The Treatment of Fatigue with Acupuncture and Herbs

Chief Complaint: Extreme fatigue and pain in joints

Western Diagnosis: Adenocarcinoma of the Stomach

Medical History: Patient is a 67 year old male that outside of the diagnosis appears to be in good health. Blood panels are unremarkable. MRI reveals tumor of approximately 18 inches in diameter. Tumor is causing local as well as referred pain into the inguinal region.

Questioning exam: Most questions and answers were based upon the MRI findings. Surprisingly, his pain is not that severe. Has indigestion and diarrhea frequently, but better with medication (prilosec).

Pulse exam: Pulse is most definitive for neoplasm. Overall pulse is rapid, tense-tight, muffled (suggesting the neoplasm), with a tremendous amount of changing amplitude and qualities in both middle positions.

Palpation exam yields a tumor somewhat larger than a football in the lower abdominal area. Area is very hard to the touch and immovable. Pressure increases pain.

Tongue exam: Tongue is dry and geographic. Some swelling on sides with midline crack extending to tip. Deep-yellow coat over the stomach area. Red tip.

Patient’s overall coloring is pale and withdrawn. However, patient is fairly animated and active.

OM Diagnosis: Damp-phlegm accumulation with definite signs of heat–maybe even toxic heat. Based upon tongue and pulse. We do know that cancer is generally considered to be a fire-toxin with dampness/phlegm tangling.

Treatment Principle: Move the dampness, cool the fire, treat the pain.

Point Prescription: Ren 12
St36
LI4
LI11
St25
St30
Sp6
Sp9
GB34
GB40
PC6
GB25left–referred pain site
shenmen
Yintang

Herbal Formula: Zi Gen Mu Li Tang as a base 100 grams
Ku shen–25 grams
Yu Jin–25 grams
Bai hua she she cao–30 grams
Mu li–25 grams
Ban Zhi Lian–15 grams
Ling Zi–15 grams
Ci Wu Jia–12 grams
Qing Dai–12 grams
Huang Bai–10 grams
Sheng Jiang–8 grams
Ban Xia–12 grams
Fu Ling–10 grams
Gan Cao–10 grams

*all from Qualiherb

Results: Since Western medicine had given up on this patient, he came for relief of pain and discomfort. After 6 months of treatment, his tumor had reduced by 40%. The following year, his tumor reduced again by 30%. Doctors gave patient another MRI to verify palpable results.

Synopsis: When patient came to me, he was given only two months to live. He would not survive the surgery and chemo/radiation were not an option. It has been nearly 5 years since I began treating this patient and he is alive and well with no signs of tumor. Publication in upcoming medical journal.