Spasmodic dysphonia

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone,

I recently began treating a 27 y/o male who was diagnosed with spasmodic

dysphonia 4 years ago. It manifests with difficult and choppy speech, and in a

western view is a neurological problem, where, after the chords receive a nerve

impulse, they stick together instead of relaxing. Onset occurred after he

experienced a bad cold 4 years ago and was also very stressed at work. He was

talking on the phone 8-9 hours/day. He is very sinewy in stature and although

he stated there is no discomfort or dryness in his throat associated with his

condition, I could here him every time he swallowed. There seemed to be a lot

of tension there. His tongue was greasy with a yellow coat thicker in the back,

less coat towards the front. His pulses were bowstring, especially his lung,

and his heart pulse was small. The right hypochondriac region of his abdomen

was very tight, almost felt like there was a soft mass there, below the costal

line.

 

Treatment to date has mostly been botox injections in his throat to paralyze his

vocal cords. His voice is very hoarse for about 1-2 weeks afterwards and than

is normal for about 2 weeks and then it returns to a choppy pattern.

 

My diagnosis was liver qi congestion with phlegm. I gave him Ban Xia Hou Po

Tang and added the following: Bai Shao, Jie Geng, and Zhi Zi.

I am treating him with acupuncture.

 

I was also recently asked to treat a 3.5 y/o girl who was in a MVA and left

quadraplegic. Her spinal cord is intact, but MRI's show that she has blood

clots in the spinal column which are impinging on the cord. Her atlas (C1) is

severely dislocated if not fractured with the anterior portion pushed far

forward, it looks like severe spondylolisthesis in a lateral view, although I am

not sure if this is true. Her right lung is collapsing every time she is given

fluids, because she aspirates the liquid. I am not sure I will be able to give

her herbs, but I was thinking I would use a lot of blood movers and some to

support her lung qi. I am also going to do acupuncture. The mother is very

anxious to get help for her daughter. I have never worked with a condition this

severe before. Am I foolish for taking this on?

 

I would be very grateful for whatever feedback you may be able to give me

regarding these individuals.

 

Sincerely,

Sean Doherty

Nashua, NH

 

I would appreciate any insights anyone might have.

 

Sincerely,

Sean Doherty

Nashua, NH