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ABSTRACT
7
MIND-BODY
UNITY AND ACUPUNCTURE
IN THE TREATMENT OF MIGRAINE HEADACHES
By
Roberto Jordorkovsky, M.D.,
Private Practice, General Pediatrics/Medical
Acupuncture,
Baltimore, Maryland
ABSTRACT
A 28-year-old female
presented with a 13-year history of severe
temporal migraine headaches; visual aura,
vomiting, and postepisode fatigue were common.
Medications were unsuccessful in mitigating
the symptoms. Her medical history included
over two years of infertility. The patient
complained of increasing anxiety, prolonged
grief reaction, and exacerbation of the headaches
after her mother's death from breast cancer
the year before. The patient witnessed her
mother's acupuncture for pain control prior
to her death.
Three French Energetics-based
acupuncture treatments for her own pain relief
evoked memories of the terminal phase of her
mother's illness. The patient experienced
a close connection to her mother, and visualized
her as a healthy, pretty, young woman, wrapped
in a soothing bright light. Grief and anger
began to dissipate; she became relaxed, optimistic,
and energized. Shortly after her last treatment,
the patient became pregnant; her headaches
did not recur.
INTRODUCTION
The etiology
of headaches is multifactorial, encompassing
anatomical, biochemical, neurohumoral, constitutional,
and psychological factors. Traditional medicine
tends to support a body-mind duality paradigm.
The result may be treatments which address
these causes in a fragmented fashion. Conversely,
Oriental medicine embraces the ultimate unity
of all phenomena: mind, consciousness, movement,
and matter. These factors are seen as representations
of an omnipresent energy (Qi) in varying degrees
of aggregation. The treatments proposed by
Oriental medicine integrate these multiple
etiological dimensions. This case report is
illustrative of this theory; acupuncture appeared
to facilitate the integration of psychological
experience with somatic manifestations. The
treatment resulted in apparent healing; infertility
was eliminated.
REVIEW
OF SYSTEMS
- Tendency to sweat
- Preference for warm weather
- Occasional palpitations
- Chest pain when anxious
- Anxiety and anger under stress
- Cold feet in winter
- Fatigue
- Unable to conceive for two years; infertility
evaluation normal
- Preference for sweets; the color, blue
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
- Generally healthy
- Vital signs, blood pressure normal
- Trigger points: GB 20-2 1, BL 10, SI 13
- Tongue: tip, borders red
- Decreased KI and LIV pulses
DIAGNOSIS
Primary: Jue Yin Imbalance
- Anxiety/anger
- Headaches
- Sweating
- Preference for the color blue
Secondary: Tai Yin/Shao Yin imbalance
- Infertility
- Fatigue
- Cold feet
- Preference for sweets
CONCLUSION
Well-established
diagnostic and therapeutic treatments proposed
by the French Energetics School of Acupuncture
resolved this patient's headaches after 3
treatments. Treatment evoked powerful images
of her deceased mother. The acupuncture experience
appeared to promote resolution of grief and
anger toward this parent. The result was increased
vigor and stress relief. Treatment reached
its zenith point when she was able to conceive
a child. This case suggests acupuncture as
a means of facilitating the inte- gration
between mind and body; the achievement of
mind-body unity appears to enhance the healing
process.
AUTHOR
INFORMATION
Dr. Roberto
Jodorkovsky is in private practice in Baltimore,
Maryland. His specialties are General Pediatrics
and Medical Acupuncture. Dr. Jodorkovsky is
an attending Pediatrician and Pediatric Nephrologist
at the University of Maryland Medical System,
Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics
at the University of Maryland School of Medicine,
and Secretary of Maryland Society of Medical
Acupuncture.
Roberto
A. Jodorkovsky, M.M.
304 Kenwood Avenue,
Baltimore, MD 21237
Phone: 410-866-39980
Email: roberto_a_jodorkovsky@mercy-ventures.com
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