Hi there,

Firstly, have loved this site - and now with added blog features is even better. I will definitely add you to my links once my site is up and running….

…But to my case study:
33 yo Male with a very red, inflamed foreskin, no visible discharge, but it is difficult and somewhat uncomfortable to pull back. He says there is occasionally an itchy sensation.

Apparently he is free of STD’s (he had check up 2 years ago and is monogamous).

He does suffer from Spleen weakness generally (Spleen qi xu), and has had chronic back pain since New Years. He is still a bit achy and gets tired so needs to lie flat on his back. That problem was the back muscles around lower sacrolumbar region (not Kidneys, nor spinal - although he does have a history of back complaints). He treated it with two acupuncture sessions, herbs, and massage of thousand flower oil, with application of salonpas patches. His lower abdomen has become more distended - it is not bloated as such, coz its quite flabby - looks like a beer-belly, except he doesn’t drink beer. His diet is very healthy (organics, wholefoods, mainly gluten-free), but the only diference he thought was that his intake of dairy had increased in the last two weeks (drinking glasses of milk, ice cream, cheese…).

There is yellowish coating on the back of his tongue, but not excessive in amount. Rest of the tongue looks normal (for him), but some indication of heat in the Upper Jiao also (red spots on tip of tongue). Teeth marks on side and cracks in middle - but these are always present (his chronic spleen qi issue)

Pulse is quite good. The only thing I could tell was a bit thready, but definitely not wiry.

He’s a little tired, with the back ache and a bit sick of not feeling ‘harmonious’ within himself since he hurt his back New Years Eve (he just got up from a chair and ‘bing!’ he was sore….)

What do people think?
My feeling is Damp-heat in the Lower Jiao. What points could we use to get rid of that inflammation? What herbs? Diet? etc….