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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2005 >> TCM   Traditional Chinese Medicine
        
(Message started by: stevema on Sep 27^th, 2005, 9:54am)

Title: TCM Traditional Chinese Medicine
Post by stevema on Sep 27^th, 2005, 9:54am

I came to China over ten years ago and am unfortunately able to confirm that the beast lives here too ! During a cycle in '99, I went to a Chinese doctor (Chinese doctors are divided between western and traditional Chinese medicine - I saw a western doc) and he gave me prednisone. I did not fill the script.

Around the same time I had a friend who recommended a TCM doctor and he did some acupuncture, which worked a bit but he wasn't that expert at it and the results were mixed.

This last cycle, I waited until they got really bad and recently found a really good acupuncturist, he is the Director of the Acupuncture Center of the local TCM Traditional Chinese Medicine hospital here. The first time I went I could tell he knew what he was doing, he put the needles in quite professionally. Then he hooked up an electrical current to a few of the needles (like in the neck and head - total number of needles including leg and arm around 6 or 7). The pulse of the current causes the muscles to twitch and it is pretty freaky BUT I think it has helped a bit. I have had 2 hospital visits so far and the frequency of attacks has decreased. TCM is renowned for working slowly as it is natural and takes a while to kick in. I am drinking some herbal meds also and they taste nasty but, I also believe in them. I have had very good experience with Chinese medicine for skin ailments, colds and now it seems for CH. If you are willing to try new things, I recommend it to anyone.

Note, if you do seek TCM treatment in any country, make sure the doctor is experienced and qualified...some are not. And I think that he/she should be Chinese, but a Westerner will do if no other choice. Same is true in China, you've gotta get a good doctor to begin with.

Title: Re: TCM Traditional Chinese Medicine
Post by vig on Sep 27^th, 2005, 10:19am

on 09/27/05 at 09:54:21, stevema wrote:

I am drinking some herbal meds also and they taste nasty but, I also believe in them.

good luck and it's interesting...
but now you don't know which is helping; the herbs, or the needles, it could even be your episode trailing away...
control the experiment

Title: Re: TCM Traditional Chinese Medicine
Post by stevema on Sep 27^th, 2005, 10:28am

yes, i see your point and in fact i am almost at the 4 week period and i am an episodic with history of 4 week cluster cycles, so it could be the end anyway. That said, I do strongly believe in the efficacy of TCM especially acupuncture, but how and when and why it works, I am unsure. I do know that it doesn't hurt, so why not give it a try is how I see it. If it makes you feel better, hallelujah ! I wish I had a more scientific study for you. Anyone have anything on this?

Title: Re: TCM Traditional Chinese Medicine
Post by floridian on Sep 27^th, 2005, 10:39am

Read the threads on kudzu here. Many people have had good results. It is used in TCM for headache, neckache, allergies and tinnitus, among other things.

http://www.med-owl.com/clusterheadaches/tiki-index.php?page=Kudzu

Chinese Angelica Tang Kuei (Dang Qai) is also used for migraine, might help with clusters - not sure.

Lots of people have tried acupuncture - the large majority saw no improvement.

Title: Re: TCM Traditional Chinese Medicine
Post by stevema on Sep 27^th, 2005, 10:49am

thanks !
I am pretty new to posting here, and I guess there is a lot that has already been said, so first off, let me say sorry if I am too newbie and all that.
Please bear with me if you find my posts are kooky...
Like everyone here, I am just looking for that something, that elusive anything that we'd all do to stop the pain. I definitely appreciate your input.

Title: Re: TCM Traditional Chinese Medicine
Post by rextangle on Sep 27^th, 2005, 1:04pm

Steve, welcome aboard...

You wrote:I am drinking some herbal meds also and they taste nasty but, I also believe in them...

Could you be more specific? What kind of herbal meds have you tried?

Just wondering,
Rex

Title: Re: TCM Traditional Chinese Medicine
Post by stevema on Sep 27^th, 2005, 9:08pm

Some of it , I am not sure what it is. I trust my friend though, and she is a qualified physician. Anyway, she advised me to take the liquid from boiling a mix of things, including the inner skin of bamboo, a type of orange peel, some roots, all together about 6 things put together. The smell is actually nice, and if you drink the brew when hot, it is ok. As soon as it cools though, it is a bit unpalatable. I will ask her for more info, keep in mind that some of it may not have an English name !
I have taken brews like this for colds and flus, and they were definitely effective. OK, will check this one out for you

Title: Re: TCM Traditional Chinese Medicine
Post by nani on Sep 27^th, 2005, 9:33pm

If your tea has kudzu root in it, Steve, then I'm not surprised if you're feeling a little better.
Look here (read all the links that are included):
http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=meds;action=display;num=1110584362

Accupuncture on it's own probably wont do much for the CH, but it can help you feel better overall.
JMHO
pain free wishes nani

Title: Re: TCM Traditional Chinese Medicine
Post by stevema on Oct 2^nd, 2005, 3:01pm

hi again,
well, i checked and the herbal brew does not have kudzu (ge gen) in it.
Anyway,
Thanks for all the support guys !