Her tongue was slightly Red, Swollen on the sides (Spleen-type of swelling), cracked and with a
rootless coating; it also had a Heart crack in the middle (Plate 9.4(266)). Her pulse was Weak on
both Rear positions, the Heart position was Weak and Short and the whole pulse had no wave.
She had been treated with acupuncture elsewhere (tonifying Spleen and resolving Dampness)
without much result. Her acupuncturist referred her to me.
Diagnosis This lady obviously has a Spleen deficiency manifesting with being
overweight, water retention and a swelling on the sides of the tongue.
However, there are other factors involved. The hot flushes, red
cheek-bones, insomnia, mental restlessness, Red tongue with rootless
coating and Weak pulse on both Kidney positions clearly indicate
Kidney-Yin deficiency. Besides this, there is also a Heart deficiency as
evidenced by the palpitations and the eyes without glitter indicating that
the Mind is disturbed.
When asked about it, she confirmed that she had been under tremendous
strain when she lived in East Africa having to manage a large farm for
two years after being widowed suddenly. Thus the main causes of
disease were sadness and shock (from bereavement) and fear. The
sadness showed in her eyes' lack of glitter and the fear in their scared
look.Treatment principle Nourish Kidney-Yin and Heart-Yin, subdue Empty-Heat, calm the Mind
and strengthen Will-Power.
Herbal treatment She was treated with herbs only. The main formula used was a variation
of Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan Heavenly Emperor Tonifying the Heart Pill:
Sheng Di Huang Radix Rehmanniae glutinosae 12 g
Mai Men Dong Tuber Ophiopogonis japonici 6 g
Tian Men Dong Tuber Asparagi cochinchinensis 6 g
Ren Shen Radix Ginseng 6 g
Fu Ling Sclerotium Poriae cocos 6 g
Wu Wei Zi Fructus Schisandrae chinensis 6 g
Dang Gui Radix Angelicae sinensis 6 g
Dan Shen Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae 6 g
Bai Zi Ren Semen Biotae orientalis 6 g
Suan Zao Ren Semen Ziziphi spinosae 6 g
Yuan Zhi Radix Polygalae tenuifoliae 6 g
Jie Geng Radix Platycodi grandiflori 3 g
Ze Xie Rhizoma Alismatis orientalis 4 g
Qing Hao Herba Artemisiae apiaceae 3 g
Qin Jiao Radix Gentianae macrophyllae 3 g