Acupuncture Treatment for Heatstroke
【Overview】
Heatstroke is a summer emergency characterized primarily by high fever, restlessness, nausea, and even sudden collapse and unconsciousness. It commonly results from extreme summer heat or prolonged exposure to high temperatures or direct sunlight. This condition includes heat stroke, heat cramps, and sunstroke.
【Etiology and Pathogenesis】
Summer is dominated by heat, with hot weather. Prolonged labor under intense sun or in high temperatures injures qi, allowing heat and summer-heat pathogens to invade and cause illness. Clinically, it is divided into mild and severe forms.
【Syndrome Differentiation and Treatment】
(1) Mild Case
Principal Symptoms: Headache, dizziness, profuse sweating, hot skin, rapid breathing, dry mouth, thirst, floating, large, rapid pulse.
Treatment Principle: Primarily select points from the Du meridian, Hand Jueyin, and Yangming meridians. Use reducing acupuncture to clear heat and dispel summer-heat.
Prescription: Dazhui, Neiguan, Quchi, Weizhong.
Explanation: Dazhui clears heat from the whole body; Weizhong, also known as Xuehai, releases blood to clear blood heat; Quchi is a key point for clearing heat; Neiguan clears heat from the triple burner.
(2) Severe Case
Principal Symptoms: Initially headache, thirst, rapid breathing, followed by sudden collapse and unconsciousness, sweating, deep weak pulse.
Treatment Principle: Primarily select points from the Du meridian. Use reducing acupuncture to open the orifices, clear heat, and dispel summer-heat.
Prescription: Shuigou, Baihui, Shixuan, Quze, Weizhong.
Explanation: For unconsciousness, Shuigou and Baihui open the orifices and awaken consciousness. Quze, the He point of the Pericardium meridian, combined with bloodletting at Weizhong, clears blood heat. Shixuan bloodletting opens the orifices and revives consciousness.
【Other Therapies】Scraping Therapy: Suitable for mild heatstroke. Use a smooth, flat spoon dipped in oil or water to scrape along the spine, neck, intercostal spaces, shoulders, armpits, and popliteal fossae until the skin turns purplish-red.