March: Heart Yin Deficiency with Shen disturbance and Liver Qi stagnation in a Cat

Tuesday, 01 March 2022 09:00

CASE REPORT

Heart Yin Deficiency with Shen disturbance and Liver Qi stagnation in a Cat

Mitsie Vargas DVM, MS, CTCVMP, CVBMA, CVMMP, CCRV, FAAVA

History

Medes 5 years DSH M/N. Presented due to excessive grooming on his belly with self-mutilation, hiding, and being distant for the past 3 months. There were outdoor strays coming outside to the house and a new kitten in the household. His BCS was 6/9, Physical exam was unremarkable except for the eosinophilic granuloma and alopecia on his ventral abdomen.

TCVM Evaluation

Medes was usually an affectionate vocal cat (Fire) but was acting as a water personality, his tongue was red and thin, his ears were hot and his left pulse was weaker. A diagnosis of Heart Yin Deficiency with Shen disturbance and Liver Qi stagnation was made.

TCVM Treatment

Balance Acupuncture was done and HT7, SI3, GB41, LIV3. Anshen, GV20,21, and GV14 were all done with aqua. Shen calmer¹ powder was prescribed, 1 small scoop in the food once daily.

Treatment Outcome

After just one session Medes was doing great and quit self-mutilating. The owner was impressed, and Medes was set for monthly maintenance acupuncture.

Balance Acupuncture has 6 systems to remove blockages of Qi in the meridians. The fact that the problem is a Shen disturbance warranted to balance the Heart meridian. The systems used where as follows:

1-System 2 in which Shaoyin of the hand (HT) balanced Shao Yang of the foot( GB)

2-System 4 in which the meridians that are opposite in the clock balance each other. The HT dominates 11am to 1pm and GB does opposite at 11 pm to 1 am.

3-System 3 in which husband balances wife was chosen and again SI3 is a shu stream point that also happens to balance the whole governor vessel.

4-System 6 in which a distal point of the affected meridian can balance the whole meridian and I chose the shu stream HT7 for also being the Yuan source.

LIV3 was chosen because the behavior could’ve been driven by stray cats threatening Medes and this point is great for Liver Qi stagnation. Anshen, a d GV20,21 were local points to the Shen or mind issue. GV14 was used to decrease inflammation and clear heat in the belly.

¹Dr. Xie's Jing Tang Herbal