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2:02 pm
June 27, 2012
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Hello ND!
I have a 29 year old patient who I haven't seen in a year who emailed me saying he has recently been diagnosed with a blood clot in his inner left thigh. It has caused him much pain and he hasn't been able to find any support with it. He would really like to come in for treatment but I am hesitant as I don't have experience with blood clots and have never learned about treating them. Perhaps that is because acu is not appropriate for this? Or perhaps it just never came up in clinic. I was hopping you might be able to offer any insight? Also if he is on blood thinners, or if he isnt how does this contribute to treatment. Should I stay away and keep him on only with his MD? Or do I support his constitution and help to clear the stasis without provoking that area directly?
All your thoughts are appreciated!
Thank you!
Katrina.
3:08 pm
Expert
September 4, 2011
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My inclination, all things considered, would be to use the blood moving herbs internally as well as a formula to address underlying issues. What do others think? Any risk of letting the clot loose? I've never seen or heard of this happening. A large concern would be if they put him on blood thinners. Then, I'd be concerned about herb interaction with the meds. A possible poultice might help if it's in a superficial artery?
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4:01 pm
Practitioner
October 4, 2011
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Great question. Although I've never had a patient with a blood clot, I've often wondered about it.
Would local moxa be appropriate in a case like this?
12:54 am
June 27, 2012
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So it sounds like there isn't an immediate opposition or warning to do acu with clots? It should be safe then to treat the constitution and why the patient has began to form this stagnation? The bigger concern might rather be in using herbs depending on weather he is on an Rx or not?
Thanks!
7:14 am
Expert
September 4, 2011
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Anna? Ross?
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5:54 pm
Premium
October 4, 2011
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I thought I made a post here but I don't see it--
The risk of a DVT in the thigh traveling to the lungs and causing a pulmonary embolus is higher than with a calf DVT. Of course if it is in a superficial vein the risk is lower. I presume the patient is under the care of a WM physician to assess the need for anticoagulation, thrombolytics, and/or a vena cava filter. If that is the case there is certainly no problem with acupuncture.
In the conservative south here herbs are less accepted and so I would hesitate to use the blood-moving herbs in such a patient--but that does not mean that there is not a safe way to do it--I have never studied it and don't have formal training and would refer to one of the herbalists in our area. If anything went awry, the herbs, being the more "unkwown" factor, would be easy to blame...
I have always used opportunities like this to interface with the WM doctors and introduce them to what I do. About 15 years ago, I talked with a neurologist about a case we shared (infant with intractable seizures) and he has been referring me all sorts of interesting cases since!
9:05 am
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November 16, 2011
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I have treated blood clots a number of times with acupuncture and herbs as well as essential oils. Typically, the patients are under the care of a western doctor, but I agree with Anna, that if anything goes awry, blame will most certainly fall on the more unknown therapy.
With that being said, invigorating the blood is important, but also important is to give an outlet for the stagnation, often times being through the large intestine when looking at the lower burner.
Always treating the individual and the constitution and concurrent diagnoses are crucial. And utilizing the essential oil blends topically to break up the stagnation are also very helpful in my experience.
1:04 pm
Practitioner
October 4, 2011
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Which essential oils do you typically use? Is moxa ever appropriate for this? If not, can you explain why?
1:58 pm
Premium
November 16, 2011
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The exact oils and treatments of course depend on all the other info and diagnoses.
Some of the oils I have used for this are:
myrrh
parsley
grapefruit
lavender
clary sage
cumin
celery seed
usually in base of safflower oil
2:05 pm
Practitioner
October 4, 2011
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Thank you!
What about moxa? Anyone?
5:34 pm
Premium
October 4, 2010
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Ross, do you use cumin seed oil? If so it would be very different than cilantro oil - is there such a thing?
6:27 pm
Premium
November 16, 2011
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Yes Kelly, it is the seed (same for parsley, too).
8:36 am
Premium
October 4, 2011
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My father had a blood clot in his leg a few yrs ago and I asked about it and got a number of helpful responses from ppl including Rick Agel. You might search for that topic here.
4:53 pm
Practitioner
October 4, 2011
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Sandy, do you remember the title of that thread?
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