Archive for the ‘Case Studies’ Category
The Acupuncture Treatment of Headaches
Chief Complaint: Chronic headaches: Tension, sinus, and migraine headaches
Medical History: 29 year old female; occupation-Project Coordinator for a construction company.
States to condition of “chronic” headaches for past 6+ years. Suffering from three types of headaches: tension, sinus and migraine headaches. Wants to get off “so many” medications that many times don’t work.
Reports father diagnosed with cluster headaches.
Current medications: Advil and Aleve for tension H/A, Sudafed 12 hr. for sinus H/A (preventative), Amitryptaline, Midrin, Fioracet for migraine H/A, Orthonovum 1/35 oral contraceptive. Other history is unremarkable.
Last modified: September 8, 2009 · 
al · 
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Tags: Acupuncture, headache, migraine · Posted in: EENT, Neurological
The Chinese Herbal Treatment of Restless Leg Syndrome
Chief Complaint: restless legs
Medical History: this is a 54 y/o female with a 30 year history of smoking and moderate alcohol intake. She is a psychotherapist with an extremely stressful practice. Her restless legs manifest as primarily cramping and interfere with her sleep.
Questioning exam: she complains of fatigue, tinnitus, occasional dizziness and constipation.
Pulse exam: pulse is thin, weak and deep.
Last modified: September 8, 2009 · al · No Comments
Tags: Herbs, restless leg syndrome, RLS · Posted in: Neurological
Migraine Headache Treated with Acupuncture and Herbs
Chief Complaint: Headache
Western Diagnosis: Migraine-(dx. 02/96)
Medical History: 55 year old male, reports frontal and temporal unilateral headache, daily in the am for an hour and then in the evening.H x reveals that he has suffered from this kind of pain for approx. 15 years. worse: with light, in the evening and with stress. better: “nothing, makes it better. but i am still taking Imitrex” reports patient. overall H&P unremarkable.
Questioning exam: Energy is low, feels cold often, has chronic dull lumbar pain, chronic alternating diarrhea and constipation; poor sleep (4-6 hours, restless); urination normal.
Last modified: September 8, 2009 · al · No Comments
Tags: Acupuncture, headache, Herbs, migraine · Posted in: EENT, Neurological
The Acupuncture Treatment of Fibromyalgia
Chief Complaint: body aches all over
Western Diagnosis: fibromyalgia
Medical History: the patient is an electrician who loves spicy food, exercises not at all. Being an electrician in Maine working in very hot and humid environments in the summer and very cold and windy environments in the winter
Questioning exam: Pain migrates, is better when cold, the pain is dull achy in nature
Pulse exam: pulse is slippery, slightly wiry, large joints appear swollen and red and are hot to the touch
Last modified: September 8, 2009 · al · No Comments
Tags: Acupuncture, fibromyalgia · Posted in: Metabolic, Neurological
Oriental Medicinal Herb and Acupuncture for Fatty Liver and Diabetes
Chief Complaint: fatty liver and poorly controlled Type 2 Diabetes
Medical History: 55 yr old Caucasian male. Morbidly obese.
First appointment on March 2004 pt’s labs reflect triglyceride level of 1105, cholesterol of 230 and elevated AST (50’s) and ALT (80’s). Pt’s record of blood sugars indicate his blood sugars were consistently in the high 230’s. Pt was not (and is not) on any western medications. Even though pt had dangerously elevated triglycerides and blood sugars he consistently refused western medications. His MD finally referred him to acupuncture in the hopes that something could be done to stabilize the patient.
Patient does not drive and does not cook. He reports excessive appetite He either buys prepared meals at the deli counter of grocery store or goes out to eat. His only exercise was walking to the public bus.
Last modified: September 8, 2009 · al · No Comments
Tags: Acupuncture, anger, diabetes, fatty liver · Posted in: Hepatic, Metabolic
Acupuncture Used for Chronic Gastritis
Chief Complaint: Heartburn and pain in epigastrium
Western Diagnosis: Chronic gastritis
Medical History: In the last five years, the patient had very stressful life when she studied in college and tried to find a job. Her eating was not in a regular base and she did not do any exersise.
Questioning exam: She always felt fullness and dull pain in the epigastrium especially if she got upset or angry, the situation got worse. Some times she also felt the fullness or pain in hypochondria area. She was in fatigue all the time and the appetite was poor. Occasionally she had diarrhea.
Last modified: September 8, 2009 · al · No Comments
Tags: Acupuncture, gastritis · Posted in: Digestive
Asian Herbs and Acupuncture for Trigeminal Neuralgia
Chief Complaint: Facial Pain
Western Diagnosis: Trigeminal Neuralgia
Medical History: Patient is a 50 years old male, well nourished. Physical examination revealed 135/95 blood pressure, otherwise appears to be in good health.
Blood Analysis: within normal range
MRI of the brain: Findings: the internal carotid and basilar arteries, proximal anterior and middle cerebral arteries are normal in caliber, contour and signal intensity. No congenital aneurysm or mass effect.
Impression: Normal examination.
Last modified: September 8, 2009 · al · No Comments
Tags: Acupuncture, Herbs, Trigeminal Neuralgia · Posted in: Neurological
Acupuncture and Herbs for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue
Chief Complaint: fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue
Western Diagnosis: fibromyalgia Jan 2001
Medical History: A 50 year old female, health care professional and PhD candidate, sought Chinese medicine for the first time on May 11, 2001, with symptoms of fibromyalgia for one and a half years prior to formal diagnosis in January 2001.
Patient’s physical activity had been limited, since exercise aggravated her symptoms. Symptoms were also aggravated by stress and inactivity. A physician prescribed Prozac, 10 mg on odd days, 20 mg on even days, Premarin 1.25 mg daily, and glucosamine chondroitin, dosage unspecified. The patient also took a daily multivitamin and calcium supplement. There was mild improvement in her condition on this regimen, but she was advised that she would “just have to live with pain.”
Last modified: September 8, 2009 · al · No Comments
Tags: Acupuncture, allergies, asthma, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, Herbs · Posted in: Metabolic, Neurological
Chinese Medicine for HIV, Nausea, and Fatigue
Chief Complaint: Fatigue, nausea and loss of appetite.
Western Diagnosis: HIV Positive
Medical History: Male, 33 years of age, 5’10”, 175 lbs., full time student/part time bartender. Diagnosed HIV positive in 1989 remaining healthy with no complications. Currently (2002) and since 1996 patient on triple drug therapy of Indinovir, 3TC and AZT due to high viral load. Current viral load measures 200,000 copies per milliliter. Most notable side effects are chief complaint of fatigue, nausea and loss of appetite. Irregularly exercises, meditates and practices Qi Gong daily. Eight hours of sleep consistently but restless with dreams most nights, Excellent organic non vegetarian diet, mealtimes at regular hours 3x daily. Exposure to smoke daily.
Last modified: September 8, 2009 · al · No Comments
Tags: Acupuncture, fatigue, Herbs, HIV, nausea · Posted in: Digestive, Infectious, Metabolic
Chinese Medicine for Numbness and Tingling in Lower Extremities
Chief Complaint: Numbness and tingling in lower extremities
Western Diagnosis: Peripheral Neuropathy diagnosed in 1996
Medical History: Illnesses and Operations:
Last modified: September 8, 2009 · al · No Comments
Tags: allergies, arthritis, numbness, Peripheral Neuropathy, tingling · Posted in: Neurological
