(Key for symbols used: "+" = Reinforcing; "-" = Reducing; "+/-" = Neutral; "^" = Moxibustion)

Prostatitis is an acute or chronic inflammation of the prostate gland. Acute prostatitis occurs mainly in young people and adults and is clinically marked by frequent, painful, or dripping urination, sudden high fever, chills, and distending or severe pain in the lumbosacral region and perineum. It is usually caused by overindulgence in alcohol, excessive sexual activity or suppression of ejaculation, injury of the perineum, acute urethritis, or the common cold. Chronic prostatitis is marked by increased frequency of urination, burning sensation during urination, turbid terminal urine, and sinking pain in the lumbosacral region, perineum, and scrotum. It may be accompanied by sexual dysfunction including pain during ejaculation or impotence, and neurosis. There is usually a history of acute prostatitis. According to TCM, prostatitis is classified into Lin Zheng or Lin Syndrome (stranguria syndrome), and it is caused primarily by accumulation of damp-heat in the lower Jiao leading to stagnation of qi.

I. STANDARD TREATMENT

Prostatitis is usually divided into two types: down flow of damp-heat and deficiency of kidney qi. Points of the Liver, Kidney, Urinary Bladder and Ren Meridians are selected in its treatment.

1. Down-flow of Damp-heat

Manifestations: Frequent, urgent and painful urination with burning sensation, white or turbid secretion dripping from the urethra following urination or bowel movement, pain in the perineum, testicle, and lumbosacral region.

Tongue: Red body with yellow sticky coating.

Pulse: Soft and rapid.

Treatment Principle: Clear heat and promote diuresis, separate the clear from the turbid and resolve the turbid-dampness.

Point Prescription & Manipulation:

Primary points:

RN-2 Qugu -

SP-9 Yinlingquan /

LR-5 Ligou -

LR-1 Dadun -

ST-28 Shuidao -

BL-33 Zhongliao /

Explanation:

3-4 points are punctured with filiform needles each treatment session. After inserting the needle, rotate, lift and thrust the needles at great amplitude to make the needling sensation of the points on the lower abdomen and lumbosacral region radiate to the external genitalia.

• RN-2 Qugu and BL-33 Zhongliao clear damp-heat in the lower-jiao;

• SP-9 Yinlingquan promotes diuresis and removes dampness;

• LR-1 Dadun and LR-5 Ligou, the Jing-Well and Luo-Connecting points of the Liver Meridian which runs through the lower anterior yin region (the external genitalia region), clear damp-heat from the Liver Meridian and relieve pain;

• ST-28 Shuidao promotes diuresis.

Secondary points according to conditions:

1. Hematuria--- SP-10 Xuehai [-];

2. High fever--- DU-14 Dazhui [-] and LI-11Quchi [-];

3. Repeated attack--- ST-40 Fenglong [-], BL-32 Ciliao [/] and BL-54 Zhibian [/].

2. Deficiency of Kidney Qi

Manifestations: Frequent and urgent urination, turbid terminal urine, soreness of the lumbar region, impotence.

Tongue: Pale body with white coating.

Pulse: Deep and thready.

Treatment Principle: Reinforce the kidney and resolve the turbid-dampness.

Point Prescription & Manipulation:

Primary points:

BL-23 Shenshu + ^

ST-36 Zusanli + ^

RN-3 Zhongji /

RN-4 Guanyuan + ^

DU-4 Mingmen + ^

BL-54 Zhibian + ^

Explanation:

3-4 points are selected and acupuncture and moxibustion are applied in combination. After insertion, lift, thrust and rotate the needle with reinforcing manipulation to induce arrival of qi and make the needling sensation of RN-3 Zhongji and RN-4 Guanyuan radiate to the external genitalia. Then, retain the needles in the points for 20-40 minutes and warm the needles with burning moxa until the local skin becomes flushed.

• ST-36 Zusanli reinforces the middle-jiao and tonifies qi;

• BL-23 Shenshu, RN-4 Guanyuan and DU-4 Mingmen warm yang, tonify qi and consolidate the kidney;

• RN-3 Zhongji and BL-54 Zhibian regulate the urinary bladder for promoting diuresis, and promote flow of qi and blood for relieving local distention and pain.

Secondary points according to conditions:

1. Spontaneous emission--- ST-29 Guilai [+ ^] and RN-2 Qugu [+ ^];

2. Edema--- SP-9 Yinlingquan [+ ^];

3. Lower abdominal pain radiating to testis--- LR-1 Dadun [^] and LR-8 Ququan [-];

4. Kidney yin deficiency manifested by hot sensation in palms and soles, night sweating, nocturnal emission, and burning sensation when urining--- SP-6 Sanyinjiao [+] and KI-3 Taixi [+] are added, and moxibustion and DU-4 Mingmen are deleted.

II. EXPERIENTIAL TREATMENT

1. Puncturing EX-CA-2 Huiyinhou

Indication: Chronic prostatitis.

Point Prescription:

EX-CA-2 Huiyinhou---located on the midpoint of the line connecting the perineum and anus.

Manipulation: Ask the patient to lie on one side. Insert a 3 cun long needle into the point to a depth of 1.5-2 cun, rotate, lift and thrust the needle with small amplitude to induce arrival of qi. Then, retain the needle in the point for 20-30 minutes, and manipulate it every 10 minutes. The treatment is given once daily with 10 treatments as a course. The next course can be given after an interval of 5-10 days.

2. Ear Acupuncture

Indications: Acute or chronic prostatitis.

Ear Point Prescription:

Angle of Superior Concha, Urethra, Kidney, Sanjiao, Liver, Endocrine, Subcortex, Shenmen, Internal Genitalia.

Manipulation: See page 255-256.

Comment:

Zhenjiu provides some beneficial effects in the treatment of prostatitis; However, it is not usually the main method of treatment chosen for this disease. In most cases, herbs may be more effective than Zhenjiu in the treatment of prostatitis.

About the author, GANGLIN YIN

Dr. Yin received his M.D. from Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (HUTCM) in Changsha, China in 1982 and received three years of postgraduate training at the same medical school. From 1985 to 1996, he taught and practiced TCM in HUTCM, and he was promoted as Associate Professor of Acupuncture in 1994. From 1997 to 2000, he taught and practiced TCM at the International College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Victoria, Canada. In June of 2000, Yin practiced and lectured at the Atlantic Institute of Oriental Studies in Florida. Presently, he is the Principal of Oshio College of Oriental Medicine at Victoria, BC. His long and distinguished career in TCM includes teaching students from the Europe, America, Africa, and Asia and treating patients in China, Russia and Canada, as well as publishing several books on acupuncture, moxibustion, Qi-gong and herbology in both Chinese and English.

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