I am currently treating a pateint who I think is dying. She is having her 2nd bout of chemotherapy after secondaries were found in her brain.
I find myself floundering.
How and what do we treat in a patient who has a terminal illness?
Any help would be really appreciated. Thanks
Comment by Chad J. Dupuis, L.Ac.
Generally at that stage you are working on emotional and energetic support for the person. The TCM diagnoses, are generally KD Yang deficiency at some point, but are less meaningful. Here you are simply there to work with the person as they die. If you have some equivalent to our hospice services in the US, speaking with them or even undergoing their training is helpful.
From a pure acupuncture perspective, settling the emotions, building the energy, and working to resolve any pain they may have is what you can help with.