Epistaxis
StarEssentials of Chinese Acupuncture (Beijing, Shanghai and Nanjing Colleges of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1980) — the standard prescriptions of the Chinese colleges.
Points
-
Yuan-Source of the Large Intestine; clears heat from the linked Large Intestine, Lung and Stomach channels to stop bleeding
Reduce in heat excess; even technique in yin deficiency.
- Pregnancy: contraindicated
-
Governing Vessel point above the forehead; reduces excess yang to calm heat
Reduce in heat excess; even technique in yin deficiency.
Needling Safety
Cited hazards for these points. Tick what applies to the patient to see the cautions that follow from it.
Treatment Principle
Clear heat and stop bleeding, through the Large Intestine and Governing Vessel.
Indications
Method
Reducing technique for the heat-excess type; even technique for the yin-deficiency type.
⚠ Cautions
Heavy, posterior or prolonged nosebleeds, bleeding in patients on anticoagulants or with a bleeding disorder, and nosebleeds with hypertension or after head injury need medical care; recurrent nosebleeds need investigation of the cause, as the book itself advises. LI4 is contraindicated in pregnancy.
About
The college base prescription for epistaxis, from wind-heat in the lung or stomach fire rising to the nose, or from yin deficiency letting fire flare and exhaust lung yin.
Rationale
LI4 is used because the Large Intestine channel is paired with the Lung and connects with the Stomach channel, so one point can clear heat from all three and stop the bleeding. GV23 on the Governing Vessel, where the yang channels converge, reduces the excess yang driving the heat upward.
Clinical Notes
For lung heat add LU11, the Lung well point. For stomach heat add ST44, the Stomach spring point. For yin deficiency with flaring fire add KI3 to nourish yin and lower heat. The book notes nosebleeds can arise from trauma, nasal disease or systemic disorders (blood, cardiovascular, acute febrile infections), and that the cause must be treated as well. It also gives an ear-acupuncture option.
Sources
- Beijing College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, et al. Essentials of Chinese Acupuncture. Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, 1980. Chapter III, Epistaxis, p. 393–394.
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