Chinese Medicine for anxiety, depression, and PTSD
Stock photo - Unsplash - M.T ElGassier
Many people have heard of acupuncture working for pain conditions but did you know that acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine is also a powerful treatment modality for anxiety, depression, and PTSD?
Kylee Junghans, MPH, mentions the following, in regards to 'The Acupuncture Evidence Project,' co-authored by Dr. John McDonald, Ph.D., and Dr. Stephen Jan:
"the effects from acupuncture for treating anxiety have been shown to be significant as compared to conventional treatments."
"acupuncture had a large effect on reducing anxiety and depression compared to conventional treatment involving pharmacological approaches and psychotherapy, with over twice the reduction in symptoms."
Since my first year in practice, I have been honored to work with Veterans through Veterans Affairs. Some of those patients experienced significant trauma during their service and were diagnosed with PTSD. Through this work and my own mental health journey (including multiple panic attacks starting in my mid-20s), I have become more interested in exploring Chinese Medicine. My interest is from both perspectives, as a practitioner and a patient.
With regular Acupuncture appointments and Chinese Herbal Treatments, I have witnessed patients with debilitating PTSD symptoms have functioning lives over time. The following is a case study I presented as my capstone project for my clinical doctorate program last year.
https://www.evidencebasedacupuncture.org/acupuncture-anxiety/
Case Study
The patient was a 34-year-old African American male (pronouns: He/him) veteran who served in Iraq and Kuwait. During his service, he hurt his lower back resulting in a herniation of disc levels L4-L5. who was referred for lower back pain and PTSD.
He had lower back pain on and off, sometimes so debilitating that he couldn't walk. The pain radiated to his upper thighs, and sitting or standing for prolonged periods made the pain worse. He was taking 5 mg hydrocodone twice a day and 500mg naproxen once a day.
He was experiencing panic attacks weekly. His PTSD symptoms were sweaty hands and palms, frequent urination with anxiety, fear and unease being in crowds, social isolation, onset insomnia, and waking up frequently at night to use the restroom. He was prescribed an SSRI anti-anxiety medication and stopped using it early on. He was using medical marijuana to help him sleep. He has a history of pneumonia and bronchitis.
The patient was given acupuncture for the first ten visits, which reduced his back pain significantly. He decreased his use of pain medication, taking hydrocodone one time per day instead of two. Next, he wanted his PTSD symptoms addressed by acupuncture and Chinese Medicine.
01/02/2018- 11th Treatment:
Lower back pain 1/10, some radiation to the right upper leg on and off
Had a panic attack during his son's football game and needed to be away from other parents. Still experiencing sweaty hands and feet with anxiety, frequent urination day and night, dry mouth, thirst, overall feeling warm, and onset insomnia. Night sweats worsened in the last week.
His appetite, bowel movements are normal.
Pulse: deep, slightly rapid, slippery. Tongue: swollen, purple, white coating
Hara diagnosis: pressure pain on L st 26-kd 15 oketsu area, dull pain under the right side ribs and liver 14
Acupressure/Acupuncture Points:
Left Liver 4
Left Lung 5
Different Liver 1 locations, middle of big toe
7 rice grain moxa on liver 1
Bilateral Urinary Bladder (UB) 18, the back shu points of the liver
Jing Fang diagnosis:
Three yang
Half and Half (H+H) because he feels warm and has night sweats without the symptoms of lower body coldness. The H+H was Shaoyang instead of Jue yin.
Yang Ming
Taiyin excess damp symptoms that cause ben tun.
Formula: Chai Hu Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang (CHJLGMLT)
After taking the formula for three weeks, the patient reported that the night sweats were reduced significantly, and the anxiety continued to reduce. He did not have any panic attacks. He occasionally had sweaty feet with anxiety, but the hands were not clammy. He was able to participate in his son's football game with other parents. He could fall asleep easier.
07/05/2019
The patient had a charged interaction with one of his son's friend's parents and felt very angry. When he is around those parents, he gets sweaty hands/feet and experiences repetitive thoughts.
He can function in crowds, but he feels uneasy.
He has been experiencing dry mouth, thirst, face sweating, some leg cramps.
Lower back is sore and sometimes painful after sitting for a long time, plus on and off rib side pain.
His appetite, bowels are normal, and sleep is normal.
Pulse: choppy and slightly rapid. Tongue: redder color and yellowish dry coat
Hara diagnosis: sharp pressure around the liver 14 area on the right side and also under the right rib (liver excess reflex)
Acupressure/Acupuncture Points:
Right side Kidney 7 (KD), Spleen 7 (SP), Japanese Pericardium 4 (PC), and Heart 3 (HT).
Jing Fang diagnosis:
Three yang
Exterior taiyang, bentun (taiyang, taiyin relation), half and half shao yang, yangming
blood deficiency.
Formula: Ben Tun Tang - San Bai Pi +Chai Hu
After two weeks, the patient reported not feeling anxious or angry, was much more present around people. Had less dry mouth and thirst and did not have any leg cramps.
10/16/2019
Lower back pain and some pain on the right upper leg. He feels the pain after sitting or standing for long periods. Some pain around the ribs on the right side.
Anxiety is minimum. His sleep was good, with no recent night sweats.
Dry cough and feels like something is stuck in his throat.
Pulse: slightly rapid and deep. Tongue: slightly red and has a white coating.
Hara diagnosis: Ren 4, Ren 3 area is sensitive, oketsu and liver reflexes
Acupressure/Acupuncture Points::
Left side liver 4, Left lung 5, Right side liver 4, liver 8,
Mu shu points (on the level of Ren 4 and Ren 3, on the lateral side of the body along the Gallbladder channel)
Jing Fang diagnosis:
Three yang
Taiyang, half and half (shaoyang), bentun, yangming.
Formula: Ban Xiao Hou Po Tang + Xiao Chai Hu Tang + Jie Geng
The following week, the patient reported that he did not have any leg pain, and his lower back pain was reduced significantly. The sensation in the throat was almost gone, the dry cough was infrequent. He did not feel anxious.
If you have any questions about the case study or the treatment of anxiety, depression, or PTSD with Chinese Medicine, please contact us at info@felekacupuncture.com.