scar treatment

[Guest guest]

Dear group,

 

I am no expert in scar treatment, and I would like to ask for your advice in

a case with severe scarring due to bone lengthening with an Ilizarov

apparatus. My patient, 28 yo, complains of severe tightness, not only in his

upper thigh but everywhere in his body. He's also quite nervous, is a

physiotherapist who works 12-14hrs per day and only sleeps for 5 hrs per

night.

He has obvious liver qi stagnation (no blood stasis signs noted in pulse or

tongue), but I would like to know if any of you have experience treating

deep scars? Several of his scars are bone-deep. If you push your finger in

the scar you can actually feel the femur. He also has decreased sensitivity

around these scars.

 

I have performed cupping once, and many areas on his back and his whole

thigh turned purple. But how about needling these scars? Are there any

protocols/ special techniques?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Tom.

 

Acupunctuurpraktijk Tom Verhaeghe

Stationsplein 59

B-8770 Ingelmunster

051 699 005

tom.verhaeghe

www.chinese-geneeskunde.be

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Tom:

 

My experience with scars has been excellent, however I've not had

patients with as profound scarring as you indicate. I always needle

scars directly and add electricity and direct application of herbal

oils. Deep scarring responds well to internal herbal therapy in

conjunction with direct needling. I have had good luck with home use of

low level lasers in similar cases. Lonterm and deep scarring takes

more work and time, but is worth it.

 

In terms of physical activity, motion is supported, governed and

restricted by the fasciae. Treating scars normalizes this.

 

Herbs should follow the patient's overall health picture.

 

Bill.

[Guest guest]

Thank you for your reply, Bill.

What kind of herbal oil would you use around scars? The usual baak fa yau

(white flower oil) or do you use a specific brand?

I have put my patient on a chai hu shu gan tang modification, including one

blood mover. Perhaps I should have added more blood invigorating herbs to

address his scarring?

 

Thanks,

 

Tom.

 

 

----

 

William Morse, D.C., FIACA

1/04/2008 22:11:48

Chinese Medicine

Re: scar treatment

 

Tom:

 

My experience with scars has been excellent, however I've not had

patients with as profound scarring as you indicate. I always needle

scars directly and add electricity and direct application of herbal

oils. Deep scarring responds well to internal herbal therapy in

conjunction with direct needling. I have had good luck with home use of

low level lasers in similar cases. Lonterm and deep scarring takes

more work and time, but is worth it.

 

In terms of physical activity, motion is supported, governed and

restricted by the fasciae. Treating scars normalizes this.

 

Herbs should follow the patient's overall health picture.

 

Bill.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Tom:

 

There's no easy answer to your question, but I most commonly use

simple flax or grapeseed oils for most cases since they are " general "

in effect - that is, have some effect for all patients. I then blend

oils depending on the patients constitution - or at least as I see

it. White flower is especially great. I use calendula flower oil

the most since it is local and a wonderful tissue healer (scar

softner). I use grapeseed oil as a base since it's effective, has

lots of phytogens and is not excessively expensive, but usually blend

other oils and herb infusions as appropriate. The oil should not

feel " oily " . Witchhazel can be added to increase absorption through

the skin. Lighter oils such as walnut oil should be used around

mucous membranes which can be highly sensitive, especially in

patients with allergies (chronic).

 

I didn't mention it, but needling along the scar (parallel to the

skin) is very effective, especially when perpendicluar needling

doesn't seem to be moving along. The longer the needle, the better.

I also use non-scarring moxa to excite the tissues and promote

regeneration. With the local needles I use Luo connecting points and

any major efective points adjacent to the scar as a " primary "

formula, but really focus on treating the emblems.

 

The scar will often change character as the first sign of therapy.

This may be variable. Hard scars become soft and sometimes hard for

a bit then soften. Small scars will enlarge, soften and then

reduce. There are many patterns. I like to think that there

is " retracing " going on - that is, a reversal of the scars history.

Many times patients will begin to recall the incident sequence which

verifies this theory. Often there is no apparent connection.

 

Expect results or changes quickly, however thinning to a line may

take several months, especially at thin skin areas like the face.

Keloid scars are the most difficult to work with and require

extensive internally applied herbs and may contra- indicate the use

of moxa. Any scar wider that 1/8 inch will require special care and

additional time.

 

I have seen 4 inch bed sores resorb completely with needle

application only in a matter of days to weeks, but most deep scars

require more time.

 

My best advice would be work it up for 3 or 4 weeks and if the

patient's progress is neither predictible or evident, get help with

the case.

 

Bill

[Guest guest]

You might try Russian SCENAR and MET therapy. The scars or keloids go away

rather rapidly.

 

Don Snow, DAOM, MPH, LAc

 

 

:

dokkabill: Thu, 3 Apr 2008 01:11:55 +0000Re:

scar treatment

 

 

 

 

Tom:There's no easy answer to your question, but I most commonly use simple flax

or grapeseed oils for most cases since they are " general " in effect - that is,

have some effect for all patients. I then blend oils depending on the patients

constitution - or at least as I see it. White flower is especially great. I use

calendula flower oil the most since it is local and a wonderful tissue healer

(scar softner). I use grapeseed oil as a base since it's effective, has lots of

phytogens and is not excessively expensive, but usually blend other oils and

herb infusions as appropriate. The oil should not feel " oily " . Witchhazel can be

added to increase absorption through the skin. Lighter oils such as walnut oil

should be used around mucous membranes which can be highly sensitive, especially

in patients with allergies (chronic).I didn't mention it, but needling along the

scar (parallel to the skin) is very effective, especially when perpendicluar

needling doesn't seem to be moving along. The longer the needle, the better. I

also use non-scarring moxa to excite the tissues and promote regeneration. With

the local needles I use Luo connecting points and any major efective points

adjacent to the scar as a " primary " formula, but really focus on treating the

emblems.The scar will often change character as the first sign of therapy. This

may be variable. Hard scars become soft and sometimes hard for a bit then

soften. Small scars will enlarge, soften and then reduce. There are many

patterns. I like to think that there is " retracing " going on - that is, a

reversal of the scars history. Many times patients will begin to recall the

incident sequence which verifies this theory. Often there is no apparent

connection. Expect results or changes quickly, however thinning to a line may

take several months, especially at thin skin areas like the face. Keloid scars

are the most difficult to work with and require extensive internally applied

herbs and may contra- indicate the use of moxa. Any scar wider that 1/8 inch

will require special care and additional time. I have seen 4 inch bed sores

resorb completely with needle application only in a matter of days to weeks, but

most deep scars require more time. My best advice would be work it up for 3 or 4

weeks and if the patient's progress is neither predictible or evident, get help

with the case.Bill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

William and Don,

 

thank you for taking the time to answer my query.

 

I will look into your suggestions and discuss them with my patient.

 

Thanks again,

 

Tom.

 

 

 

----

 

Donald Snow

3/04/2008 18:26:57

Chinese Traditional Medicine

RE: Re: scar treatment

 

 

You might try Russian SCENAR and MET therapy. The scars or keloids go away

rather rapidly.

 

Don Snow, DAOM, MPH, LAc

 

: dokkabill@mindspring

comThu, 3 Apr 2008 01:11:55 +0000Re: scar treatment

 

Tom:There's no easy answer to your question, but I most commonly use simple

flax or grapeseed oils for most cases since they are " general " in effect -

that is, have some effect for all patients. I then blend oils depending on

the patients constitution - or at least as I see it. White flower is

especially great. I use calendula flower oil the most since it is local and

a wonderful tissue healer (scar softner). I use grapeseed oil as a base

since it's effective, has lots of phytogens and is not excessively expensive

but usually blend other oils and herb infusions as appropriate. The oil

should not feel " oily " . Witchhazel can be added to increase absorption

through the skin. Lighter oils such as walnut oil should be used around

mucous membranes which can be highly sensitive, especially in patients with

allergies (chronic).I didn't mention it, but needling along the scar

(parallel to the skin) is very effective, especially when perpendicluar

needling doesn't seem to be moving along. The longer the needle, the better.

I also use non-scarring moxa to excite the tissues and promote regeneration.

With the local needles I use Luo connecting points and any major efective

points adjacent to the scar as a " primary " formula, but really focus on

treating the emblems.The scar will often change character as the first sign

of therapy. This may be variable. Hard scars become soft and sometimes hard

for a bit then soften. Small scars will enlarge, soften and then reduce.

There are many patterns. I like to think that there is " retracing " going on

- that is, a reversal of the scars history. Many times patients will begin

to recall the incident sequence which verifies this theory. Often there is

no apparent connection. Expect results or changes quickly, however thinning

to a line may take several months, especially at thin skin areas like the

face. Keloid scars are the most difficult to work with and require extensive

internal ly applied herbs and may contra- indicate the use of moxa. Any scar

wider that 1/8 inch will require special care and additional time. I have

seen 4 inch bed sores resorb completely with needle application only in a

matter of days to weeks, but most deep scars require more time. My best

advice would be work it up for 3 or 4 weeks and if the patient's progress is

neither predictible or evident, get help with the case.Bill

 

 

[Guest guest]

Don:

 

Enlighten me as to MET therapy.

 

Thanks,

 

Bill

[Guest guest]

Dan, have you seen the results first hand using this device? Do you use Scenar?

 

 

Donald Snow <don83407

Chinese Traditional Medicine

Thursday, April 3, 2008 12:14:34 PM

RE: Re: scar treatment

 

 

You might try Russian SCENAR and MET therapy. The scars or keloids go away

rather rapidly.

 

Don Snow, DAOM, MPH, LAc

 

dokkabill@mindsprin

g.comThu, 3 Apr 2008 01:11:55 +0000Re: scar treatment

 

Tom:There's no easy answer to your question, but I most commonly use simple flax

or grapeseed oils for most cases since they are " general " in effect - that is,

have some effect for all patients. I then blend oils depending on the patients

constitution - or at least as I see it. White flower is especially great. I use

calendula flower oil the most since it is local and a wonderful tissue healer

(scar softner). I use grapeseed oil as a base since it's effective, has lots of

phytogens and is not excessively expensive, but usually blend other oils and

herb infusions as appropriate. The oil should not feel " oily " . Witchhazel can be

added to increase absorption through the skin. Lighter oils such as walnut oil

should be used around mucous membranes which can be highly sensitive, especially

in patients with allergies (chronic).I didn't mention it, but needling along the

scar (parallel to the skin) is very effective, especially when perpendicluar

needling

doesn't seem to be moving along. The longer the needle, the better. I also use

non-scarring moxa to excite the tissues and promote regeneration. With the local

needles I use Luo connecting points and any major efective points adjacent to

the scar as a " primary " formula, but really focus on treating the emblems.The

scar will often change character as the first sign of therapy. This may be

variable. Hard scars become soft and sometimes hard for a bit then soften. Small

scars will enlarge, soften and then reduce. There are many patterns. I like to

think that there is " retracing " going on - that is, a reversal of the scars

history. Many times patients will begin to recall the incident sequence which

verifies this theory. Often there is no apparent connection. Expect results or

changes quickly, however thinning to a line may take several months, especially

at thin skin areas like the face. Keloid scars are the most difficult to work

with and require

extensive internally applied herbs and may contra- indicate the use of moxa.

Any scar wider that 1/8 inch will require special care and additional time. I

have seen 4 inch bed sores resorb completely with needle application only in a

matter of days to weeks, but most deep scars require more time. My best advice

would be work it up for 3 or 4 weeks and if the patient's progress is neither

predictible or evident, get help with the case.Bill

 

 

[Guest guest]

Please, what works for ridding patients' visual floaters?

 

 

**************

 

Planning your summer road trip? Check out AOL Travel Guides.

 

(http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/united-states?ncid=aoltrv00030000000016)