In this remarkable case study, a patient turns his life around through working with a herbalist and allopathic doctors. Even the herbalist and the doctors were pleasantly surprised at the results!
Introduction
I think this case history is important as the outcome was much greater than expected and the orthodox specialists were baffled at the results.This case is still ongoing with herbal medicine for precautionary measures and is to continue with systemic care.
There is a clear message that herbal medicine is always worth investigating, and with the correct support it is a safe medicine that can work alongside orthodox treatment. By visiting a medical herbalist in person or via video call it is possible with the correct support to treat many medical conditions, along with dietary and lifestyle self-help advice.
Presentation and case history
58-year-old male approximately 5ft 8inches and 13stone. This patient at the time of the first consultation presented elevated blood pressure, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and a recent diagnosis of raised ocular pressure of the left eye, as well as evidential haemorrhage behind eye. Glaucoma had been ruled out.
Looking at the left eye it looked to bulge and protrude and the patient described the vision as cloudy, he found it felt worse at end of day and if trying to focus on a computer screen, he also said he could see floaters. On enquiry it was first noticed when helping his son move house, he felt it had caused him to feel off colour and after the event had suffered headaches then aching in eye. Even though he’d been to GP no further investigations were performed until he went for an eye test. It is likely the bleed was a trans ischemic attack (TIA) and the ocular pressure was of a consequence of this.
The patient had been a lifelong smoker of tobacco and cannabis and at this point was still smoking both. His chest was crackling, with a distinctive cough. At first consultation the patient was still smoking and felt he really didn’t want to quit. He liked a beer in the evening and diet did consist of fruit, veg and meat, as well as pizza, and take aways at weekends.
His health had been good up until these sudden complaints that had occurred close together.
At this time the patient wanted herbal treatment for his Blood Pressure (as he didn’t want it to get to the point of taking orthodox medication), and for his Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease along with anything that might help his eye.
Investigations
After a respiratory examination I didn’t feel the patient had asthma or emphysema but it was most likely bronchiectasis with shortness of breath lying down, and the breath smelt bad. He had had lung capacity test through the NHS and they had said he had the lungs of an 86-year-old.
His Blood pressure was 140/80, the systolic was raised but the diastolic fine his pulse normal. At this point he had been referred to a specialist for the raised ocular pressure.
Diagnosis
The allopathic diagnosis was COPD and Intra Ocular Pressure. I felt that his COPD was bronchiectasis cause from smoking and ocular pressure caused by transischemic attack also related to smoking. These were later confirmed by his specialists.
Approach to treatment
My approach to the treatment was to first be patient, as it was going to be a slow process. The patient was very reluctant to give up smoking and I figured it was going to take time. The holistic approach to this was to support the patient with tonics first to reduce blood pressure, to support the respiratory system and give herbs for the eyes.
The differential diagnosis came from orthodox tests as well as physical examinations done by myself in my practice. This included full respiratory examination revealing the lower lobes of lungs sounded fine but crackling over bronchioles, bad breath, shortness of breath on exertion, though Angina was ruled out. His lung capacity test showed the lungs of 85yr old.
In Western herbal medicine a holistic approach is taken in every treatment plan, and from taking a comprehensive consultation we look at why the patient has imbalances and when they may have first started with in their lives. These imbalances or bodily disease can be caused from long term stresses and emotional traumas, dietary or environmental and lifestyle choices. Often times it is all of the aspects of above.
In this case history the primary aspects were environmental, lifestyle choices with smoking habits being the most obvious, along with some dietary, and exercise considerations.
First prescription
Over the coming months the initial prescriptions where for the purpose of lowering Blood Pressure, to create support and strengthening to the vascular system especially the eyes. There is some circulatory activity, nervous system & respiratory support.
Tincture blend 1
| Herbs | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Hawthorn berry and flower fresh 1:1 wildcrafted | 20ml |
| Linden flowering bracts fresh 1:3 wildcrafted | 15ml |
| Motherwort fresh 1:3 fresh Home grown | 15ml |
| Bilberry fresh wildcrafted | 10ml |
| Eyebright | 10ml |
| Prickly Ash | 15ml |
| Chinese Magnolia | 15ml |
| Total | 150ml x 2 |
The patient was in full time employment so the dose was 7 ½ ml twice daily
Treatment plan
Lifestyle changes discussed included:
- Stopping smoking
- We discussed walking and exercise the patient would enjoy
- Reduce carbs in the diet and eat plenty of fruit and vegetables including red fruits and vegetables as they are good for the vascular system like blue berries, and beetroot.
This treatment was to evolve and alter over a couple of years.
Other medications and treatments
The patient had regular Reflexology treatments and multi vitamins daily . They continued spirometer breath test monitoring and eventually adopted the NHS stop smoking programme. They also had 12 treatments of eyelea injections over 18 months.
Follow-up appointments
On returning for follow up his blood pressure had improved and was 125/80. The left eye was still feeling cloudy, and felt worse when using a computer. He had stopped smoking but smoked before this follow up. His diet at this point not improved nor had he reduced alcohol consumption. We repeated prescription for many months
Follow-up prescriptions with rationale for changes
As the months went by Blood Pressure continued to improve. He gave up smoking but at first had copious thick mucus and a couple of chest infections.
So as a second medicine alongside the herbs already taking a medicine of:
Tincture blend 1
| Herbs | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Hawthorn berry and flower fresh 1:1 wildcrafted | 20ml |
| Linden flowering bracts fresh 1:3 wildcrafted | 15ml |
| Motherwort fresh 1:3 fresh Home grown | 15ml |
| Bilberry fresh 1:2 wildcrafted | 10ml |
| Eyebright 1:3 organic infused | 10ml |
| Prickly Ash 1:3 | 15ml |
| Chinese Magnolia 1:3 decocted | 15ml |
| Total | 105ml x 2 |
The patient was in full time employment so the dose was 7 ½ ml twice daily
Tincture blend 2
| Herbs | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Thyme & liquorice syrup | 20ml |
| Bacial Scullcap 1:3 | 15ml |
| White horehound 1:3 organic infused | 15ml |
| Mullain 1:3 infused | 15ml |
| Primrose 1:3 organic root | 10ml |
| Marshmallow root 1:3 organic cold macerated | 20ml |
| Fennel 1:3 organic distilled decocted | 10ml |
| Total | 105ml x 4 |
The dose was 5ml 2-3 times daily.
He had further investigations with his respiratory tract and there were pockets of infection within the lungs alongside the herbs which helped him with clearing his chest he was also prescribed antibiotics. The treatment continued for a few months, and the patient became more determined not to start smoking again. He started to improve diet, increasing vegetables, reducing take aways, eating more fish, home cooked foods. His breath tests were also improving. I encouraged him to take some extra exercise and he did this by going for walks and getting more fresh air. Over time he lost some weight and the chest cleared, he had by this time started going to different Nature reserves to get exercise and was enjoying watching wildlife.
Blood pressure was now 130/80 and after some months 120/80
As the blood pressure and lungs improved and as his lifestyle improvements it seemed like a good time to change his prescription and add more herbs for his arterial and eye health.
Tincture blend 3
| Herbs | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Hawthorn berry and flower fresh 1:1 wildcrafted | 20ml |
| Linden flowering bracts fresh 1:3 wildcrafted | 15ml |
| Motherwort fresh 1:3 home grown | 20ml |
| Bilberry fresh 1:2 wildcrafted | 10ml |
| Sea buck thorn berries 1:2 fresh wildcrafted | 20ml |
| Olive leaf 1:3 infused | 15ml |
| Siberian ginseng 1:3 decocted | 5ml |
| Total | 105ml x 4 |
The patient was in full time employment so the dose was 7 ½ ml twice daily
Hydrosol: Purple loosestrife wildcrafted hydrosol as an external spray to soothe and heal the eyes
We continued to talk about diet, alcohol consumption and lifestyle activities, and since he completely stopped smoking and once the lung function improved, he has improved in every way and it has made it easier for him to want to make improvements in every area of his life.
Final outcome
This treatment continued over a 2 ½ year period.
As the patients’ health, and life style improved he has been able to take up activities that would have struggled with before. He swears he’ll never smoke again and is glad and relieved for my patience, and encouragement, as well as his own decision to change his habits. They have paid off, he is happier and healthier.
His blood pressure 120/80 pulse 59, his lungs are much stronger and he no longer has cough or shortness of breath. The last spirometer test showed a lung age of 73 and he feels this has continued to improve, though he has not been tested for over 12months due to the Covid pandemic. His eye sight much better, and he has lost weight.
He continued to have eyelea injections at the hospital for the ocular pressure. He had 12 Eyelea injections over 18 months. It is with the eyes the greatest healing occurred, while having the Eyelea injections he also had regular scans of the eyes and the specialist had and extra-large scan done as they were “amazed” that at 60 years old his blood vessels where repairing. Amazingly, he said the specialist showed him the damaged brown blood vessels. He then pointed out the new smaller healthy red blood vessels running between and suggested this was a sign of his eye trying to repair itself. The specialist said it was an unusual occurrence especially in a man of his age and that the thing he was doing different to other hospital patients was that he was taking herbal medicine.
Although these results were from last year, he has continue with his tonic herbs and still has regular treatments to de-stress. He is much better with his diet, and lifestyle habits and said he is grateful for making these lifestyle changes when he did.
As for myself I have been delighted to be a part of this patients’ life changes, and I am glad I showed patience and belief that he would eventually give up smoking. As herbalists we can help and prescribe herbs and supplements, give dietary and lifestyle advice, but ultimately it is the patient that has to embrace these things and is the one that takes responsibility to heal.
