High Fever

A high fever is described as 39 degrees or higher.

Western medicine

– acute infection, epidemic febrile disease, rheumatism, cancer, others.

TCM – Excessive Heat

Etiology (causes) of High Fever

Main etiology and pathogenesis is External Pathogenic invasion with the Zheng Qi fighting back causing fever.

1. Wind-HeaTongue - Lung can’t move Wei Qi properly.

2. Epidemic febrile Heat pathogen – invades Qi or Ying level.

3. Summer-Heat- invades Pericardium

4. Toxic HeaTongue - epidemic contagious pathogen

Chinese Medicine Differentiation and Treatment

Wind-Heat fever, sweat, sore throat, scanty urine, dry stool, T- red, P- rapid

Principle of Treatment – expel Wind-Heat, promote Lung function, relieve superficial.

Acupuncture points – hand taiyin, yangming, Lung 5 (son), 10 ying-spring), Large Intestine 4 (ext patho), 11 (heat), SJ 5 (ext patho), Du 14 (heat)- cough – Lung 7- headache – Du 20, yintang, taiyang- sore throaTongue - Lung 11, Large Intestine

Epidemic febrile Disease - Fever

Wei level: treat same as above

Qi level: internal excess yangming heat, 4 big

Principle of Treatment – clear Heat, purge Fire

Acupuncture points – Large Intestine 2 and Stomach 44 (ying-spring), Large Intestine 11 and Du 14 (Heat), Stomach 40 (Luo, remove Stagnation), Large Intestine 4 (ext patho, heat)  

Ying and Xue level: excess fever at night, bleeding, eruptions.

Principle of Treatment – clear Fire

Acupuncture points - Heart 9 and Pericardium 9 (jing-well heat), Heart 7 and Pericardium 7 (yuan-source clear and calm), Pericardium 6 (Luo to SJ, transforms Qi), Pericardium 3 (he-sea, blood heat, bleed)

Severe: convulsions, very high fever

Acupuncture points - Du 26 and shi xuan (convulsion), SJ 6 and Stomach 25 (constipation), Spleen 10 (eruptions), Bladder 17 (bleeding)Summer-Heatsunstroke, stagnation, burnt muscles or skin, red complexion, thirst, dry lips, attacks of Heart Shen causes loss of consiousness, irritable, attacks of

Pericardium can produce Wind (spasm), if there is dampness nausea, yellow urine and irregular bowel movements can occur, T- red, dry with yellow coat, P- forceful, strong

Principle of Treatment – purge summer-heat, open orifices

Acupuncture points - hand yangming, jueyin, Large Intestine 4 (heat), Pericardium 3, 9, and Bladder 40 (bleeding), Pericardium 6 (nausea)

Toxic Heat severe (i.e. meningitis), excess fever, severe feelings of heat, severe sore throat (ulcerated and painful), irritable, eruptions

Principle of Treatment – clear Heat, detoxify

Acupuncture points - yangming, Large Intestine 4, 11, Stomach 44, and 43 (heat and muscle heat), Pericardium 3 and Bladder 40 (bleeding)

Alternative Treatment Methods for High Fever 

Ear Acupuncture – bleed apex and earlobe tips, shenmen, adrenal gland - for children bleed fingertips or earscraping – cubital and popliteal fossa, neck, Bladder meridian, (this gets blood moving faster to its capillaries to help body expel fever.point  

injection Therapy – Chai Hu