Case Histories - Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (2)
A 37-year-old woman had been suffering from pre-menstrual tension
for 8 years. It had started when she suffered post-natal depression
following the birth of her first child. She had another bout of
post-natal depression after the birth of her second child. During
the pre-menstrual period she felt very irritable, was irrational,
and cried a lot. On a physical level, she had a pronounced feeling
of distension of the breasts and abdomen. Apart from her pre-menstrual
problem, she also suffered from constipation, headaches, insomnia,
excessive dreaming and palpitations. Her pulse was Fine in general,
slightly Wiry only on the left Middle position (Liver) and Weak
on the left-Front position (Heart). Her tongue was Pale and slightly
Thin but also slightly Red on the sides.
Diagnosis
This is a condition of both Deficiency and Excess. There is a deficiency
of Liver Blood manifesting with constipation, excessive dreaming,
Pale tongue and Fine pulse. This deficiency has also induced a deficiency
of Heart-Blood manifesting with insomnia and palpitations. The deficiency
of Blood most probably started with the loss of blood occurring
after childbirth and was the original cause of post-natal depression.
The deficiency of Liver-Blood, over the years, gave rise to stagnation
of Liver-Qi and therefore the pre-menstrual tension. The fact that,
besides feeling irritable before the periods, she also wept a lot,
indicates a Deficiency condition.
Treatment principle
The principle of treatment adopted was to nourish Liver- and Heart-Blood,
pacify the Liver, eliminate stagnation, calm the Mind and settle
the Ethereal Soul. She was treated with acupuncture and patent remedies.
Acupuncture
The acupuncture points used (with reinforcing method to nourish
Liver- and Heart-Blood and even method to pacify the Liver) were
selected from the following:-
LIV-3 Taichong and G.B.-34
Yanglingquan to pacify the Liver and eliminate stagnation.-
P-7 Daling to pacify the Liver, calm
the Mind and settle the Ethereal Soul.-
P-6 Neiguan on the right and SP-4
Gongsun on the left to open the Yin Linking Vessel, nourish Blood
and calm the Mind.-
ST-36 Zusanli and SP-6
Sanyinjiao to tonify Qi and Blood.-
BL-20 Pishu, BL-15
Xinshu and BL-18 Ganshu to nourish
Liver- and Heart Blood.
She was treated once a week.
Herbal treatment
The patent remedies used were Freeing the Moon
(a variation of Xiao Yao Wan Free and Easy Wanderer Pill) to pacify
the Liver and eliminate stagnation and Calm the
Spirit (a variation of Gui Pi Wan-Restoring the Spleen Pill)
to nourish Heart-Blood and calm the Mind.
By the end of 9 months this patient's condition showed about 80
per cent improvement. |
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