CUSHING'S SYNDROME - HYPERCORTISOLISM

Clinical Manifestations
  • Cushing's syndrome happens when the body has abnormally high levels of cortisol. This can happen for a variety of reasons, the most common of which is overuse of corticosteroid medications. Symptoms include:
    A a round-shaped face
    Upper body weight gain
    Skin that bruises easily
    Women:
    Increased body hair
    Menstrual irregularities
    Men:
    Erectile and fertility problems
    Children:
    Often obese
    A slowed rate of growth.
  • There is no single definitive test for Cushing's syndrome. In addition to a physical examination, blood, saliva, and urine tests are usually required. After diagnosis, additional tests are needed to identify the cause.
Treatment Principle
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Obesity
  • Edema
  • Fatigue
  • Weakness
  • Lassitude
  • Abdominal and ductal glomus and distention
  • Reduced food intake
  • Cold hands and feet
  • Loose stools
  • A pale facial complexion
  • T: Pale and swollen
  • C: Slimy
  • P: Thready and weak
Treatment Principle
  • Supplement the Spleen
  • Promote Transportation
  • Transform Phlegm
  • Eliminate Dampness
Herb Formulas
Points
  • REN-4, SP-9, ST-36
    With a headache and dizziness: + DU-20
    With constipation: + SJ-6
    With Kidney Yang Deficiency: + moxa or moxa needle UB-23
    With severe fatigue, weakness and lassitude: + SP-3
    With abdominal glomus and distention: + ST-25
    With severe edema: + REN-9
Clinical Manifestations
  • A somber, white facial complexion
  • Whole body edema
  • Dizziness
  • Aversion to Cold
  • A preference for warmth
  • Body cold
  • Limbs icy
  • Fatigue
  • Weak limbs
  • Palpitations
  • Sweats easily
  • Reduced appetite
  • Scanty stools but profuse urine
  • Low back, knees and abdomen feel cold and painful
  • Lower abdomen feels cold and painful
  • Loose stools containing undigested food
  • “Cock-crow” diarrhea (occurs at about 5 am)
  • Dysuria
  • Reduced libido
  • Impotence
  • Lusterless hair
  • Soft bones
  • Severe: Abdominal ascites
  • T: Pale, moist and swollen
  • C: Thin and white or White and greasy
  • P: Deep and soft or Deep, thready, weak and maybe slow
Treatment Principle
  • Warm and Reinforce the Spleen and Kidneys
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Obesity
  • Edema or
  • Pitting edema
  • Bright, shiny skin
  • Chest oppression
  • Palpitations
  • Shortness of breath
  • Dizziness
  • Head distention
  • Fatigue
  • Hypersomnia or
  • Somnolence
  • Abdominal distention and pain
  • Gas
  • Borborygmus
  • Dry stools
  • Distention and pain in the sides or flanks
  • Suffocating sensation in the chest
  • Tendency to sigh
  • Melancholy
  • Depression
  • Irritability
  • Inappropriate anger
  • Scanty menstruation or
  • Amenorrhea
  • Dysmenorrhea
  • Breast distention and pain before and during menses
  • Scanty urination
  • T: Swollen
  • C: White and greasy
  • P: Slippery and wiry
Treatment Principle
  • Soothe the Liver
  • Invigorate the Spleen
  • Transform Phlegm
  • Eliminate Dampness
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • An obese torso
  • Emaciation of the limbs
  • A red facial complexion
  • Facial acne
  • A headache
  • Dizziness
  • Tremor of the hands
  • Abdominal distention and pain
  • Gas
  • Borborygmus
  • Diarrhea
  • Anorexia
  • Loose stools
  • Nausea
  • abdominal distention
  • Distention and pain in the sides or flanks
  • Suffocating sensation in the chest
  • Maybe a bitter taste in the mouth
  • Tendency to sigh
  • Melancholy
  • Depression
  • Irritability
  • Inappropriate anger
  • Irregular menses
  • Dysmenorrhea
  • Breast distention and pain before and during menses
  • T: Red edges and tip
  • C: White
  • P: Thready and wiry
Treatment Principle
  • Soothe the Liver
  • Invigorate the Spleen
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Obesity
  • A red flushed, face
  • Head distention
  • Dizziness
  • Vertigo
  • A throbbing headache
  • Irritability
  • Irascibility
  • Chest oppression
  • Heart vexation
  • Profuse dreams
  • Thirst
  • Constipation
  • T: Normal
  • C: Slimy and yellow
  • P: Slippery, wiry and rapid
Treatment Principle
  • Calm the Liver
  • Subdue Yang
  • Transform Phlegm-Heat
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Obesity
  • Dizziness or
  • Vertigo
  • Impaired vision
  • Night blindness
  • Tinnitus
  • Irascibility
  • Throbbing headache with distended feeling
  • Flushed face or
  • Malar flush
  • Blurred vision
  • Red, dry eyes with feeling of grit in eye
  • Dry mouth and throat with bitter taste in mouth
  • Palpitations
  • Headache
  • Clouded consciousness
  • Low back and knee weakness and pain
  • Hungers easily
  • Nervousness
  • Insomnia with much dreaming
  • Thirst
  • Five Sole Heat (palms, soles and center of chest)
  • Night sweats
  • Light or late menses or
  • Amenorrhea
  • T: Red and dry
  • C: Little or None
  • P: Thready, wiry and rapid
Treatment Principle
  • Nourish Yin
  • Pacify the Liver
  • Subdue Yang
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • An obese torso with emaciation of the limbs
  • A red, rounded, moon-like face
  • Hot flashes in the face
  • Purple macules on the lower abdomen and lower limbs
  • Dizziness
  • Tinnitus or deafness
  • Poor memory
  • Aching, soreness or weakness of the low back
  • Spermatorrhea or
  • Premature ejaculation
  • Aching in the bones
  • Aching in the leg and heel
  • Dry mouth and throat
  • Thirst
  • Night sweats
  • Five Sole Heat
  • Malar flush
  • Low grade fever in the afternoon
  • Dry throat, maybe recurrent sore throat
  • Dry stools and/or
  • Constipation
  • Urine short and red
  • Heightened libido
  • Restlessness
  • Insomnia
  • Frequent dreams
  • Palpitations
  • Scanty menstruation or
  • Amenorrhea
  • Constipation
  • If Liver Yang also Rises: Blurred vision
  • T: Red especially on the tip
  • C: Little or None
  • P: Thready, deep and rapid
Treatment Principle
  • Nourish Yin
  • Supplement the Kidneys
  • Subdue Fire
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Suppurative pharyngitis
  • Pneumonia
  • Pleuritis
  • Erysipelas
  • Fever and chills
  • Generalized body pain
  • Thirst
  • A dry mouth and throat
  • Reduced food intake
  • T: Red
  • C: Yellow
  • P: Rapid
Treatment Principle
  • Nourish Yin
  • Clear Heat
  • Activate the blood
  • Resolve Toxins
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • A red face and eyes
  • Malar flushing
  • A fat face
  • An edematous body, especially in the lower limbs
  • Spontaneous sweating
  • Night sweats
  • Dizziness
  • Tinnitus
  • Palpitations
  • Insomnia
  • Weakness of the limbs
  • Low back and knee weakness and pain
  • Vexatious Heat
  • Cold feet
  • Nocturia
  • Persistent vaginal discharge
  • Impotence
  • Premature ejaculation
  • Amenorrhea
  • T: Pale, swollen and tender with a red tip or Red
  • C: Little or None
  • P: Thready, wiry and maybe rapid and maybe deep in either or both cubit positions
Treatment Principle
  • Tonify the Kidneys
  • Nourishes the Liver
  • Enrich Yin
  • Tonify Yang
Herb Formulas
Points
  • DU-4, KI-3, KI-7, REN-4
    With marked Qi Deficiency: + ST-36
    With spontaneous perspiration and night sweats: + LI-4
    With dizziness: + DU-20
    For tinnitus: + GB-2
    For palpitations and insomnia: + HT-7
    For persistent vaginal discharge: + GB-26
    For impotence and premature ejaculation: + UB-52
    For amenorrhea: + ST-29