↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method — technique below follows standard Excess/Deficiency treatment principle for each pattern, not tied to a specific point-by-point source.
Clinical manifestations: Abdominal cramping pain; urgent straining to defecate (tenesmus); mucus and blood in the stools; brought on by spicy, greasy or fried food, alcohol and coffee, or emotional stress; eased by bland, easily digestible food, warm fluids, or rest.
Tongue: Red body, thick yellow greasy coating. Pulse: Slippery, Rapid.
Treatment principle: Clear Heat, resolve Dampness.
Note: no moxa.
2. Toxic-Heat Stagnation
Clinical manifestations: High fever and intense body heat; profuse bloody diarrhoea, often dark red; severe cramping abdominal pain; brought on by spicy, fried or greasy food, alcohol, emotional stress, or heat exposure; eased by cooling food and drinks, rest, a cool environment, or mung bean soup.
Tongue: Deep Red or crimson body with prickly papillae, dry yellow coating. Pulse: Rapid, Forceful.
Treatment principle: Clear Toxic-Heat, cool Blood.
Note: no moxa. This is an acute, severe presentation — refer for urgent medical care alongside any acupuncture support.
Clinical manifestations: Early-morning diarrhoea (around 5am); abdominal pain eased by warmth and pressure; cold hands and feet; brought on by cold or raw food, iced drinks, cold damp weather, or overwork; eased by warmth on the abdomen, hot cooked meals, a warm environment, or moxibustion.
Tongue: Pale, swollen, tooth-marked body, white slippery coating. Pulse: Deep, Slow, Weak.
Treatment principle: Warm and tonify Kidney- and Spleen-Yang.
Note: moxa applicable; Ren-8 is moxa only, not needled.
4. Liver-Qi Stagnation with Spleen-Qi Deficiency Transforming into Heat
Clinical manifestations: Abdominal bloating worse with stress; loose stools alternating with urgency or constipation; irritability and frequent sighing; brought on by anger or frustration, greasy or spicy food, alcohol, or mental strain; eased by stress reduction, warm easily-digestible food, sour flavours, or gentle exercise.
Tongue: Red body, Redder at the sides, tooth-marked, thin yellow slightly greasy coating. Pulse: Wiry, Rapid.
Treatment principle: Soothe the Liver, clear Heat.
Clinical manifestations: Fatigue and physical weariness; poor appetite; abdominal bloating after eating; loose or unformed stools; brought on by raw or cold food, overeating, excessive worry, or overexertion; eased by warm cooked meals, adequate rest, gentle exercise, or abdominal warmth.
Tongue: Pale, puffy, tender, tooth-marked, thin white coating. Pulse: Weak, Soft.
Treatment principle: Tonify Spleen-Qi.
6. Heat and Blood Stagnation in the Lower Burner
Clinical manifestations: Fixed, stabbing lower abdominal pain worse with pressure; dark or black stools with clotted blood; lower abdominal hardness or fullness; brought on by spicy, greasy or fried food, alcohol, emotional stress, or abdominal pressure; eased by rest, cool compresses, cooling bland food, or gentle movement.
Tongue: Reddish-Purple body with stasis spots, distended sublingual veins, dry yellow coating. Pulse: Deep, Choppy, Rapid.
Treatment principle: Clear Heat, invigorate Blood, resolve stasis.
Note: no moxa. Dark/black stools warrant urgent medical evaluation alongside any acupuncture support.