Pediatrics case

June 15, 2006

Indian male, 3.7 y.o; very alert and bright, sunny disposition; seems

easily bored

Parents are young professionals who seem very compliant thusfar, and

avow that they are willing to continue treatment for the " longhaul "

Breastfed for about 3 months

All " regular " immunizations

Only one instance of an ear infection

Diagnosed early (3 mos) with food allergies, later with environmental

allergies

Asthma: manifests few Sx and has never had an " asthmatic attack "

Often has bronchial congestion and gets colds and runny nose

His eyes have good Shen and there are no collapses of energy except

at night

There are no clear signs of phlegm or heat or deficiency

No observable finger vein

Rash is itchy, skin dry, and the eczema looks like patches of

reptilian skin, primarily on the lower extremities (occasional small

patches on the ventral aspect of the wrist); redder than the

surrounding area, but no visible signs of exudate

Marked, itchy dandruff

He is strong with good energy & appetite; BM 1-2x/day; constipated on

rare occasions

No unusual color on the face; parents moisturize his skin every two

hours with Aquaphor when he is at home; occasional use of

hydrocortisone at home and at daycare

Pulse: rapid, but not in excess of 110-120, possibly slippery

Tongue: quite red, neither excessively wet nor dry; deep center crack

that extends to lung area but not the tip

Cervical chain lymph nodes visible at a distance

He is generally warm, kicks covers off at night; eczema exacerbated

by the sun

Plays outside at daycare for an hour per day - asphalt, dirt, grass

Wears long pants except when sleeping

Good appetite, vegan diet; diagnosed allergic to wheat, milk, corn,

peanuts, plus a couple of other things; (his mother consumed the

allergic foods during pregnancy); also diagnosed with environmental

allergies

TV limited to half hour per day

I have seen this child for four visits to date. His initial diagnosis

was LPF (lingering pathogenic factor) with damp heat; and SP and LU

qi xu. We began with advising the parents to eliminate all known

food allergens, and ways to reduce environmental issues in the home.

Treatment has generally been to needle no more than four points

bilaterally with in/out method - LI 11, LU 5, ST 40, SP 10, ST 36 -

which he tolerates well. We have then used cupping on the large

patches on his legs, which often elicits a yellowish fluid similar to

what one would expect with Si Feng. (I have chosen not to needle Si

Feng to date, not wishing to jeopardize the trust I've built with

him. He loves the cupping game and often participates in it).

He was markedly worse the week after the first treatment, but I think

that was purely coincidental. Our weather had been damp and humid

for the first time this year. On the third visit, his eczema was

barely visible and the parents very excited and optimistic. His

father occasionally works from home, so the child was not at daycare

that week, and the father could more strictly control his diet and

also moisturize his skin frequently.

Yesterday was the fourth visit, and he had experienced an

exacerbation of the condition again, not entirely coinciding with his

return to daycare. There were claw marks still visible on his skin

from the scratching two days prior. We asked the parents to avoid

the use of the hydrocortisone cream if at all possible. (Apparently

the people at daycare become frustrated with his scratching and apply

it just to get him to stop.........with the parents' permission)

My questions are 1) what sort of ointment or topical agent would you

recommend?, 2) what herbal formula(s)?

It would be far easier to use a patent formula, but I can also have

an herbalist compound something for him, given the exact proportions.

Appreciate your thoughts on this case. Many thanks for the help!

Kay King

June 16, 2006

Sorry to post this again, but I never saw it on the List, and

received no replies. Surely could use some input.

-Indian male, 3.7 y.o; very alert and bright, sunny disposition; seems

easily bored

-Parents are young professionals who seem very compliant thusfar, and

avow that they are willing to continue treatment for the " longhaul "

-Breastfed for about 3 months

-All " regular " immunizations

-Only one instance of an ear infection

-Diagnosed early (3 mos) with food allergies, later with environmental

allergies

-Asthma: manifests few Sx and has never had an " asthmatic attack "

-Often has bronchial congestion and gets colds and runny nose

-His eyes have good Shen and there are no collapses of energy except

at night

-There are no clear signs of phlegm or heat or deficiency

-No observable finger vein

-Rash is itchy, skin dry, and the eczema looks like patches of

reptilian skin, primarily on the lower extremities (occasional small

patches on the ventral aspect of the wrist); redder than the

surrounding area, but no visible signs of exudate

-Marked, itchy dandruff

-He is strong with good energy & appetite; BM 1-2x/day; constipated on

rare occasions

-No unusual color on the face; parents moisturize his skin every two

hours with Aquaphor when he is at home; occasional use of

hydrocortisone at home and at daycare

-Pulse: rapid, but not in excess of 110-120, possibly slippery

-Tongue: quite red, neither excessively wet nor dry; deep center crack

that extends to lung area but not the tip

-Cervical chain lymph nodes visible at a distance

-He is generally warm, kicks covers off at night; eczema exacerbated

by the sun

-Plays outside at daycare for an hour per day - asphalt, dirt, grass

-Wears long pants except when sleeping

-Good appetite, vegan diet; diagnosed allergic to wheat, milk, corn,

peanuts, plus a couple of other things; (his mother consumed the

allergic foods during pregnancy); also diagnosed with environmental

allergies

-TV limited to half hour per day