Meibomian cyst is one of the common eye diseases in ophthalmology. Traditional Chinese medicine has various names for this disease, such as zhen yan, yan dan, tou zhen, tu gan, and shi re sheng chuang. The affected area is usually on the upper and lower eyelids, with most cases occurring on the outer surface of the eyelids and a few on the inner surface, commonly known as "li tou zhen". The author has clinically verified the efficacy of this method and achieved a complete cure. The following is a description:
Operational method:
1. Acupoint selection: Hou Xi acupoint. Make a fist with the palm facing up, and locate the acupoint at the depression between the red and white flesh at the ulnar side of the 5th metacarpophalangeal joint.
2. Moxibustion method: Use moxa wool to form a moxa cone the size of a meibomian cyst. Apply moxibustion on the left side and then the right side, or vice versa. Directly apply moxibustion on the acupoint until the moxa cone burns to ashes, then add one or two more cones, and continue moxibustion until three cones are burned.
3. Treatment effect: After applying moxibustion according to the above method, if the meibomian cyst has not yet formed pus, it will spontaneously shrink and will not develop into a pus-filled cyst. If the meibomian cyst has already formed pus, it will start to break and drain on the third day after moxibustion, and the pus will be completely discharged three days later without leaving any scars. In general, one moxibustion treatment is sufficient for patients to recover; for those who have recurrent episodes, two moxibustion treatments can achieve a complete cure.
"Hou Xi acupoint" is one of the points where the Hand Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian is stimulated. The Ling Shu chapter of the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon says, "The Small Intestine Meridian of the Hand Taiyang starts from the tip of the little finger, runs along the outer side of the hand, up to the wrist, and exits at the ankle." The area around the eyelids is not only where the Hand Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian passes through, but also the convergence point of the fourteen meridians, especially closely related to the Yangming Meridian. The selection of Hou Xi acupoint is based on the principle of "matching the meridians and treating the main symptoms". Moxibustion with moxa wool is chosen because moxa wool has the effect of warming the meridians, dispelling cold, promoting blood circulation, dispelling wind, eliminating dampness, and relieving pain. Therefore, it is particularly suitable for patients with recurrent episodes, who often have residual pathogenic factors, weak constitution, poor defense against external pathogens, and are prone to wind and toxin invasion.
