Article 160: Treatment of Lymphogranuloma Venereum, Traditional Chinese Medicine Differentiation, and Daily Precautions

◇A Guide to Caring for Your Husband's Health as a Good Wife◇

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Treatment and recuperation of common diseases

How does Western medicine treat this?

Early treatment of lymphogranuloma venereum is crucial. In early stages, systemic symptoms may disappear rapidly after medication, but healing of local lymph node swelling is limited. Treatment becomes difficult in later stages with serious complications, often requiring surgery. Treatment methods include systemic and local therapies.

1. Systemic treatment: Primarily involves timely administration of antibiotics. Commonly used drugs include: tetracycline 0.5g, every 6 hours, for 3-4 weeks; sulfathiazole, initial dose 4.0g, followed by 1.0g every 6 hours for 3 weeks; erythromycin for pregnant women and children, 0.5g for adults, every 6 hours for 20 days. For advanced stages, a combination of sulfonamides or antibiotics with corticosteroids (prednisone) can be used to relieve lower abdominal pain, reduce rectal secretions, and alleviate fibrosis.

2. Local treatment: Potassium permanganate solution can be used to clean the vulva. For those without suppuration, 10% ichthammol ointment or erythromycin or sulfonamide ointment can be applied.

3. For softened lymph nodes with fluctuation (abscess formation), aspiration of pus can be performed above the lesion, and sulfonamide solution can be injected into the abscess cavity. Incision should never be performed, as it is difficult to heal.

4. For those with late-stage vaginal or rectal stenosis, regular dilation procedures are necessary. Severe rectal stenosis requires rectal resection. Foreskin and scrotal elephantiasis may also be surgically removed.

5. Local lesions can also be treated with physical therapies such as ultrasound, ultraviolet light, infrared light, and X-rays.

How does Traditional Chinese Medicine differentiate syndromes and treat diseases?

1. Lower Jiao Damp-Heat Type: Symptoms include papules, papulovesicles, vesicles, or ulcers and erosions on the external genitalia, distending pain in the scrotum, difficulty urinating, or accompanied by fatigue, loss of appetite, pale red tongue, yellow and greasy coating, and slippery and rapid pulse.

Treatment principle: Clear heat, detoxify, and promote diuresis.

Prescription: Dioscorea hypoglauca 12g, Phellodendron chinense 10g, Acorus tatarinowii 10g, Polyporus umbellatus 10g, Plantago asiatica (wrapped) 15g, Nelumbo nucifera seed heart 6g, Salvia miltiorrhiza 15g, Stemona japonica 10g, Isatis indigotica 10g, Isatis tinctoria root 15g, Sophora flavescens 10g, Prunella vulgaris 15g, Smilax glabra 30g, Achyranthes bidentata 10g, Glycyrrhiza uralensis 6g.

2. Heat-toxin accumulation type: Symptoms include swollen inguinal lymph nodes, which adhere together in lumps, with purplish-red skin, pain, and even suppuration and ulceration, accompanied by fever, thirst and dry throat, red tongue, yellow coating, and wiry and rapid pulse.

Treatment principle: Clear heat and detoxify, promote pus drainage.

Prescription: Honeysuckle 30g, Viola yedoensis 15g, Taraxacum mongolicum 15g, Chrysanthemum indicum 15g, Astragalus membranaceus 20g, Angelica sinensis 10g, Ligusticum chuanxiong 10g, Pangolin scales 10g, Gleditsia sinensis thorns 10g, Trichosanthes kirilowii 15g, Fritillaria thunbergii 10g, Rheum palmatum 10g, Glycyrrhiza uralensis 6g.

3. Qi and Blood Deficiency Type: Symptoms include ulceration with clear and thin pus, dark wound, fistula formation, slow healing, and prolonged illness. Accompanied by pale complexion, shortness of breath, reluctance to speak, pale tongue, thin white coating, and weak pulse.

Treatment principle: Replenish qi and blood, strengthen the body's resistance and eliminate toxins.

Prescription: Ginseng 6g, Ligusticum chuanxiong 10g, Angelica sinensis 15g, Paeonia lactiflora 10g, Atractylodes macrocephala 10g, Smilax glabra 30g, Lonicera japonica 15g, Poria cocos 15g, Angelica dahurica 12g, Gleditsia sinensis thorns 12g, Viola yedoensis 15g, Platycodon grandiflorus 10g, Astragalus membranaceus 20g, Glycyrrhiza uralensis 6g.

Traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions for treating lymphogranuloma venereum

1. Take 60 grams of arborvitae leaves, 60 grams of rhubarb, 30 grams of phellodendron bark, 30 grams of peppermint, and 30 grams of eupatorium. Grind them into a fine powder, mix with green tea water, and apply to the affected area 1-2 times daily.

2. 30g each of Isatis root, Isatis leaf, Senecio scandens, and Viola yedoensis. One dose daily, decocted in water. After cooling to a warm temperature, use the decoction to wash the affected area 2-3 times daily for 15-20 minutes each time.

3. Purslane 60g, dandelion 30g, honeysuckle 30g, peony bark 15g. One dose per day, decocted in water, cooled to a warm temperature, used to wash the affected area 2-3 times daily, 15-20 minutes each time.

4. Coptis chinensis 9g, Phellodendron chinense 9g, Curcuma longa 9g, Angelica sinensis 15g, Rehmannia glutinosa 30g, sesame oil 360ml, beeswax 1230g. Soak the first 5 herbs in sesame oil for 1 day, then simmer until the herbs are dry. Add beeswax and simmer over low heat to form a paste. Apply to the affected area once daily. For cases requiring incision and drainage, use gauze strips soaked in Coptis chinensis paste for drainage.

5. Boil 5000g of fresh willow leaves in water for 2 hours, remove the dregs, and continue to decoct the filtrate until it becomes a paste. Grind 30g of red lead, 6g of borneol, 10g of realgar, 10g of calcined dragon bone, 10g of catechu, 3g of pearl, 6g of calomel, 10g of rosin, and 10g of calamine into a fine powder. Mix the powder with the willow leaf paste and store in a bottle for later use. Apply externally to the affected area twice daily for ulcers that are slow to heal.

6. 18 grams of raw rhubarb, 9 grams of whole scorpion (head and feet removed, stir-fried to remove toxins), and 9 grams of pangolin scales. Decocted in water and taken orally, one dose per day.

7. Take 9 grams each of stir-fried white silkworm, angelica root, raw rhubarb, licorice root, and pangolin scales. Grind them into a fine powder. Take 9-12 grams with warm wine on an empty stomach, 2-3 times daily.

8. Sophora japonica flower 30g, honeysuckle flower 15g, Saposhnikovia divaricata 9g, roasted pangolin scales 9g, forsythia suspensa 9g, silkworm pupa 9g, Schizonepeta tenuifolia 9g, frankincense 3g, myrrh 3g, licorice root 3g. Decoct in water and take one dose daily.

9. Purslane 45g, Isatis root 30g, Angelica dahurica 10g, Equisetum hyemale 15g, Asarum sieboldii 12g, Peach kernel 10g, Vespa nidus 10g, Licorice root 10g. Decocted in water, the liquid is used to fumigate and wash the affected area 1-2 times daily for 15-20 minutes each time, for 10-15 consecutive times.

Care and prevention of lymphogranuloma venereum

1. Early diagnosis, early treatment, and complete cure.

2. Pay attention to hygiene, wash frequently, and change underwear often to prevent cross-infection.

3. Pay attention to dietary adjustments, eat less fatty, sweet, and rich foods, and avoid spicy and stimulating foods.

4. The sexual partner should also take medication and receive preventative treatment at the same time, and should avoid sexual intercourse until cured.

How to prevent

1. Regulate sexual behavior: Lymphogranuloma venereum is mainly transmitted through sexual intercourse. Although the incidence rate in my country is not high, there is still a possibility of infection if promiscuity is not eliminated.

2. Prevent contact transmission: Avoid bathing in public bathhouses, try to avoid using public toilet seats, do not borrow other people's underwear or swimwear, and wash your hands before and after using the toilet. These are all things to pay attention to in daily life. Wash your genitals daily, wash your underwear separately, and do not share towels or basins with others.

3. Sexual intercourse should be avoided during the illness and treatment period of the spouse.