Acupuncture treatment for Pi Zheng (digestive disorders) with 11 patterns in Shang Han Lun

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As defined in Shang Hang Lun or Discussion on Cold Damage, pi (痞) or glomus refers to the condition featured with distention or fullness, pain and other discomfort in the stomach and chest region. There are 11 different patterns in pi disease, which covers the common conditions of digestive system disorders with the characteristic of the spleen and stomach qi dynamic dysregulation i.e. the rebellions stomach qi and sunken spleen qi. According to Shang Han Lun, a patient may present pi-disease when the cold pathogen invades from Taiyang because of the wrong use of purging methods. The presence also correlates to the constitution of qi xu (deficiency) in the middle jiao. If the ascending-descending dynamic is disturbed in pi disease, water or phlegm may retain in the middle jiao and chest. The commonly used points include Gongsun-SP4, Neiguan-PC6, Pishu-BL20, Zusanli-ST36, Yinlingquan-SP9, Zhongwan-RN12, etc. to supplement the middle qi and balance the ascending-descending dynamic of the spleen and stomach. Nowadays, pi disease can be seen in the following conditions: (1) Digestive System Diseases: acute and chronic gastritis, bile reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, indigestion, cholecystitis, etc; (2) Cardiovascular System Diseases: hypertension, myocarditis, arrhythmia, etc; (3) Kidney Diseases: nephropathy and chronic renal failure etc; and (4) Others: pregnant vomiting and Meniere's syndrome etc.