by Liu Anran
　　(Xiamen Municipal Hospital of Traditional
　　Chinese Medicine, Fujian Province 361000)

Dazhui (GV 14), located between the spinous processes of the seventh cervical vertebra and the first thoracic vertebra, is an acupoint on the Du meridian. It is also the crossing point where the three Yang Meridians of the Hand and the Du meridian cross and converge and where all the Yang meridians of the human body meet, hence its controlling function over the Yang-Qi of the whole body, and its indications to aversion to cold due to Yang insufficiency or fever due to Yang excessiveness. Since the Du meridian travels through the brain, kidney, heart, and spinal column, and meets with the Liver meridian at the vertex region, moxibustion over Dazhui (GV 14) is effective for treating a variety of diseases. An introduction follows.

Expelling Wind, Clearing Awsy Heat, and Dispersing the Lung to Relieve Exterior Syndrome

Huang, a 21-year-old male patient, paid his first visit on July 22, 1989. He complained of fever with chills for 2 days, accompanied with sore throat, dry mouth with a bitter taste, preference for drinks, yellow urine, and constipation. Examinations showed T 39.1C, red throat, swelling of both tonsils (11o ), and normal heart and lungs. His tongue was red with then-yellow coating, and the pulse superficial and rapid. Moxibustion was then performed over Dazhui (GV 14) with 9 moxa cones, and the reducing method was adopted; followed by blood-letting with a three-edged needle on Shaoshang (LU 11), and cupping on Fengmen (BL 12). The treatment resulted in slight sweating, reduction of fever to T 37.4oC,and disappearance of the sore throat. Comment: This case is considered to be induced by the stagnated heat in the Lung and Stomach meridians that goes upwards and by the exogenous pathogenic wind-heat that burns the lungs. Dazhui (GV 14) is the crossing point of all the Yang meridians; moxibustion over it can help clear away the heat and eliminate the pathogenic factors. Shaoshang (LU 11) is a Jing-(well) point of the Lung meridian of Hand Taiyin , and pricking on it has the effect of inducing resuscitation and easing the throat. Fengmen (BL 12) is the gate through which the pathogenic wind passes; cupping on it can expel the wind and clear away the heat,relieving the exterior syndromes andeliminating the pathogenic factors. The combined use of the three points can cure the disease by reducing the fever and easing the throat.

Dispersing the Lung, Eliminating the cold, and Activating Yang to Relieve Asthma
　　Liu, a male patient of 15 years old, paid his first visit in December, 1988. The patient had been suffering from bronchial asthma for more than 10 years, with frequent attacks occurring in each winter and spring when it is windy and cold. During the onset, there used to be cough and dyspnea, rale in the throat which became severer during the night, and inability to lie flat. Having been treated by western medicine without any effect, the patient sought for TCM treatment. During the latest attack, the patient presented himself with a pale complexion, cold hands and feet, rale in both lungs, pink-red tongue with thin-white coating, and wiry-thready pulse. Ginger moxibustion was performed over Dazhui (GV 14), Fengmen(BL 12), Danzhong (CV 17), and Feishu (BL13), each with 9 moxa cones. The treatment was given once every other day. After 20 treatments, the asthma was cured. A 5-year follow-up showed no recurrence.
　　Comment: This disease was caused by invasion of the pathogenic wind, which leads to obstruction of the lung-Qi. Dazhui (GV 14), located on the Du meridian, is the crossing point of all the Yang meridians of the hand and feet where all the Yang-Qi of the body gather together. Since the Yang dominates the defensive and the superficial, moxibustion over Dazhui (GV 14) is sure to produce the effect of expelling the wind, eliminating the cold, and activating Yang to relieve asthma. Fengmen(BL 12) is the gate through which exopathogenic cold invades the body, moxibustion over this point can therefore produce the effect of expelling wind and relieving asthma, and regulating the lung-Qi. Feishu (BL 13) is a Back-Shu point of the lung meridian, where Qi in the lung meridian runs through on the back; while Danzhong (CV 17)is a influential point of Qi, can promote the dispersing function of the lung and regulate the circulation of Qi. The combined use of these two points can, therefore, give the effect of regulating the flow of Qi to resolve phlegm, and sending down the abnormally ascending Qi to sooth asthma.

Restoring Consciousness, Tranquilizing the Mind, and Calming Down the Endopathic Wind to Relieve Epilepsy
　　Wu, a male patient of 45 years old, paid his first visit in July, 1998. The patient had had epilepsy for more than 10 years, and this condition could not find a cure by sedatives and antispasmodics. During the attack of epilepsy, the patient used to suffer from a sudden faint, with involuntary frothy salivation and tie of limbs. After that, there would appear headache and dizziness, chest distress, and forgetfulness and insonmia. At the moment, the patient might present with a red tongue with white coating (thick in the coddle part)and wiry-slippery pulse. Moxibustion with reducing method was adopted over Dazhui(GV 14), Jinsuo (GV 8), Yaoqi (EX-Bg), and Jiuwei (CV 15), each with 9 moxa cones. The treatment was given twice a week. After 16 treatments, the epilepsy was controlled and only some occasional dizziness and chest distress remained. Then, the above treatment was combined with acupuncture at Baihui (GV20), Fengchi (GB 20), Neiguan (PC 6),Yanglingquan (GB 34). and Taichong (LR 3). A follow-up survey for 3 years showed no recurrence.
　　Comment: This case is caused by stirring up of endogenous wind, accumulahon of phlegm, imbalance of Yin and Yang, and disturbance of mental activity, The Du meridian distributes in the cerebrospinal areas and meets with the meridian of Foot-Jueyin on the vertex region, so moxibustion over Dazhul (GV 14)and Jinsuo (GV 8) can help clear away the endopathogenic wind, and resuscitate the brain and ease the mind. Jiuwei (CV 15) is aconnecting point on the Ren meridian and also a crossing point of the Ren and Du meridians; Yaoqi (EX-Bg) is an extra point also on the Du meridian, hence their effect of calming down the endogenous wind and easing the mind, removing obstruction in the Du meridian and restoring resuscitation.
　　Removing obstruction in the Du meridian to Relieve Spasm, and Dispersing Yang to Eliminate Pathogenic Factors
　　Cai, a female patient of 40 years old, paid her first visit on Dec. 25, 1985. The patient had had cervical spondylopathy for over 5 years. Recently, she got stiffness of the neck with inflexible turning movement, accompanied with occipital headache, aching in the right upper limb, and soreness and numbness of the fingers. The symptoms tended to turn worse in the morning and during the night, but the pain could positively respond to warmth. Examination showed tenderness at the5-7 cervical spinous processes, arm-stredhing-lifting and brachial-extention (+), a dull-red tongue with white coating (thick at the root part), thready-wiry pulse (slippery at guan pulse). X-ray examination showed hyperosteogeny at the posterior border of the5-7 cervical vertebral bodies. Ginger moxibustion with 7 moxa cones and reducing method was adopted over Dazhui (GV 14); supplemented by acupuncture at Fengchi (GB20), Tianzhu (BL 10), cervical Jiaji (EX-BZ), and Houxi (SI 3), and cupping on point Jianjing (GB 21), which were performed once every other day. After 12 treatments, such symptoms as stiff neck and occipital headache were all gone and aching in the right upper limbs was greatly alleviated. Another 12 treatments were then followed, which brought about a complete cure of the finger pain and other symptoms.' Comment: This problem is an articular retrograde disease commonly seen among the middle-aged and the aged. The diseases of the spinal column are often related to the Du meridian. Moxibustion over Dazhui (GV 14) can activate the Qi in the Du meridian, and strengthen the Yang-Qi, so that the smooth flow of Qi and blood of the whole body is promoted, especially in the head and upper limbs. Houxi (SI 3), a point on the meridian of Hand Taiyang, is one of the eight confluent points. As it is connected with the Du meridian, acupuncture on it can promote smooth flow of Qi and blood in the Du meridian. As it is also connected with Taiyang meridian, it can help clear away the pathogenic factors and relieve spasm. The purpose of combined use of Fengchi (GB 20), Tianzhu (BL 10) and the neck Jiaji point is to promote blood circulation, eliminate pathogenic wind, and relax and soften the muscles in the neck region.

Warming Meridians, Restoring Yang, and Replenishing Qi to Consolidate Superficial Resistance
　　Wu, a female patient of 48 years old, paid her first visit on Sept. 29, 1985. The patient caught cold in mid August, accompanied by aversion to cold, slight fever,headache, and dry and itching throat. After taking some western medicines, she got some improvement of the symptoms. But in recent one month, she was repeatedly attacked by cold, accompanied with aversion to cold (especially on the back), and spontaneous perspiration. During the examination, the patient was found with a pink-red tongue with thin-white coating, superficial in guan pulse and weak in chi pulse. Ginger moxibustion was adopted over Dazhui (GV 14), and Feishu (BL13), with 7 moxa cones for both points. The patient was treated once every 2-3 days. 12 treatments resulted in disappearance of all the symptoms.
　　Comment: This disease is caused by failure of the defensive Yang-Qi of the lung in protecting the body against invasion of the exopathogenic wind; and failure of Yin fluid to be kept inside the body, leading to spontaneous perspiration. Moxibushon over Dazhui (GV 14)can strengthen Yang and consolidate the superficial resistance to stop perspiration; while moxibustion over Feishu (BL 13) can tonify the lung, replenish Qi, reinforce the defensive-Yang, and strengthen the skin, so as to prevent the recurrence of common cold.