Expert: R. Scott Malone L.Ac. - 8/26/2009

Question
QUESTION: I suffer from a rapid pulse beat in my right ear that can last for many days. Also dizzy spells, panic attacks that can be so bad that my legs spasm. Temple pains, classic migraine and abnormal fears, heavy painful legs that feel really weak and a feeling of inner coldness. What is this? My doctor says its hyper tension but the hospital disagrees...although they cant find an answer to it. Is it S.A.D or Meniers?

ANSWER: Hey Michael,

Well for starters, we don't use western diagnosis in TCM traditional Chinese medicine.
So what we look at is signs and symptoms and then correlate them to a TCM diagnosis.

Without a full intake what I can do is give you my ballpark diagnosis.
If you'd like an intake form emailed to you so I can get more specifics, you can
shoot me an email to rscott.malone@gmail.com and I'll give you my opinion.
There is no charge, and if you would leave off the contact information that would be super.

I would guesstimate that the migraine, dizziness, and spasming legs would be from liver yin/blood deficiency with liver yang ascendant. The liver yang could also be affecting the heart, esp if there is any heart yin deficiency.

Heavy legs are often a sign of dampness and or phlegm. Phlegm and dampness can also cause a stagnation or obstruction of the defensive qi causing a sensation of cold in the interior.
The fear and cold could on the other hand be signs of kidney deficiency.
Your practitioner should be able to tell the root cause of it in their diagnosis.

I think that with the appropriate acupuncture and herbal formulas, these symptoms can be rectified as the root cause is corrected.

Much of this probably won't make much sense to you, but the gist of it is that I believe that the issues you have can best be addressed with Chinese medicine and acupuncture.
In my clinic I do an initial run of 5 visits to see what we have and where we are going.
If there is no change in 5 visits I usually refer to someone else that I think could help.
So if you do go see someone, I would give it 5 or so treatments to really give the pratitioner a chance to get things moving.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to call upon me via allexperts.com

Best of luck,

R. Scott Malone L.Ac.

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

QUESTION: Where can I receive acupuncture treatment and at what cost per session? I am a pensioner so money is a little  scarce. I also suffer from two prolapsed discs in spine, crack in the neural arch,spond'litis,crushed nerves,spinal arthritis, sciatica L/R, and dropped foot.The hospital say surgery is out of the question as my spine is in an errendous condition and have put me on Tylex for the pain

Answer
Hello, hello,

I am in Colorado, so I really have no idea what the lay of the land is in the UK for tcm.
I would check the phone book and see if you have someone close by.
Acupuncture has a strong analgesic effect, so it would be helpful for pain relief.
You might also think about massage as an adjunct for pain relief.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help, best of luck,


R. Scott Malone L.Ac.