Heatstroke


 * IBIS:**

Definition:
A grave reaction to high temperatures following inadequate response or overload of the heat-regulating mechanism. Also called "sunstroke", "hyperpyrexia", and "thermic fever".

Etiology:
Heatstroke is most commonly seen in elderly patients already afflicted with chronic disease. Other susceptible individuals include patients with diabetes; alcoholics; users of anticholinergic drugs; military recruits during basic training; and patients with diseases of the skin causing impaired sweating, such as scleroderma. The mechanism of heatstroke is not well understood.

Nutrition:
eating principles: • water fast or alkaline fast for 24 hours

therapeutic foods: • foods that are Cooling, Cold and clear Heat, and replace fluids

fresh juices: • watermelon (Butt and Bloomfield, p. 155)

specific remedies: • to clear Heat: juice some garlic and apply a few drops of the juice just inside the nostrils. This will hurt, but will clear heatstroke of sunstroke (Butt and Bloomfield, p. 155) • to clear Heat and replace fluids: juice 3 oz. french beans and mix with warm water. Drink twice daily (Butt and Bloomfield, p. 155) • blend and drink 5 oz. fresh pineapple, twice daily (Butt and Bloomfield, p. 155) • take equal quantities of lotus root, mung beans, winter melon, and kelp, add water and boil into a soup. Add salt to taste and serve (Chao-liang, Qing-rong, Bao-zhen, p. 74) • boil 4 oz. mung beans in l pt. water until reduced by half. Eat and drink. (Butt and Bloomfield, p. 155) • crack open a fresh coconut and drink the juice twice daily (Yin-fang and Cheng-jun, p. 86)

Chinese Formulae
• Astragalus and Atractylodes C. (Qing Shu Yi Qi Tang): Qi Xu (Deficiency) with Summer-Heat: fever, headache, thirst, spontaneous sweating, desire to curl up, loss of appetite, loose stools (Hsu, 1980, p. 218; Yeung, p. 175; Bensky and Barolet, p. 107) • Sheng Mai San: Qi Xu (Deficiency) with Yin Xu (Deficiency): spontaneous sweating, dry mouth and tongue. (Yeung, p. 207; Bensky and Barolet, p. 245) • Zi Jin Ding (patent): Summer-Heat (Naeser, p. 193)

Acupuncture
after assessing the person and palpating, consider these patterns: Summer-Heat; Qi Xu (Deficiency) with Summer-Heat; Qi Xu (Deficiency) with Yin Xu (Deficiency)

» illustrative combinations: • GV-14 (needle first), then LI-11, LI-4, St-43 and Lv-3 (can also add: CV-12, PC-6, Sp-4 and St-36) for superficial condition of heat exhaustion or sunstroke (Shanghai, p. 568) • GV-26, CV-12, CV-6, LI-11, LI-4, PC-9, St-44 and St-36 for heat exhaustion or sunstroke (Shanghai, p. 570) • GV-14, LI-11, LI-4, St-43, Lv-3; also consider St-36, PC-6, CV-12, Sp-4 for mild heatstroke (Lee and Cheung, p. 218) • GV-26 (prick), shi xuan and 12 Jing Well points (Lu-11, PC-9, Ht-9, Sp-1, Lv-1, Kd-1, LI-1, SI-1, St-45, GB-44, UB-67), PC-3, UB-54/40 (bleed by pricking every one); also consider GV-20, PC-8, Kd-1, PC-6, yi ming, St-36, SI-3, GB-34, UB-57, UB-56, jin jin and yu ye, CV-6, CV-8, Lu-9 and Kd-7 for severe heatstroke (Lee and Cheung, p. 218) • LI-4, Lv-3, GV-14, GB-20, St-36 (Lee and Cheung, p. 220) • Shi xuan (bleed by pricking), GV-20, GV-26, Kd-1. If spasm of upper extremity present, add LI-4, and LI-11; if spasm of the lower extremities, add UB-54/40 and UB-57; if fever present, add GV-14 and LI-11 for heatstroke (Lee and Cheung, p. 220) • GV-26, CV-12, CV-6, LI-11, LI-4, PC-9, ST-36 and St-44 for heatstroke (Lee and Cheung, p. 220) • CV-9, bai lao, GV-14, PC-7 and UB-54/40 for heatstroke (Lee and Cheung, p. 220) • Lu-5, GV-24 and LI-11 (bleed): reduce Summer-Heat; open Orifices (Finkelstein, p. 2)

Homeopathy
• Aconitum napellus: patient dull, stupid, < sitting up, anxiety and fear of death; burning dry skin; increased thirst • Amylenum nitrosum: congestive stage of sunstroke; longing for fresh air • Belladonna: headache with face flushed, hot, drowsiness, loss of consciousness; perspiration on covered parts; first stage of sunstroke; angry and fearful; < stooping, moving, emotion • Gelsemium: giddiness on trying to move, band-like pain, pain in occiput depressed from the heat and not the immediate effects of sun; vertigo; dilated pupils; dim sight; no thirst; no appetite • Glonoinum: severe headache with pale face, fixed eyes, white tongue, full round pulse, labored respiration, cerebral vomiting and sinking at the pit of the stomach; high temperature; loss of consciousness after vertigo; nausea; headache; great prostration • Lachesis: dizzy and faint; chronic sequelae; talkative delirium; headache over eyes and occiput • Natrum carbonicum: sequelae of sun heat; inability to think; stupefied • Natrum muriaticum: chronic effects with headache returning in hot weather; debility in the sun; dizziness and fainting • Opium: coma with unconsciousness; eyes glassy and half closed; tetanic rigidity; sight obstructed • Silicea: heat causes nausea and gastric ailments; feels intoxicated; brain feels shaken when stepping firmly • Theridion curassavicum: first and second degree sunstroke; headache with nausea and vomiting

Subtle Support
• notes: A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F#, G, G#

• chords: dominant 7th, diminished 7th, A Major, A# Major, C Major, G Major, G# Major (Gimbel, p. 116)

cardiovascular: • The Barcarole • The Blue Danube • Chopin's A minor Waltz • Tango music • Humoresque • Cui's Orientale • Song of India • Donna e Mobile • Oley Speak's Sylvia (Heline, p. 18)

Mind/Body
Chinese psychophysiology: • Pericardium ~ Xin Bao is the Minister who protects the Heart, the Emperor, and maintains the order of the Heart energy; and as such may be adversely affected by emotional stresses internally or invasion of Heat externally. The Pericardium is said to be the origin of joy and sadness. » Healthy expressions are joy, happiness, and healthy relationships. » Weakness, dysfunction, and illness are associated with confusion, delirium, nervousness, and psychosis.

• San Jiao ~ Triple Warmer regulates the relations among the three regions roughly delimited by the chest, abdomen, and pelvis; influences the supply of Xue (Blood), Qi and Fluids; is the source of Wei (Protective) Qi; and relates to the function of heat regulation.