Papers of the Week

The clinical experience of professor is introduced in treatment of herpes zoster and post-neuralgia with herbal thread moxibustion of medicine combined with acupuncture. Professor divides the pathological process of herpes zoster into pre-herpes stage, herpes stage and post-herpes stage. At pre-herpes stage, in pathogenesis of medicine, the deficiency of antipathogenic , invasion of pathogens, retarded and blood circulation in dragon and fire pathways are involved. Clearing heat, detoxification, promoting circulation in the pathways and dispersing and blood are considered in treatment. The herbal thread moxibustion is provided at " point" and " point" and seize "the head and tail of snake", and 3 needles are used at each of ends of skin leison. At herpes stage, toxin stagnation in dragon and fire pathways, stagnation on skin and muscle, and blood disturbance and dysfunction of three kinds of are considered in pathogenesis. The treatment focuses on removing pathogens and toxin, assisted with regulating and blood circulation, removing herpeses and promoting wound healing. The herbal thread moxibustion is used at " point", " point" and the two ends of skin lesion. The local row-like puncture is provided at skin lesion according to the intercostals nerve distribution. At post-herpes stage, the retention of pathogens and stagnation of blood in dragon and fire pathways are considered in pathogenesis. The treatment focuses on activating blood circulation, removing stasis and eliminating the pathogen residuals. " point", " point" and the two ends of skin lesion are selected in herbal thread moxibustion, or sweeping and dragging techniques of acupuncture are adopted. The timely application of herbal thread moxibustion controls the development of herpes zoster and prevents from post-neuralgia.