Auxiliary Treatment Modalities in External Medicine
Depending on the conditions of external diseases, some auxiliary treatment modalities that may be used by TCM physicians in conjunction with routine therapies.
Bamboo cups are boiled or steamed in a concentrated decoction for five minutes. The treated cups are then placed immediately on the selected area. This is mainly used to drain running sores or absorb toxins out of body.
Acupuncture is usually used for relieving pain and promoting urination after surgery. Moxibustion is applied when the wounds do not easily heal due to low immune functioning.
Herbal Compress
The compress contains a combination of herbs that are specially stir-fried by sprinkling with wine or vinegar. The heated bundle is then applied directly over the diseased area for a massage session. This is effective for sprains, strains of the muscles and tendons, stiffness in the joints, inflammation and is also used to stimulate the circulation of the blood. The selected herbs are usually fragrant and pungent in flavor, which enable their medicinal properties to be absorbed through the skin.
Thermal Therapy
This is suitable for certain skin conditions such as fungus infections, eczema, and psoriasis which is applied by smearing drugs over the lesions and then warming by fire or light.
Herbs are decocted with water, wine and vinegar, with the liquid being used for washing and steaming. This method can dissolve swelling or masses, activate the blood, relieve pain, clean and irrigate the wound, and promote healing. They are also used in skin allergies, acne and rosacea. For example:
Medicinal Cupping
Bamboo cups are boiled or steamed in a concentrated decoction for five minutes. The treated cups are then placed immediately on the selected area. This is mainly used to drain running sores or absorb toxins out of body.
Acupuncture and moxibustion
Acupuncture is usually used for relieving pain and promoting urination after surgery. Moxibustion is applied when the wounds do not easily heal due to low immune functioning.
Herbal Compress
The compress contains a combination of herbs that are specially stir-fried by sprinkling with wine or vinegar. The heated bundle is then applied directly over the diseased area for a massage session. This is effective for sprains, strains of the muscles and tendons, stiffness in the joints, inflammation and is also used to stimulate the circulation of the blood. The selected herbs are usually fragrant and pungent in flavor, which enable their medicinal properties to be absorbed through the skin.Thermal Therapy
This is suitable for certain skin conditions such as fungus infections, eczema, and psoriasis which is applied by smearing drugs over the lesions and then warming by fire or light. Steaming and washing
Herbs are decocted with water, wine and vinegar, with the liquid being used for washing and steaming. This method can dissolve swelling or masses, activate the blood, relieve pain, clean and irrigate the wound, and promote healing. They are also used in skin allergies, acne and rosacea. For example:
- A decoction made with honeysuckle flower, forsythia capsule, dandelion and Tokyo violet herb can be used for acute early-stage infections over the body surface.
- A vinegar solution in which alum, sopora root, and common cnidium fruit have been soaked, is used for hands and feet in cases of fungal infection.
- An alcohol solution in which safflower, Sichuan lovage, Suberect Spatholobus stem (ji xue teng), Caulis Piperis Kadsurae (hai feng tang) has been soaked, is used for painful conditions due to blood stasis.
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