Tongue pain






A. Prescription for invasion of wind-heat




Yin qiao san


Honeysuckle and Forsythia Powder. This formula is indicated in tongue pain due to invasion of Toxic Heat, in which there is tongue pain with obvious swelling and pain. Meanwhile, some other herbs, such as Ye Ju Hua Flos Chrysanthemi Indici 10g, Chuan Xiong Radix Ligustici Wallichii 10g and Huang Qin Radix Scutellariae 10g could be added to relieve the tongue pain.


Sang ju yin


Mulberry Leaf and Chrysanthemum Decoction. This formula is indicated in tongue pain due to invasion of Wind-Heat to the Lung system, manifested mainly as cough and throat pain besides the tongue pain. Some other herbs, such as Chuan Xiong Radix Ligustici Wallichii 10g, Huang Qin Radix Scutellariae 10g, etc., should be added to strongly relieve the tongue pain.


B. Prescription for invasion of wind-cold




Jing fang bai du san


Schizonepeta and Ledebouriella Powder to Overcome Pathogenic Toxin. This formula is indicated in tongue pain with severe External symptoms. Some other herbs could be added into the prescription to relieve the tongue pain, such as Gui Zhi Ramulus Cinnamomi 6g, Xi Xin Herba Asari 5g and Bai Zhi Radix Angelicae Dahuricae 10g, etc.


Chuan xiong cha tiao san


Ligusticum–Green Tea Regulating Powder. This formula could be used to treat tongue pain with headache due to invasion of Wind-Cold. This formula could not greatly relieve the External symptoms, but it could effectively relieve the tongue pain. Some other herbs could be added into the prescription to better relieve the tongue pain, such as Gui Zhi Ramulus Cinnamomi 6g and Xi Xian Cao Herba Siegesbeckiae 10g, etc.


C. Prescription for invasion of dryness-heat




Sang xing tang


Mulberry Leaf and Apricot Kernal Decoction. This formula is specially designed for cough due to invasion of Wind, Heat and Dryness. It has the effect of nourishing the Body Fluid, benefiting the throat, dispelling the Wind, Heat and Dryness and relieving the cough. However, it is not sufficiently effective at relieving the tongue pain; therefore some other herbs should be added into the prescription to increase the therapeutic result, such as Chuan Xiong Radix Ligustici Wallichii 10g, Huang Qin Radix Scutellariae 10g, and Bai Zhi Radix Angelicae Dahuricae 10g, etc.


Qiao he tang


Forsythiae and Menthae Decoction. This formula was originally used to treat general dysfunction of orifices due to invasion of Wind, Heat and Dryness. When it is used to treat the tongue pain due to invasion of the above pathogenic factors, add Huang Qin Radix Scutellariae 10g, Bai Zhi Radix Angelicae Dahuricae10g, Niu Bang Zi Fructus Arctii 10g and Dan Nan Xing Arisaema cum Bile 10g to dispel the Wind, clear the Heat, moisten the Dryness and relieve the tongue pain.


Modifications





1. If the tongue is red and swollen owing to invasion of Wind-Heat, add Pu Gong Ying Herba Taraxaci 10g and Zhu Ye Herba Lophatheri 10g to clear the Heat and reduce the swelling


2. If there is thirst due to invasion of Dryness-Heat, add Mai Dong Radix Ophiopogonis 10g and Xuan Shen Radix Scrophulariae 10g to nourish the Yin of the Lung and the Stomach and relieve the thirst


3. If there is high fever due to the predominance of Heat invasion, add Chai Hu Radix Bupleuri 5g to clear the Heat and reduce the fever


4. If there is much headache, add Man Jing Zi Fructus Viticis 10g to dispel the Wind-Heat and sedate the headache


5. If there is much cough and expectoration of yellow phlegm owing to invasion of the Lung by Wind-Heat, add Qian Hu Radix Peucedani 10g and Zhe Bei Mu Bulbus Fritillariae Thunbergii 10g to dispel the Wind-Heat, disperse the Lung-Qi, eliminate the Phlegm and relieve the cough.


Patent remedy


For invasion of Wind-Heat: Huang Lian Shang Qing Wan Coptis Pill to Clear Heat of Upper Burner.

For invasion of Wind-Heat: Jing Fang Bai Du Pian Schizonepeta and Ledebouriella Tablet to Overcome Pathogenic Toxins.

For invasion of Wind-Dryness: Qing Fei Yi Huo Pian Clear Lung and restrain Fire tablet.



Acupuncture Treatment




Main points


Lu-7 Lieque, LI-4 Hegu, GB-20 Fengchi, TE-5 Waiguan, GV-15 Yamen, HT-3 Shaohai and CV-23 Lianquan. Reducing method is used on all these points.


Explanations





▪ Among the External factors causing tongue pain, invasion of Wind-Heat and invasion of Wind-Dryness are the most common. All the above-mentioned points have the function of dispelling external invasion; however, LU-7 is used especially when there are symptoms from the Lung, including cough, expectoration of phlegm, chest pain and throat pain.


▪ LI-4 is used especially to dispel Wind invasion, including Wind-Heat, Wind-Dryness and Wind-Cold, since this point has a function in opening the skin pores so as to induce sweating. Since it is also the point from the Large Intestine channel, it is able to clear Heat and reduce a fever.


▪ GB-20 is used to dispel the Wind and relieve the headache. When this point is punctured towards the tip of the nose, it has also the function of treating problems in the mouth, including tongue pain.


▪ TE-5 is applied to relieve External symptoms. Also, this point is connected with the Yang Linking Vessel, which ends at GV-15. GV-15 is a good point to relieve stiffness of the tongue and neck. CV-23 is a good point for treating tongue problems, including tongue pain. When this point is punctured, the direction of the needle should be toward the root of the tongue to achieve the best therapeutic result.


Alternative points


HT-5 Tongli, HT-6 Yinxi, HT-7 Shenmen, ST-9 Renying, ST-10 Shuitu and ST-40 Fenglong, etc.


Modifications





1. If the throat and tongue are red, with a burning feeling on the tongue due to invasion of Wind-Heat, add LI-2 and LI-11, the Spring point and the Sea point of the Large Intestine channel, to clear the Heat strongly and stop the pain


2. If there is a high fever due to predominance of Heat, add GV-14 to clear the Heat and reduce the fever


3. If the throat and tongue are dry, with a thirst due to invasion of Wind-Dryness, add LU-8 and SP-6 to promote secretion of the Body Fluids and moisten the Dryness


4. If there is tongue pain and spasm of the face due to invasion of Wind-Cold, add ST-6 and ST-40 to relieve the tongue pain and muscular spasm in the face.





Accumulation of Excessive-Heat



Excessive-Heat in the Heart



Symptoms and signs

Tongue pain, especially on the tip with a burning, packing sensation and red spots, restlessness, insomnia, deep yellow urine, even possible painful urination, a red tongue with a yellow coating and a rapid and wiry pulse, especially at the Heart region, are symptoms and signs of Excessive-Heat in the Heart.


Principle of treatment


Clear the Heat, calm the Heart and relieve the tongue pain.

Herbal Treatment




Prescription



Main formula



Dao chi san


Guide Out the Red Powder. This formula is indicated in tongue pain which is due to hyperactivity of Heart-Fire. The main therapeutic effect of this formula is to drain Heart-Fire by means of urination. Meanwhile some herbs to clear the Hear-Fire and relieve the tongue pain could be used, such as Zhi Zi Fructus Gardeniae 10g and Huang Lian Rhizoma Coptidis 10g.


Alternative formulas



Sheng ma qing wei tang


Cimiciffuga Decoction to Clear the Stomach. This formula clears the Heat in the Heart and Stomach and removes the Toxin. Bai Zhi Radix Angelicae Dahuricae 10g and Chuan Niu Xi Radix Cyathulae Officinalis 10g could be added to relieve the tongue pain.


Xie xin tang


Drain the Epigastrium Decoction. This formula clears the Heat in the Heart and stops the gum bleeding. Dan Zhu Ye Herba Lophatheri 10g and Chuan Niu Xi Radix Cyathulae Officinalis 10g could be added to clear the Heat in the Heart and Bai Zhi Radix Angelicae Dahuricae10g could be added to relieve the tongue pain.


Modifications





1. If there is severe ulceration of the mouth and on the tongue, add Qing Dai Indigo Naturalis 5g and Dan Shen Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae 10g to clear the Heart-Fire, eliminate the Toxin and relieve the ulceration


2. If urination is painful, add Xiao Ji Herba Cephalanoploris 10g and Zhi Zi Fructus Gardeniae 10g to clear the Heart-Fire and relieve the pain


3. If there is insomnia, add Suan Zao Ren Semen Ziziphi Spinosae 10g and Deng Xin Cao Medulla Junci 10g to clear the Heart-Fire and tranquillise the Mind


4. If there is restlessness, add Long Gu Os Draconis 20g and Ci Shi Magnetitum 15g to clear the Heat and calm the Shen.


Patent remedy


Dao Chi Pian Guide Out the Red Tablet.


Acupuncture Treatment




Main points


HT-3 Shaohai, HT-6 Yinxi, HT-7 Shenmen, HT-8 Shaofu, PC-8 Laogong, SI-2 Qiangu and SI-4 Wangu. Reducing method is used on these points, except HT-3 and HT-7, on which even method is employed.


Explanations





▪ The tongue is the opening orifice of the Heart channel. When there is Excessive-Heat in the Heart, this Heat may flow up through the channel to the tongue, and cause tongue pain.


▪ HT-8 and PC-8, the Spring points of the Heart channel and Pericardium channel respectively, are able to clear Heat and relieve the tongue pain. They are particularly indicated in tongue pain resulting from Heart-Heat, or Heart-Fire.


▪ HT-3 and HT-7, the Sea point and the Source point of the Heart channel respectively, are able to regulate the function of the Heart and to treat the basic causes of Heart-Heat. This also calms the Shen, which will relieve the insomnia and restlessness due to Heat in the Heart.


▪ HT-6, the Accumulation point of the Heart channel, harmonises the collateral and relieves the pain in the tongue.


▪ SI-2 and SI-4, the Spring point and the Source point of the Small Intestine channel respectively, are applied here to promote urination so as to clear up the Heat in the Heart. This method is called ‘reducing the son so as to treat the Excessive mother’.


Alternative points


LI-Hegu, LI-11 Quchi, HT-5 Tongli, PC-8 Laogong, ST-9 Renying, ST-10 Shuitu and ST-44 Neiting, etc.


Modifications





1. If there is insomnia and restlessness due to failure of the Heart to house the Mind, add GV-20 and Extra Sishencong to calm the Shen and improve the sleep


2. If urination is painful owing to shifting of Heart-Heat to the Small Intestine, add ST-39 the Lower Sea point of the Small Intestine, and SI-8, the Sea point of the Small Intestine channel, to clear the Heat in the Small Intestine and promote the urination


3. If there is constipation due to the accumulation of Heat in the Large Intestine, add ST-25, the Front Collecting point of the Large Intestine, and LI-4, the Source point of the Large Intestine channel, to clear the Heat in the Large Intestine, promote the defecation and relieve the constipation.


Excessive-Heat in the Lung



Symptoms and signs


Tongue pain, especially on the tip of the tongue, with a burning, pricking sensation and red spots, a dry cough or a cough with yellow phlegm, chest pain, a dry nose, epistaxis, thirst, dry stools, throat pain, a red tongue with a yellow coating and a rapid and superficial pulse are symptoms and signs of Excessive-heat in the Lung.


Principle of treatment


Clear the Heat, disperse the Lung-Qi and relieve the tongue pain.

Herbal Treatment




Prescription



Main formula



Xie bai san


Drain the White Powder. This formula is originally indicated in cough or chest pain due to accumulation of Excessive Heat in the Lung; however, it could also be used to treat tongue pain resulting from the same pathogenic factors. Due to simple composition, this formula will be not sufficient to deal with the tongue pain, therefore some other herbs should be added into the prescription, such as Huang Qin Radix Scutellariae 10g, Zhi Zi Fructus Gardeniae 10g, Chuan Bei Mu Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae 10g and Xing Ren Semen Pruni Armeniacae 10g to clear the Heat, reduce the Fire and relieve the tongue pain.


Alternative formulas



Qing qi hua tan wan


Clear the Air and Transform Phlegm Pill. Although this formula is mainly used to eliminate the Phlegm in the Lung and clear the Lung-Heat, it could also be used to treat the tooth pain due to accumulation of Heat in the Lung. Chuan Xiong Radix Ligustici Wallichii 10g and Bai Zhi Radix Angelicae Dahuricae 10g could be added to relieve the tongue pain.


Ma xing gan shi tang


Ephedra, Apricot Kernel, Licorice, and Gypsum Decoction. This formula has a very strong function which clears the Heat in the Lung. Chuan Xiong Radix Ligustici Wallichii 10g and Bai Zhi Radix Angelicae Dahuricae 10g could be added to relieve the tongue pain.


Modifications





1. If there is severe ulceration of the mouth and on the tongue, add Qing Dai Indigo Naturalis 5g and Dan Shen Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae 5g to clear the Heart-Fire, eliminate the Toxin and relieve the ulceration


2. If there is a dry cough, add Xuan Shen Radix Scrophulariae 10g to nourish the Lung-Yin and stop the cough


3. If there is a cough with yellow phlegm, add Zhu Ru Caulis Bambusae in Taeniam 10g and Gua Lou Fructus Trichosanthis 10g to clear the Heat and eliminate the -HeatPhlegm


4. If there is chest pain, add Bai Shao Radix Paeoniae Alba 10g and Zhi Qiao Fructus Aurantii 10g to regulate the Qi circulation and relieve the chest pain


5. If there is nasal bleeding, add Bai Mao Gen Rhizoma Imperatae 15g and Chi Shao Radix Paeoniae Rubra 10g to cool the Blood and stop the bleeding.


Patent remedy


Qing Fei Yi Huo Pian Clear Lungs Restrain Fire Tablet.


Acupuncture Treatment




Main points


LU-5 Chize, LU-6 Kongzui, LU-10 Yuji, LI-4 Hegu, LI-11 Quchi and CV-23 Lianquan. Reducing method is used on these points, except for CV-23, on which even method is employed.


Explanations





▪ The mouth is an opening of the Lung. Therefore, when there is accumulation of Excessive-Heat in the Lung, it may ascend and affect the mouth, leading to tongue pain.


▪ LU-5, the Sea point of the Lung channel, clears the Heat in the Lung and causes the Lung-Qi to descend so as to restore the physiological function of the Lung. This point is also the Son point of the Lung channel, so is indicated for eliminating Excessive pathogenic factors from the Lung.


▪ LU-10, the Spring point of the Lung channel, is applied here to clear the Heat in the Lung and relieve the tongue pain due to Heat. Also, this point can relieve the redness and pain in the throat.


▪ LU-6, the Accumulation point of the Lung channel, is indicated in acute tongue pain due to accumulation of Heat in the Lung.


▪ LI-4 and LI-11, the Source point and the Sea point of the Lung channel respectively, clear the Heat and promote the defecation (this is the meaning of clearing Heat from the Lung by means of draining the Large Intestine).


▪ CV-23, the local point, clears Heat on the tongue directly, and also induces effects to the tongue.


Alternative points


LU-1 Zhongfu, LU-10 Shaoshang, LI-1 Shangyang, BL-13 Feishu, CV-17 Tanzhong and SP-6 Sanyinjiao, etc.


Modifications





1. If there is nasal bleeding due to uprising of Lung-Heat, add LI-20 and LU-11 to clear the Heat and stop the bleeding


2. If there is a cough due to dysfunction of the Lung in dispersing Qi and causing Lung-Qi to descend, add LU-1, the Front Collecting point of the Lung, and BL-13, the Back Transporting point of the Lung, to disperse the Lung-Qi and cause it to descend


3. If there is expectoration of yellow phlegm due to concentration of Body Fluids by Heat in the Lung, add ST-40 to clear the Heat and resolve the Phlegm.


Excessive-Heat in the Stomach



Symptoms and signs


Tongue pain, especially over the whole tongue body or the middle of the tongue, thirst, a dry mouth, a preference for cold drinks, a foul smell in the mouth, constipation, swelling and redness or bleeding of the gums, a tendency to be frequently hungry, abdominal pain, restlessness, red tongue with a yellow and dry coating and a rapid and forceful pulse are symptoms and signs of this condition.


Principle of treatment


Clear the Heat, promote the defecation and relieve the tongue pain.


Acupuncture Treatment




Main points


ST-40 Fenglong, ST-42 Chongyang, ST-44 Neiting, ST-45 Lidui, LI-4 Hegu, LI-11 Quchi and and CV-23 Lianquan. Reducing method is used on these points.


Explanations





▪ ST-42 and ST-40, the Source point and the Connecting point of the Stomach channel respectively, are able to clear the Heat and harmonise the Stomach


▪ ST-44 is the Spring point of the Stomach channel, being able to clear the Heat in the Stomach directly and reduce the tongue pain


▪ ST-45, the Son point of the Stomach channel, is applied here to eliminate Heat from the Stomach


▪ Since the Stomach and Large Intestine are both Bright Yong-Fu organs, having a mutual influence on each other, especially in Excessive cases, LI-4 and LI-11 are used here to clear the Heat in the Large Intestine and promote defecation to reduce the Heat from the Stomach


▪ CV-23, the local point, clears Heat on the tongue directly, and also induces effects to the tongue.


Alternative points


PC-6 Neiguan, PC-8 Laogong, HT-3 Shaohai, HT-8 Shaofu, CV-12 Zhongwan, ST21 Liangmen, ST-43 Xiangu and SP-2 Dadu, etc.


Modifications





1. If there is stomach pain due to disturbance of the Stomach by Excessive-Heat, add CV-12, the Front Collecting point of the Stomach, and BL-21, the Back Transporting point of the Stomach, to clear the Heat and harmonise the Stomach to relieve the stomach pain


2. If there is nausea and vomiting due to uprising of Stomach-Qi, add PC-6, the Connecting point with the Yin Linking Vessel, and SP-4, the Connecting point with the Penetrating Vessel channel, to descend the Stomach-Qi and relieve the vomiting


3. If there is constipation due to the Heat in the Large Intestine, add ST-25, the Front Collecting point of the Large Intestine, to promote the defecation and relieve the constipation.


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Jun 19, 2016 | Posted by in PAIN MEDICINE | Comments Off on Tongue pain

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