Expert: R. Scott Malone L.Ac. - 6/30/2008

Question
QUESTION: Dear R. Scott Malone, I wanted to enquire about my mother's neuropathy and
the possibility of acupuncture to treat a condition like this. Her condition was
set on by a severe vitamin deficiency, which has since been treated. But the
neuropathy is lasting. They have tried many drugs which indeed take most
nerve pain away. But these make her incredibly nauseous and dizzy to the
point where she has to either choose one or the other. In Shanghai I have
recently undergone acupuncture myself with impressive results. The one key
point with my mother is that because of ongoing stomach problems, she will
likely not be able to take the accompanying Chinese herbs. So I was hoping
you could tell me 1. Is it possible for acupuncture alone to help with the
nerve pain? 2. How much should a session of acupuncture cost in the states?
3. Could you recommend a doctor in the Cleveland area. I would appreciate
you responding by email. Thank so much, Jason

ANSWER: Hi Jason,

In TCM, (traditional Chinese medicine), it is paramount to ask the question why. Why did a symptom occur, what is the root?

If the neuropathy had in actuality been caused by a severe vitamin deficiency, then correcting the deficiency would have corrected the neuropathy as well.

Where is the neuropathy? I find it interesting that she has a stomach condition. What are the symptoms? If you can tell me more about the condition, I can be more specific.

Whatever the stomach problem is, there is a Chinese formula to remedy it.
If the formula is appropriate to the condition and in the proper doseage, then she should have no problem taking it.

I think that there is a great possiblity that the neuropathy and the stomach condition are interrelated. You will most likely need herbs to correct this condition. Neuropathy is most often a heat condition.
The question is, is it true heat, qi excess, or false heat, yin deficiency or internal dryness.

As far as what it should cost, that is completely dependant on the local economy. In one area $50 may be average, and in another $75 or $100 may be more appropriate. The best way to find out what is normal for the area, is to call 3 or 4 and ask what it would cost for an intake and first visit, then what a normal visit and a weeks worth of herbs would cost.

Send me more info, and perhaps I can be of more assistance.

R. Scott Malone L.Ac.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks so much for your response. I will do my best to provide more
information. Because the vitamin deficiency was so severe, the neuropathy
didn't go away after she was treated for the deficiency. Apparently it is
something she will have to live with for the rest of her life.

I think there is a good chance that all these things--the stomach problems,
the vitamin deficiency, the nerve pain are all interconnected. The trouble with
my mom is getting here to quit the many medicines she is already taking for
the stomach problems. If it were me, after more than 10 years of
unsatisfactory treatment from Western medicine, I would be keen to try
anything new. Unfortunately, she is more conservative so that is why I
suggested just using the acupuncture because I knew it would interfere with
Western medicine. so I guess I would ask, is it possible to try Chinese herbs
at the same time as she continues taking here current medicines? Is it
common an safe to say, quit the Western medicine and try the Chinese herbs
for 1 or 2 months to see the results. The general response I have gotten from
Western docs is that it is not safe to mix the two kinds of medicine.  Much
thanks, Jason

Answer
Hey Jason,

I could see where a severe vitamin deficiency causing nerve damege could take a long time to clear, nerves are notoriously slow to heal.

All acupuncturists have patients on western meds. It's just the state of the nation. I have never had any drug/herbal complications.
I have had diabetes patients have to alter their dosage of insulin because they didn't need as much, but that's about it for me.

My rule of thumb is to take the herbs an hour away from any other meds. Western medicine is usually very strong and somewhat harsh, and it can decrease the efficacy of of the herbal formula.

Chinese medicine works with the body to balance it, so when things come back into balance and symptoms abate, patients sometimes have no need for a particular medicine any more.

I would NOT recommend that she stop her meds to try Chinese herbs.
that would be a pretty big shock to the system that has gotten used to those meds. IF she takes the herbs and her syptoms clear, then if SHE decides to stop taking something, she should do so in the way her MD recommends is best. Usually there is a decrease in doseage until they stop altogether.

No acupuncturist should ever tell someone what to do with there western meds, it is out of the scope of our practice, that decision is up to the patient and the patient alone. MDs can advise you as to what you can and in their opinion should do, but the patient holds
the power to make the final decision.

The question the patient should ask is, if the symptoms were there while taking the meds, and dissappeared after a month or two on herbal medicine, is there still a need to take the meds?

If you are getting nutritional advice from your MD, I would recommend that you look at other sources of information as well.
Nutrition is a very small component of the MD training. Unless they specialize in nutrition, (which very few do), their information is usually only as up to date as when they were in school.
Nutrition is a constantly changing body of information.
Seek an EXPERT in nutrition, not someone who just has a working familiarity with it. An expert in nutrition is going to be someone who practices nutrition primarily and anything else secondarily.
You are really only as good at something as the amount you practice it.  
I would also recommend that you check out westinaprice.org for information, and standardprocess.com to find someone that actually specializes in nutrition locally in your area. Make sure you look at whole food supplements, and not synthetic vitamins for optimal health.

Take care, and let me know how it turns out.

R. Scott Malone L.Ac.