1

EIP Case Report. DAOM / EL F15.

THE TREATMENT

OF

C HRONIC SORE THROAT

USING

CHINESE MEDICINE.

A CASE REPORT.
PACIFIC COLLEGE OF ORIENTAL MEDICINE.
San Diego, CA.

Prana Gogia
DAOM/EL F15

The treatment of chronic sore throat using Chinese Medicine

KEY WORDS
Chronic Sore Throat, Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture.

INTRODUCTION
This is a case report of a chronic episodic sore throat that is treated with
acupuncture.

PRESENTING CONCERNS
Patient is male, age 45, weight 180 lb, Ht. 5.9, presenting with complains of
episodic chronic sore throat. Patient has been suffering from recurrent episodes
for thirty years and current episode started in September 2015.

HISTORY OF

PRESENT ILLNESS

30 years ago he started having episodic sore throats. The average episode
usually lasts for 5 to 14days. Presentation of symptoms start with dry throat
which progress into harsh voice, soreness of throat, then loss of voice, and
finally it expresses as diffused fever, lethargy, and headache. The current
episode started 7 days ago and patient showing signs of dryness, harsh
voice and mild soreness. In the beginning episodes use to occur once every
few months and duration was usually 3 to 5 days, however, from last couple
of years the occurrence have become more frequently, once every month
and they last longer, often up to 3 weeks. Patient usually recovers after
resting however, when episode reaches to fever then he takes a prescription
of antibiotic course.
EIP Case Report. Prana Gogia. DAOM-EL. F15.

The treatment of chronic sore throat using Chinese Medicine

PAST MEDICAL HISTORY

Patient reports suffering from heart burn for past 10 years. He takes over
the counter medication for heart burn. He also report poor quality of sleep.
He sleeps for 6 to 8 hours and wakes up tired and not refreshed. He usually
runs cold and wears extra layer of clothing.

CLINICAL FINDINGS
Medications: take over the counter heart burn medication, once every day.
Allergies/Reactions (All/RXNs): None reported
Work History: Patient is a marketing executive and travel frequently.

He

reports his work as very stressful. Patient is married and has one teenage
daughter.

Patient reports no other person in family suffers from chronic

sore throat.
Patient has dry skin with mild scaling. Patient has clear eyes and
unremarkable respiration. He report of feeling cold relative to the weather
and complains having to always wearing an extra layer of clothing.

His

sweating and urination is normal, complains of loose stools. He does not

have pain anywhere. He reports of poor sleep.
OM Tongue and Pulse: Red tongue, with scallops on sides. Pulse: wiry and
slightly rapid.
Lab Results: CBC, Liver Enzymes, Blood Cholesterol and Fasting Glucose are
in normal range. Western Medical Diagnoses/Functional Medicine Diagnoses:
Pharyngitis

EIP Case Report. Prana Gogia. DAOM-EL. F15.

The treatment of chronic sore throat using Chinese Medicine

DIAGNOSTIC FOCUS AND ASSESSMENT

TCM Pattern Diagnosis: Yin Deficiency of Lung and Kidney with Liver Qi
Stagnation leading to heat in Yang Ming, resulting in sore throat, heart burn
and poor sleep.

THERAPEUTIC FOCUS AND ASSESSMENT

The treatment principle used was to replenish yin, moisten throat, cleat yang
ming heat and sooth liver qi. Acupuncture prescription used was, Lu7, Ki3,
Ki6, Li4, Sp6, Li 17, Pc6, Ub 23, Rn 12, St36, and Gb34. The Li 17 was
manipulated with draining method and Gb34 was not manipulated, all points
were manipulated with reinforcing method. Ki3 is the source point of foot
shao yin channel, ki6 leads to yin qiao, these two can replenish yin to
subdue fire, Sp6 and Ub23 further supports the replenishing of yin; Lu7, Li4
and LI17 clear stagnated heat and Rn 12 down bears yang-ming heat and
St36 to support essential qi and Gb34 to soothe liver qi.

TIMELINE
Spring 1985

Acute Sore Throat, chills and fever, lasted 7 days; lab

tests (CBC) were negative for pathogens and infections
disease; treated with antibiotics.

1985 to 2005

Episodic Sore Throat and fever twice /year; sometime

treated with antibiotics, other times rest to recover.

2005 to 2010

Episodic Sore Throat and fever six time /year; sometime

EIP Case Report. Prana Gogia. DAOM-EL. F15.

The treatment of chronic sore throat using Chinese Medicine

treated with antibiotics, other times rest to recover.

2010-2014

Episodic Sore Throat every month and often accompanied

by fever; sometime treated with antibiotics, other times
rest to recover.

July 2015

Episodic Sore Throat and fever; lab tests (CBC, liver

enzymes, fasting sugar level, and blood cholesterol ) were
unremarkable; treated with antibiotics;

Sep 2015

Episodic

Sore

Throat

and

mild

fever;

treated

with

acupuncture and rest.

FOLLOW-UP AND OUTCOMES

After four daily treatments, patient reported 50% reduction in dryness and
sore throat, their voice was not longer harsh. Based on the patients positive
progress after four acupuncture treatment, we can safely say that he is on
his way to recovery and we can give him ten days of additional acupuncture
treatments and reevaluate his condition.

DISCUSSION
In Chinese Medicine sore throat is called Yan Hou Tong, Yan Hou means
pharynx and larynx. Yan connects with the esophagus, leading to the
stomach, while Hou connects with the trachea, leading to the lungs. Sore
throat can be acute or chronic. Acute cases of sore throat are typically due
EIP Case Report. Prana Gogia. DAOM-EL. F15.

The treatment of chronic sore throat using Chinese Medicine

to seasonal or external wind heat attack (bacteria or external pathogen),

with accompanying symptoms of fever, possibly a cough with yellow phlegm,
and a floating, rapid pulse. Chronic patterns are usually internal deficiency
heat flaring up usually accompanying by mild diffused fever, red tongue, and
thin pulse. In this patient lung qi is depleted and liver qi is stagnated that is
leading to fire which flares up giving rise to dry and sore throat.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Flaws Bob, Sionneau Philippe. The Treatment of Modern Western Medical
Diseases with Chinese Medicine. ISBN-13: 978-1891845574. Blue Poppy;
Expanded Edition edition (July 1, 2011).

EIP Case Report. Prana Gogia. DAOM-EL. F15.