Hemorrhoids

"Hemorrhoids" Issue / Symptom Connections

Below you will find various relationships to, and potential clinical treatment approaches for hemorrhoids.

Content Related to Hemorrhoids

It is critical to appreciate that in Chinese Medicine, treatment for "hemorrhoids" is rarely focused on the symptoms exclusively. Alternatively, a practitioner is looking at the factors that led to the development of "hemorrhoids" - i.e. the "cause(s)".

For non-practitioners, we recommend reading treating the "cause" and not the "symptoms" for more on the overall approach and the importance of the TCM diagnostic system in formulating treatment approaches.

Within TCM, "hemorrhoids" is potentially related to one or more of the following diagnostic patterns: bladder damp heat, heat in the blood, liver fire, and/or liver yang rising.

The above patterns are common examples. In clinical situations, however, there are any number of other possibilities. Many times there will be a layered combination of patterns in an interwoven blend with their symptoms - some being the cause of an issue and the result of another issue. While initially complex, this is illustrative of the the web of relationships that Chinese Medicine is designed to approach.

Related Acupuncture Protocols

When developing an acupuncture protocol a practitioner is very often focusing on the causal diagnoses in Chinese Medicine terms, not on the condition itself. To illustrate and guide developing an acupuncture treatment for someone experiencing hemorrhoids, this issue is referenced in the following acupuncture protocol section:

• View EX Huatuojiaji at L5 (Sides of Spine at L5)
  
      .5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous processes of L5
  
      L5 innervates the descending colon and is used for the entire range of bowel issues, hemorrhoids, constipation, IBS, diarrhea, etc.  The huatuo at L1 or L2, however, is often the area that is blocked with this range of issues.  This area m…
• View EX Huatuojiaji at S5 (Sides of Spine at S5)
  
      In the area around UB 35
  
      S5 influences the rectum and is ussed for hemorrhoids and other local issues. Used  extensively within the Tam Healing System and Tong Ren Therapy. May be needled and used with tuina and/or tonren therapy.
• View KD 7 (Recover Flow)
  
      2 cun above KD 3 on the anterior border of the achilles tendon.
  
      Tonifies KD Yang, especially with respect to water regulation - sweating (too much or too little, spontaneous), swellings, urinary issues. Oedema, especially chronic effecting the abdomen a/or lower legs. Five types of Lin Disorder - res…
• View SP 12 (Surging Gate)
  
      Superior to the lateral end of the inguinal groove lateral to the pulsating external iliac artery (joins femoral artery…
  
      Used for a variety of urinary disorders (retention, painful) due to it's functions of draining dampness, clearing heat and regulating urination. Abdominal pain, hernia, hemorrhoids by regulating qi and invigorating blood.
• View UB 24 (Sea of Qi Shu)
  
      1.5 cun lateral to GV line, level with L3.
  
      Generally used as a local point for back pain.  General weakness in the low back and/or knees. Due to the qi moving functions in the area, may be used with hemorrhoids, dysmehorrhea and other discharges such as leukorrhea, blood stools, e…
• View UB 27 (Small Intestine Shu)
  
      1.5 cun lateral to GV line, level with 1st PSF.
  
      Main point for all Small Intestine related issues. Damp heat effecting the bladder (difficult or painful urination, hematuria, dark urine). Damp heat effecting the intestines (diarrhea, hemorrhoids, dysentary). Other lower warmer discha…
• View UB 35 (Meeting of Yang)
  
      .5 cun lateral to the GV line on either side of the tip of the coccyx bone.
  
      Clears damp heat from the lower warmer - principle point for hemorrhoids, also vaginal disharges/leukorrhea, diarrhea. Trauma a/or pain of the coccyx, deviation. Potentially useful for impotence and/or swellings in the genitals or in the…
• View UB 36 (Support)
  
      On posterior side of the thigh at the midpoint of the inferior gluteal crease (locate in prone position).
  
      Low back pain/sciatica where pain runs down the posterior aspect of the leg. Weakness of the lower limb. Similar functions to UB 35 in clearing damp heat and swellings from the lower warmer - genital pain and swelling, hemorrhoids, semin…
• View UB 39 (Bend Yang)
  
      Lateral to UB 40 on the medial border of the tendon of biceps femoris.
  
      Harmonize the triple warmer, damp heat conditions effecting the lower warmer: disperse for difficult urination, tonify for urinary incontinence. Frees the channel - lumbar pain, lower intestinal distention, hemorrhoids. Swellings in the …