Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia~CAH

[Guest guest]

Has anyone here ever treated any kids with this disease?

 

TIA,

TaMara Hall

[Guest guest]

By definition CAH is a disease of dampness. The cause of the

hyperplasias should be discovered if possaible. If the case is

true 'Congenital' hyperplasia then solving the underlying causes may

be difficult to impossible. But as in many other 'Congenital'

malfunctions the symptoms can often be succesfully managed - it mainly

depends on how serious the disease is. Adrenal hyperplasias will show

up in the tests and the severity of these problems will be revealed by

improper production of hormones - such as DHEA and Testosterone. In my

opinion many later developing hyperplasias (first symptoms showing up

in adolescence or later) may be misdiagnosed with CAH and actually

have other forms of Hyperplasia. This issue is similar to Congenital

Renal cysts - which also has abnormal accumulations of fluids. All

such diseases must be treated in exactly the same way as any other

dampness disease as well as correcting any other TCM pattern imbalance.

 

If the patient is young and is developing abnormally (excess body hair

and or excess development of the genetalia) then this might be a

serious case that needs an Endocrinologist to help to deal with the

issue. The standard western treatment for CAH is suppresion of

either and or the Adrenals or ACTH. If this approach is used then a

traditional practioner can play a very important role in keeping the

patient stable and functioning optimaly. Diet, herbs, and accupuncture

are very helpful for anyone suffering from a genetic disease. I would

try these natural traditional techniques before going for suppression

of natural functions. But we must remember that true genetic diseases

are not cureable but the quality of life can be improved a great deal.

I have seen good success combining hormonal therapies with traditonal

techniques. As an example i have seen patients who suffer from disease

like Addison's achieve higherthan normal levels of health when their

Cortisol is maintained at normal levels and the whole organism is

carefully managed with herbs and diet. Many famous people have

achieved high levels of compatency combining techniques. President

John Kennedy thrived far above normal with Addison's. This is true of

many people who compensate missing hormones and carefully control diet.

 

If the symptoms have come on in adolescence or later and they are not

severe (abnormal body hair in females - excess body hair in men is not

a disease symptom in men if there are no other symptoms - but if the

boy has body hair in abnormal areas and or he is developing abnormal

genitals then this is true CAH) then the patient should be treated

according to any and all presenting TCM pattern imbalances. Working on

the Adrenals (work on both Kidney Yin and Yang)-remove excess dampness

and phlegm (meaning improve digestion)- these are essential. But each

patient should be examinedas an individual not as someone suffering

from a particul disease or other.

 

Many cases of congenital and incurable disease can be benefitedtoa

great extent by understanding the case and doing what ever is

necessary to help the patient obtain balanced functioning to the

extent possible. Each individual faces their own challenges as far as

genetics are concerned - an important part of life is learning the art

and science of living well within our racial, family, and personal

limitations.