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This article explores the meaning of 脈象 màixiàng (translated here as 'pulse image') in order to provide readers with a deeper understanding of the traditional approach to clinical pulse diagnosis in Chinese medicine.

Henoch-Schönlein purpura, also known as IgA vasculitis, is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder of the blood vessels. It normally occurs in younger children but in adults it can present with complications such as kidney damage or bowel obstruction. This is a single-case report of a 56-year-old female diagnosed with Henoch-Schönlein purpura, presenting with purpura, polyarthralgia, digestive tract symptoms and nephritis. The patient was treated with 12 acupuncture sessions according to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) principles and Chinese herbal medicine employing the Hu Xi-Shu (HXS) jingfang lineage, over a 10-week period. Rapid relief occurred early in the treatment process, with steady and complete recovery from all symptoms within 10 weeks. Some scarring remained in patches where the skin infection had become necrotic. This case demonstrates successful treatment of a complex and critical health condition using a combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. The jingfang approach offers valuable interpretations of traditional formulas and useful insight into addressing the complexities of modern disease.

The concept of yin fire (阴火, yin huo) goes back to the physician Li Dong-Yuan (李東垣, 1180-1251 CE). This article contrasts modern understandings of yin fire, which are focused on the treatment of people with complex complaints such as autoimmune diseases or chronic fatigue syndrome, with a historicallyinformed understanding according to which Li created the theory of yin fire based on his experience of an epidemic during the Jin-Yuan dynasty. The concept of yin fire is examined closely according to this historical context.

At University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (UK), patients with xerostomia
after head and neck radiotherapy for whom local measures have not been
successful are referred to the acupuncture clinic. This has been offered for the
last ten years and preliminary data has shown that it can provide symptomatic
relief to patients. This article documents a service evaluation of 45 patients
who attended the acupuncture clinic from August 2020 to August 2021.
Treatment was carried out at three points in each ear as well as a point on the
distal radial aspect of each index finger. Each session lasted for 30 minutes
and sessions were carried out weekly for four weeks. Patients filled out a
modified 10-item Likert scale to measure their response at the initial and fourth
visit. Median improvement in dryness ratings was two points (of a range of
zero to five). A response occurred in 37 patients (82 per cent) and 28 patients
(62 per cent) received an improvement of two points or greater on the Likert
Scale. No adverse reactions to treatment were documented. The authors
therefore conclude that acupuncture shows promise in the management of
xerostomia in patients.

This article is an annotated translation of the medicinal congee section from the text Lǎolao Héngyán (Advice for the Elderly), written by Cao Tingdong, and published in 1773 CE. The author rated the health-giving properties of congee very highly, calling it the ‘food of the immortals’.

Fever of unknown origin (FUO) can be caused by many factors and usually presents as a high fever without a clear diagnosis. Although some treatments may relieve symptoms, they do not stabilise the condition and relapses are commonly reported. In this case, a 20-year-old male complained of recurring high fever (around 39-40 degrees Celsius) without reason for over two years. He had been hospitalised many times without a clear diagnosis. Applying fang zheng 方证 differentiation, the patient was prescribed Chai Ling Tang (Bupleurum and Poria Decoction) combined with Wai Tai Fu Ling Yin (Poria Decoction) as well as Ban Xia Hou Po Tang (Pinellia and Magnolia Bark Decoction). After three months of medication, the patient’s temperature stabilised, his body weight slowly increased and his other symptoms also improved.

Part 2 of this article series continues with an investigation of point prescriptions from the history of Chinese medicine in which Chǐzé 尺澤 LU-5 was combined with other points to treat a variety of diseases.