As my clinical practice exists within an environment which is considerably hot more than not (Texas), my fascination with how treating the patterns of heat with acupuncture runs deep. I have touched upon the important concept of how the environment temperature can have a significant impact on mood in past articles. In this article, let’s discuss an acupuncture point prescription I use extensively in the clinic for helping patients adapt and manage their health during long periods of seasonal heat.
Practitioners of Chinese medicine are aware of the vast array of patterns related to heat which may emerge in the clinical setting. It is vitally important to evaluate each patient’s unique pattern presentation, as well as their unique constitution, when managing issues of environmental heat.
There can be patterns of excess and patterns of deficiency – and most often, patterns of excess and deficiency combined. You must take into account a thorough evaluation of objective and subjective signs to most effectively balance each patient’s unique “relationship to seasonal heat.”
I use this particular acupuncture point prescription in clinical presentations that are not resolving with the standard approaches; and in particular with patients who experience a literal dread of the coming of summer, or who notice a significant effect of the hot environment on their overall mindset and emotions. Frequently in such cases, there will not be a significant shift in signs in the tongue or pulse; so it is extremely important to ask detailed and nuanced questions as to how the patient is experiencing emotions and mood when exposed to hot weather.
The Point Prescription
Pc 8 + Du 23 + Du 24 + Kid 1 + LI 11
Pc 8 is the ying-spring and fire point of the Pericardium Channel and is a Sun Si-Miao ghost point (ghost points and ghost point theory are extremely important in relation to seasonal heat issues relating to mood disorders). Pc 8 has the actions of clearing heat from the Pericardium Channel, restoring consciousness, clearing heat from the heart, calming the spirit, harmonizing the stomach, clearing heat from the middle jiao, clearing heat from the nutritive level, and cooling the blood.
Du 23 is also a Sun Si-Miao ghost point and has the actions of benefiting the eyes / nose, eliminating wind, benefiting the head / face, dispelling swelling, and calming the spirit. Du 24 has the actions of benefiting the brain, calming the spirit, eliminating wind, and benefiting the nose and eyes.
Kid 1 is the jing-well point of the Kidney Channel and has the actions of descending excess from the head, calming the spirit, reviving consciousness, and rescuing yang. LI 11 is the he-sea point of the Large Intestine Channel, as well as a Sun Si-Miao ghost point and a Ma Dan-Yang heavenly star point. LI 11 has the actions of clearing heat, cooling the blood, eliminating wind, draining damp, alleviating itching, strongly regulating qi and blood, activating the channel, and alleviating pain.
Needle technique as always is extremely important for how effective the treatment protocol can be in cases of significant emotional distress due to heat. This is a nuanced subject; however, some key points to consider involve adequately draining Pc 8 and LI 11. These two points strongly clear heat on many levels, and this two-point combination alone can have a dramatic calming effect on the mind, as well as dramatically improve sleep quality in cases of emotional distress due to environmental heat.
Clinical Considerations
Kid 1 is an extremely effective point, yet clinicians often overlook it due to the sensitive nature of the area of the foot. This can easily be resolved with adequate pressure on the point area prior to needling and a gentle needle insertion. I use this point extensively in the clinic with little to no discomfort for patients.
Du 23 and Du 24 can be combined via threading a single needle through both points, directing the needle sensations toward the important Du 20. Overall, I typically drain Pc 8 and LI 11; and use gentle, even technique on Kid 1 and Du 23 / Du 24.
This point prescription can be easily modified by adding points such as Yin Tang, Liv 3, Sp 6, and Sp 1 (another extremely important Sun Si-Miao ghost point) – all of course chosen based on the patient’s underlying patterns, physical constitution and aforementioned “relationship with heat.”
