Acupuncture not Herbs for Severe Eczema A Case Study Ross Campbell
EJOM Vol. 9 No. 4 (2019)
Modern acupuncture schools teach that skin diseases are better treated with herbal medicine. The Huangdi Neijing is more positive about the use of acupuncture, describing the treatment of serious and life threatening disease principally with acupuncture. There is an emphasis on channel architecture with elevated status given to the mai vessels and Blood flow, with instructions for restoring yin yang harmony. This case study describes how these principles can reverse advanced and chronic skin disease with acupuncture. It describes a process of symptom reduction, cessation of pharmaceutical drugs and recovery from disease that mirrors the restoration of the integrity of the channels. The details of the treatment also suggest that herbal medicine may not have been equipped to reverse the causes of the skin disease in this case, or at least that greater consideration given to the channel networks may lead to better outcomes.
Acupuncture in a Complex Case of Post-Concussion Syndrome and Trigeminal Neuralgia
Acupuncture in a Complex Case of Post-Concussion Syndrome and Trigeminal Neuralgia, with a Background of Pre-Existing Marfan Syndrome Features A Case Study Cornelia Davies
EJOM Vol. 9 No. 4 (2019)
This case study follows the traditional Chinese acupuncture treatment of a patient whose presenting symptoms include post-concussion syndrome and trigeminal neuralgia. She also has features of Marfan syndrome, which make the history and outcome more complex because of a slight overlap with some of the symptoms. For this reason, it is necessary to present the case as a whole; not simply referencing post-concussion syndrome. This discussion of the diagnosis and course of treatment illustrates a distinct improvement in several of the chronic symptoms of post-concussion syndrome and trigeminal neuralgia within a relatively short time. The text includes some of the patient’s own words regarding how she felt before and after treatment, to give a broader idea of how the acupuncture has impacted on her life and wellbeing.
Acupuncture in the Supportive Care of Colorectal Cancer Survivors: Four Case Studies, Part 2
Acupuncture in the Supportive Care of Colorectal Cancer Survivors: Four Case Studies, Part 2 Beverley de Valois and Rob Glynne-Jones
EJOM Vol. 9 No. 1 (2018)
Colorectal cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide, yet there is little information about using acupuncture to support people living with and beyond the disease. A philanthropically funded hospital-based outpatient acupuncture service facilitated long-term treatment for colorectal cancer survivors experiencing consequences of cancer treatment. In this two-part paper, the authors present four case studies illustrating how acupuncture affected a range of troublesome symptoms experienced by patients who had completed cancer treatments (surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy). This is part two of the article, and discusses two cases with multiple long-term consequences and comorbidities. The cases are enriched by comments written by the patients themselves and by their oncologist, providing a broader view of the effects of acupuncture treatment.
Applying the Principle of Harmonising Heart and Kidney in the Treatment of Menopause Syndrome
Applying the Principle of Harmonising Heart and Kidney in the Treatment of Menopause Syndrome Hong Yan
EJOM Vol. 8 No. 5 (2017)
Objective: to observe and evaluate acupuncture results for menopause syndrome. Method: Harmonising Heart and Kidney. Result: total effect 93.33%. Conclusion: to treat both brain and ovaries is an effective methodology for menopause syndrome.
Scalp Acupuncture for the Treatment of Marfan Syndrome: A Case Study
Scalp Acupuncture for the Treatment of Marfan Syndrome: A Case Study Joanne Johnson
EJOM Vol. 8 No. 5 (2017)
This case reports the treatment of Marfan syndrome (MFS) using scalp acupuncture. There are challenges in diagnosing genetic conditions in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Furthermore, in this case it is difficult to know whether it was the Marfan syndrome or multiple sclerosis that reacted positively to the acupuncture intervention. The patient was diagnosed with both in 2015. Some symptoms of Marfan syndrome and multiple sclerosis appeared to be overlapping (ie muscle stiffness and spasm), symptoms of which may present in both diseases.
Using the NADA Protocol to Improve Wellbeing for Prostate Cancer Survivors: Five Case Studies
Beverley de Valois and Tarsem Degun EJOM Vol. 8 No. 1 (2015)
This paper presents case studies of five men diagnosed and treated for prostate cancer, who participated in a project to assess the potential for using the NADA ear acupuncture protocol to improve wellbeing. Selected for their diversity, they illustrate the range of diagnoses, treatments, and associated bothersome symptoms experienced by prostate cancer survivors. They also illustrate the variety of ways that NADA acupuncture in a group setting can contribute to overall wellbeing. Examining the progress of these individuals through treatment provides valuable insights into the effects of NADA treatment. These cases may influence perceptions of clinicians, patients, acupuncturists and funders about NADA's potential role in the ongoing support of men with cancer of the prostate. They also suggest that future research is warranted.
In general, the public don’t perceive that acupuncture is a suitable form of medicine for babies and young children. In truth, acupuncture and other related techniques, such as shonishin and paediatric tui na, are well tolerated by children and immensely effective at treating many of the conditions from which they suffer. The Panda Clinic was set up in the hope that, by raising awareness, more children would receive the benefits of treatment. Children come to the Panda Clinic with a wide range of chronic and acute conditions. As well as providing effective treatment, it aims to be an environment where children feel welcomed, listened to and safe. This article aims to give the reader a flavour of life at the Panda Clinic, including some of the patient management issues that are peculiar to the treatment of children.
Acupuncture and Moxibustion in the Management of Non-Cancer-Related Lower Limb Lymphoedema
Beverley de Valois EJOM Vol. 7 No. 4 (2013)
This paper presents case studies of three patients with non-cancer-related lymphoedema of the lower extremities, who participated in a project to assess the potential for using acupuncture and moxibustion as an adjunct to usual lymphoedema care. They illustrate how people with lymphoedema and complex co-morbidities (including morbid obesity) can benefit from treatment, and how reducing the symptom burden increases their ability to self-manage their chronic, incurable condition. They also demonstrate that acupuncture treatment can be effective even when large areas of the body are contraindicated to needling. Also shown are some of the practical challenges of dealing with morbidly obese patients. These case studies may influence existing perceptions of clinicians, patients, and acupuncturists about acupuncture’s potential role in the management of lymphoedema, and they suggest that research into this area is warranted.
Using a Daily Home-Support Moxibustion Protocol on St 36 Zu San Li During Chemotherapy: A Case Study
Cornelia Davies EJOM Vol. 7 No. 4 (2013)
A daily home-use moxibustion (moxa) protocol for nourishing the immune system during chemotherapy, first described by Dr Friedrich Staebler (Staebler, 2006), allows a patient to participate positively in his or her immune support during the entire period. The protocol requires the patient to have a helper to apply moxa daily on back shu points. This paper discusses a variation on the existing protocol, which allows a patient without available help to be self-supporting on this.
For two years the authors worked in a specialised centre at Pistoia in Tuscany, under the scientific direction of Dr Giampaolo La Malfa, psychiatrist and neurologist, head of the Psychiatry Unit in the Careggi University Hospital (Florence), professor at the School of Specialization in Psychiatry, Florence University, founding member and president of the Società Italiana per lo Studio del Ritardo Mentale (SIRM), and board member of the European Association of Mental Health in Mental Retardation. This collaboration is ongoing. A number of indications can be drawn from this experience. Practical results: prompt diagnosis, regular therapy (at least once a week), parental involvement. Implications for research: verification of the therapy’s incidence on general metabolic equilibrium and on the metabolism of minerals; testing of hormonal release in states of anxiety from stress not dominated by the adaptive phase.
The Effect of Acupuncture in a Patient with Bell’s Palsy: A Case Report
Yasemin Cayir, Turan Set and Zekeriya Akturk EJOM Vol. 7 No. 4 (2013)
Bell’s palsy is an acute facial paralysis due to inflammation of the facial nerve. Corticosteroids, antiviral agents, and physical therapy can be used to treat Bell’s palsy. However these treatments cannot be said to provide a cure. Acupuncture may be an alternative option for Bell’s palsy and, as evidence of its effectiveness, we present a case report on a patient with Bell’s palsy who was treated with acupuncture.
Response of Common Paediatric Diseases to Child Tui Na Massage: Three Case Studies
Dr Hongchun Yin EJOM Vol. 7 No. 3 (2013)
Tui na massage, one of the main forms of therapy in traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used in the treatment of paediatric diseases. In this article, the author presents three cases of common paediatric diseases: eczema, insomnia and facial paralysis which responded well to tui na massage. In case 2 the insomnia was treated using a unique tui na technique passed down from Mr Zhang Xizhen, i.e. massaging with egg white on the three yang channels. As tui na massage is safe and promising, it is worthy of further study.
Phlegm Misting-Disturbing the Orifices and Mitral Valve Prolapse
Leon Hammer EJOM Vol. 7 No. 3 (2013)
The author's initial appreciation of the role of the heart, in this instance the valves of the heart, in mental-emotional illness occurred in medical school, since in biomedicine at that time the prolapse of the mitral valve was associated with panic attacks and phobias. It was, therefore, a simple cognitive step from that information to identifying other aspects of Heart function, the orifices in Chinese medicine, with psychological conditions. The emphasis which his teacher - the internationally acknowledged master Dr John H.F. Shen, with whom he worked over a period of 27 years - placed on the relationship of the heart valves and vessels to mental-emotional issues reinforced that initial connection with the concept and clinical reality of ‘Phlegm misting the orifices.’ This article outlines the aetiology, physio-pathology, pathogenesis and clinical consequences of phlegm misting the orifices, and alludes to clinical tools for its diagnosis and treatment, illustrated by two case studies.
Treating Multiple Sclerosis by Mediating the Internal Environment of the Body
Wanzhu Hou EJOM Vol. 7 No. 2 (2012)
The author discusses the Chinese medical understanding of the causes and treatment of Multiple Sclerosis and presents a case which illustrates how treatment with Chinese medicine mediates the body's internal environment and benefits the recovery of damaged tissues during the treatment.
The author presents a typical case of ulcerative colitis from his practice to outline some of the fundamental principles required for treatment of both the acute and chronic phases of the disease.
The Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases with Canonical Chinese Medicine: Three Case Studies
Nadine Zaech EJOM Vol. 7 No. 2 (2012)
The author presents three cases of autoimmune disease,including two paediatric cases, which she treated successfully with Canonical Chinese Medicine formulas drawn from Zhang Zhong Jing’s Shang Han Za Bing Lun or Treatise on Cold Damage and Complex Disorders. The cases (involving paediatric rheumatoid arthritis, adult-onset Still’s disease and nephritic syndrome) suggest that autoimmune diseases, which may be only poorly managed by Western medicine, can be effectively treated with formulas and strategies first laid down in the classical texts of China’s Han Dynasty. From this Canonical Chinese Medicine perspective, many autoimmune conditions require tonification of the rule of imperial fire through the application of yang-warming decoctions containing fu zi (Aconiti Carmichaeli, Radix Lateralis Preparata.) If the patient’s symptoms flare up, the yang conformations will need to be treated and damage often involves more than one realm, thus often requiring the application of chai hu gui zhi gan jiang tang or triple yang disease formulas containing bupleurum chai hu (Bupleuri, Radix).
Insomnia:- Blood Vacuity and the Extraordinary Vessels: A Case Study
Hamid Montakab EJOM Vol. 7 No. 1 (2012)
In this article, the author presents a case study of a 45-year-old woman who has suffered with insomnia for four years. He first presents an analysis of this case from the perspectives of TCM pattern differentiation, Blood and shen, and wei qi, and then provides a fascinating analysis based on the Extraordinary Vessels, in particular the yin wei mai and yin qiao mai which, he suggests, act as inner synchronizers, controlling the length and depth of sleep time. The successful treatment of this patient with acupuncture is then detailed with explanatory comments.
This article begins with a brief account of dreams as seen from the perspectives of Chinese medicine, Jungian psychotherapy and Gestalt therapy. The author then presents an account of how she has come to look at and use dreams as a part of acupuncture treatment, both as an aid in diagnosis and also to help shift the discussion in the treatment room “from being purely about physical symptoms to being about the evolution of the individual.” The author uses several case studies to illustrate this. Some of the stories emphasize the dream as an aid to the practitioner in diagnosis and treatment; others emphasize the dream as a tool to discuss the patient’s inner process.
Abdominal Acupuncture:- The Sacred Turtle and the Ba Gua: Case Studies
Tuvla Scott EJOM Vol. 7 No. 1 (2012)
Abdominal Acupuncture (AA) is a microsystem based on the Abdominal Meridian System (AMS), with Ren 8 shen que at its centre, which forms the fundamental regulating system of the human body. Abdominal Acupuncture is based on the ancient sacred turtle luo shu theory which is the foundation of the ba gua and presents two different maps. One map accurately places the human body and a second map places the ba gua in the abdominal area. This article gives an insight to the source of AA theory and presents 3 cases which were treated with AA using the different ‘turtle maps.’
Pruritic Urticarial Papules & Plaques of Pregnancy (PUPP): A Treatment of Untreated Imbalance
Naava Carman EJOM Vol. 7 No. 1 (2012)
Pruritic urticarial papules & plaques of pregnancy (PUPP) presents with intensely itchy, hive-like papules, which typically begin on the abdomen, and spread to thighs, buttocks and occasionally to the arms. The diagnosis in traditional Chinese medicine is a combination of Damp Heat and Blood xu leading to Dryness and therefore Wind. In this case, this condition can be seen as a direct consequence of an underlying imbalance for which the original treatment had not been completed.
"Cancer is a Word, not a Sentence" - A Case History
Rebecca Avern EJOM Vol. 6 No. 6 (2011)
There have been times in my practice when a patient with cancer has walked through my door and I have had a heart sink moment. Can I realistically make a difference to them? Are they secretly hoping that acupuncture will ‘cure’ their cancer? Are their expectations of what I can do for them too high? Will I feel inadequate if their cancer progresses? Should I be referring them to a herbalist too? My experience of treating J has provided a strong antidote to these feelings. It has taught me that, without doubt, I can as an acupuncturist make a positive difference to the health and wellbeing of someone with cancer, and that the experience can be an uplifting one.
Using acupuncture in lymphoedema management is controversial, as it is feared that it may introduce infection or exacerbate lymphoedema. This paper presents case studies of four cancer survivors who participated in an exploratory study investigating the use of acupuncture and moxibustion as an adjunct to usual care for lymphoedema to promote wellbeing and improve quality of life. They illustrate how individualised treatment plans meet the diverse and changing needs of patients with a complex, chronic side effect of cancer treatment for which there is currently no cure. They also demonstrate that acupuncture treatment can be effective even when large areas of the body are contraindicated to needling. The stories of these four participants may help influence existing perceptions on the parts of clinicians, patients, and acupuncturists about acupuncture’s potential role in the management of lymphoedema.
A Case Study: Treating Asthma Successfully Using Five Element Principles
Zara Melyan EJOM Vol. 6 No. 2 (2009)
This article describes the author's treatment of a 50-year-old male patient who had suffered from a severe form of asthma for 12 years. She suggests that in normal medical practice, case studies are based on a correct diagnosis which is then followed by a successful treatment. In this case, her initial diagnosis was not entirely spot on, and it took her a few treatments to come to the right conclusion. However, the case is, she argues, still of interest, not only because of its successful outcome, but also because it clearly illustrates how Five Element treatment works.
Hardly a week goes by these days without an article appearing in the press about acupuncture and IVF. Practitioners certainly report an increase in the number of patients seeking thier help to conceive. Here the author demonstrates the ethical dilemmas and emotional rollercoaster that accompanied one particularly difficult dase - for both patient and practitioner - and asks when, if ever, should one admit defeat and stop treatment? Read the whole article
A Time to be Born
Paul Hougham EJOM Vol. 6 No. 1 (2008)
This case study is an exploration of some of the emotional issues surrounding fertility and conception as well as the wider questions of conception and destiny. The study outlines a patient's presentation for treatment and how the issue of conception arose as part of the ongoing narrative of her health and her wellbeing. The telling of the case progresses according to the tradition of Five Element Acupuncture, and an understanding of the elements as a textured presentation of qi, strongly influenced by qi gong teachings. The discussion acknowledges some of our contemporary professional approaches to fertility and explores how we as practitioners might cultivate, perhaps even facilitate, the impossible dialogue of destiny surrounding childbirth. Read the whole article
Turning Points: Clearing Blocks to Treatment in Women with Early Breast Cancer
Beverley de Valois EJOM Vol. 5 No. 6
In a research study to investigate the use of acupuncture to manage hot flushes and night sweats in women taking tamoxifen for early breast cancer, the author explored the use of clearing blocks to treatment. Blocks to treatment are phenomena in the Five Elements theoretical framework of acupuncture practice, and are not often explored in research studies. The author presents five case studies, discussing the application of treatment protocols for blocks to treatment and showing how they precipitated significant ‘turning points’ in the patients’ progress. She also discusses how these cases shaped and developed her own interpretation of the significance of clearing blocks to treatment, contributing to a ‘turning point’ in her understanding of Five Elements Constitutional Acupuncture to encompass these approaches in her research and in clinical practice.
When Blood Runs Too Thick: Recurrent Miscarriage, Blood Clotting and Acupuncture
Rebecca Avern EJOM Vol. 5 No. 3
This article describes the case histories of three women diagnosed with various blood clotting disorders. The blood clotting disorders had impaired the ability of each of them to carry a baby to full term. The article looks at the similarities and differences between the women in terms of TCM patterns, and Five Element Constitutional Factor (CF). It describes how the medication they were prescribed affected the choice of treatment principles and also their response to acupuncture treatment. It ends with the author’s reflections on the experience of treating them. Read the whole article
Fire – A ‘Lighter’ Perspective
Gerad Kite EJOM Vol. 4 No. 6
This article, written from the perspective of a Five-Element practitioner and teacher, begins with an account of his experience of the Fire element and its significance for him personally. It moves on to give the classical context of the author’s understanding of the Fire element, outlining the roles of the four Fire Officials (heart, small intestine, heart protector and three heater). The Five-Element approach to treatment is then illustrated using two vividly portrayed and sharply contrasting examples of patients with Causative Factors in the Fire element, addressing the diagnosis, treatment and outcome in each case. Read the whole article
Three Cases and a Plea
June Tranmer EJOM Vol. 3 No. 6
This is written by a practitioner who feels passionate about treating children, and which is very much from the perspective of personal experience. She encourages the use of acupuncture, acupressure, tui na, herbs, moxa, cupping and other adjunctive therapies. Examples of three case studies show how these techniques can be used in practice, as well as how to involve parents in the use of simple techniques at home to help their children maintain their health. Read the whole article
Falling Pregnant While Fending off Menopause and Cajoling Ovaries
Jane Lyttleton EJOM Vol. 3 No. 1
This article presents a case study of a woman in her 30s suffering from a number of chronic disorders including headaches, back pain and depression as well as erratic ovulation and possible early menopause. Treatment involved both acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine and focussed initially on her general health and on regulating her menstrual cycle with specific fertility treatments commencing two years later. The case study highlights many of the sorts of questions which practitioners have to deal with in trying to help women seeking treatment to aid fertility, and provides a good example of how useful the information from basal body temperature (BBT) charts can be and how it can influence the course of treatment. Read the whole article
Psyche and Substance
Ken Lloyd EJOM Vol. 2 No. 5
Using a case history, the author shows how the patient's psyche can be helped with TCM; that even though the patient's psyche may be in a complicated state, it is in the understanding of yin, yang, qi, xue, jinye, i.e. 'substance', that TCM operates most effectively. Read the whole article
Pressing the Vessels
Rory Kerr EJOM Vol. 2 No. 3
The author writes about the importance of pulse diagnosis as an 'information centre' giving guidelines on interpreting the pulse. His article is illustrated with a detailed chart on 'The Pulse Qualities'.
The Clinical Application of Five Phase Theory in the Practice of Herbal Medicine
Professor Wu Boping EJOM Vol. 1 No. 5
Professor Wu Boping, head of the research library at the Beijing Academy of TCM discusses the engendering and restraining (sheng and ke) relationship among the five phases and gives his recommended herbal formulae in cases where 'disharmonious relationships' occur. He cites four case histories: dizziness, cough and dyspnoea, abdominal pain, and palpitations. Translated by Chao Baixiao. Read the whole article
Serenity, Patience, Wisdom, Courage, Acceptance: Reflections on the NADA Protocol
Beverley de Valois EJOM Vol. 5 No. 3
Following encouraging results from research investigating the use of individualised, traditional acupuncture to manage treatment side effects in women with early breast cancer, the author conducted a follow-up study to explore the use of the NADA protocol in the same clinical context. This article charts her discoveries in applying the NADA protocol as a standardised treatment in a group setting. She discusses its flexibility and potential, and considers its limitations. Case studies present a range of different experiences and perceived benefits for three women who received this treatment, including their reactions to being treated in a group setting.
Much archaic acupuncture theory is considered ‘superstitious’ by modern practitioners. The author wanted to find out if the application of some of the older principles of treatment as outlined in the Nei Jing made any difference to treatment. The article reports on the treatment of a 29-year old woman who sought treatment for infertility associated with polycystic ovaries and anovulation. Using tonfication and sedation techniques according to the phases of the lunar cycle, the patient’s periods were restored and eventually a pregnancy was successfully taken to term.
This case study sets out the treatment of a 64-year old woman who developed broncho-spasms within 1 hour of using some eye drops prescribed by her consultant for raised intra-ocular pressure. The author’s diagnosis was that poison had affect the liver which was then insulting the lung. Treatments, patient response and progress over an 18-month period are reported, including two apparent relapses provoked, the author suspects, by exposure to swimming pool chlorine. The first relapse took the form of a recurrence of ME-type symptoms, and the second manifested as breathing difficulties and an arrhythmic heartbeat. On both occasions, acupuncture treatment brought about a noticeable improvement in the patient’s symptoms.
This article (first published in Meridians Vol. 2 No. 2) is a personal account of the author’s experience, as a Five-Element acupuncturist, in treating a young patient suffering from advanced cancer. Given the strong emotions and unresolved conflicts exposed by the proximity of death, the author’s role as acupuncturist overlapped with that of counsellor, both being required to give the patient some peace of mind as death approached. The account points up the fact that, even when treatment could give only the slightest respite to the patient’s body, acupuncture had the ability work effectively at the level of the mind and spirit.
The Role of Acupuncture and Moxibustion in the Treatment of Cancer (Part 2)
Dr Friedrich Staebler EJOM Vol. 5 No. 2
This paper, which complements part 1, published in EJOM Vol. 5 No. 1, 2005, discusses the general principles of treating cancer with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), especially the contribution which acupuncture and moxibustion can make, both in slowing down the spread of tumours and in counteracting the side effects of radio- and chemotherapy. The latter is given particular prominence, since the paper argues that acupuncture and moxibustion should be used primarily as a back-up, and concomitant to conventional cancer treatment. This is followed by the introduction of a simple and effective treatment protocol the author has developed, using moxa to combat bone marrow depression (the drop in red and white blood cells) during chemotherapy. The paper concludes with two case histories chosen to give practical examples, and to show the strengths and limitations of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of cancer.
This case study concerns a boy of 12 who had become school phobic after being severely bullied on moving to secondary school. The author initially trained in Five Element acupuncture at Leamington followed by a TCM course at Reading which aimed to integrate the two styles of acupuncture. The study, which includes information on the patient’s background, diagnosis, treatment plan, diet and lifestyle advice and treatment outcome, is presented as an illustration of how successful very simple Five Element acupuncture can be in the treatment of quite severe mental health and emotional problems.
Spinal Canal Stenosis: A Clinical Experience with Acupuncture
Dr Sanjeev Rastogi and Dr Atul Rastogi EJOM Vol. 4 No. 6
This case study, based upon the trial of acupuncture in a patient with lumbar canal stenosis, opens up a new vista in conservative management protocol to deal with this condition. Spinal canal stenosis, being a multi-level disorder and an associate of age-related co-morbidities, poses a considerable difficulty in selection of the right approach of management. Surgical decompression does not always result in reversal of neurological deficits and can lead to reluctance in choosing this option. Conservative management, on the contrary, often results in good patient compliance and substantial improvements. The addition of acupuncture to conventional conservative management makes it more likely to lead to a measurable and positive outcome, as is evident in the case study presented here.
The case study has been used extensively in many diverse disciplines including medicine, psychology and education. This paper explores the purposes of case study research in the field of Chinese Medicine (CM). Various types of case study including intrinsic case study, instrumental case study and collective case study are examined for their use in research of CM. The case study can be used to understand health, illness and Chinese medicine healing practices holistically. Case studies can provide powerful stories to illustrate the diversity of Chinese medicine practice. They can also be used to document change and development in individuals while having Chinese medicine therapies. Case studies can in some instances generate theoretical positions and sometimes suggest limitations of current theories and practices. Case studies also enable CM students and practitioners to better understand the relation between CM theory and clinical practice.
A case study dealing with the treatment of acute capsulitis of the shoulder, often referred to as frozen shoulder, a common complaint in an acupuncture clinic, occurring most frequently in middle age and more commonly in women. Symptoms include reduced mobility and pain. The author covers the examination and diagnosis of the patient and the relevant treatment principles, treatment protocol and outcome. The main treatment aim was to restore the function of the shoulder and to stop the pain. She chose to needle the local channels and collaterals to stimulate the flow of qi and blood. In addition she used some general points to increase qi and blood production and circulation. She concludes that acupuncture can be a powerful tool when treating dysfunction of the muscular system. In frozen shoulder the acute inflammatory phase can be recovered easily and progression to the adhesive stage can be prevented through successful treatment.
This case study describes the treatment of a patient who suffered from increasing anxiety, depression and panic since the birth of her only child two years previously. She also experienced no desire for social interaction not for sexual contact with her partner, the child’s father, despite what appeared to be a long-term loving and supportive relationship. The diagnosis, pathology and aetiology are discussed, treatment principles are listed in a chart, and the treatment plan is described step by step. The author also deals with lifestyle guidance. By the end of a course of 10 treatments, the patient no longer suffered from postnatal depression, and no longer required Seroxat medication. She continues to have regular acupuncture in order to maintain the benefits of treatment.
This case study shows how simple techniques such as acupuncture, acupressure and tui na were used successfully in the treatment of a child diagnosed with congenital nephrotic syndrome. The author explains how parents who are taught simple acupressure and massage techniques were able to participate in their child's treatment. The case shows how simple techniques given frequently can have very beneficial effects, even in such complex cases as this, and how such beneficial effects also extended to the family, who felt included and necessary in the treatment of their son.
The author outlines the advantages of tui na treatment for children by highlighting its non-invasive nature, and that specific massage techniques can be taught to parents to do at home. A number of case studies illustrate the combination of massage and qi gong used in treatment.
Lurking Evil - Changes That Happen When You Treat Children
Julian Scott EJOM Vol. 3 No. 6
This is a case history outlining the deep changes that can occur when a sick child receives acupuncture. The patient is a 13 months old boy seriously ill with asthma, who was already on heavy doses of steroids and who had had seven 10-day courses of antibiotics in the previous 5 months. The case history covers his road to recovery through a healing crisis which led to no further attacks of asthma.
Shonishin (children's needle therapy) is a style of acupuncture used on children that developed over 250 years ago in Japan [Yoneyama, Mori (1964)]. Recognising the fact that children do not like being needled, this therapy has developed specialised treatment techniques, many of which are non-invasive and thus not uncomfortable or frightening to the child. Specialised instruments have been developed for treating children, and great care has been taken in adapting the use of acupuncture and related techniques for the treatment of children. In this article the author briefly discusses some of these methods and presents a couple of cases to illustrate their application.
In this short article, an acupuncture patient in his 70s gives a personal account of his experiences of acupuncture treatment for the sequelae of a haemorrhagic stroke which left him temporarily paralised on the left side. Among the improvements reported from treatment over the course of two and a half years are better balance, increased stamina, mobility, and dexterity, improved eyesight and normalised blood pressure.
Pang Jun, Huang Bo-ling, Li Yu-shun, Zhou Yu-yan, Han Zhi-yong and Faye Richardson EJOM Vol. 3 No. 3
Gout is a systemic disease which involves the impediment of protein metabolism. Abnormal protein metabolism results in hyperuricemia with acute clinical manifestations of redness, swelling and hot pain of affected joints. Repeated bouts form gouty calculae in joints. Western medical treatment concentrates on managing symptoms. Traditional Chinese medicine, with its theory of differentiating diagnosis and treatment based on syndrome analysis, holds that gout is caused by the inability of the kidney to transform fluids and failure of the spleen to conduct normal transporting functions, and to distinguish between clearness and turbidness thus leading to the generation of internal heat and dampness. Principles of clinical treatment aim to clear heat and remove dampness, dredge collaterals to stop pain and regulate functions of the spleen and kidney. By utilising the main acupoints, St 36 zu san li, St 40 feng long, Sp 6 san yin jiao, the researchers achieved a 90% efficacy rate in treating patients with gout (improved visceral functions manifested by normal uric acid and ESR levels) and its symptoms (joint swelling and pain alleviated) without side effects, increasing their acceptance and satisfaction with acupuncture.
The Clinical Application of Point Penetration Acupuncture
Pang Jun, Han Zhi-Yong and Faye Richardson EJOM Vol. 3 No. 1
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) physicians through the ages have utilised point penetration acupuncture therapy. It is characterised by the use of fewer selected points with stronger stimulation resulting in better effects. Through clinical practice, the author has identified four types of penetration that produce different effects. Each method is described with common effective prescriptions for specific diseases. Case reports describe in detail manipulation methods and precautionary procedures utilised in applying these methods for maximum effectiveness. Therefore, point penetration acupuncture is an acceptable, viable therapy for many conditions previously treated with medicine or surgery.
The beginning of the menstrual cycle, puberty, and the end of the menstrual cycle, menopause or the climacteric are extremely important events in a woman’s life, both personally and in relation to their role in society. While most girls move smoothly into puberty and establish regular pain-free cycles, there are some who never establish a pattern and the resultant imbalances lead to pain, pre-menstrual tension and irregularity which daunts them physically and emotionally for many years and leads to problems later such as infertility and fibroids. Similarly, most women in the climacteric also move into the next phase of their lives with few symptoms, but for 20-30% there can be major problems, and for a further number the fear and dread around the menopause generates low self image and subsequent illness and loss of power. This article examines these issues through the prism of 2 case studies, one involving a teenage girl suffering from irregular painful periods accompanied by nose bleeds, and the other involving a woman in her mid-50s who had recently started to experience hot flushes and night sweats, along with a number of other symptoms.
Arnold Desser, Dr Kevin Baker, Nadia Ellis, Roger Newman Turner, and Dr Adrian White EJOM Vol. 2 No. 6
Five practitioners from different backgrounds, including Western medical doctors, an osteopath, a physiotherapist and a university lecturer, express their personal views on this subject. The contributions range from the philosophical to the practical and include views on the effectiveness of acupuncture and its role in health care, and notes on the foibles and idiosyncracies observed in members of the acupuncturist 'species'. Transcribed from the presentations given at the 1998 BAcC Conference.
Life after Death: The Impact of Bereavement on the Elderly Patient
Karen Simporis EJOM Vol. 2 No. 5
This short article looks at the various effects of bereavement on the body's qi of elderly people. As well as the commonly known effect on the lung qi due to grief, the liver energy may become stagnant as a result of anger, for example, or the kidney qi depleted due to fear.
Eye Acupuncture in 108 Cases of Acute Pain in the Biliary System
Chang Jin Yang, Ma Qin and Yue Ling EJOM Vol. 2 No. 4
This article was first published in Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion Vol. 16, No. 1. Good therapeutic effects can be achieved when using eye acupuncture to treat brain diseases and a variety of pain syndromes. In recent years acupuncturists have used eye acupuncture to treat 108 cases of acute pain in the biliary system and received satisfactory results. Translated by Xiao Y Zhang.
From 1985-1988, the author worked at the Rocky Mountain Regional Pain Management Centre in Colorado. This article is about the role of acupuncture within the holistic framework of a pain management centre. The treatment of pain by acupuncture is seen as symptomatic by many and therefore less subtle than other 'holistic' approaches. Western acupuncture prescriptions are symptomatic, simplistic and undifferentiated. They treat the biao only which may work well for some acute problems, but the ben must be tackled in chronic disorders. Additionally untreated pain can lead to further problems; spiritual, emotional and physical. As western medicine comes to realise that the piecemeal treatment of pain is rarely effective, the comprehensive approach of traditional Chinese medicine becomes increasingly relevant.
An article on the ancient Chinese art of face reading. This outlines the history of this special skill. The basic facial types according to five elements are discussed. Particular attention is paid to the significance of eyes and four case histories with diagrams are considered.
Three Cases of Migraine: Similarities and Particularities
Geoff Wadlow EJOM Vol. 2 No. 2
Three cases of migraine are presented where the presenting conditions and the treatment approach of Chinese medicine are similar, but where the details surrounding a patient’s life can often explain why a treatment may not work rather than the prescription of points chosen.
This article discusses the acupuncture treatment of 3 different cases of hysterical disease, where patients suffer from real and often severe symptoms for which no organic pathology has been found. Translated by Tom Dey.
A Flexible Use of Wen Dan Tang in Clinical Practice
Dr Gao Luwen EJOM Vol. 2 No. 1
The author outlines the various modifications he has made to Wen Dan Tang in the treatment of patients suffering from a variety of conditions. These include viral myocarditis, diabetes, accessory nasosinusitis, viral hepatitis, irregular menses and neurodermatitis. Translated by Xy Zhang.
2 Cases of Headache & Neck Stiffness treated by Employing Zhang Zhongjing's Pattern Differentiation
Professor Shi Zaixiang and Dr Xu Chunhong EJOM Vol. 1 No. 5
Professor Shi Zaixiang, chief consultant for heart and kidney disease at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital and Dr Xu Chunhong, of the Chinese Medical Department of the Shihu Hospital Liaoning, use two contrasting cases of headache and neck stiffness to illustrate the Zhang Zhongjing treatment strategies in the Shanghan lun (Discussion of Cold Damage) and the Jingui yaolui (Synopsis of Prescriptions from the Golden Casket) and give appropriate herbal formulae. Translated by Volker Scheid.
Looking at the Evidence: Notes on Diagnosis and the Evaluation of Efficacy in TCM
Gianfranco Morelli and Patrizia Adelasco EJOM Vol. 1 No. 5
The authors discuss the work of Dr. Zhang Shijie, of Gulou Hospital, Beijing. Dr Zhang, one of the forty ming lao zhong yi (famous Chinese doctors) emphasises the complexity of differential diagnosis and in seven case histories he demonstrates his thinking and subsequent treatment. This article first appeared in the Italian journal, MediCina. The English translation is by Emelia Mills and Kara Smith.
The Immune Development Trust was set up in the late 1980s to promote, preserve and protect the good physical and mental health of the public, particularly in relation to immune related conditions such as ME. HIV and AIDS. The author, one of the founders of the IDT, describes the ethos of the organisation, and the services it offers to both its practitioners and clients with particular reference to Chinese medicine. The article concludes with a brief outline of three cases treated at the IDT clinic, the first an HIV-positive man suffering from an acute herpes simplex infection, the second an HIV-positive woman suffering from chronic insomnia. The final case involves an HIV-positive man suffering from acute dysentery caused by endamoeba histolytica.
Thoughts on Paediatric Eczema as an Allergic Disease and its Relationship to Yin Fire
Bob Flaws EJOM Vol. 1 No. 4
The author takes issue with some of the statements on allergic asthma made by Giovanni Maciocia in EJOM Vol 1, No 3. The author's argument is based on a translation of a recent Chinese journal article on the treatment of paediatric eczema. In particular the author suggests that Giovanni, in the creation of his theory on allergic asthma, has not paid enough attention to Li Dong-Yuan's concept of yin fire and to modern western notions of candidiasis as it relates to allergic conditions. The author ends by describing the most common internal Chinese medicine formulas he uses in the treatment of allergic asthma in both children and adults.
The Superwoman and the Victim: A Discussion of Two Cases of ME
Sandra Hill EJOM Vol. 1 No. 3
Medical tests show no positive results. Patients are not believed. It is all in the mind. Acupuncture procedures are slow but effective. A learning process for practitioners and patients alike.
Hugh MacPherson and Richard Blackwell EJOM Vol. 1 No. 3
This review article has three sections. The introduction looks at the western medical understanding of RA and identifies a role for Chinese medicine. There follows a critique of a number of controlled trials and studies. The final section considers Chinese medicine in clinical practice, its approach to treatment and patient management.
Discussion of the nature of meridians is followed by the results of the author's research into the coincidence of various linear rashes in conditions such as eczema and psoriasis and the pathways of the channels.
Examining paranormal phenomena by using the framework offered by TCM, the author presents two cases which he ascribes largely to 'wandering hun.' He discusses his herbal and acupuncture treatment of the patients, and concludes with an appraisal of Chinese, Tibetan and shamanistic ideas related to demonic possession.
The author uses a short case study to demonstrate how, by a careful examination both of a patient's own condition and of the symptoms induced by chemotherapy, acupuncture treatment may result in significant improvements leading to the beginning of a process of self-healing.
The author explains that this article is not anti-drug and not anti-doctor but cautions practitioners to consider that prescribed drugs, although sometimes helpful, are frequently over used and often lead to uncomfortable symptoms and feelings of ill health. He provides comprehensive information on costs, and information, of prescription drugs, their side effects, addiction, the energetic view of prescribed drugs and herb - drug interactions. There is a wonderful table on the energetics of prescribed drugs in terms of Chinese medicine, and a case history which includes acupuncture and Chinese herbal prescriptions.
