Dysentery - Li Ji

Definition

An intestinal infectious disease with frequent discharge of mucous and bloody faeces, abdominal pain and rectal tenesmus as main symptoms.

Evils stagnate in the intestines and obstruct Qi and Blood

Divided into Excess, Deficiency, Hot and Cold, and changes can be suddenly and seriously

Acute dysentery: Excess, Hot or Cold Damp. Caused by exogenous evils, pestilence and a Improper Diet.
Chronic dysentery: Deficiency or mixed with Excess
Recurrent dysentery: mistreatments (delaying treatment, using astringents too early): evil not cleared but Genuine Qi is injured - mixture of Excess and Deficiency, and mixture of Hot and Cold.
Deficiency-cold: Cold Damp injures Yang, or protracted dysentery injures the Spleen and even the Kidney.
Yin deficiency dysentery: more heat than dampness. Heat injures yin and fluid.
Anorectic dysentery: dysentery Fire and Toxin attacks the Stomach, or protracted dysentery injures the Stomach Qi.

Symptoms: Red and white pus and blood in faeces. Abdominal pain and tenesmus, burning sensation in anus, dark and scanty urine.
Tongue: Red with yellow and greasy coating
Pulse: Slippery and Rapid
Treatment strategy: Clear heat, remove stagnation, regulate qi and blood
Formula: Shao Yao Tang
Acupoints:

Pestilence

Symptoms: Very frequent defaecation with freshly red or dark red blood and pus. Abdominal pain and tenesmus more severe than damp-heat, sudden onset and deterioration, high fever, thirsty, headache and vexation or even delirium, unconscious, spasm and convulsions.
Tongue: Red and crimson with yellow and dry coating,
Pulse: Slippery and Rapid
Treatment strategy: Clear heat, cool blood, clear toxin and remove stagnation
Formula: Bai Tou Weng Tang
Acupoints:

Symptoms: White and red pus in faeces, more white than red or white only. Abdominal pain and tenesmus, tasteless mouth and food, heavy feeling in body and head and epigastrium distension.
Tongue: Pale with white and greasy
Pulse:
Treatment strategy: Warm the middle, disperse cold, resolve dampness and remove stagnation
Formula: Wei Ling Tang
Acupoints:

Symptoms: Red and white pus and blood in faeces, or thick and sticky blood. Burning pain in abdomen, poor appetite, dry mouth and vexation.
Tongue: Red and crimson with little tongue coating
Pulse: Thready and Rapid
Treatment strategy: Nourish yin and ying, and clear intestine to relieve dysentery
Formula: Zhu Che Wan
Acupoints:

Deficiency Cold

Symptoms: Thin and watery faeces with white mucus or even incontinence. Dull pain in abdomen, lack of shen, poor appetite, cold limbs, dislike cold and lower backache.
Tongue: Pale with thin white tongue coating
Pulse: Deep, Weak and Thready
Treatment strategy: Warm to tonify spleen and kidney, astringing to stop incontinence
Formula: Zheng Ren Yang Zang Tang
Acupoints:

Recurring Dysentery

Symptoms: Protracted dysentery, on and off, with mucus or red colour. Poor appetite, lassitude, dislike cold, sleepiness and abdominal pain before defaecation.
Tongue: Pale with greasy tongue coating
Pulse: Soggy or Empty and Rapid
Treatment strategy: Warm the middle and clear the intestines, regulate and resolve stagnation
Formula: Lian Li Tang
Acupoints: