Archive for the ‘Case Studies’ Category

Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of Shoulder Pain

Chief-complaint: Right Shoulder Pain

Western-diagnosis: inflammation of the deltoid

Medical-history: 64 year old female.
Complaining of shoulder pain x 1 month.

Symptoms: Right shoulder pain
Pain with arm abduction
Forward flexion pain

Last modified: April 22, 2010 · al · No Comments
Posted in: Musculo-Skeletal

The Treatment of Vomiting with Chinese Herbs

The Treatment of Vomiting with Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang (Regulate the Stomach and Order the Qi Decoction)
by Dr. Wang Chang-Yong 王常勇

Patient: Wan, female, 32 years old.

Chief Complaint: vomiting

Medical History: Ms. Wan suffered for a long time from low-grade fever, chest pain and cough. The respiratory department in the hospital diagnosed her with pulmonary tuberculosis, and after receiving treatment, she was all better.

But five days ago she started to vomit, gradually worsening, with many bouts each day; she vomited after eating, and had difficulty eating and drinking. She self-administrated some Western medicine sedatives and anti-emetic drugs but without any results. Then she sought care from a Chinese medicine doctor.

Last modified: March 16, 2010 · al · No Comments
Posted in: Digestive

The Use of Acupuncture and Moxabustion for Scar Tissue

Chief-complaint: Arm numbness & weakness due to trauma

Medical-history: A right-handed young man (~21), seen & treated at a volunteer shift at a homeless youth drop-in service center. We’ll call him Amadeus.

About a year previously, Amadeus got in a fight & was stabbed in the left arm, and then thrown in jail where he received almost zero medical attention. He had one wound up in the deltoid, and a more serious one about halfway up the ventral forearm. This trauma seems to have nearly severed his extensor digitorum (while he was in jail, he couldn’t move or feel his fingers). About 4 months after the initial injury, he had surgery to repair the injury.

Symptoms: When I saw him, he had a large (about 8”) crooked scar on his forearm; the initial knife wound had a deep scar at the center, & there are 2 surgical scars extending out from it.

Last modified: March 15, 2010 · al · No Comments
Posted in: Musculo-Skeletal

The Acupuncture and Herbal Treatment of Infertility Due to Hyperprolactinemia

Chief-complaint: Infertility

Western-diagnosis: Infertility, hyperprolactinemia

Medical-history: 34 year old, female. She had taken contraceptive pills since she was 18. Stopped around June 2009 when she and her partner wanted to start a family. No pregnancy so far. Has history of cystitis. She had some tests in January 2009, which showed that she had hyperprolactinemia (PRL: 1030mu/L) and she had no ovulation.

Symptoms: Thought & worried too much, tend to catch cold, preferred warm drinks, extremely cold hands and feet, even needed to wear thick cotton socks in the summer, insomnia, had difficulty in falling asleep, severe constipation (once a week), occasional abdominal distention and acid reflux.

Last modified: March 12, 2010 · al · No Comments
Posted in: Reproductive

The treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME, CFS) with Acupuncture

Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS):
Symptoms:
Frequently tired with low energy
Achy limbs and joints
Has to sleep in afternoon
Frequent frontal headaches
Dry skin
Floaters in vision
Dizzy on standing
Normally feels cold
Achy lower back
All symptoms worse for stress

Last modified: January 12, 2010 · al · No Comments
Tags:  · Posted in: Metabolic, Neurological

The Case of Insomnia Addressed by Acupuncture

Chief-complaint: Insomnia

Western-diagnosis: Insomnia

Medical-history: Patient was a male in his mid 30′s who had been having trouble falling asleep for the past 2 years. Patient had tried many drugs and supplements, but with not much success. Taking Ambien helped the patient fall asleep, but the quality of sleep from an Ambien induced sleep was poor. Patient also tried melatonin, with very limited success. No other major medical problems besides the insomnia were reported.

Last modified: December 4, 2009 · al · No Comments
Posted in: Neurological

The Acupuncture and Herbal Treatment of Stomatitis and Conjunctivitis

Chief-complaint: Sores in the mouth and tongue, swollen, tender and bleeding gums, painful red eyes

Western-diagnosis: Stomatitis and Conjunctivitis

Medical-history: 38 year old male. Generally very stressed, works long hours, eats junk food almost every day and is always feeling hungry. Has some abdominal discomfort after eating. Usually very thirsty but can’t drink a lot of liquid. Has an odd sleep routine. Is usually constipated and has occasional burning of urine.

Last modified: October 19, 2009 · al · 2 Comments
Tags: ,  · Posted in: EENT

The Oriental Medicine Treatment of Tension Headaches

Chief-complaint: Chronic Headaches

Western-diagnosis:

Medical-history: 54 year old female. Daily Headaches mainly tension-type occasional migraines with nausea.

Symptoms: tight neck and shoulders, tight-band sensation around the head, constipation, nightsweats, hot flashes, low libido

Pulse: thin/thready

Tongue: textbook yin-deficiency presentation: red body with no coating

Last modified: October 8, 2009 · al · No Comments
Posted in: Neurological

The Acupuncture Treatment of Crohn’s Disease

Chief Complaint: Crohn’s disease.

Medical History: Crohn’s disease first diagnosed twenty years previous to first visit (patient 52 years old). Soon after a right hemi-colectomy was carried out, and about 40cm of Small Intestine including appendix and ileal sphincter was removed. About 16 years of relative health followed, after which disease progressed to include ulceration in the colon. Prognosis was for a permanent stoma, and the aim of treatment was literally to see if any improvement could be gained. At time of first consultation, patient was suffering from frequent sudden senses of pain and distension, followed by immediate need to evacuate bowels. This occurred 6-7 times a day, and included bleeding

Last modified: September 8, 2009 · al · No Comments
Tags: ,  · Posted in: Digestive

RSD Treated with Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs

Chief Complaint: Pain, constipation

Western Diagnosis: Total Body Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy

Medical History: 46 year old, very active and successful, sportive white male, developed RSD after a de Quervain’s tendonitis from overusing his hand, doing repetitive movements. 4 weeks later his whole right hand was hurting, burning, sensitive to touch and AC, and turning blue. A stellate ganglion block revealed that he had developed RSD. Two month later he developed mirror image symptoms in his left hand, later in his feet. 1 years later he had total body RSD. Causing him excruciating pain, muscle twitches, difficulty in urination, constipation, depression, insomnia, poor memory, nightly hiccups, spontaneous localized sweating in the effected extremities, lethargy, skin sensitivity, hot flashes, migraines. The patient received during a period of 2 years 150 nerve blocks, and is on many medications (analgesics, anti-spasmodics, anti-depressants, tranquilizers, etc.) He still tries to stay active, since inactivity increases his symptoms. he can not use his hands very often, but can walk and swim. Good dietary habits, since red meet, alcohol and sugar make his pain worse. Patient is disabled.

Last modified: September 8, 2009 · al · No Comments
Tags: ,  · Posted in: Neurological