Primary Amyloidosis is the condition where amyloids are built up in the organs and tissues. However, from the viewpoint of Asian medicine, I concluded amyloidosis to be a hardening of the organs and tissues. Hardening is caused by the action of Metal (Yangming) energy (Qi) in the human body–in the same way that all things in nature are hardened in Autumn. The patient has too much Metal (Yangmint)-Qi among the 5-Qi [wood-liver (Spring), Fire-heart (Summer), Earth-spleen, Metal-lung (Autumn), Water-kidney (Winter)] in the body. So, Fire and Earth Qi are tonified by the Acupuncture needles, because Fire-Qi controls Metal-Qi and Earth-Qi mediates between the 4 seasons or Qi (mediator for 4 seasons or Qi).
Patient’s Information:
- 63 year old man diagnosed with primary Amyloidosis and is under hospice care
- M.D. determined that patient only had 10 days to live from June 15, 2012
Symptoms and Signs:
- pace maker for 4 years
- lower part of the heart was hardened (heart function only 20-30%)
- needed assistance of oxygen breathing apparatus all day
- cannot walk–bedridden all day
- right lung did not function at all
- about 1000cc of water needed to be removed from right lung twice a week
- breathing capacity was 500cc
- blood pressure was 80
- too difficult to hold a pen or fork because of tingling sensation in all four limbs
- only able to ingest a little bit of liquid as meal
[House-call for 11 treatments.]
Recommended 3 treatments per week (2 basic treatments and 1 treatment for symptoms) but patient received treatments only twice a week and stopped entirely for 3 weeks in the middle.
The patient chose to stop receiving treatments in September 2012 even though there was continued improvement. Verified the patient’s condition on March 2013.
First Treatment: 6/28/2012
Tonified Fire(heart)-Qi
Second Treatment: 7/1/2012
Tonified Fire and Earth(spleen)-Qi
While he was receiving Acupuncture, tingling sensation lessened (especially in the feet)
Third Treatment: 7/3/2012
Tonified Fire and Earth(spleen)-Qi
For a day strength returned in his hands; condition improved but returned to normal next morning
Blood pressure: 80; Breathing capacity: 500cc
Fourth Treatment: 7/5/2012
Tonified Fire and Earth(spleen)-Qi
Was able to eat breakfast and diner at the dinner table with his wife for the first time in 5 months
Arm strength improved and tingling sensation lessened generally
He was able to sketch and hold the fork well
Fifth Treatment: 7/8/2012
Tonified Fire and Earth(spleen)-Qi
Was able to breath without the oxygen breathing apparatus for 1.5 hours
A lot of swelling in the feet
Sixth Treatment: 7/10/2012
Tonified Fire and Earth(spleen)-Qi
In the morning, removed 1500cc of water from the right lung
Seventh Treatment: 7/12/2012
Tonified Liver and Kidney function
After the treatment, his knees felt lighter and was able to walk with the aid of a walker
Able to breathe without the oxygen breathing apparatus for 3 hours
Eighth Treatment: 7/15/2012
Tonified Fire and Earth
Blood pressure: 90; Breathing capacity: 750cc
Ninth Treatment: 7/17/2012
Tonified Fire and Earth
Took out 980cc of water from right lung
Blood pressure: 90; Breathing capacity: 750
Appetite decreased a little
Tenth Treatment: 7/20/2012
Tonified Liver and Blood function
Appetite failed even more
Had to pump out about 1000cc of water again
Body strength faltered, and eyes began to dim and got poorer
After the treatment, felt strength coming back, and sight was restored to nearly normal
Eleventh Treatment: 7/22/2012
Tonified Lung and Blood function
Appetite continued to improve
Swelling in the feet lessened by a lot
Blood pressure: 100; Breathing capacity: 1015
[Office visit by patient from here on.]
Twelfth Treatment: 7/30/2012
Treatment stopped for about a week
Treatment method is same as before
Receives treatment twice a week
Thirteenth Treatment: 8/2/2012
Same treatment method as before
Able to walk without walker
Does not use the oxygen tank breathing apparatus during the daytime
Fourteenth Treatment: 8/6/2012
Same treatment method and conditions remained the same
Fifteenth Treatment: 8/9/2012
Same treatment method and conditions remained the same
Sixteenth Treatment: 8/13/2012
Same treatment method and conditions remained the same
Seventeenth Treatment: 8/27/2012
Treatments stopped for about 2 weeks because he wanted to see if his condition would remain in the improved state without continuing the treatments
Eighteenth Treatment: 8/30/2012
Same treatment method
Nineteenth Treatment: 9/4/2012
Needs to use a walker again
Twentieth Treatment: 9/10/2012
Blood test (tested 5 different categories) results show that white and red blood cell count increased a lot
Aside from the increased blood cell count, improvements were seen in the other 4 categories also
Twenty-first Treatment: 9/14/2012
Patient’s last treatment
Kwang Sung Acupuncture 