Herbal Formula for Treating Syringomyelia (SM)

The General

Syringomyelia is a rare condition in which long, fluid filled spaces are present in the central gray matter of the spinal cord. We call this space as syrin which expands and elongates over time, destroying the center of the spinal cord. Since the spinal cord connects the brain to nerves in the extremities, this damage results in pain, weakness, and stiffness in the back, shoulders, arms, or legs.

One way to think of syringomyelia is if you were to take a hot dog and inject water into the center. This forms an abnormal cavity within the structure of the spinal cord, causes pressure and disrupts the normal function of the nerves that travel from that area of the cord.

The Main Symptoms

Many of the symptoms of syringomyelia may be vague at beginning. However, symptoms can be progressive over a long period of time. Some people experience symptoms that occur suddenly, causing them to think they may have had a stroke.

Pain is one of the most common symptoms persons may experience. People may complain of pain in the arm, hand or leg. Some people report a burning type of pain around the ribs or in the neck or back. Often, the pain is present for months to years before a proper diagnosis is made. Pain on one side is more commonly reported than bilateral pain. Many persons report a tingling sensation or numbness in the arm, chest, or back, in a leg or foot. If left unchecked, some people will report burning or injuring themselves without knowing it due to the numbness in an extremity..

Some people will report weakness in the hand or arm, or even in the leg or foot. Weakness is generally progressive over time and many people will say they have become clumsy with their hand and drop objects. Over time, some persons will develop atrophy (or muscle wasting). Infrequently, a person will become suddenly weak on one side of the body.

Weakness of the lower extremity may cause problems with walking, called ataxia. This is generally described as an unusual gait or dragging of one leg. Some people will stagger and report frequent falling due to the weakness of a limb.
Other symptoms may include shortness of breath, chest tightness, episodic fast heart rate, blood pressure changes, fatigue. SM may also adversely affect sweating, sexual function and bladder and bowel control.

Chinese Herbal Medicine Treatment

1. Weakness of stomach and spleen.
   Symptoms:
   Extremities numbness, no feeling to pain and temperature changes, muscle atrophy, herbal medicinetiredness, short breath, weak voice, poor appetite, lower abdomen distension, slush stool, tender and enlarged tongue, deep and fine pulse.
   Formula:
   Center Boosting and Qi Enriching Decoction
   Composition:
   Radix Astragali 30g, Radix Codonopsis Pilosulae 20g, Rhizoma Atractylodis 15g, Radix Angelicae Sinensis 10g, Poria Cocos 15g, Radix Dipsaci 15g, Fructus Lycii 30g, Rhizoma Cimicifugae 5g, Rhizoma Notopterygii 12g, Fructus Chaenomelis 12g, Caulis Spatholobi 30g,
   Administration:
   Take decocted with water, 1 time daily.
   Variation:
   1. Lower abdomen distension: add Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis 10g
   2. Slushing stool: remove Radix Angelicae Sinensis
   3. Severe numbness: add Ramulus Cinnamomi 10g, Lumbricus 10g
   4. Severe weak limbs: add Cortex Eucommiae preparata 10g, Radix Achyranthis 15g
   5. Urinary incontinence: add Fructus Rubi 10g, Mantidis Ootheca 12g
   6. Swallowing difficulty: add Radix Ginseng 6g, Flos Inulae 9g, Haematitum 15g
   7. Long time muscle atrophy: add Radix Polygoni Multiflori 15g, Radix Rehmanniae 12g
2. Kidney vacuity and emptiness of bone marrow.
   Symptom:
   Numbness of muscle, no feeling to pain and temperature changes, muscle atrophy, difficulty with joints moving, walking difficult, slurring speaking, swallowing difficulty, sore waist and soft limbs, chilly limbs and body, pale complexion, purple tongue body, enlarged tongue body, tooth print at sides of tongue, tiny and rough pulse.
   Formula:
   Radix Rehmanniae Decoction
   Composition:
   Radix Rehmanniae 15g, Radix Morindae 15g, Epimedii Herba 15g, Herba Cistanchis 12g, Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides 10g, Fructus Corni 12g, Radix Ophiopogonis 15g, Poria Cocos 15g, Fructus Lycii 30g, Radix Astragali 30g, Radix Angelicae Sinensis 15g, Caulis Spatholobi 30g, Radix Salviae Miltiorrhziae 15g.
   Administration:
   Take decocted with water, 1 time daily.
   Variation:
   1. Kidney Yang vacuity: add Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata 6g, Cortex Cinnamomi 10g
   2. Spleen vacuity: add Radix Codonopsis Pilosulae 30g
   3. Blood vacuity: add Rhizoma Polygonati 30g, Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides 12g,
   4 . Urinary incontinence: add Fructus Rubi 10g, Fructus Alpinia Oxyphyllae 10g
   5 . Swallowing difficulty: add Radix Ginseng 6g, Flos Inulae 9g, Haematitum 15g
   6 . Speaking difficulty: add Rhizoma Cimicifugae 6g, Radix Bupleuri 6g, Rhizoma Acori Graminei 15g
3. Yin vacuity of both liver and kidney.
   Symptom:
   herbal medicine & little boyExtremities numbness, no feeling to pain and temperature changes, muscle wasting, fragile bones, decaying finger points, joints spasm, tingling muscle, walking difficulty, sore and soft knees and lumbago, dizziness, giddiness, read tongue, less tongue fur, tiny pulse.
   Formula:
   Hu Qian Pill
   Composition:
   Radix Rehmanniae 30g, Carapax Et Plastrum Testudinis 30g, Radix Paeoniae Alba 30g, Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae 10g, Rhizoma Anemarrhenae 9g, Radix Angelicae Sinensis 10g, Fructus Lycii 15g, Rhizoma Polygonati 30g, Radix Achyranthis 15g, Ramulus Loranthi 15g, Semen Cuscutae 10g, Caulis Spatholobi 20g
   Administration:
   Take decocted with water, 1 time daily.
   Variation:
   1. Tingling muscle: add Ramulus Uncariae Cum Uncis 10g, Scorpio 6g
   2. Limbs spasm: add Scorpio 6g, Bombyx Cum Batryte 12g
   3. Yin vacuity with inner fever: add Cortex Lycii Radicis 10g, Cortex Phellodendri 6g
   4. Qi vacuity: add Radix Astragali 30g, Radix Codonopsis Pilosulae 20
   5. Blood stasis: add Semen Persicae 10g, Flos Carthami 10g

Amyotrophy Convalescence Pill Series

Two or three combination version from Amyotrophy Convalescence Pill Series medicine are used to treat Syringomyelia (SM). Dr. Huai Yuanming summer up the experience accumulated during long term of fight with syringomyelia by using Chinese herbal medicine and began to take his own feature. Amyotrophy Convalescence Pill Series can be effectively used to treat such condition and the long term study verified its solid effects. For effectively treating syringomyelia, most patients can use 2 kinds of medicine series # 1 and series # 4 together to treat the disease. For severe cases with chewing difficulty, walking difficulty and speaking dificulty, series # 1 and series # 3 should be used for the treatment so syrinx. For more information regarding Amyotrophy Convalescence Pill Series please CLICK HERE.