Lurking Pathogens 7
Triple burner, membrane source and the qì dynamic
An important consideration in treating Lurking Pathogens (LP) is tracking down and uprooting the pathogen. Some of the possible locations of latency were discussed in an earlier post. Important concepts in this aspect are the Triple Burner (sān jiāo) and the membrane source (mó yuán).
Treating the membranes
Maciocia (2006), in his chapter on membranes (huāng) and fat (gāo), gives mó as synonym for huāng membrane after the term huāng mó in Huáng Dì Nèi Jīng Sù Wèn chapter 40. The origin of the membranes according to Su Wen 40 is below the umbilicus. Maciocia (2006) subsumes treatment of the membranes under the main channels, but also ascribes control the membranes in abdomen to the extraordinary vessels of Chōng and Rèn, and names their master points of LU-7 (liè quē) and SP-4 (gōng sūn) for treatment. Maciocia (2006) associates luo-connecting points with the Chōng Mài, specifically citing their mutual connection to the huāng membranes. LU-7 (liè quē) and SP-4 (gōng sūn) are both luo points as well as extraordinary vessel points, as are PC-6 (nèi guān) and TB-5 (wài guān), making all of these points valuable to consider for treatment of LP.
In addition, Ren-6 (qì hǎi, or “sea of qì”; alternate names include “membrane origin”, huāng zhi yuán, and “lower membrane”, xià huāng) is given as the source point of the membranes (huāng), while Ren 15 (jiū wěi) is the source point for fat (gāo), both mentioned in Huáng Dì Nèi Jīng Líng Shū chapter 1. Other huāng points mentioned are KD-16 (“membrane shu point”, huāng shū), BL-51 (“membrane gate”, huāng mén), and BL-53 (“bladder membrane”, bāo huāng).
Rectification of the qì dynamic via the Triple Burner
An important treatment principle in complex scenarios such as LP is rectification of the qì dynamic (qì jī, also translated as qì mechanism) (Hayden, 2021). The qì dynamic describes the ascending/descending and entering/exiting or upward/downward inward/outward movement of the normal functioning of the body’s qì (Maciocia, 2015). These motions can be seen to correspond to the traditional actions of the five tastes as described in the previous post. According to Maciocia (2006), the Triple Burner controls the qì dynamic of exiting and entering throughout the membranes, joints, and other spaces between body structures; it essentially governs the qì dynamic. Wang & Robertson (2008) concurs that the Triple Burner includes all the areas in between tissues and structures of the body. It the route of yuán qì and jīn yè movement as well as the conduit of communication and information flow between the various components of the body, such as Zàng-Fǔ. In a brief passage, Wang subsumes the membrane source to the Triple Burner. Maciocia (2006) states that the membranes are instrumental in the qì dynamic of the abdomen.
In order to influence the qì dynamic, Maciocia (2006) names TB-4 (yáng chí) and TB-6 (zhī gōu) as well as BL-51 (huāng men), the outer back-shu point for the Triple Burner. Similar to Scheid (2022), he mentions the Zōng Qì (ancestral or pectoral qì) as the ruling force in the qì dynamic; this suggests the use of Lung and Pericardium points for dislodging LP from the Qì and Ying levels respectively. Ellis et al (2004) list SP-3 (taì bái) and SP-4 (gōng sūn) as regulating and rectifying the qì dynamic, specifically. An apparently unexamined option in addressing the qì dynamic is SP-8; its name (dì jī) contains the same character as qì dynamic (qì jī). Yuè Hánzhēn of the Qing era wrote “drain the point that is the crux of the mechanism (jī guān) within the spleen” to treat disorders such as depression of qì stagnated fluids (Yue, 2019) It is one of the most used points in our repertoire for treating LP or any similar pathomechanism of qì depression in the middle burner.
Additional points
A search through more standard point texts can reveal actions which correspond to warm disease treatment principles. We will incorporate some of those point choices as we break down the Five-Phase patterns at each of the Four Levels and Three Burners.
Note: this newsletter is for information purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please seek the opinion of a health care professional for any specific medical issues you may have.
References
Ellis, A., Wiseman, N., Boss, K., & Cleaver, J. (2004). Fundamentals of Chinese acupuncture (Revised ed). Paradigm Publications.
Hayden, R. (2021). Five phases, four levels, three burners: Building resistance in the pandemic era. North American Journal of Oriental Medicine. 27(83). 5-6.
Maciocia, G. (2006). The channels of acupuncture: Clinical use of the secondary channels and eight extraordinary vessels. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Maciocia, G. (2015). Foundations of Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive Text (3rd Edition). Elsevier Health Sciences.
Scheid, V. (2022). Covid from the bottom up: Lessons of the pandemic. The Lantern, 19(2), 2-19.
Wang, J.-Y., & Robertson, J.D. (2008). Applied channel theory in Chinese medicine: Wang Ju Yi's lectures on channel therapeutics. Eastland Press.
Yue, H. (2019) Explanations of the channels and points, vol.1 (M. Brown, Trans.). Purple Cloud Press.