Toxic Shock Syndrome

A rare, sudden, life-threatening bacterial-toxin illness, staged in TCM from explosive fever through Blood-level damage to post-crisis depletion.

Educational information only, not a substitute for professional medical diagnosis or treatment.

General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for toxic shock syndrome — 4 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

Point	Key action
L.I.-4	Expels exterior Wind and releases the Exterior. Promotes the diffusing of Lung-Qi, regulates the Defensive Qi and sweating. Stops pain.
L.I.-11	Clears Heat and cools Blood. Removes obstructions and Heat from the channel. Resolves Dampness.
DU-14	Clears Heat. Releases the Exterior and expels exterior Wind. Regulates Nutritive and Defensive Qi.
ST-36	Benefits Stomach and Spleen. Tonifies Qi and Blood. Tonifies the Original Qi.

The Four Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

1. Toxic-Heat

Clinical manifestations: High fever with a burning sensation, red swollen hot painful skin rash or sore throat, intense thirst desiring cold drinks, restlessness and irritability, dark scanty urine, flushed face.

Tongue: C Pulse: l

Treatment principle: red body with prickly raised papillae, dry yellow coating,rapid, forceful, full or overflowing

L.I.-4 ↓ L.I.-11 ↓ DU-14 ↓ ST-36 ⊥

2. Blood Stagnation with Heat

Clinical manifestations: Fixed stabbing pain worsening at night, dark purplish rash or bruising, restlessness and irritability, thirst with desire to rinse the mouth but not swallow.

Tongue: I Pulse: n

Treatment principle: reddish-purple body with stasis spots and distended sublingual veins, thin dry yellow coat,choppy and rapid, often wiry at the left middle position

SP-10 ↓ SP-6 ↓ L.I.-11 ↓ LIV-3 ↓

3. Large Intestine Qi Stagnation View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Abdominal distension and bloating, cramping pain that moves location, constipation or fragmented stools, sensation of incomplete bowel evacuation, excessive gas, belching, and rumbling.

Tongue: M Pulse: o

Treatment principle: normal light red body with thin white coating,wiry, especially at the left middle position

ST-25 ⊥ ST-37 ↓ LIV-3 ↓

4. Qi and Yin Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: Profound fatigue and weakness after the acute illness, shortness of breath worsened by exertion, dry mouth and throat with little desire to drink, night sweats, warm sensation in the palms, soles and chest, heart palpitations.

Tongue: T Pulse: o

Treatment principle: red or pale-red body with thin or absent coating, possibly cracked and dry,fine and weak, often rapid

ST-36 ↑ SP-6 ↑ REN-6 ↑ KI-3 ↑

Related conditions

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