1. Allergies
Woman, age 48,
Allergies for the past two years since moving to Arizona, and then Santa Fe, NM.
headaches, the patient attributed to the allergies.
Pulse: thin, floating. Lung pulse floating, Spleen and Kidney pulse weak.
Tongue: normal color, thin white coat, scalloped.
Diagnosis: Wind invasion with underlying Spleen and Kidney deficiency.
Treatment: Planetary Herb Treasures "Allergies - Lung & Liver Compound"
Cang Er Zi San plus Chai Hu, Huang Qin, Bai Zhu, Fang Feng, Wu Wei Zi, Gan Cao.
Acupuncture: Yintang, Bitong, LI4, Lu 7, Sp6, Kid 3, SJ 5.
Result: Allergies all gone. No runny nose, sneezing, congestion, headaches.
2. Angina and coronary artery disease
Woman, age 47,
Pain that travels along the medial aspect of the left arm to the pinky finger, heart palpitations, heavy sensation in the chest, shortness of breath, cold hands and feet, leg cramps every night in bed.
Pulse: thin, weak, irregular, knotted, "pulse feels fatty or spongy-like", pedialis pulse imperceptible.
Tongue: Purple, thin white coat.
Diagnosis: Phlegm-Blood stasis blocking heart orifice
Patient had seen two different MD's at two separate occasions and how they stated to her that nothing was wrong. I asked if they had given her nitroglycerin pills and she said no. I asked her how her cholesterol and blood pressure were, and she stated that they told her borderline normal for both. I checked her blood pressure myself and it was 155/110.
*I would not have treated this patient if it were not for the fact that she had already seen two different MD's
already and having been diagnosed as not having anything wrong on both occasions. >From an MD's perspective, they should have done an angiogram to see that she was experiencing coronary problems and angina to say the least. Why it wasn't done is besides the point. I do not recommend an acupuncturist to treat this kind of patient without being duly knowledgeable with the use of herbs. The only reason that I treated this patient, especially as severe as the condition was, is because she did not receive proper treatment as she should have, and for me to refer her to the emergency room for them to say that there is nothing wrong would be doing a disservice to the patient. If she was experiencing the pain, shortness of breath, and heavy sensation in the chest
at the very time that she was speaking to me, I would have surely sent her to the emergency room.
Treatment: Guan Xin Er Hao Feng (Coronary Heart Formula # 2) Main herbs: Mao Dong Qing, Dan Shen, Hong Hua, Chuan Xiong, Jiang Xiang, plus San Qi, Gua Lou Pi., plus Planetary Herb Treasures "Hawthorn - Salvia Compound"
Acupuncture: Ht6, Ht3, Liv3, St42, Sp6, Ren 14 & 17.
Result: After the acupuncture treatment, the patient remarked at how she seemed to be able to breathe easier. I felt her pulse and it was stronger than before. I could now feel the pedialis pulse on her foot.
2nd visit: The patient remarked at how the second day of taking the herbs, her lower part of her body had warmed up and that her feet were not cold like before. It was as if the blood was circulating now versus before. She also stated that the angina attacks were much less frequent and less severe. She stated that before her first visit that the pain was at an "8" on a pain scale of 1-10(1 being very mild, 10 being very severe) when she did have the episodes of pain and it would last an hour. Now when she does get the pain it is a " 5" and it only lasts 15minutes. She stated that she no longer gets the leg cramps either.
Her blood pressure is now 136/ 92. Her pulse wasn't as knotted as before. The "fatty" feeling had diminished significantly and was stronger. Her tongue was a pink color now, with a thin white coat. The same herbs were prescribed as before plus Planetary Herb Treasures " Ginko Compound"
3rd visit: The patient reported that the pain is at a "3-4" at the most and it only lasts for 5 minutes. The frequency of attacks had diminished by 75%. She reported that the Ginko Compound had seemed to improve her memory and she was able to focus and concentrate easier. Her blood pressure was 132/ 87. Her pulse stronger and was regular now. Her tongue was pink with a thin white coat now. Chelation therapy was prescribed along with the herbs and acupuncture.
4th visit: The patient reported that the pain is completely gone. No shortness of breath, cold hands or feet,
heart palpitations, heavy sensation in chest. All symptoms gone. Her blood pressure 118/79. Her pulse was regular and moderate in strength and was felt in all positions easily. Her tongue is pink with a thin white coat.
No follow-up treatment was scheduled. Patient was advised to continue with herbs though .
3. Menopause hot flashes & insomnia
Woman, age 56,
Patient experienced severe hot flashes, sometimes up to 50 times a day or so. She found it difficult to focus and her memory had diminished greatly. She also has been a light sleeper all her life, sleeping around six hours a night. After she started experiencing the hot flashes though, she experienced more difficulty sleeping and was only able to sleep about two hours a night. She received previous treatments of acupuncture and herbal prescriptions from others with no improvement with the hot flashes or the sleeping.
Pulse: thin, weak, especially the Kidney and the Heart positions.
Tongue: red, thin, yellow coat in the root.
Diagnosis: Kidney & Heart Yin deficiency.
Treatment: Er Xian Tang Plus Compound prescribed. Calm Shen prescribed for the sleeping.
Result: Two days after starting on the Er Xian Tang Plus Compound, the patient noticed that the hot flashes were not as severe, nor as frequent. After one week of taking the prescription, her hot flashes were completely gone. Her sleep had improved as well, as she was able to sleep six hours a night now.
4. Insomnia, stress, and numbness of arms
Woman, age 49,
Patient experienced numbness of arms, described as poor circulation. She also had a noticeable shaking of her head that she could not stop that she attributed to stress. She stated that she had difficulty breathing at times and experienced tightness in her chest. She also stated that she had difficulty sleeping as well and that she would wake in the night.
Pulse: thin, weak, knotted, "fatty".
Tongue: purple, thin white coat.
Treatment: Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang plus Calm Shen Formula, Chamomile and Valerian.
Acupuncture: Liv3, LI4, GB20, Ren 6 & 17, Ht7, Sp9 plus Tui Na Massage treatment on back.
Result: After the treatment, the patient reported that she was much relaxed. The shaking was less.
2nd visit: The patient's shaking was completely gone. She stated that this is the best that she has slept in a long time. The numbness in her arms and the tightness in her chest was completely gone as well.
Pulse: thin, moderate. "fatty" feeling diminished.
Tongue: pink, thin white coat.
5. Thyroid Low (Hypothyroid)
Man, age 52,
Patient was diagnosed with hypothyroid. The test showed elevated TSH. T4 - although in the normal range was slightly elevated. Patient complained of fatigue overall, difficulty getting up out of bed, allergies, sinus congestion, depression, some feelings of coldness and being stressed easily which could trigger an anxiety attack. Anxiety was something that he experienced when he was growing up. He had allergies when he was little and was prescribed medications with psuedoephedrine. He didn't realize till I mentioned to him that it was those types of medications that caused his anxiety. He then stated that he didn't think of that but it made sense. He then started putting the pieces together as I mentioned also, that was why they gave the medications for the anxiety which ended up "depressing" his Liver in Chinese medicine.
His MD wanted to prescribe Synthroid immediately after seeing the test result. His doctor also explained that he would have to be on it for the rest of his life. He chose instead to do acupuncture and herb treatment.
Pulse: slow, moderate overall, weak in the Liver and Spleen positions, slightly so in the Kidney Yang position.
Tongue: Pale, swollen
Blood pressure: The patient stated that he had low blood pressure of 110/70.
Treatment: Ren Shen, Fu Zi, Gan Cao, Bai Zhu, Fu Ling, Huang Qi, Dang Gui, Kun Bu. Xiao Yao San Plus Compound.
Acupuncture: Liv3, Liv8, Kid 7, Sp 9, Ren 6 & 17, LI4, ST 9.
Result: After the treatment the patient reported as being relaxed. His blood pressure was 135/95 after the treatment which corresponds to clinical experience which shows that if the blood pressure is high at the beginning, after the acupuncture treatment it will be lower and vice-versa if it is low in the beginning, it will tend to raise after the acupuncture session.
2nd visit: The patient reported having much more energy than before. He did not feel tired or fatigued as before. He stated that he did not struggle to get out of bed as before, and that it had become much easier for him to get up and moving around. The patient also stated that he was not depressed as before. His allergies seemed to be better he remarked as well.
Pulse: His pulse this time around was stronger overall than before. His Liver pulse had come up to normal which corresponds to the patient stating that he was not depressed anymore, as his Liv3 was not tender as before during the first treatment. The Kidney and Spleen pulse was much stronger than before. His blood pressure after the treatment was 125/85.
Tongue: was more pink this time than before, although still a little on the pale side.
Follow-up: a thyroid test was scheduled to confirm that his thyroid was functioning in the normal range.
6. Diabetes, Hepatitis C, and Menopause Hot flashes
Woman, age 48,
Patient stated that she had contracted hepatitis C through exposure at her job which would be classified as an occupational hazard coming in contact with human blood and needles. She stated that she probably had it for a number of years without realizing it, until one day she decided to get tested for it being in the type of work environment as a nurse. She tested positive for Hep C. Her liver enzymes were elevated. She then did interferon treatment after which she developed type II diabetes. The time frame of all this is approximately 6 years.
The patient had come to see me for treatment of hypochondriac pain, nausea, and low back pain, the pain of which radiated to the back of her legs similar to a sciatica type of pain. She had lack of appetite, experienced sweating at times which she felt was due to menopause hot flashes. She previously had taken HRT to treat the hot flashes but stopped to see if there were other alternatives available for treatment. She had a fever of 103 degrees and was experiencing clay-colored stools since the appendectomy she recently had. She told her doctor that she thought that it might be related to the hepatitis C. Her doctor had denied as that having anything to do with it. Her blood sugar was not able to be stabilized even with 50 units of insulin daily after the surgery.
Pulse: rapid, rolling overall, forceful in the Liver/GB position
Tongue: Purplish overall, red on the sides, thin white coat.
Diagnosis: Damp-Heat toxin in the Liver/Gallbladder with Damp-Spleen and underlying Kidney deficiency.
Treatment: Bupluerum - Dandelion Compound, Long Dan Xie Gan Tang Plus Compound, Xiao Ke Formula (Diabetes).
Acupuncture: Liv 2, 8, & 14, GB34 & 40, Sp 9, Kid 6, PC 6, LI4.
Result: After the treatment the nausea and pain had diminished.
2nd visit: The patient reported that the nausea had come back 5 days after the first treatment. The hypochondriac pain had come back but not as bad. Her stools normalized in color and were formed. No more clay-colored stools. Acupuncture was performed again utilizing the same points. After the treatment the nausea and the hypochondriac pain had diminished again.
3rd visit: The patient had reported that the nausea and hypochondriac pain were gone and haven't come back. I then asked her about the blood sugar level. She reported that within 24 hours after she had started taking the herbs, that her blood sugar stabilized to normal levels. I asked her what her blood sugar was before while she was taking the 50 units of insulin and she said in the 400 range. I asked her how much insulin she was taking now and she said 5 units if that, on occasion.
Herbs prescribed: Planetary Herb Treasures "Jin Qian Cao - Yin Chen Hao Compound" , Xiao Ke Formula,
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang Plus Compound.
4th visit: Her blood sugar was stable under 120. Her nausea and hypochondriac pain was completely gone.
With that gone, she wanted to work on the hot flashes that she was having.
Pulse: rapid, less rolling than before, moderate overall including the Liver/GB positions, deep in the Kidney position.
Tongue: red, thin body, scanty coat.
Diagnosis: Flaring - up of false fire due to Kidney Yin and Yang deficiency.
Acupuncture: Kid 3, Sp6 & 9, Ht 7, Liv 3, LI4,
Herbs: Planetary Herb Treasures "Er Xian Tang Plus Compound", plus Qing Hao, Yin Chen Hao, Zhi Zi, Di Gu Pi, Sheng Di Huang, Mu Dan Pi, Chi Shao Yao.
Result: The patient reported that the hot flashes were gone after 1 week.
5th visit: The patient reported that her blood sugar level was still stable while taking the herbs and that she would take anywhere from 5-10 units of insulin at the most. Hot flashes were gone. No pain over the hypochondriac regions. Her stools and urination were normal. Bupleurum - Dandelion Compound, Xiao Ke Formula, Er Xian Tang Plus Compound, and Planetary Herb Treasures "Fire - Toxin Clearing Compound" were given.
6th visit: The patient reported that she had a test taken for her liver and that her liver enzymes were lowered and all in the normal range. No hypochondriac pain, hot flashes or fevers of any kind were reported. Her blood sugar was stable at 5-10 units of insulin a day at the most.
Pulse: moderate in rate, and strength in all positions.
Tongue: pink, thin white coat.
The patient exclaimed that I saved her life because there wasn't anything that Western medicine could do for her.
7: Uterine Fibroids & ovarian cyst
Woman, Age 44,
Diagnosed with fibroids and ovarian cyst. Diagnosis was done with ultrasound. Patient had three fibroids, two on the right side, with a cyst being on the right ovary, and the other fibroid on the left side of the pelvic cavity. The diameters of the fibroids were 4cm, 3cm, and 3cm each respectively. No pain with menstrual periods, no clots, no abnormal flow, no hemorrhaging whatsoever. Palpation over the lower abdominal and pelvic area reveled hardened masses with pain on pressure over the masses.
Pulse: moderate, slightly rolling and wiry.
Tongue: pink, thin, white coat
Diagnosis: Fibroids due to Qi, Blood, and Phlegm stasis.
Treatment: Gui Zi Fu Ling Tang, Chaste Berry, plus Planetary Herb Treasures “San Leng - E Zhu Compound”
Acupuncture: Liv 3, LI4, Sp 6, & 9, St 40, Kid12, 13, Zigong, ashi points.
Result: after the treatment the lower abdominal and pelvic regions were palpated and a significant decrease in hardness was observed. The patient reported less pain when palpating over the areas.
2917 Camino Del Bosque