Restless Leg Syndrome and Chinese Medicine
Great Scholar
Hope you guys can give me some ideas
I have been trying to treat a few different patients with Restless Leg Syndrome using Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine. Does anyone know the main patterns behind this disorder? I have tried looking in my reference books but have not found anything on this.
Anyone out there have any clinical advice for me
Thanks
Ryan Funk
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Comments
Restless legs
Ryan,
I have treated this condition a few times and quite successfully. The main tx method I have addopted has been through herbal medicine in conjunction with local acupuncture, ie Bl 57, 58.
Usually I look for liver/ kidney yin vacuity with heat. If this is the case then the classic Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan modified works very well. I like to add Mu Gua, as it is the king herb for spasms of any kind in the lower aspect of the body. If there is insomnia then I also like to add a shell like Mu Li or Zhen Zhu Mu, which also covers the calcium idea as mentioned above.
If there is a lot of heat at night, ie thirst, restlessless, agitated, sweaty, kicking all the covers off, then clearing some Qi level heat is helpful with the addition of Shi Gao.
Good luck,
Trevor
Restless Legs
I too have treated several cases of restless leg syndrome with a good level of success. The majority of the time I will use acupuncture points similar to what Trevor mentioned (BL57, BL58, BL59, etc...). I will usually palpate points along the Bladder and Gall Bladder channel, and puncture some of the more active/tender spots. In addition I will usually recommend a Cal-mag supplement and will administer Shao Yao Gan Cao San with additions (Mu Gua, niu xi, Ji Xue Teng, etc..). I have seldom seen Restless leg syndrome as the main presenting problem, but usually in conjunction with something else, so I treat the main pattern and will usually add the above to whatever treatment plan (acu or herb) I am using. I do believe that it usually manifests as a liver blood-yin vacuity pattern.
Restless Leg Syndrome
I will be interested to read responses to your post. In the clients I have treated it seems to be related to a LV/SP disharmony with Yin/Blood deficiency which to me makes sense as the LV controls the sinews and SP controls muscle and then there is a lack of nourishment by Yin/Blood deficiency. I don't know the answer though! The one thing that I recommend to my clients from personal and clinical experience is a Calcium/Magnesium supplement before bed or when experiencing symptoms. It makes a huge difference and provides fast relief- at least for me and the few clients I have treated with this complaint.
Restless Leg Syndrome - Yin Aspect
AcuGuru
Hey Guys
I have treated Restless Leg Syndrome with Acupuncture only and have had unsatisfactory results. Because it generally occurs at night when going to bed it makes sense there is a yin aspect to this disorder. The need for movment makes me believe there could be an aspect of wind as Ryan mentioned.
I have assumed in the past there was a Liver Blood and Kidney Yin insufficiency leading to internal wind
has anyone had good success treating this?
AcuGuru