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Case Histories

E, female, 16, student. Unexplained stomach pain
Came to me two years ago for her unexplained stomach pain . She was suffering from unexplained, constant stabbing pain on her epigastric area for a few months. I gave her some loose herbs and did acupuncture. When she returned the following week there was no stabbing pain any more, just some discomfort. We carried on acupuncture and some herbal pills for a few more weeks. She phoned up a year later telling me she was going to study Chinese medicine in University! And she is admitted to Kent University for next year!
C, female, 33, optician. Under active thyroid
She was diagnosed with an under active thyroid about 7 years ago. When I saw her she was taking 175my of Thyroxine, and 25mg Liothyronine. She noticed her condition getting worse - hoarse voice, weight gain, fluid retention, carpal tunnel syndrome, feeling hot and thirsty, swollen thyroid (which the specialist couldn't explain), recurring kidney infection and constant lower back ache (was suggested she take a low dose of antibiotics).
She was having acupuncture and Chinese herbs from another practitioner, but didn't respond well. Then she was referred to me. She started to feel better after taking the first bag of herbs! The symptoms of hoarse voice, carpal tunnel syndrome, thirst and feeling hot went in a couple of weeks, and she had no more lower back ache or kidney infection. 2 months later, blood tests showed her thyroid function was back to normal!
S, female, 31, engineer. Ulcerative colitis
Came to me three years ago for her ulcerative colitis. She had it for two years and was taking prednisolone and Imnrm (immunosupressant) but the colitis kept flaring up. When I saw her she was on pred 35mg and Imurm 75mg but still having abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhoea with mucus.
I gave her loose herbs and did acupuncture & moxibustion. She felt better after the first week treatment. A month later she came off steroid but her face was covered with acne. I gave her some patent pills for her acne and they did the trick! I made some herbal tablets for her to take over a long period of time to strengthen her digestive system. She returned to Spain and emailed me saying she was still fine.
K, female, 32, solicitor. Recurring cystitis
Came to me two years ago with recurring cystitis. The last 12 months she had been having cystitis one after another and taken quite a few courses of antibiotics. She was not keen on the idea of taking lose dose of antibiotics over a long period of time. When she came to me she was still having symptoms and urine test showed positive.
Her IBS was also bad at that time, which gave her bad cramps when she was running. I did acupuncture and gave her some herbs for the first week. She didn’t tolerate the herbs very well but it seemed it did the trick. She hasn’t had any cystitis since. Her IBS is fine and she can run again. She did half marathon last year and still comes for acupuncture sometimes for her stiff neck.
C, female, 30, sales manager. Psoriasis
Has psoriasis since 6 years old. Had bad bouts at the age of 14 and 21, ended up in hospitalisation. Four years ago was taking Chinese herbs while working in China and her psoriasis was completely cleared for the first time.
Six months ago it flared up again and she was put on Neoral 300mg. She tried to come off it but the psoriasis patches kept bleeding. After two months taking herbs she stopped Neoral and there was no flared ups. The psoriasis patches on her elbows and knee were almost gone.!
H, female, 48, researcher. Fibroid & heavy bleeding
She was referred to me by another acupuncturist. She was having fibroid (3.8cm) and suffering from very heavy bleeding. She was reluctant to take the treatment offered by conventional medicine - have Marina coil fitted or hysterectomy.
I gave her loose herbs to boil up and did acupuncture and moxibustion, as well as some diet advice. The heavy bleeding was getting under control and her energy and sleep were a lot of better. And the fibroid seemed to stop growing. Then I changed the loose herbs into tablets form for her to take over a longer period of time. She is a researcher and was thinking to do a research on the treatment of menorrhagia!
T, female, 40, accountant. Infertility & ART
when she came to me 2 years ago with infertility due to male factor. She had had seven failed ICSI due to implantation failure and was going for IUI with donor sperm. I used acupuncture to help along with her IUI and she got pregnant the second time! But she started to experience the bearing down sensation and abdomen cramps which she was always having after the embryo transfer when she was having ICSI.
I discussed with her and we decided to take herbs. I did acupuncture as well. The cramp stopped immediately but came back again a couple of times. I decided to put her on herbal tablets to take until 12 weeks. She delivered a healthy baby girl at term.
G, male, 47, gardener. Nasal polyps & Chronic sinusitis
Was suffering from nasal polyps for years: blocked nose and difficult to breathe, post nasal drip, prone to sinusitis due to polyps blocking the drainage channel of the sinuses. Had three operation within four years to remove polyps but it seemed they recurred more aggressively after each one. Had to take antibiotics and steroid most of the time.
Since I stared to treat him with acupuncture and Chinese herbs three years ago, the nasal polyps have been under control, catching sinusitis much less. Only need antibiotics occasionally. Now he only is having acupuncture once a month and on very low dose of herbs. His quality of life has so much improved. His GP is very impressed and referring more patients to me.
R, female, 31, banker. Chronic fatigue/Post-viral fatigue
SCame to me two years ago for chronic fatigue/post-viral fatigue. It started after she had a chest infection and she had been feeling ill since-short of breath, feeling sick, dizziness, poor sleep. Been told by the doctor she need to go for part-time job the rest of her life. She couldn’t accept it.
I used acupuncture and some patent pills. She didn’t expect she was getting better so quickly. After five sessions she went back to work just for a couple of days. A few months later she went back to full time and she was doing fine.
E, female, 65, retired nurse. Asthma.
She came to me 3 years ago with chest infection and asthma. As she didn’t want to keep taking antibiotic and steroid for her asthma she wondered if Chinese herbs could help. After two weeks taking decoction her cough and wheezing already got a lot better.
She carried on with the herbs for a little longer to improve her tendency to catch upper respiratory infection. The following winter she took more herbs a chest infection and got better quickly. She never need to take any steroid for her asthma.
G, female, 40, teacher. Chronic sinusitis & Fatigue
Came to me with chronic sinusitis and fatigue. When I saw her she had several courses of antibiotic in the last six months but was still suffering from a lot of sinus pain, and it was the fatigue that really let her down.
As a mother of two she was struggling with a part-time job. Acupuncture is very good at improving the drainage of the affected sinuses, which means the surgery is not necessary at all. After the first session she already felt the head was clearer. I gave her some Ginseng drink to take and some diet advice. After three weeks treatment she was almost back to normal and started rowing again.
S, female, 33, dentist. Hay fever
She has got hay fever since 11 years old. It got worse the last two years. She was suffering from the hay fever symptoms constantly throughout all year-itchy eyes, sneezing, runny nose and itchy throat even she was taking antihistamine everyday. She was feeling tired.
She had acupuncture and herbs before but it didn’t work. A friend recommended me. I didn’t expect the treatment took effect so quickly. After two weeks treatment (acupuncture and herbal pills) and diet change she felt so much better. She is having acupuncture once a month now. The past twelve months she didn’t need to take any antihistamine at all.