
Select Points: Appendix, Lower Foot End, Large Intestine, Shenmen
Method: Intermittent twirling, retain needles for 2–3 hours.