Beriberi

Type 1: Damp-Beriberi
Symptoms:
Edema of feet and tibiotalar parts, pain and numbness in toes, which gradually affects the upper parts of feet and tibiotalar parts.Weakness of feet and knees, dysbasis, has difficulty getting about. The cases of cold-dampness is marked by aversion to cold and preferance for warmth in feet and tibiotalar parts. The cases of damp-heat is marked by burning sensation and preferance for coldness in feet and tibiotalar parts, or aversion to cold, fever, scanty urine. White and greasy or floating yellow tongue coating, soft and rapid pulse.
Principle of treatment:
Promoting circulation of the channels and collaterals, removing pathogenic dampness and heat. Select points from Spleen Meridian of Foot-Taiyin, Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming and the Gall Bladder Meridian of Foot-Shaoyang as principal points, Extraordinary points as supplementary points. Moxibustion is applied for the case of cold-dampness.Blood-letting is used for the case of damp-heat.
Prescription:
Zusanli (ST36) He-Sea Point (Zusanli (ST36) He-Sea Point), Shanyinjiao (Sanyinjiao (SP6)), Yanglinquan (Yanglingquan (GB34) He-Sea Point, Influential Point of Tendon) and Bafeng (Ex-LE10).
Modification according to symptoms:
For aversion to cold, fever, Hegu (LI4) Yuan-Source Point (Hegu (LI4) Yuan-Source Point), Dazhui (GV14) (DU14) and Waiguan (TE5) Luo-Connecting Point the Eight Confluent Point (SJ5) are added; for scanty urine, Yinlingquan (SP9) He-Sea Point (Yinlingquan (SP9) He-Sea Point) and Kunlun (BL60) Jing-River Point (Kunlun (BL60) Jing-River Point) are added.
Type 2: Dry-Beriberi
Symptoms:
Lassitude of the feet, pain and nubmness in feet and legs, motor impairment, gradual atrophy of muscles of feet and tibiotalar parts, and even inability to move, constipation, yellow urine, slight red tongue with thin and white coating or with little coating, thready and rapid pulse.
Principle of treatment:
Nourishing blood and Yin. Select the points from Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming and Spleen Meridian of Foot-Taiyin as principal points and Kidney Meridian of Foot-Shaoyin and the Gall Bladder Meridian of Foot-Shaoyang as supplementary points. Needling with reinforcing method.
Prescription:
Jiexi (ST41) Jing-River Point (Jiexi (ST41) Jing-River Point), Yinshi (ST33) (Yinshi (ST33)), Fuliu(KI7) Jing-River Point (Fuliu(KI7) Jing-River Point), Zhaohai (KI6) The Eihgt Confluent Point (Zhaohai (KI6) The Eihgt Confluent Point), Xuehai (SP10) (Xuehai (SP10)) and Xuanzhong (GB39) Influential Point of the Marrow (Xuanzhong (GB39) Influential Point of the Marrow).
Modification according to symptoms:
For spasm, Chengshan (BL57) (Chengshan (BL57)) is added; for pain in the waist, Weizhong (BL40) He-Sea Point, Lower Confluent Point (Weizhong (BL40) He-Sea Point, Lower Confluent Point) is added; for swelling in the knees, Xiyan (EX-LE5) and Fengshi (GB31) (Fengshi (GB31)) are added.
Type 3: Heart affected by beriberi
Symptoms:
Swelling pain in feet and tibiotalar parts, or atrophy, thin and numbness, dysbasis, sudden dyspnea, palpitation, nausea, vomiting, discomfort in chest, and even unconsciousness, restlessness, incoherent speech, dark-purple lips and tongue, thready, rapid and weak pulse.
Principle of treatment:
Sending down abnormally ascending qi and purging the lung of pathogenic fire , removing toxin and tranquilizing the mind. Select points from Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin, Pericardium Meridian of Hand-Jueying, Heart Meridian of Hand-Shaoyin and Kidney Meridian Foot-Shaoyin as principal points, and Ren Meridian and Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming as supplementary points. Needling with uniform reinforcing-reducing method.
Prescription:
Chize (LU5)He-Sea Point (Chize (LU5)He-Sea Point), Danzhong (CV17) Front-Mu Point of the Pericardium (RN17), Laogong (PC8) Ying-Spring Point (Laogong (PC8) Ying-Spring Point), Shenmen (HT7) Shu-Stream, Yuan-Primary Point (Shenmen (HT7) Shu-Stream, Yuan-Primary Point), Zusanli (ST36) and Yongquan (KI1) Jing-Well Point (Yongquan (KI1) Jing-Well Point)
Modification according to symptoms:
For unconsciousness, Shuigou (GV26) (DU26) is added; for prostration syndrome, moxibustion at Qihai (CV6) (RN6) and Guanyuan (CV4) Front-Mu Point of the SmallIntestine (RN4) is used.

Key Words: beriberi, acupuncture