Using foot massage to treat Functional uterine bleeding

This is a condition with a variety of menstrual disturbances in adolescents or menopausal period with profuse or dripping discharge of vaginal blood not related to the menstrual cycle. It may be caused by damage and deficiency of the spleen and stomach qi due to improper diet or fatigue and impaired preservation of blood in Chongmai (thoroughfare vessel) and Renmai (conception vessel) in patients with deficiency of spleen; by deficiency of kidney Yang and impaired preservation of blood in Chongmai and Renmai; by deficiency of kidney Yin, disturbed movement of deficient fire and impaired preservation of blood; by invasion of external heat pathogens or intake of too much spicy food damaging Chongmai and Renmai and the normal circulation of blood in patients with excessive Yang; by stagnation of liver qi and production of fire from stagnant qi disturbing the preservation of blood; or by accumulation of damp-heat pathogens in Xiajiao (lower energizer) damaging vessels of the uterus and causing uterine bleeding.
    
Differential diagnosis: Patients with heat pathogens in blood may suffer from discharge of dark red vaginal blood with foul odor, dryness in mouth with desire to drink water, red tongue with yellow coating, and rolling and rapid pulse. Patients with damp-heat pathogens may suffer from discharge of dark red vaginal blood with much leukorrhea and foul odor, pudendal itching, yellow and greasy tongue coating, and soft and rapid pulse. Patients with blood stasis may suffer from discharge of blood with clots, abdominal pain relieved after discharge of clots, dark red tongue, and deep and uneven pulse. Patients with accumulation of heat may suffer from distension and pain in chest and flank, annoyance, anger, frequent sighing, and wiry and rapid pulse. Patients with qi deficiency may suffer from discharge of pink vaginal blood, pale complexion, fatigue, shortness of breath, pale tongue with thin and white coating, and thready pulse. Patients with deficiency of yang may suffer from discharge of pink vaginal blood, cold and pain in lower abdomen, cold limbs, preference for heat and aversion to cold, pale tongue with white coating, and deep and thready pulse. And patients with Yin deficiency may suffer from discharge of scanty fresh red vaginal blood, hotness in heart, palms and soles, insomnia, night sweating, soreness and weakness of waist and knees, red tongue with scanty coating, and thready and rapid pulse.
   
Treatment:
Foot massage: The massage is applied to pituitary gland (4), adrenal gland (21), coeliac plexus (20), kidney (22), lower abdomen 07) and reproductive gland (36) reflecting areas. The foot is held by the physician with one hand and the knuckle of the first interphalangeal joint of the index finger of the other hand is used to apply pressure 3-4 times on each of the above areas or to scratch the sole from heel to toes 5-6 times.

Foot acupuncture:
1) Meridianal acupoints: Besides Yinbai (SP 1), Shuiquan (KI 5) is added for
heat pathogens in blood; Taixi (KI3) is added for deficiency of Yin; and Dadu (SP 2) is added for deficiency of qi. A reducing technique without moxibustion is applied to patients with excessive heat pathogens, and a reinforcing technique with moxibustion for 15 to 20 minutes is applied to patients with excessive cold pathogens.

2) Extra acupoint: At Sole (EX-F 18) acupoint a reducing technique without moxibustion is applied to patients with excessive heat pathogens; and a reinforcing technique and moxibustion is applied for patients with excessive cold pathogens. The needle is retained for 15 to 20 minutes and the moxa cone is changed 3-5 times.

3) Foot acupoints: At Dysmenorrhea 1 and 2 (FA-M 2 and 3) acupoints, a reinforcing technique is applied for deficient type of disease and the reducing technique is used for excessive types of disease; the needles are retained for 20 minutes, and gentle moxibustion is applied for 15 to 20 minutes to patients with excessive cold pathogens.
  
External application of drug:
One piece of Bimaye (castor leaf) is pounded to prepare a paste for application over lower abdomen (37) and kidney (22) reflecting areas on foot. The paste is changed once a day.