Acupuncture Therapy for Heatstroke

【General Overview】Heatstroke is an acute summer illness characterized by high fever, restlessness, nausea, and even sudden collapse with loss of consciousness. It commonly results from extreme summer heat or prolonged exposure to high temperatures or direct sunlight. This condition includes heat stroke, heat cramps, and sunstroke. 【Etiology and Pathogenesis】During summer, excessive heat prevails; if a person works long hours under intense sun or in high temperatures, physical exertion weakens vital energy, allowing heat and dampness pathogens to invade and cause disease. Clinical presentation can be divided into mild and severe types. 【Differential Diagnosis and Treatment】(1) Mild Type Main Symptoms: Headache, dizziness, profuse sweating, hot skin, rapid breathing, dry mouth, thirst, and floating, large, rapid pulse. Treatment Principle: Select acupoints on the Governor Vessel, Pericardium Channel, and Large Intestine Channel primarily. Use draining technique in acupuncture to clear heat and dispel summer heat. Prescription: Dazhui (GV14), Neiguan (PC6), Quchi (LI11), Weizhong (BL40). Rationale: Dazhui clears heat throughout the body; Weizhong, also known as Xuehai (Blood Sea), releases blood to clear blood-level heat; Quchi is a key point for clearing heat; Neiguan clears heat and reduces fire in the three-jiao. (2) Severe Type Main Symptoms: Initially headache, thirst, rapid breathing, followed by sudden collapse, unconsciousness, sweating, and deep, weak pulse. Treatment Principle: Select points on the Governor Vessel primarily. Use draining technique to open orifices, clear heat, and dispel summer heat. Prescription: Shuigou (GV26), Baihui (GV20), Shixuan (EX-HN1), Quze (PC3), Weizhong (BL40). Rationale: For impaired consciousness, use Shuigou and Baihui to awaken the spirit and open orifices; Quze, the He point of the Pericardium Channel, combined with blood-letting at Weizhong, clears blood heat; blood-letting at Shixuan opens orifices and revives consciousness. 【Other Therapies】Gua Sha therapy: Suitable for mild heatstroke. Use a smooth, flat spoon dipped in cooking oil or water to scrape along the spine sides, neck, intercostal spaces, shoulders, arms, chest pits, and popliteal fossae until the skin turns purplish-red.
China Health Network