I.

Abscess
A. What is Abscess?
i.

Definition The accumulation of pus in a localized region such as

tissue, organs, or other enclosed space due to infection from bacteria,
viruses, parasites, or fungi.

ii.

Etiology Infection or injury may allow organisms, to proliferate

especially when the immune system is depleted. The infection kills
healthy cells, which eventually die and disintegrate. Fluid and infected
cells move into the area pushing tissue aside. White blood cells arrive at
the infection to prevent further infection, while the body surrounds it
with a barrier of tissue to stop growth. The pus located in the abscess is
the result of white blood cells devouring infected cells and then dying.
Infections can spread to internal cavities via the blood stream.
Nutritional supplements and a good diet will improve the immunes
systems efficiency in combating the present abscess, preventing the
spread of infection, and becoming infected in the future.

B.

Abscess Symptomotology Self Test

When you visit your physician for your annual check he puts you on his
examination table and begins to check you over form head to toe. What is
he/she looking for? The doctor is looking for irregularities, body signs and
symptoms that are related to a checklist of possible medical conditions.
If your physician is a Naturopathic or alternative Medical doctor he will
look for early warning signs related to toxicity and nutritional deficiencies.
Naturopathic medicine believes that every disease began as a deficiency. The
naturopathic doctor will not wait for a disease to begin attacking the system.
Rather, he will attack the disease process at its earliest inception the
deficiency stage.
You can learn to identify deficiencies that may lead to disease with a little
practice. You can perform a self-help examination to check yourself out by
simply going through the following checklist.
This self-help exam is not meant to replace a professional diagnosis, but
rather, to help put you in touch with your own body. Let this tool assist you in
listening to your body and its needs, in a medical era where the drugging of
symptoms and dulling of senses is considered the practice of medicine.
The following checklist is designed to put you in touch with your body and
its nutritional needs, helping you achieve a higher state of wellness while
preventing degenerative disease and premature aging.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.

Diffuse pain, warmth, mild tissue induration which gradually becomes

more localized; characteristically fluctuant
A red, painful pustule which may be several centimeters across
A head formed on the surface similar to a pimple; application of heat
may be necessary to draw this out
A centralized core develops
Fatigue
Loss of apetitie

vii.
viii.

C.

Weight loss
Alternating bouts of fever and chills

Associated Abscess Conditions

i.
ii.
iii.

D.

Herpes simplex
Chancre
Symptoms related to affected organ systems and location

Medical Prognosis: Assessment of the location will dictate

treatment. Cutaneous abscesses usually heal themselves without
complicated treatments. Internal abscesses may resemble tumors in shape,
size, and associated symptoms. Further diagnostics may be taken, or a
biopsy may be required to confirm an abscess. Full recovery is expected,
but may complicated by spread of infection or location in a critical organ.
Abscess in critical locations such as abdomen, thorax, or brain cavities
are medical emergencies and require appropriate medical attention
immediately.

E.

Medical Treatment: Abscesses in safe or non-critical areas may be

incised and drained (packed with gauze and drained further if required) or
treated with antimicrobial therapy. Antibiotics may be prescribed to
prevent the spread of infection to other parts of the body.

F.

Comprehensive Treatment Protocol for Abscess

i.

Avoid: Meat, especially pork, alcohol, hot sauces, spicy foods, fried
foods, fatty foods, rich foods, salty foods
Cut Down:
Special Healing Foods:

ii.
iii.

1. Watermelon, cucumber, garlic

2. Foods rich in vitamin A
3. Increase foods that cool the Xue (Blood) and clear Heat
Fresh juices:
4. Carrot
5. Carrot, lettuce, spinach (Walker, p. 127)
6. Carrot, beet, cucumber (Walker, p. 127)
7. Celery
8. Apple
9. Breast abscess: lettuce and dandelion (Ni, p. 39)
10. Breast abscess: parsley (Ni, p. 43)

Bach Flower Emotional Health Remedies:

iv.
1.
2.
3.
4.

Agrimony #301
Chicory #308
Crab Apple #310
Rock rose #326

v.

Type of diet: Try a vegetarian diet high in vegetables and complex

carbohydrates. If on a vegetarian diet, try a fruit and vegetable diet or a
short fast.
Color Therapy:

vi.
1.

Green (is antimicrobial and acts as a disinfectant and antiseptic) on

front of body
2. Indigo (an astringent, antipyic, antiemetic, and hemostatic; is
phagocytogenic; acts as a general sedative) on affected area
3. A few treatments with orange (acts as a decongestant) and yellow
(acts on the lymphatic system as it is a mild tissue stimulant) on
affected area to help abscess drain through the skin where this is
possible
4. Magenta (a cardiotonic) on chest or purple (is antipyretic) if fever is
high
5. Blue (promotes relaxation; lowers high temperatures and reduces
inflamed tissue) on front of body if fever is high
After drainage:
6. Turquoise (tonifies skin; acts as an antipyretic) on front of body,
including affected area
7. Indigo (an astringent, antipyic, antiemetic, and hemostatic) on affected
area
8. (Dinshah, 1985, p. 112)
vii.

Acupuncture:
1. Patterns
After assessing the person and palpating, consider these patterns:
a.
Wind-Heat; Damp-Heat; Toxins in the Xue (Blood); Xue Yu
(Blood Stasis)
Illustrative combinations:
b.
Lu-5 and Lu-9: clear Heat, facilitate Qi to benefit skin, esp.
abscesses (Finkelstein, p. 2)
c.
GV-14, UB-15, UB-16 and UB-17 for furuncle, abscess,
folliculitis (Shanghai, p. 203)
d.
LI-11 and TW-6: clear Heat and treat skin abscesses
(Finkelstein, p. 9)
e.
UB-17, Sp-10 and UB-54/40: clear Heat in the Xue (Blood)
and expel Toxic Damp (Finkelstein, p. 41)
2. Points
Palpate and consider:
a.
GV-16 (-): dispels Wind-Heat; drains Fire; eliminates Yang
Shi (Excess) from upper body; Window of the Sky point; Sea
of Marrow point; Wei (Protective) Qi concentrates at this point
b.
GV-14 (-): dissipates Wind; cools and drains Heat; reduces
fever; stimulates the immune system, increases white blood
cell count, and prevents or slows inflammation; regulates and
stimulates the flow of Qi; regulates the Xue (Blood); clears
Lung Heat; Jiao Hui Intersecting point of the Yang channels
on the Du Mai (Governing Vessel)

c.
d.

e.

f.

g.

h.

i.

j.

k.

l.

m.

n.

GV-12 (-): dissipates Heat and Wind; dispels pathogens and

relieves fever; readjusts Qi of all Yang channels
GV-10 (-): dissipates Heat; diffuses the Lung; detoxifies the
system; frees the channels and invigorates the collateral
vessels
GV-9 (-): treats febrile diseases; regulates the Qi functions;
transforms Damp-Heat; clears Liver Fire and Heat; regulates
the Liver and Gall Bladder
UB-13 (-): clears Wind-Heat from the skin; reduces fever;
regulates the Upper Warmer; clears and disperses Fire and
Heat, esp. Xu (Deficiency) Heat, from the Upper Warmer;
tonifies the Lung and promotes the circulation of the Lung Qi;
harmonizes the Ying and Xue (Blood); Lung Shu Associated
point
UB-15 (-): calms the Heart and the Shen; nourishes Heart
Xue (Blood) and tonifies Heart Yin; cools Heat in the Xue
(Blood); invigorates circulation of the Qi and Xue (Blood) and
tonifies Xu (Deficiency); Heart Shu Associated point
UB-16 (-): calms the Heart and Shen; cools Heat in the Xue
(Blood); invigorates Xue (Blood); disperses Yang Shi (Excess)
in the Du Mai (Governing Vessel); Du Mai (Governing
Vessel) Shu Associated point
UB-17 (- and/or D): regulates Xue (Blood); clears Heat from
the Xue (Blood); can apply seven cones of direct moxa, red
bean size, if NO FEVER; Hui Reunion point of the Xue
(Blood)
UB-18 (=): pacifies the Shen; clears and drains the Liver and
Gall Bladder; cools Damp-Heat; moves Stagnant Qi;
strengthens Xu (Deficiency) conditions; nourishes and
regulates the Xue (Blood); nourishes Liver Yin; cools Heat in
the Xue (Blood); Liver Shu Associated point
UB-19 (=): regulates the Qi and calms the emotions; cools
and drains Heat from the Liver and Gall Bladder; nourishes
Xue (Blood); transforms Damp-Heat; Gall Bladder Shu
Associated point
UB-20 (+): regulates Spleen Qi; tonifies the Spleen and
Stomach to facilitate digestive transportation and
transformation; benefits the Ying (Constructive) Qi; enhances
Spleen Yang to mobilize Stagnant Qi; tonifies and harmonizes
the Xue (Blood); drains Heat Shi (Excess) from the Middle
Warmer; resolves Dampness; Spleen Shu Associated point
UB-25 (-): regulates the Qi of the Fu (Yang organs);
regulates the Intestines and Stomach; transforms Stagnation;
"initiates bowel movement for extruding the impurities"
(Finkelstein, p. 45); resolves Damp-Heat; Large Intestine Shu
Associated point
UB-54/40 (bleed): clears Heat from the Xue (Blood) to cool
fever and treat skin diseases; transforms Damp-Heat; Bladder
He Sea Uniting and Earth point

o.

p.

q.

r.

s.

t.

u.

v.

w.

x.

y.

TW-6 (-): dispels Wind and clears Heat; transforms Phlegm;

facilitates Qi flow and spreads the Qi; disperses obstruction;
relieves pain; Triple Warmer Fire point
LI-11 (-): clears Heat; eliminates Wind; regulates and
harmonizes Qi and Ying; regulates Qi circulation of Lung;
cools and harmonizes the Xue (Blood); improves immune
function (Finkelstein, p. 9); tonifies Metal to cool
inflammatory processes; eliminates Dampness through the
Intestines; Large Intestine He Sea Uniting, Earth and
Tonification point
LI-4 (-): dispels Wind-Heat; reduces fever; pacifies the Shen;
regulates Qi and Xue (Blood); activates Wei (Protective) Qi
and stimulates the immune system; induces or stabilizes
sweating; tonifies Lung Qi; tonifies Metal to cool
inflammatory processes; cools and drains Lung Heat; regulates
Qi and disperses Heat of the Intestines; moves the bowels;
elevates Clear Qi and descends Turbid Qi; clears Toxins;
eliminates Damp-Heat and stops itching; sedates pain; Large
Intestine Yuan Source and Entry point
Lu-5 (-): cools and clears Upper Warmer Heat to benefit the
skin; cools fever (bleed); Lung He Sea Uniting, Water and
Dispersion point
Lu-7 (-): treats Shi (Excess) patterns; circulates the Wei
(Protective) Qi to expel Wind, dispel Cold, and disperse the
Exterior; promotes sweating; Lung Luo Connecting point
Lu-9 (=): moves the Xue (Blood); tonifies Lung Qi and Lung
Yin; cools and clears Heat; clears and descends the Upper
Warmer and Lung Qi; Lung Yuan Source, Earth and
Tonification point; Hui Reunion point of Xue (Blood) vessels
Lu-11 (strong stimulus with triangular needle, then bleed few
drops): clears Toxins and Heat; dispels Wind-Heat; Lung Jing
Well and Wood point
Sp-10 (-): clears Heat; harmonizes and tonifies Ying
(Constructive) Qi; regulates and invigorates the Xue (Blood);
cools Heat, dissipates Wind, and transforms Damp-Heat in the
Xue (Blood); nourishes Xue (Blood) Dryness; regulates the
menses; "Sea of Blood"
GB-34 (-): facilitates and harmonizes the Liver; clears
Dampness and cools Heat; tonifies the Spleen and regulates
the Large Intestine; Gall Bladder He Sea Uniting and Earth
point
Lv-2 (-): calms the Shen and eases the Mind; disperses Qi
and clears Fire of the Heart; disperses Stagnant Liver Qi;
clears and drains Fire of the Liver and Gall Bladder; subdues
Yang Shi (Excess); soothes and loosens the Liver to release
Liver Qi and remove Qi Depression; cools Heat in the Xue
(Blood); Liver Fire and Dispersion point
Lv-1 (++): resolves Damp-Heat, esp. in Lower Warmer;
regulates and tonifies the Liver, esp. Qi and Xue (Blood);
spreads Liver Qi; Liver Jing Well and Wood point

z.

ear: corresponding area, shen men, occiput, adrenal,

dermis/subcortex, lung, testis

viii. Sound therapy:

1. Mendelssohn's Spring Song
2. Meditation from Thais
3. Chopin's Preludes
4. On Wings of Song
5. Andante, Beethoven's Fifth Symphony
6. Adagio, Beethoven's Pathetique Symphony
7. (Heline, p. 18)

Electromagnetic therapy: Abrams: 60, 70, Digitron: 24-77.5

ix.

Aromatherapy:

x.
1.
2.
3.
xi.
xii.

Oil: RC
Alarm Point: Lymphatic Congestion
Oil: White Angelica Alarm Point: Parathyroid
Oil: Abundance
Alarm Point: Esophagus

Special Notes:
Sources:
Balch, James F. M.D. & Balch, Phyllis A. C.N.C. Prescription for
nutritional healing: a practical A to Z reference to drug-free remedies
using vitamins, minerals, herbs & food supplements 2nd Edition.
Garden City Park, New York: Avery Publishing Group 1997
Barnhart, Edward R. Physicians Desk Reference 44th Edition. Oradell,
New Jersey: Medical Economics Company Inc. 1990
Berkow, Robert M.D. The Merck Manual of Medical Information Home
Edition. New York, New York: Simon & Schuster Inc. 1997
Mein, Carolyn L. Releasing Emotional Patterns with Essential Oils. San
Diego, California: Vision Ware Press (1998)
Segala, Melanie. Disease Prevention and Treatment 3rd Edition. 2000