Bunions

Hello Lisa

I have had some great success using acupuncture only with the treatment of bunions.  I generally use several ashi points close to or on the bunion.   The best success I have had is with a damp heat style of pain.  I try to bleed the area close to the bunion.  It generally will get less hot and the redness associated will also decrease. 

I also treat the pattern.  I usually have them come in a few times a week during the painful times.  I have never been able to get rid of the structual abnormaility but can decrease the pain or eliminate it.

Hope this helps

Hello Acuguru,

Thanks for the info, it helps to know I am on the right track. The issue with this lady though is not pain, luckily she has begun treatment before that stage so she should be able to manage it.

She is more concerned with the visual deformity, she is a young 62, and would like her feet to look better, but does not want to endure surgery.

I know the chances are slim but I was hoping maybe somewhere someone may know of a treatment or formula, even if long term that will decrease the size, clear the arthritic deposits of the joint.

Lisa.

Bunions are not easy to shrink or eliminate.

As Acuguru mentioned decreasing pain or pain management as the general treatment outcome for bunions. Actually decreasing size will be more difficult but not impossible.

Looking more at her pattern and why there is stagnation or accumulation in that area.

Are there signs of Qi, Blood or phlegm stagnation? Using a base formula for her pattern with moving herbs may help if she fits to one of the patterns above. Also making dietary and lifestyle changes to make sure she is eating a healthy diet low in sugar and other inflammatory foods.

What does the bunion feel like ? if solid like bone then this would be more difficult to a more spongy feeling.

Keep us posted and let us know how things go for you

Ryan

Hello Ryan,

Thanks for the reply,

This lady had a very good diet, strong and balanced mental outlook, exercises regularly, and no health problems other than stress. She works very hard, probably too much, and the only symptom really of stagnation is mildly varicose veins, but she has been on her feet all of her working life and is now in her mid sixties.

I have given her Blue poppies Supplement yin, as I thought this would support the depletion of overwork, and her bones and any yin deficiency at her age, she also takes coriolus as a general health tonic, this also should suppport the joints.

These medicinals not are strong at increasing circulation though, and as she has no obvious chronic symptoms of damp or yang deficiency, I reasoned that  the bunions are probably due to bi syndrome and damage from ill fitting shoes in her youth. I was wondering if there were any formula that woud target this area more specifically and that are aimed at dissolving calcium build up, and was hoping someone may have experienced this in practice.

She uses Zheng gu shui on the joints every day - this is indicated for arthiritic deposits, but I have no experience or evidence of how effective this is.

her treatments are improving her feet markedly, she exercises and massages them everyday as instructed and uses moxa at home. the swelling in the ligaments around the joints, the movement and flexibility are all improving, but the bunions remain red and have not diminished, maybe it is just patience that is required?

Lisa.

Hi Lisa,

In the Kiiko style acupuncture bunions are sometimes related to a sugar imbalance as the bunion occurs right along Sp 2 and 3. SP 3 is often used to treat sugar problems such as hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. It might be worth checking her diet for covert sugars and/or impaired processing of sugar.

Hope that helps,

Dagmar