Malaria
Malaria is characterised by attacks several times/day. In chronic cases there may be a mass in the right hypochronirum.
Onset of the disease is mostly due to derangment of nutrient Qi and defensive Qi caused by Damp Heat and Damp attacking the Shaoyang Channel complicated with pestilential factor. The main manifestation is alternate chills and fever.
Differentiation
Chills are usually present at the befinning of the seizure, followed by fever with symptoms and signs of headache, flushed face and thirst. After the attack, the fever subsides and there is general sweating. There may be a stifling feeling in the chest and hypochondriac region, a bitter taste in the mouth, yellow, sticky thin coated tongue, wiry and rapid pulse.
Treatment
Method: The treament mainly aims at regulating the Du channel and harmonizing the Shaoyang channels. If chills are the dominant symptom during the attack, acupuncture and moxibustion may be used simultaneously. If fever is the dominant symptom, use acupuncture only. Treatment is given two hours prior to the attack.
Point
Dazhui- Du 14, Taodao- Du 13, Foot-Linqi- GB 4, Houxi- SI 3, Jianshi- PC 5
Points according to signs
High fever- Quchi- LI 11, needling with reducing method.
A mass in the right hypochonrium: Zhangman- Liver 13, Huangmen- UB 51. Apply acupuncture to the former and moxa to the latter.
In grave attack with delirium and mental cloudiness- Prick the twelve Jing-Well point on the hand- Lu 11, Ht 9, PC 9, LI 1, SJ 1, SI 1.
Explanation: Dazhu- Du 14 and Taodao- Du 13 remove obstruction in the Du channel and harmonize Yin and Yang, while Foot-Lingqi- GB 41 harmonizes the Qi of Shaoyang channels. Houxi- SI 3 disperses the exterior Heat, and Jianshi- PC 5 eliminates the interior Heat. When both the exterior and interior Heat subside, the co-ordination of nutrient Qi and defensive Qi is attained, which checks the disease.
Method: Treamtent is to be given 1-2 hours before the attack successively for three days. Retain needles for one hour. For recurrent cases, add the auricular point Spleen.