[Professor ZHENG Liang's experience in triple-stage regimen for herpes zoster with herbal thread moxibustion of Zhuang medicine].

The clinical experience of professor ZHENG Liang is introduced in treatment of herpes zoster and post-neuralgia with herbal thread moxibustion of Zhuang medicine combined with acupuncture. Professor ZHENG divides the pathological process of herpes zoster into pre-herpes stage, herpes stage and post-herpes stage. At pre-herpes stage, in pathogenesis of Zhuang medicine, the deficiency of antipathogenic qi, invasion of pathogens, retarded qi and blood circulation in dragon and fire pathways are involved. Clearing heat, detoxification, promoting circulation in the pathways and dispersing qi and blood are considered in treatment. The herbal thread moxibustion is provided at "Changzi point" and "Meihua point" and seize "the head and tail of snake", and 3 needles are used at each of ends of skin leison. At herpes stage, toxin stagnation in dragon and fire pathways, stagnation on skin and muscle, qi and blood disturbance and dysfunction of three kinds of qi are considered in pathogenesis. The treatment focuses on removing pathogens and toxin, assisted with regulating qi and blood circulation, removing herpeses and promoting wound healing. The herbal thread moxibustion is used at "Changzi point", "Kuihua point" and the two ends of skin lesion. The local row-like puncture is provided at skin lesion according to the intercostals nerve distribution. At post-herpes stage, the retention of pathogens and stagnation of blood in dragon and fire pathways are considered in pathogenesis. The treatment focuses on activating blood circulation, removing stasis and eliminating the pathogen residuals. "Changzi point", "Meihua point" and the two ends of skin lesion are selected in herbal thread moxibustion, or sweeping and dragging techniques of acupuncture are adopted. The timely application of herbal thread moxibustion controls the development of herpes zoster and prevents from post-neuralgia.