Lanweixue - Appendix point

[Guest guest]

I am very interested in points like this. According to Maciocia in the

Foundations of Chinese medicine, this is a point which can be used to stop

pain in an acute attack of appendicitis, and it's also a possible diagnostic

tool in cases of both acute and chronic appendicitis if it's tender on

pressure.

 

Note that it's for the treating the PAIN, not for treating the sppendicitis.

One still needs to get to the doctor and the hospital for that or one

could die.

 

Why would a point like this be so important for treating pain? As someone

who once started to pass a rather large gall stone and endured a rather

agonizing ride to the hospital, I would have really appreciated a similar

point for for gall stones that would have relieved just a little of that

pain. And as someone who had to wait in agony in ER while the nurse got the

doctor on call that night out of his bed at home and to the hospital (small

town hospital) because she couldn't give me anything for pain until he

examined me, I would have much appreciated an acupoint that could have

temporarily at least blunted that pain until he got there.

 

Then there's the possibility that this may be a diagnostic point. Note I

said possbility because when it comes to something as potentially

life-threatening as appendicitis, one wants some very rigorous and large

scientific tests to determine if it is indeed a diagnostic point and in

which percentage of patients. If it does prove to be diagnostic in a

certain percentage of people, this could be a really helpful tool for many

healers.

 

One thing that always faces (or should face) alternative healers are

questions of referral. When do you send a client to a MD or DO posthaste

because there is something wrong that a MD or DO needs to see and address?

If a point like this is sore, this may be one of those times for an

immediate referral to the client's DO or MD. To be on the safe side. And, in

fairness, it should be pointed out that there are times that patients would

benefit if MDs and DOs called in an alternative healer to do things that MDs

and DOs can't do (unless they have the specialized training in alternative

medicine and healing).

 

A diagnostic point also could be of value to MDs and DOs. Obviously if the

symptoms of appendicitis are present, the MD or DO should order the

appropriate tests even if the point is not sore. But what about very iffy

cases which could be any number of things, the least of which is possible

appendicitis? Tests can be expensive, and many HMOs put a lot of pressure

on doctors to err on the side of profits instead of patients. A point which

is diagnostic could give a doctor a little more information s/he needs in

order to make the best decision about ordering more tests.

 

According to Maciocia, this point " stops abdominal pain " and " resolves

Damp-Heat " . It's " on the Stomach channel in between Zusanli ST-36 and

Shangjuxu ST-37, on the right leg only. The location of this point is also

variable and it wherever it is tender on pressure between ST-36 and ST-37. "

(pp. 476-477)

 

This point needs to be looked into more to determine if it really will do

these things and exactly when.

 

Sometimes there are things that a chiropractor or DO can handle better than

an herbalist, an acupuncturist, or a MD. A MD or DO can handle some problems

best while herbalists best can address some things and acupunturists are

best for other things. Sometimes massage or homeopathy has the primary key

to resolving a problem. Etc. Sometimes a combination of healing skills are

needed with the healers working together for the client.

 

Victoria

 

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