PLEASE NOTE :: these are archived forum posts from years past, further discussions should happen on our social media channels.

Anaphylactic reactions

By Archived User | Updated: Dec 31, 2021 | Published: Dec 31, 2021

I am a practicing medical oncologist. I have been trained in TCM and medical acupuncture. Today I had an interesting experience in the clinic which I would like to share with my TCM colleagues.

An 89 year old man with multiple myeloma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia was given a second dose of intravenous immunoglobulin to treat his immune deficiency ( hypogammaglobulinemia). The first infusion was given in February without incident. He was premedicated only with Benadryl prior to today's infusion.

During the infusion he developed a full blown anaphylactic reaction. After administration of IV solu-Medrol his reaction was continuing. I found a high level of activity at the allergy point on his ear with a point finder. Electrostimulation of this point had no effect on his symptoms which , ultimately, required IV epinephrine to subdue.

I know that acute asthmatic attacks can be successfully treated with acupuncture. Has anyone had experience using auriculo or body acupuncture for anaphylactic reactions?

Archived Comments

Comment by Chad J. Dupuis, L.Ac.

Personally I rarely use auricular acupuncture - especially not for strong acute symptoms. We use points very similar to that for acute asthma - in our system these would be the huatuo of T1 primarily - with T3 and T6, T7 for the lung/lymph, diaphragm, and the blood respectively. Generally these would be used on top of points more particular to the persons overall diagnosis - point combinations such as SP 3 w/ LU 9 would often be applicable - certainly so in a patient with leukemia.

Comment by Archived User

In answer to Kate above, i think we could perhaps step back a little in this instance. We have an 89 year old man with multiple myeloma and chronic leukaemia, together with an immune deficiency.

While acupuncture is very effective in many cases I don&#39t think it would be very helpful here as the gentleman is very sick with cancer and is quite old.

Some cases I see, for instance those folks with bad chest infection and coughing up green coloured phlegm, I send straight off to one of the local doctors for antibiotics. I think this is good practice. Drugs are way more effective in certain instance than acupuncture.

As a medical oncologist I&#39m sure that if Max were to treat this particular patient with moxa and acupuncture as a first-choice treatment, he wouldn&#39t be an oncologist for long.

I think it&#39s great that as a medically trained person Max has opened his mind to acupuncture because, as we all know, nobody has ALL the answers.

Not criticising, just saying :)

Discuss further on social media:
Share on LinkedIn Share on Bluesky Share on Facebook