|
Principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine ia a multi-part article written for those that would like to have a better understanding of the concepts behind Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). We will cover basic terminology, briefly describe the differences from Western medicine, describe how TCM treats illness and give examples in the form of case histories to help improve your understanding of TCM. Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Case 1 Case 2 Menopause*The following is an example of one case and its treatment by TCM. It is given here as a example of the way that TCM sees a condition as it presents in each individual, and to provide a guide as to how treatment is then fitted to the case at hand. *The case study is an illustration of how TCM treatment helped one individual, individual results may vary. Presentation A 51 yr old woman presented with common signs and symptoms of menopause, hot flushes, night sweating, restless sleep and anxiety.
Examination Further questioning revealed that the hot flushes tended to be worse in the evenings or night. The sleep was disturbed by vivid dreaming.There were feelings of anxiety, depression and general emotional instability. Symptoms had been progressing for some time and there had been no periods for the last 12 months. There was also a need to pass urine at night, fatigue, dry sore eyes and blurred vision. The Tongue was normal and the Pulse indicated floating Yang and deficiency of Liver and Kidney Yin. Diagnosis General Yin deficiency with Internal Fire Flaring. Signs and Symptoms Analysis Hot flushes, and night sweating both indicate a Yin deficient condition. Yin is unable to regulate Yang which flares Upward and causes the flushes and sweating. The restless sleep, vivid dreams, anxiety, depression and mood swings were all due to Heart Yin deficiency with Heart Fire disturbing the Shen (Mind). The dry eyes and blurred vision are indications of Liver Blood deficiency causing an inability to nourish the eyes. Treatment The treatment principle was to Nourish the Yin and Blood of the Liver, Kidneys and Heart, and to Settle Flaring Heart Fire and Yang. Acupuncture was applied to stimulate the Stomach and Spleen to create Blood, and other points to strengthen the Yin of Kidney, Liver and Heart. Herbal medicine was used to Nourish the blood and Yin, to bring Down the flaring Fire and calm the Shen (mind). Results Improvements in the flushing and sleep were noticed within one week. A course of ten acupuncture treatments (1 per week) and herbs in between eliminated all symptoms (except of course the absence of periods). |
