Female, 70 years with pain in the shoulders, back and knees, weakness in the lower back and knees, joint stiffness and tightness of the calves, worse in the mornings, over the past few years. Diagnosed with osteoporosis by her GP, taking Calcium, Magnesium, and vitamin D (long term).
First came in the Autumn and symptoms had been worsening, in the morning it takes her over half an hour to get out of bed and put her clothes on, urinary frequency with nocturia 1 – 2 times, low energy, fatigue, irritability, aversion to cold, body feels cold. Pulse: Deep-thready Tongue: Deep red, moist coat
TCM Diagnosis:
Kidney Yang deficiency
Treatment:
Treatment Principle: Warm and tonify the Kidney Yang
Treatment: ChinaMed® Osteo Support Formula (CM163) Dosage: 2 pills, 3 times daily Was also advised to continue with the nutritional supplements. Also given acupuncture treatment. SECOND CONSULTATION After 2 weeks, her condition had improved. Dry mouth, deep-thready pulse, deep red tongue with a thin white coat.
Treatment: Acupuncture. ChinaMed® Osteo Support Formula (CM163) Dosage: 2 capsules, 3 times daily THIRD CONSULTATION: After 2 weeks, much relief from her symptoms, mouth no longer dry, deep-thready pulse, deep red tongue with a thin white coat. Treatment: Acupuncture. ChinaMed® Osteo Support Formula (CM163) Dosage: 2 capsules, 3 times daily
Was advised to continue with this regimen throughout the winter (i.e. bi-weekly acupuncture and ChinaMed® Osteo Support Formula (CM163) daily)
Outcome:
By the time the weather had started to become warm in Spring she had significantly improved and was in good spirits. I advised her to continue taking Osteo Support Formula at 1 capsule, 3 times daily.
Comments:
Both formulas that were prescribed to this patient have the actions of warming the Yang and tonifying the Kidney to strengthen the tendons and bones. In my experience the pill formula is more warming. It should be noted that both formulas are Chinese herbal medicines and therefore they are compatible with nutritional supplementation and good results can be obtained with this combined approach to treatment. It is important to note that when prescribing warming and tonifying formulas that their use should be temporarily discontinued if the patient catches a cold or the ‘flu, has a sore throat or manifests any signs of Heat.
