stagnation questions

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much for the advice I've received on this list over the

last months, including the best advise – to change practitioners. I

wanted to check in and mention my latest treatment plan, and see

what some of you might think. I was diagnosed by western doctors

with treatment resistant depression, and over the last 15 years

tried all the usual psychotropic medications and therapies. I then

started TCM in May 2004 hoping a different type of treatment might

give better results.

 

I've been going for TCM treatments for the last 19 months, with 2

different practitioners, and having weekly acupuncture and cupping,

as well as taking herbs three times a day. I haven't felt much

relief of my symptoms and, on the good advice of list members,

changed practitioners hoping for someone with a better understanding

of my issues. I've also continued to see a therapist and work at

things from that angle as well.

 

I've been variously diagnosed as having heart yin deficiency, spleen

and kidney chi deficiency, liver chi stagnation and a shen

disturbance. I'm assuming most, if not all of my organs are out of

balance, but would have hoped 19 months of treatment would get them

back in order, at least a little bit.

 

My current doctor is now giving me an herbal formula for four types

of stagnation. She feels that I had so much stagnation from such a

chronic, long term problem, that possibly that's why the herbs have

not worked. She suggested staying on the " stagnation " formula for

two months, and then she will try a tonifying formula for three

months, and if I'm not better after that, I can give up on TCM, as

there really isn't anything more to try. My two months are up next

week, and I'll then start the new tonifying formula.

 

I wondered if I could ask for some information on stagnation, and

whether or not it can really be factor in months of treatments not

working. If so, I'm upset the original doctor didn't think of that,

as I've apparently wasted thousands of dollars on herbs that

seemingly had no chance of working without his clearing up the

stagnation first. I know it's hard to tell without seeing the

original symptoms, but is stagnation generally something that can be

cleared in two months? If it's cleared up and tonifying herbs still

don't work, is there anything else to try before giving up? Are

there some people who simply can't be helped by any combination of

herbs and acupuncture? I'm crossing my fingers the new formula will

work, and I think this doctor means well, but at what point would

you throw in the towel, and advise a patient accordingly to give up

treatment? Does all of this sound appropriate to you? Do you have

any other suggestions?

 

Thanks so much as always,

Linda