A 76-year-old woman came to our clinic complaining of fatigue, lack of motivation, foggy thinking, edema, weight gain, low back and knee pain, and depression. She wanted to improve her longevity and feel like her former self again. Her husband had died two years earlier, and she had cared for him for three years before that during a prolonged illness. Her body and mind felt tired, and she didn’t seem to be able to rally up the energy to get her life back on track.
Upon examination, her pulse was thin, and her tongue was pale with scalloped edges. She always felt cold, had diarrhea first thing every morning, and did not feel like eating. We determined her Chinese medicine diagnosis to be Spleen Qi and Blood deficiency, and Kidney Yang deficiency.
Longevity & Spleen Deficiency
Spleen-Stomach theory is an important constituent of the theoretical basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The Spleen here is not synonymous with the Spleen in Western medicine anatomically or physiologically. Spleen-Stomach theory is a comprehensive one. It mainly involves the digestive system, its nervous system, immune function, muscle metabolism, endocrine function, energy, water, and salt metabolism.
The Spleen-Stomach has various physiologic functions. The Spleen transforms food into nutrients which are the sources of Qi and blood. The nutrients include glucose, amino acids, lipids, and trace elements. The stomach is considered a reservoir that empties into the intestine. Water and salt absorption also depends on the transporting function of the Spleen-Stomach. Qi and blood are both vital to life. Qi means energy, while blood points to circulating blood and its formed elements. Blood and nutrients furnish nourishment to all organs and tissues of the body.
Longevity & Kidney Deficiency
When the Kidney Yang is deficient, the body cannot metabolize fluids efficiently, resulting in edema. Generally, body metabolism slows, making it easier to gain weight and harder to lose. Kidney Yang-deficient patients often show signs of puffiness, lethargy, low motivation, and lower backache, sometimes accompanied by pain in the knees and legs, which feels worse in cold weather. Often, there is diarrhea, especially in the morning when you first wake up (called “cock crow diarrhea).
Acupuncture Treatment to Boost Longevity
We selected acupuncture points to address our patient’s internal organ imbalances. ST36 is one of the most powerful points on the body to boost Spleen Qi. Coupled with SP6, it also builds blood. In addition, we utilized CV12 and ST21 to strengthen her overall digestive function.
To address her Kidney yang deficiency, we selected acupoints KD7, KD3, and CV4. These points nourish the kidneys and activate the yang qi. The kidneys are root organs in the body, supporting all other organs, including (importantly in this case) the Spleen and digestion. Kidney yang qi provides the warmth needed for proper digestion, so the stomach can transform the food we eat into energy we can use. The Kidneys also play a pivotal role in longevity and vitality.
Excellent Results for Our Patient
After her first treatment, our patient started feeling better. Her energy improved by twenty percent, reflecting improved digestion and metabolism. Not surprisingly, she lost two pounds right off the bat. She would continue to lose weight as her treatments continued. Some weight came off from shedding water from edema, while some came from fat loss. Her energy steadily improved with each additional treatment.
Our patient’s motivation and mood improve as well. Following her sixth session she reported feeling like her old self again. The trials and challenges of the past several years had receded into the distance, and she began envisioning a brighter future for herself.
During the course of her acupuncture treatments, her mind became sharper. She began thinking more clearly, and remembering details like she used to. In addition, her body became less stiff and painful. Upon waking, a hot shower was enough to loosen her back and knees. She could then take a walk, meet with friends, and remain active without taking pain medications.
Improved Vitality Starts With Balance
We have not doubt that imbalances at the organ level were responsible for our patient’s ailments – imbalances brought on by the stress of caring for her ailing husband and the grief at his eventual passing. These imbalances, left unaddressed, could have been the prelude to her own downward spiral.
However, acupuncture was able to play a positive role in reversing the tide of disease. By correctly assessing our patient’s Spleen and Kidney imbalances, acupuncture was able to help her regain her innate vitality. Longevity comes with the right state of mind and the correct balance within the body. Acupuncture is well suited to address both, as was demonstrated in this longevity acupuncture case study. Our patient had all the strength necessary to continue living an active, dynamic life.
Next Steps
If you are feeling weary and run down, don’t despair. Relatively minor imbalances may be the cause of your condition – imbalances that acupuncture can correct. Don’t let feelings of hopelessness discourage you. Fight through the lethargy to get the care you need. Once you do, sit back and al low the healing to take place within your body and mind. Be it with acupuncture or some other form of therapy, get the support you need to stay vibrant.
BOOK NOW to schedule an appointment online.
Meet the Practitioners (Video).
Learn about all the conditions we treat.
Focus keyphrase: longevity acupuncture case study
Photo by Jill Wellington: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-walking-on-bed-of-tulip-flowers-413735/
What our Clients are Saying
I’m 88 years old and still ride my bike around Raleigh, take exercise classes, and swim. I’ve done acupuncture for years. I believe it helps me stay young. Raleigh Acupuncture is a good practice. They’re well trained and work hard at what they do. I’ve tried to get my bridge friends to try it, but they’re all chicken. Their loss.
Great practice! I get a tune-up every month and keeps me feeling younger (I’m 75). Wish Medicare covered, but it’s still worth it.
I’m 62 and have always been active. I ran marathons until two years ago, when I just didn’t have the stamina any longer. I know they say you have to adjust as you get older, but I was not ready to do that. So I tried acupuncture to see if it would help in this area. Not only did I increase energy, but my stamina increased and I felt stronger. I trained for and ran another marathon and felt like I did ten years ago. My time wasn’t faster, but my body handled the stress of the race much better. I recommend this practice for athletes as they get older.