By Gu Qing (Susan Gu)
Originally published in the Journal of Chinese Medicine in the UK, 2024, Volume 13, Issue 2, pp. 33–35.
Publication Note: The article below is reproduced in its originally published English. Scans of the original publication are provided at the end of this article for reference.
Traditional acupuncture is to treat various diseases by puncturing and moxibustion the acupoints on the twelve meridians and eight extra meridians of the human body through treatment based on syndrome differentiation theory. However, Dong's special acupoints is to treat various diseases by acupuncture through "orientation comparison" and holographic therapy. The difference between the two is that the methods of taking the acupoints are different and Dong's special acupoints does not pay attention to the replenishing and purging techniques of its acupuncture techniques.
In long-term clinical practice, I often combine the two. By using the group acupoint properties of Dong's special points and adding the traditional meridian acupoints selected by treatment based on syndrome differentiation theory, it is like arranging troops with both offense and defense. Replacing the reinforcing and reducing of acupuncture techniques with the reinforcing and reducing of acupoints often has beneficial effects.
There are many patients with breast hyperplasia nodules. In my clinical practice, the Sanzhong acupoint inverted horse needle of Dong's special points is used as the main acupoint, and the Xia Sanhuang is added as an auxiliary acupoint group for tonifying qi and blood, so that there are be both offense and defense benefits.
There are many reasons for the formation of breast nodules, including both psychological and physiological ones. To treat physiological causes, after differential patterns with TCM theory select acupoints from the eight intersection points on the traditional twelve meridians and the Dong’s acupoints with different properties together for comprehensively treatment. The effective rate can reach very high level.
Whilst working in Dubai, I treated three female patients all over 50 years old. They were from the UK, Russia, and India respectively. The patient from the UK has been diagnosed with pre-breast cancer. The affected part on the right side, with redness and swelling appearing on the outside. When touched she felt a strong sense of pain and firmness. The Russian patient also had a firm feeling on the right side, but no pain when touched. The Indian patient had bilateral breast nodules that could be felt when touched. The breast nodules of these patients have been present for more than ten years, but they have not received any Western medicine, or other treatments because there was no obvious discomforts or pain. They were only detected during physical examinations and reviewed regularly.
After six acupuncture treatments, the swelling and pain of the UK patient disappeared. She went to the hospital for a check-up and found that the swelling had shrunk significantly. After six months, the examination showed that it had gone entirely. After one year, the examination showed that there was no recurrence. The cancer warning was cancelled and she was listed as a healthy person. This is the most successful case so far.
The Russian patient's nodule significantly reduced and softened after one acupuncture treatment and she did not return for further treatment. The Indian patient had an obvious reduction and softening on both sides after six acupuncture treatments. Later, because I returned to London, I could not continue the treatment. The patient's husband and daughter were also my patients. A month after I returned to the UK, I received a letter of thanks from her husband. He thanked me for my treatment, which helped his family, especially his wife. Because her doctor had previously recommended surgical removal, which was no longer necessary.
All the above patients were treated with acupuncture only, without the intervention of traditional Chinese medicine. If acupuncture and medicine can be combined, better and faster results should be achieved. However, these patients refused to take traditional Chinese medicine and I respected their wishes. Only external treatment methods combining acupuncture and massage could be used. Despite this good results were still achieved!
The following details are my methods and experiences in treating breast nodules with Dong's special acupoints combined with traditional acupuncture.
After disinfection, the patient lying face upwards:
Step 1: Open the four passes first, add Baihui acupoint on the top of the head after Hegu acupoints on both sides and Taichong acupoints on both sides.
This is aiming to open the ascending and descending of qi in the whole body.
Step 2: Insert needles at the Sanzhong acupoints on the affected side and the Xia Sanhuang on the healthy side. If there are nodules on both sides, take acupoints on both sides. The Sanzhong acupoints are the main acupoint group and are used for purging. The Xia Sanhuang is used for tonifying. In this way, there is tonification and also purging.
Step 3: There are many causes of breast nodules. Further treat the root cause with traditional dialectical treatment. Women who are more sensitive, and an anxious personality trait have an increased risk of developing breast nodules.
From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, there are several reasons for the occurrence of breast nodules:
- Worry injuring the spleen - add Lieque and Shenmen acupoints.
- Liver qi stagnation - add Zulingqi and Neiguan acupoints.
- Deficiency of both liver and kidney - add Zhaohai and Qiuxu acupoints.
- Disharmony of Chong and Ren meridians - add groin needles.
- Regulate the triple energizer - use Zhongbai and Xiabai acupoints.
All the above acupuncture methods used needles of 0.25 x13mm and 0.25 x 25mm. The 0.25mm x 25mm needles are used for acupoints on the arms, legs, and abdomen. The needle retention time above must be more than 45 minutes, and if it reaches one hour, the effect is better.
After the needles are inserted, if the affected area is gently massaged for a few minutes, the results are improved.
In long-term clinical practice, for all nodule-related diseases, such as thyroid nodules, uterine and scrotal nodules etc., I am generally applying this treatment method, but the treatment effect is best for breast nodule-related diseases. Through my observation and research, I realized the Sanzhong acupoint is close to the location of the Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming in traditional meridians, and the Stomach Meridian directly leads to the breast. Therefore, using this acupoint as the main acupoint to treat breast nodule-related diseases has very obvious and rapid effects.
Original Publication
The following images reproduce the original article as published in the Journal of Chinese Medicine in the UK, 2024, Volume 13, Issue 2, pp. 33–35.
