Contraction of gallbladder

Tongue has pale white coating with purple spots on the liver side(left and right) of the tongue and tongue moisture is very wet and the tongue looks shiny wet. The patient has a difficulties to feel the stimulation of needles even if those strong acu points. The patient is 70 yrs old. The patient also feels bloating if his stomach and lack of appettite. Acupuncture points and alternative herbal meds from your good knowledge will do. Your reply to this matter is very helpful to us. Thank you so much.

First of all for a 70 yr old patient I wouldn’t recommend a strong needling technique, but that’s of course part of both cultural and practitioner preference. Or needling on consecutive days but again that’s just me.

Based on the tongue and bloating/low appetite there could be some spleen yang deficiency as well. I would recommend adding SP 3 and Ren 12. Moxa on those points could help too. I’m not sure I would use LV 13/14 or UB 18/19. I’d probably just use LV 8 by itself. Also I probably would not use GB 34 either as I don’t see any heat signs and the case overall seems to be a deficiency type and GB 34 is somewhat draining. If there is nausea with the vomitting you could also consider adding PC 6.

Good luck!

Maybe send them to a western doctor to discount cancer or appendix inflammation . I am a student of acupuncture and a Reg. Nurse.