By David Lee L.Ac.
▶Case 1: Three months ago, an interior designer Nancy, age 54, underwent a full hysterectomy due to fibroid cysts weighing approximately 2.5 pounds. Following the surgery, she developed unpleasant menopausal and physical symptoms. Emotional instability with uncontrollable episodes of crying, especially when thinking about or calling her son’s name. A gurgling or fluttering sensation in the upper left chest. Hot flashes four times daily, with a particularly intense episode at 6 a.m. accompanied by mild skin dampness. Painful muscle cramping in the left arm and leg. The patient was not undergoing hormone replacement therapy.
- Acupuncture Points: The treatment focused on left side Yin Horary Points using the Wood Order: Liver 1 대돈, Heart 8 소부, Spleen 3 태백, Lung 8 경거, Kidney 10 음곡.
- Treatment Process and Results: After the first treatment, emotional instability improved significantly, with the crying episodes ceasing immediately. After the second treatment, the patient reported no further episodes of crying. Additionally, the gurgling sensation in the chest and pain in the left arm and leg were reduced by 50%. After a total of five sessions over three weeks, the patient experienced a 75% overall improvement in symptoms. With several additional sessions, the symptoms were almost completely resolved.
- Discussion: This case highlights the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating complex, multifaceted conditions, even when the symptoms are challenging to objectively verify. The patient’s significant improvement demonstrates the potential of acupuncture to address both emotional and physical manifestations of menopausal discomfort.
▶Case 2: Renee, a homemaker of age 57, had been experiencing chronic low back pain for an extended period. Although one year of therapy had provided partial relief, she sought acupuncture treatment after noticing increased pain while showering. Additionally, she reported a persistent habit of clenching her left hand and picking her nails, particularly at night. She also experienced approximately 10 hot flashes per day.
- Acupuncture Points: Left-side Yin Horary points in the Wood Order: LR1 대돈, HT8 소부, SP3 태백, LU8 경거, KD10 음곡.
- Treatment Progress & Outcome: The patient received acupuncture treatment twice a week. After the first session, she experienced rapid relief from low back pain. By the third session, She reported reduced hand pain, as her unconscious urge to clench her fist and pick at her nails had diminished. Hot flashes were also beginning to subside. By the eighth session, the low back pain had completely resolved, and both hot flashes and hand discomfort were significantly reduced. By the twelfth session, all symptoms—including pain, nervous tics, and hot flashes—had nearly disappeared.
- Discussion: Acupuncture is a holistic therapy that addresses multiple issues simultaneously. In this case, seemingly unrelated concerns—spinal pain, nervous tics, and hormonal imbalance—were treated together through a single approach. This demonstrates acupuncture’s ability to restore balance and promote overall well-being by targeting the body’s natural regulatory systems.
