At a glance
Lifelong anxiety and broken sleep eased with targeted herbs and acupuncture, after a lifetime of carrying it.
Presentation
A 52-year-old patient came to the clinic carrying anxiety she had felt since childhood — something she described as inherited through her family. Alongside the anxiety, she woke many times during the night and struggled with constipation. After a lifetime of it, she was looking for genuine relief.
Diagnosis
In TCM terms, the picture matched two classical patterns: Zang Zao (a recognised pattern of restlessness and emotional disturbance, sometimes described as a kind of long-standing agitation) and a heat-related pattern of constipation in the digestive tract. Naming these patterns precisely allowed each to be matched to a targeted herbal formula.
Treatment
Treatment combined acupuncture, ear seeds, and herbal formulas chosen for the specific patterns:
- Dr. Tan’s Jueyin–Shaoyang combination — LI-1 (Shangyang), LI-4 (Hegu), PC-9 (Zhongchong), PC-6 (Neiguan), LR-1 (Dadun), LR-4 (Zhongfeng), ST-45 (Lidui), ST-42 (Chongyang) — a balancing set of points used to settle the mind and ease anxiety
Ear seeds followed Dr. Lichun Huang’s combination for anxiety. Herbal formulas were prescribed to treat the Zang Zao pattern and the constipation. For home care, she took up daily meditation and regular exercise to support the work.
Result
After taking the herbal formula for the Zang Zao pattern, her anxiety and insomnia resolved. For the constipation, she keeps herbal pills on hand to take whenever needed. After a lifetime of anxiety, she finally found steady relief.
This reflects an individual patient experience, not clinical trial data.
Results vary from person to person depending on the condition, its severity, and how an individual responds to treatment. TCM and acupuncture are not a substitute for care from your physician or another regulated health professional. If you’re dealing with a serious or urgent symptom, please see a doctor first.