Depression

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Hi Everybody!

 

Today's patient is a 49 year old female suffering from depression. She has

a history of alcohol abuse but is not currently drinking, joined AA 18

years ago and has been sober since then. She had a hysterectomy at age 41

and malignant melanoma removed at about the same time. She separated her

shoulder at age 47, this healed normally. She is currently taking Celexa

but she would like to use TCM to control her depression instead. She was

hospitalized for suicidal thoughts in 1997.

 

The following is my report, your comments are invited.

 

Patient number: 219041810

 

Observe:

 

Small movement, continuous fidgeting especially of the legs. Yes.

(deficient heat in the kidneys)

Dry lifeless color indicates exhausted Stomach-Qi)

Green face color (indicates a Liver pattern, interior Cold, pain or

interior Wind) Yes.

Broad, square shoulders, slow and deliberate, strong build, triangular

face, " Metal Type " . Yes.

Fat body. Yes

crack at the front of the earlobe is heart.

Observe the lips. Dry.

Tongue color. Pink.

Tongue shape. Wide.

Tongue coating. Slight white.

Tongue moisture. Dry.

 

Inquire:

 

Gradual onset of headache. Yes.

Character of the headache pain: Dull.

Condition of the patient while having the headache. Annoyed.

Pain that is relieved by touch or pressure. Yes. (deficient)

Incomplete urination, dribbling or lack of force. Yes.

Undigested food in the stool. Yes. Especially corn.

Purple or blackish menstrual blood. Sometimes.

Congealed menses with clots. Yes.

Taking contraceptive pills. Yes. For two years age 19 and 20.

White leucorrhea. Yes. Years ago.

Change in sinews, such as weak or stiff. Yes.

Throws off the blanket at night. Yes. (excess heat maybe liver or heart)

 

Listen & smell:

 

Frequent laughter without reason. Yes. (fire imbalance)

Crying. Yes. (related to metal, lung deficiency)

 

Palpate:

 

Systolic blood pressure (Optimal <120; 98

Diastolic blood pressure (Optimal <80; 72

Heart rate. 65

Slow pulse less than 70 beats per minute. Yes. (cold or insufficient qi)

Hidden pulse is an extreme form of the sinking pulse. Yes. (Deficient Yang

if weak)

Dry skin. Yes. (deficiency of liver blood)

 

Summary of patterns:

 

deficient heat in the kidneys

exhausted Stomach-Qi

Liver pattern, interior Cold, pain or interior Wind

Metal Type

Fat body. Central Obesity.

crack at the front of the earlobe is heart.

deficient

excess heat maybe liver or heart

fire imbalance

related to metal, lung deficiency

cold or insufficient qi

Deficient Yang if weak

deficiency of liver blood

 

Organs/Meridians: Kidney, Stomach, Liver, Heart, Lung.

 

 

Treatment principles/points:

Consolidate Kidney, Reinforce Qi. Du 4; Ki 3, 12; Ren 3, 4, 6; Sp 6; UB

22, 23, 28, 39.

Strengthen Stomach Qi, Invigorate Spleen. Ren 6, 12; Sp 6; St 21, 36; UB

20, 21.

Nourish Blood, Subdue Wind. Du 14, 16, 20, 26; Lv 3, 8; Ren 4; Sp 6; St 36;

UB 17, 18, 20.

Reinforce and strengthen Heart Qi. Ht 7, P 6; Ren 6, 14, 17; St 36; UB 15.

Reinforce Lungs, Strengthen Qi, Restore the descending function of Lung Qi.

Lu 7, 9; Ren 6, 17; St 36; UB 13,43.

 

Regards,

 

 

Pete