Can acupuncture be used to treat lower limb edema?

Edema of the lower limbs is quite common. Its fundamental reason is the retention of water in the body, which induces edema. There are many causes of disease, such as kidney disease, liver disease, etc., which may induce this situation. In addition to taking some anti-edema and drainage-promoting drugs, it can also be treated through acupuncture. In addition, in life, you must pay attention to diet adjustment and make sure to get enough rest.

【Medical history and pathogenesis】

(1) Rheumatism attacks the outside world and then settles in the lungs. The lungs fail to descend and the water channels become blocked. The water overflows into the skin and causes edema.

(2) Overeating, overwork and fatigue damage the spleen and stomach, causing dysfunction of metabolism and accumulation of water and dampness that spreads across the skin, resulting in edema.

(3) Excessive sexual intercourse can damage the kidney essence, making it unable to transform qi and promote the circulation of water. Water and dampness accumulate inside the body and overflow into the skin, causing edema.

【Treatment based on syndrome differentiation】

(1) Yang Water

Main symptoms: Acute onset, with slight swelling of the face at first, followed by swelling all over the body, with severe swelling above the waist, shiny skin, swollen and shiny scrotum, chest discomfort, and rapid breathing. Or the patient may have cold body without sweat, white and slippery tongue coating, and floating and tight pulse; or the patient may have swollen and painful throat, thin and yellow tongue coating, and floating and rapid pulse.

Treatment method: Mainly use acupoints on the lung and spleen meridians. Acupuncture uses the method of balanced tonification and balanced drainage to promote lung function, relieve exterior pathogens, and promote diuresis; after the exterior pathogens retreat, it is advisable to use the Yin Shui treatment method.

Prescription: Lieque, Hegu, Pianli, Yinlingquan, Weiyang

Meaning of the prescription: Yang water disease is caused by the failure of lung qi to be released and internal retention of water and dampness. Swelling above the waist should be treated by sweating, so Lieque and Hegu are used to induce sweating, relax muscles and unblock lung qi; swelling below the waist should be treated by promoting urination, so Pianli and Yinlingquan are used to promote urination to eliminate edema; Weiyang is the lower He point of the triple burner, which can regulate the qi transformation function of the triple burner to eliminate edema.

(ii) Yin water

Main symptoms: Slow onset, edema of the soles of the feet, gradually spreading to the whole body, swelling below the waist, depression when pressed, slow to flatten, dark skin, and scanty urine. Or there may be abdominal distension and tightness in the abdomen, decreased appetite and loose stools, fatigue in the limbs, greasy white tongue coating, and a soft and slow pulse; or there may be lower back pain and sore legs, aversion to cold and cold limbs, fatigue, pale tongue with white coating, and a deep, thin and weak pulse.

Treatment method: Mainly use the Taiyin and Shaoyin meridian points of the foot. Acupuncture is used to nourish the spleen and kidneys, promote diuresis and reduce swelling.

Prescription: Pishu, Shenshu, Shuifen, Fuliu, Guanyuan, Sanyinjiao

Meaning of the prescription: The cause of yin water disease is deficiency of spleen and kidney yang. Acupuncture and moxibustion on Pishu, Shenshu and Fuliu can warm the spleen and kidney yang and promote qi transformation in the three burners; moxibustion on Shuifen can eliminate edema; moxibustion on Guanyuan can nourish the original qi and warm the lower burner; tonifying Sanyinjiao can strengthen the spleen and eliminate dampness, and facilitate urination.

Other therapies

Ear Acupuncture

Points: Lung, spleen, kidney, triple burner, bladder, subcortical

Method: Select 2-3 acupoints each time, with moderate stimulation, once every other day. You can also use the ear acupoint bean method.