This is the case of Beatrisia, a recent patient of mine in her late 60s who is presently on the three-week plan, which amounts to eight sessions per year. In these sessions we try to cover as much as possible in about 90 minutes. About 1/3 of this time is assessing pressing concerns along with what presents itself from hands-on diagnosis.
Beatrisia reported arthritis-type symptom with her finger mobility… disconcerting to say the least as she works with her hands. Her left ring finger was sore to touch. A physical therapist advised certain finger exercises to which she did not respond. I mentioned that the cause of the pain was not likely the fingers and suggested her back as the problem, whereupon she said she had also had some pain under the scapula, aka wing bone.
Beatrisia also reported being constipated. Additionally, any pain with the extremities requires thorough examination of the neck, where she was very tender at the base of the right skull. Right-sided tension at the base of the skull often signifies an imbalance between the liver and the large intestine which involves elimination in a dynamic involving the efficiency of blood coursing through the portal vein connecting the two. Since it was on the right side, it was not affecting her fingers but it should be treated any way.
Her pulse was still rapid from the last session, and furthermore started experiencing leg cramps, an adverse reaction from herbs I’d prescribed to modulate blood sugar and underlying heat, though the herbs did resolve her great thirst noted in the previous session. She had not noticed until asked. Tongue was still dry looking nonetheless. I concluded that the rapid pulse was more an expression of underlying stress upon the central nervous system, more sympathetic dominance than heat-type inflammation. This points to liver pathology, which seems to be confirmed since she expresses a depression-type demeanor. Synchonistically, she mentions something about depression without prompting and muscle tests positive for a formulation that treats depression through the liver, which may also down regulate the sympathetic nervous system.
We haven’t much time to work, but for Beatrisia to feel better her liver flow must be restored. This will address the pain at the base of the skull on the right side and assist in elimination. This was successful signified in particular by a rumbling of the stomach, but the treatment protocol included treating the lung. This took me to a more big picture perspective.
Lung is connected to the large intestine. Large intestine in part is a circulatory organ and even though the heart commands circulation it is derived from the power of the lung. Beatrisia has an underlying respiratory weakness.
The front side complete, Beatrisia turns over face down. She has a buffalo hump, common among lung deficient patients. I explain the role of the lung for large intestine motility. I treat the buffalo hump, a lung point, and use Chinese massage on the scapula. I squeeze her ring finger after each round of massage till there is no pain. Pills to augment treatment of depression through the liver and . Session complete.
Conscious Acupuncture Conclusion on Finger Arthritis
Finger pain should not be seen as anything but the result of a big picture. In the case of Beatrisia her pain boils down to an underlying lung weakness which compromises blood flow and increases tension in the upper back. In such cases, physical therapy exercises focused on the fingers are bound to be useless because there is no appreciation for the big picture involving the lungs and the liver. The fingers are only expressing a problem occurring higher along the nerve pathway as a result of weak lungs. We know this is true because acupuncture massage in the scapular area eliminated the pain and the physic is consistent with a certain lung weakness type.
Making treatments last means offering some simple activities that won’t overburden Beatrisia while producing noticeable results. She has been encouraged to work the qi through yoga or a qi-gong form I’ve introduced and to take the pills prescribed.
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