English
In TCM external medicine, treatment is classified into two categories: oral remedies and external applications. The oral remedies are similar to the approaches used in internal medicine, since they are applied according to syndrome differentiation. However, some therapeutic guidelines and herbal usages are unique, particularly in the treatment of wound infections.
For the management of wound infections, western medicine stresses quarantine, sterilization and drainage to cut off the infected source, or kill the pathogens directly by antibiotics. The body’s overall condition is usually not a crucial factor to take into account. TCM doesn’t do this way, physicians will carefully identify the disease stage of the individual and then treat specifically for both the local wound and the overall body. Generally, TCM divides wound infections into three phases: the infected phase, the pus-formed phase and the ulcerated phase. Dispersion, supporting and invigoration are the three therapeutic principles devised for each of the phases respectively.
Dispersion refers to approaches used in newly formed infections, when localized conditions show redness, swelling, heat or pain. Physicians will focus on the elimination of signs and the control of infections.
Supporting refers to approaches used when the lesion begins to change into an abscess. Physicians will focus on invigorating qi and blood, supporting healthy energy as well as promoting pus drainage. This enables the wound to stop further spreading and to start to heal smoothly.
Invigoration refers to approaches used when the site begins to heal or tends to become chronic. Physicians will use invigorating drugs to increase body resistance, promote regeneration of tissues and wound healing.
In order to design a customized treatment, individual constitutions, causative factors, involved meridians, affected location and yin yang categories are usually considered. Practically, the usual internal therapies employed by external medicine are below:
Exterior relieving
Interior purgation
Clearing heat
Warming unblock
Phlegm resolving
Dampness dispelling
Qi activating
Blood harmonizing
Supporting
Invigoration
