acupuncture causing migraines/constipation ?? /finding a new practitioner?

[Guest guest]

I think my practitioner is going to dump me soon... I'm not responding well to

the herbs (so far), and she said I just may not be able to take herbs!

 

She uses Kamwo Herbal Pharm in NY.

 

The 1st formulation brought migraine/constipation/low temps. I stopped that

after 2 days.

 

The 2nd formulation was made at half strength. I'm a breastfeeding mom, and my

baby started having sleep issues. I started that on Tues - and he has had sleep

issues Tues, Wed, and Thurs nights. Additionally, I have noticed no good or bad

in myself, except possible slight temp lowering. I am stopping this for 3 days

or until my baby is back to normal. Then, she said to retry and see if my baby

is okay. (My baby had no issues with the 1st formula, though it was supposedly

much stronger).

 

I went to this practitioner to heal my mild lipoedema. I am thin, yet my legs

are mildly fat. I also have thyroid/adrenal issues, which I am working on with

success, with oral hydrocortisone and cytomel. My practitioner know about this

and seems to be stuck on the idea of my hypothyroidism being the cause of the

lipoedema - and therefore is focusing on treating the hypothyroidism. I DO

agree with her that the hypothyroidism is likely THE cause of the lipoedema.

BUT, I am unsure if this is the correct Chinese approach to be taking...

 

I've been doing acupuncture with her as well, but I have not seen any positives.

I've only had a negative (constipation/migraine) one time.

 

I chose this practitioner because she offers " group acupuncture " for

$20/session. There is no addl charge for prescribing the herbs. She is white -

not Chinese. Where I live, the avg charge for acupuncture is $80, with electric

$90. I completely don't understand how she can do this for such a low price, as

she does not seem to have a lot of business. But anyway, I am looking for more

options. We live in ATLANTA.

 

I am unsure if I really need acupuncture and may be more of an herb candidate.

I think that is what Al said when I originally posted. If that is the case,

would it be more affordable for me to do just herbs with a Chinese practitioner?

 

I used to go to a Chinese acupuncture dr who had packs of ground herbs from

China. It was all Chinese writing. She charged about $50 a week for herbs.

The one I am at now uses Kamwo, which is about $16 a week currently (for bulk

herbs that I boil and reboil, etc.). What is a reasonable price to be paying?

 

Thanks for all the help!

[Guest guest]

On Fri, Jul 10, 2009 at 11:31 AM, mom114425 <stompingbaby wrote:

 

>

>

> I think my practitioner is going to dump me soon... I'm not responding well

> to the herbs (so far), and she said I just may not be able to take herbs!

>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If I remember correctly, that was my first response too. Mostly because your

response to the formula were immediate, intense, and all over the map.

 

If all you want to do is get rid of some edema in your legs, perhaps some

exercise would be easier to handle? Something like that?

 

Or perhaps try a simple herb formula called Wu Ling San, its a diuretic.

 

I chose this practitioner because she offers " group acupuncture " for

> $20/session. There is no addl charge for prescribing the herbs. She is white

> - not Chinese. Where I live, the avg charge for acupuncture is $80, with

> electric $90. I completely don't understand how she can do this for such a

> low price, as she does not seem to have a lot of business. But anyway, I am

> looking for more options. We live in ATLANTA.

>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

" Community Acupuncture " is a newish business model for acupuncturists. Low

price, high volume. She'll need to increase her volume if she's charging

that amount, though. This model is actually much closer to the Chinese

model. In China, I never saw individual patient rooms with feng-shui

fountains, statues of Kuan-Yin or incense burning in the corner. More

commonly it was like a largish and sparsly decorated waiting room with

chairs all over the place. People were needled sitting up. That was an

arthritis clinic. In the Bells palsy clinic, there were some treatment

tables and chairs, all of which were employed.

 

Adding herbs for that price seems a bit much to me, but this is her choice.

Perhaps she's wealthy and doing this for her own non-business reasons? Who

can say?

 

 

> I am unsure if I really need acupuncture and may be more of an herb

> candidate. I think that is what Al said when I originally posted. If that is

> the case, would it be more affordable for me to do just herbs with a Chinese

> practitioner?

>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can't predict anybody's prices or their value to you. But it doesn't sound

like your current situation is working out.

 

 

> I used to go to a Chinese acupuncture dr who had packs of ground herbs

> from China. It was all Chinese writing. She charged about $50 a week for

> herbs. The one I am at now uses Kamwo, which is about $16 a week currently

> (for bulk herbs that I boil and reboil, etc.). What is a reasonable price to

> be paying?

>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don't know what these delivery systems are, raw herbs that are ground up?

How many doses? Expensive ingredients? Extract powders or raw herbs? Too

many variables to comment. Practitioners have different overhead costs too

AND some exploit the ignorant.

 

--

, DAOM

Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Al.

 

Yes, I think you did say that. But I don't understand. How can one person not

be able to use Chinese herbs, yet others can? It seems to me that I just need

*different* herbs, but maybe I am not understanding all of this...

 

My response to the 1st formula was low temps (thyroid?) / constipation /

migraine. I think that those three things are almost always related. Most

people with recurring migraines have constipation ( even if they do not know)

and hypothroidism (often not diagnosed). So, I think that the 1st formula

lowered my thyroid function, thus bringing constipation and migraine.

 

After my response to the 1st formula, my practitioner said that helps her know

that my lipoedema is in fact caused by my thyroid.

 

So, my current 2nd formula is supposed to increase thyroid function and increase

temps. I have had no adverse reaction, except my baby's sleep issues.

 

So with this info, do you really think that I cannot do herbs? Or do you think

that I just have not done the *right* herbs?

 

I truly do not have a lack of exercise. Lipoedema is accumulated fat and

fluid, which does not reduce with exercise. From my research, it is caused by

hypothyroidism. I'm happy to get rid of the lipoedema, but at the same time

realize I need to get my thyroid functioning fully.

 

I guess I will try to see if my current practitioner will work out. If not, how

can I find a GOOD practitioner? There are so many...

 

Thanks!

[Guest guest]

On Fri, Jul 10, 2009 at 12:24 PM, mom114425 <stompingbaby wrote:

 

>

>

> Thanks, Al.

>

> Yes, I think you did say that. But I don't understand. How can one person

> not be able to use Chinese herbs, yet others can? It seems to me that I just

> need *different* herbs, but maybe I am not understanding all of this...

>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No, you're right. But when symptoms are all over the place, I just don't try

to unravel it over an email exchange. But you are right. An in-person

interaction might be able to come up with a better formula for you.

 

 

So with this info, do you really think that I cannot do herbs? Or do you

> think that I just have not done the *right* herbs?

>

 

 

 

 

You can look around for a different practitioner. I've got no problem with

that, but I simply can't unravel your expectations, medical beliefs,

reactions, unknown herbs, and unknown dosages to explain any of this.

 

 

> I guess I will try to see if my current practitioner will work out. If not,

> how can I find a GOOD practitioner? There are so many...

>

 

 

 

 

When it comes to herbalism, I do prefer the Chinese or Korean trained

practitioners. However, I was trained in the US and consider myself up to

speed on the use of herbs. There are many American trained acupuncturists

who are very good with herbs, but probably a smaller percentage than the

Asian trained acupuncturists. The benefit of going to an American trained

herbalist is that communication (language AND culture) is easier. But many

of us aren't that deep in our understanding of herbs.

 

So, how to find a good one? Perhaps find a school nearby that teaches

acupuncture and herbalism? Have one of their clinical supervisors treat you?

School treatments tend to be cheaper too.

 

--

, DAOM

Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Dear Al Stone,

    Yes, I can understand your hesitation.

    But I just picked up your question to answer at that moment, I just gave my

opinion about the problem. Because I see people use herdal spray or herbal

patchs to deal with edema for most scale, and I also used it to cure myself from

edema in the ankle which I got when playing basketball.

    I am not going to evaluate your practitioner, but I don't think it is the

cheapest proves the best effeciency that she gives, if she wants to show that.

    However, I still want to remind you that most of acupuncture therapies are

combined with medecine especially herbs, and " right "  herbal products contain no

chemical ingredient, that is why I suggested you to take Chinese or Korea herbs.

    Hope you can get well soon!

    Best wishes!

 

Yours

 Landou