Main Treated Disease Name:Toothache

Song Formula
The toothache comes in waves and is extremely hard to endure. Clearly judging the cause of the disease leads to a high efficacy of acupuncture. Remember to use Erjian, Sanjian, Hegu, Taixi, and Neiting, distinguishing between the root and the sprout (of the treatment).

Introduction of Acupoints
Erjian: Located at the tip of the transverse crease in front of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the index finger of the hand, at the junction of the red and white flesh.
Sanjian: Located in the depression on the inner side behind the metacarpophalangeal joint of the index finger of the hand, about one cun away from Erjian.

Hegu: Located in the depression between the first and second metacarpal bones of the hand.
Taixi: Located five fen behind the medial malleolus of the foot, in the depression of the artery on the calcaneus.
Neiting: Located between the second and third toes of the foot, in the depression at the end of the webbing between the toes.

Analysis of Etiology and Pathology
[Analysis 1]: According to the Golden Mirror, it is noted that teeth are the remainder of bones and belong to the kidney. If the teeth grow for no apparent reason, become loose and move, it indicates a decline of the kidney. The upper teeth belong to the Foot Yangming Meridian and the lower teeth belong to the Hand Yangming Meridian. When toothache occurs, it is mostly pain in the gums. If it is caused by exogenous cold invading the brain, it is often accompanied by headache and toothache together, which is due to cold pathogen. Therefore, the patient prefers hot drinks, and there is no swelling or tooth decay. When it is caused by heat, it is mostly due to stomach fire, pathogenic wind, dampness, and heat. Toothache caused by fire is often accompanied by swelling, and the patient prefers cold drinks. When the pain subsides upon exposure to cold, it is like an enemy relationship. Tooth decay means the teeth ache as if one tooth is completely eroded and then another tooth starts to ache.

Ancient People’s Treatment Experience
Eleven Acupoints for Miscellaneous Diseases: For headwind, headache, and toothache, search for the acupoints of Hegu and Sanjian. For toothache, prick Lüxi (another name for Taixi) with a three-fen needle. For tooth pain, it is still effective to prick the acupoints on the fingers as before.

Sun Peirong’s Clinical Experience
[Experience 1]: Having diagnosed and treated numerous patients with toothache, which varies in different cases. For pain at the root of the tooth, prick the acupoint Taixi. For pain in the gums (that is, pain in the flesh around the tooth root), prick the acupoint Neiting. For pain at the tip of the tooth, prick the acupoint Hegu. For pain in the front teeth, prick the acupoint Erjian. For pain in the middle and back teeth, prick the acupoint Sanjian or Hegu, or prick the Tianying acupoint (a tender point), all of which have miraculous effects.

Medical Cases
[Case 1]: Mr. Sun Junwu, sixty years old, from Penglai, Shandong Province. He lived at Andong Street, Taipei City. He suffered from toothache and often moaned with his head in his hands. Introduced by Mr. Yang, a fellow townsman, he came to seek treatment at around 12 o’clock at night on August 29, 1964 (the fifty-third year of the Republic of China). After acupuncture treatment, he was cured immediately.
[Case 2]: Mr. Gu, fifty-one years old, from Jiangsu Province. He lived at Xinxing Street, Yonghe Town, Taipei County, Taiwan Province. He suffered from toothache, with the right cheek highly swollen and pain in the head and ears. He had hardly eaten for four days. Introduced by Mr. Wu, he came to me for treatment on October 22, 1968 (the fifty-seventh year of the Republic of China). After pricking the acupoint Hegu, the pain stopped immediately and he was cured.