Acute Mastitis-Breast Lumps

Acute Mastitis-TCM called Breast Abscess

Breast-feeding is a difficult task for new mother. Some has milk, some don't. It is often a stressful task at first but bring a bond between the mother and a baby. Milk duct sometime is obstructed due to postnatal depression, sometime due to stagnation of heat in the stomach.

Breast abscess is an acute purulent disorder of the breast mostly found in lactation period after delivery. Obstruction of the milk duct lead to retention milk in the breast and lump grow in the breast. Local redness, swelling, pain of the breast, difficult lactation may cause fever and chills.

In TCM study, Liver and Stomach channels run through breasts and nipple. When metal depression affecting the qi of the liver will cause stagnation. Over taking fatty food cause stagnation in the stomach then create toxic fire. Accumulate phlegm fire cause the lumps in the breast.

Treatment principle: regulate the liver qi, remove stagnation and stress, clear toxic heat and infection.

Case study:

Patient is breast-feeding for four months since delivery. Her left breast has form a big lump toward armpit. The lump area of the skin is red, feeling hot and inflamed. She looked very upset and stress. She expressed difficulty to handle a four years old child plus a four months old baby. She is constant tired, her eye filled up with tear when she talked to me. Few months ago, patient had mastitis. She took anti-biotic then caused her thrush (yeast infection on the nipple). She had to stop breast-feeding and very painful. She hope there are some herbs can help her. 

First treatment: I prescribed some herbs to help clear toxic heat (infection), promo lactation, and break up the lumps. Seven days later, patient’s condition is greatly improved. Skin redness was complete gone. The size of the lump was greatly reduced and no more pain. There is no trouble lactation. 

Second treatment: Beside the original prescription, I added some herbs to help the fatigue, release the stress and clam the mind. 

Patient’s breast lump is gone and seems much more relax and clam. Mostly she is able to enjoy breast -feeding her newborn baby. Acupuncture SI 1 was needle at this time.

Integration of Chinese Medicine for Management of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the m ost common malignant tumor in women who do not smoke. Throughout the world, about 1.2 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer and 0.5 million women die of it every year.

How Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine Can help to manage Breast Cancer

The general Chinese medical view of woman's breast cancer is cause by the accumulation of melancholic anger, depression, obstruction of the spleen function, reversal of the liver vitality, deficiency of the blood and vitality, Coagulation of blood turn into a hard mass.  Chinese medical treatment during the initial stage is aimed at detoxify, relieving melancholy, softening the hardness, supplementing the blood, and dissipating the stagnate blood.

Breast Cancer roots the basic problem of Liver and Stomach in TCM theory because both of the meridians run cross the breast and nipple. Remove Qi stagnation and dispersing heat from stomach is the basic starting point. Deficiency of vital Qi and immune function weaken cause the qi and blood stagnate further cause phlegm congeal(tumor).

Integration of Chinese Medicine in treatment strategies for the management of Breast Cancer

Chinese medicine in the overall treatment strategy for brease cancer can obtain very good results by improving the therapeutuc effect, raising the quality of life and prolonging the survival period. TCM treatment for supporting Vital QI and dispelling pathogenic factors should be applied throughout the course of treatment with surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

1.     Surgery and postoperative period-After the surgery, body’s qi and blood

is deplete. Deficiency of the qi and blood may slow the wound healing. Tx principle -Augment qi and nurish the blood

2.     Radiotherapy side-effects-painful skin, ulceration, swelling and fibrosis dry mouth, irritability dute to heat. Tx principle-Nourish yin and generate body fluids, clear heat and relieve toxicity

3.     Chemotherapy side-effects-gastrointestinal reactions characterized by nausea and vomiting and irregular bowel movement, poor appetite, bone marrow suppression, altered liver function, cardio toxicity, loose hair

The various treatment methods adopted depend essentially on the stage reached by the cancer. Supporting the vital qi and expelling pathogenic factors by material medica should be taken throughout the course of treatment. Alternatively, combine with endocrine therapy

1. Carcinoma in situ: supporting the vital qi and expelling pathogenic factors is the treatment principle.
2. Stage I: mastectomy, lymph nodes dissection. Chemotherapy and endocrine therapy. Supporting the vital qi and expelling pathogenic factors is the treatment principle.
3. Stage II & III: radical mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, endocrine therapy
4. Stage IIIb: radiotherapy or chemotherapy ( systemic or arterial intervention)
5. Stage IV: systemic chemotherapy with adjuvant endocrine treatment is suitable

Diet Therapy- eat foods for augmenting Qi, supplementing the blood and regulating the spleen and stomach such as Yam, spinach. Chinese dates( da Zao), Longan. Food for nurish the yin during radiotherapy and moisten dryness

Qigong Therapy-practice strengthening the body

Happy Clover Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine

Jody Hsu Steele L.Ac, Dipl. O.M. MSAOM

www.happycloveracupuncture.webs.com

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is a chronic medical condition most commonly caused athermanous plaques obstructing the coronary arteries. It is the number one cause of death in United States.

Risk factors include family history, age, and male gender and other medical condition such as hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Among all the risk factors, lipid metabolism is the one directly implicated in the pathology of CAD. The higher the LDL cholesterol level, the higher the risk of CAD; the higher the HDL Cholesterol, the lower the risk. 

Symptoms of a Heart Attack may be different between man and woman, Patients may complain of vague chest pain, pressure-like discomfort or burning and numb sensation or chest pain with difficulty breathing. Sudden onset of strangling anxiety or pain that radiates down the ulnar side of the left arm are typical. Woman often discovered had heart attack with different symptoms such as extremely fatigue, nauseas, Vomiting pain like stomach ache because is not a typical symptom; therefore, it often been ignored. 35% of woman who had heart attack die in the first year. Woman who has heart attack when to emergency usually not be treated fast like man because the symptom is not severe. Woman who had heart attack should be put on aspirin like man. If you are having a heart attack, put aspirin in your mouth and chew for faster reaction.

Change your life style, diet, and stress management can make a big difference on your health. It is a time to assess your health:

1. Do you use tobacco?

2. Do you get enough exercise?

3. How is your weight? What is your BMI? What is your body & organ fat?

4. Is your diet health?

5. How is your mood?

Quick smoking: Smoking is a major cause of atherosclerosis — a buildup of fatty substances in the arteries. People who smoke a pack of cigarettes a day have more than twice the risk of heart attack than nonsmokers. Smokers increased risk of developing coronary artery disease, heart attack, stroke and tendency for blood clotting.

Exercise: Even a modest walking program can improve your heart health, reduce stress and give your extra energy. More than 60% if American adult aren’t active on a regular basis. Set up a basic activity plan will improve your health.

Over Weight: More than two- thirds of Americans are overweight. Overweight increases your risk of diabetes and heart disease. 

Nutrition and diet: Eating the right foods can prevent disease. More grains and fiber in vege and fruit. Replacing butter, lard and other solid fat. Use more olive, canola oil.

Supplements & herb benefit preventing CAD:  1. Flaxseed/ Omag-3 2. Garlic 3. Green Tea 4. Hawthorn 5. Coenzyme Q10

Acupuncture proved to be effective therapy for below reason:

1. Acupuncture help smoking cessation by reduce irritability of quitting. Strong the will power of quitting and clear the lung.

2. Acupuncture move qi (vital energy) and promo blood circulation reduce fat accumulation and break up the plaques (clotting in the vessel).

3. Acupuncture reduce stress by relax the body and the mind, promo a better metabolism.

4. Acupuncture help reduce appetites and weight control to reduce cholesterol and preventing become diabetes.

5. Acupuncture help control stress, diet relate to blood pressure.

Chinese Herbal formula for Cholestrol

1. Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang

2. Lian Po Yin

3. Xiao Yao San

4. Qi Ju Di Huang wan

5. Gua lou xie Bai ban Xia Tang

6. Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang

Chinese Herbal formula for Hypertension

1. Long Dan Xie gan Tang

2. Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin

3. Zui Gui Wan

4. Er Xian Tang

5. Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang

Herbal Tea:

1. Shan Zha (Hawthorn) tea is great for reduce Cholesterols, and fat accumulated.

2. Ju Hua (Chrysanthemum flower) tea is great for reduce blood pressure.

3. Mei Gui Hua (Rose bud) tea is great for stress release.

4. Xi Yang Shen ( American Jing Shen) tea is great for strength vital energy.

An infertility success story with acupuncture and herbal medicine treatment.

An infertility success story with acupuncture and herbal medicine treatment. After 8 weeks of 11 visits of acupuncture treatments and 56 days of herbal decoction. Patient is pregnant.

When diagnosing infertility, the most important thing is clearly differentiated if the pattern is deficient or excess. Treatment principle will be decided to tonify and nourish the body's Qi or to eliminate pathogenic factors.  Woman’s physiology is rooted in Blood. Uterus store blood, Blood is not only the source of the periods but also of fertility, conception, pregnancy and childbirth. Therefore, treating infertility the first thing is treating Woman’s Menses.

To establishing and maintaining a good regular menstrual cycle is needed for fertility.  From the Western point of view, there are four phases within the menstrual cycle. Acupuncture and herbal treatments will adapt to these four phased.

1. During the Menstrual cycle(Blood moving)- sharp fall in estrogen and progesterone. Treatment method is move the blood and stop heavy bleeding.
2. Post- Menstrual cycle(Follicular phase)- Blood and yin fluid is empty, Treatment method is nourishing the body yin and blood.
3. Mid-cycle(ovulatory phase)- Promote Ovulation, Nurish the essence, essence so egg can get fertilized and implant.
4. Pre- Menstrual cycle(Luteal Phase)-if pregnancy treatment will focus on Tonify the essence and rise the yang/qi to preventing miscarriage. If not treatment will focus on move the Liver qi and ready for the menstrual cycle to start again.

1. Female pathology in Western medicine- Hormone Deficient type

Besides regulating the menses, balancing hormone level is important. FSH levels above 10 indicate the ovarian function has declined, making pregnancy more difficult to achieve, and often results miscarriage. In addition, Low estrogen and progesterone level, thin endometrium, no ovulation, small uterus, poor quality of eggs or follicles. All these factors affect the implantation of the embryo.

TCM medicine diagnosis- In order for fertilization to occur the yin, yang Qi Blood of the kidneys all need to be perfectly balanced. When one or more of these elements is out of balancing, infertility may occur.

2. Female pathology in Western medicine- Cystitis, fibroid

Uterine fibroid ovarian cystitis, adhesions, endometriosis, and fallopian tubes block is corresponded to TCM medicine diagnosis are qi stagnation, blood stsis or phlegm damp obstruction.

3. Female pathology in Western medicine- infection

Cervical, vaginal, pelvic, fallopian tube infection are point to TCM medicine diagnosis of Damp heat or Toxins or Blood Stasis

Case study:

Infertility Success Case using Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine

Case study:

Female, mid-30’s has tried to get pregnant for one year. She had 5 unsuccessful IUI before and one miscarriage. She was on Clomid* for one year before seeking acupuncture help. Based on my diagnosis, her Kidney yang and spleen qi was deficient causing damp accumulation. Treatment principle was followed this directions at the same time, I followed the four phases of the Menses cycle to modify my acupuncture prescription and Herbal formula to regulate, nourish and tonify the body.

Patient was treated by acupuncture 1-2 times a week. Patient was also on different herbal formulas modified according to the four menses phases every day for 8 weeks. Before she went on the last IUI, I also applied Moxa to raise kidney yang (body temperature) and prepare for fertilization. One week later, patient is pregnant.

*Clomid is a synthetic drug that is similar to estrogen.

Patient continues to come for acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture is only applied on her head, face and ear to raise the qi and calm the mind. Since patient had one miscarriage before, she is on herbal formula specific for preventing miscarriage.

 

Amenorrhea

Menstruation does not come until 18 years old or stop coming for over three months is called amenorrhea. The cause of amenorrhea can be in deficient or excess types.

1. Blood depletion- (deficient types)

Clinic symptoms: Delayed menses cycle, decrease of menses and stop menses. Sallow face, lassitude, vertigo and dizziness, poor appetite, loose stools, dry skin. It is possible with hot sensation in the palms soles, afternoon fever and night sweating. 

Analysis :Improper intake of food or malnutrition can be the resolve of blood deficient. People who have been going through extreme diet program (dramatic weight loss) can cause amenorrhea. We often see young girl stop menses because of weight loss.  We also see woman who try to loss weight end up lost menses because lack of nourishment to their body.  

2. Blood stagnation- (excess types)

Clinic symptoms: absence of menses for months, lower abdominal distending pain aggravated by pressure, hard mass in lower ab. Distension and fullness feeling in the chest and hypochondriac area.

Analysis: It is due to emotional stress. In TCM study, called Liver qi stagnation.  Retardation of the qi and blood in the uterus obstruct the passage of menses.

Case Study:

            45 years old female, come for amenorrhea for 6 months. After the history taking, patient has breast pain,        distend and bloating lower abdominal discomfort. Patient always try lost weight, therefore diet all the time. Patient’s husband believes she has no stress. But It seems not true under my observation.  Treatment principle was focus to unblock the qi stagnation, nourishing the liver and invigorated the blood.

Acupuncture points: LV3, LV8, Sp10, Ren 4 6, ST 29, KI 13, SP6, LU7, SP9, ST36

Herbs: Shu Di, Dang Gui, Chi Shao, Xiang Fu, Chai Hi, Yi Mu Cao, Du Zong, Chuan Niu Xi, Yu Jin, Fu Ling, Mu Dan Pi, Ban Xia, Gui Ji Zi, Xi Yang Shen

At third weeks of treatments, patient start spotting, and small amount menses linker into the beginning of the forth week then stop. Treatment principle is modified at the fifth week to tonify the qi, blood and essence ready for the next cycle.