Herbal medicine and acupuncture relieved progressive bulbar palsy for more than 3 years: A case report

Abstract

Rationale: Progressive bulbar palsy (PBP) is a type of motor neuron disease (MND). The main symptoms include dysarthria, dysphagia, tongue muscle atrophy and fasciculations. This disease is generally severe and develops rapidly. Due to the lack of effective treatment, many patients with MND in China turn to traditional Chinese medicine treatment for help. We successfully relieved dysphagia and sialorrhea in a patient with PBP for 3 years with herbal medicine and acupuncture.Patient concerns: The patient was a 68-years-old woman with PBP and suffered from severe dysphagia and sialorrhea.Diagnoses: Progressive bulbar palsy.Interventions: Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture.Outcomes: After 4 months of herbal medicine and acupuncture treatment, dysphagia and sialorrhea were relieved considerably. The patient's condition has been stable for more than 3 years and continues to be treated with Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture.Lessons: Our case suggests that alternative therapies such as herbal medicine and acupuncture may be effective in alleviating the symptoms of MND/PBP. However, standardized clinical studies are still required to verify the effectiveness and safety.

Efficacy of Electroacupuncture Combined with Chinese Herbal Medicine on Pain Intensity for Chronic Sciatica Secondary to Lumbar Disc Herniation: Study Protocol for a Randomised Controlled Trial

“…In ancient traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine were believed to balance Yin and Yang, harmonize qi and blood, and unblock meridian and collateral. 15 In recent years, acupuncture combined with Chinese herbal medicine has made great progress in treating motor neuron disease, 16 angina pectoris of coronary heart disease, 17 non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, 18 type 2 diabetes mellitus, 19 osteoporosis, 20 Gouty Arthritis 21 and so on. Shi's orthopedics and traumatology academic school, one of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) schools, also has done some researches in this area.…”

Combined Acupuncture and Shirodhara as an Effective Treatment Approach in the Management of Progressive Bulbar Palsy: A Case Report

“…Electro acupuncture (EA) was better in terms of the effective rate, WST, VFSS, IFRS and IAP of dysphagia after stroke.10 In addition, stimulation of conception vessel (CV) 23 by electroacupuncture could improve the blood flow in Primary Motor cortex and around deglutition-muscle groups, promote blood supplementation in tissue, and restore voluntary swallowing 11. A clinical case report conducted by Peng et.al showed Chinese herbal medicine combined with acupuncture, effectively reduce the symptoms of MND/PBP 12.…”