She recently came to me for help with hindend weakness (looks like early degenerative process, subtle incoordination, stumbling, difficulty or lack of strength to jump up, do stairs, etc) and furloss that is bilaterally symmetrical over her sides (her skin is black in these areas and her coat from the neck down has become coarse and dry). Blood work is all WNL.
Her tongue is lavender, wide, slightly swollen, slightly dry. Her pulses are thin, on the weak side. She is a lively happy girl, no aggressive bones in her! She even submits to every dog at the dog park and LOVES people attention. She likes soft warm beds and is very cuddly. She doesn't paddle, but will vocalize a lot in her sleep. There is no pu/pd. Fed a good quality raw diet :)
I would in the past (prior to this course) think Damp Heat and put her on Si Miao San but she wasn't overtly Hot so I diagnosed Shao Yang disharmony and started her on Xiao Chai Hu Tang for the hindend weakness, Liver Qi stagnation. I think she is quite Liver Blood deficient (KCS, coat, alopecia, vocalizing in sleep) leaning toward Qi Stagnation (Spring ear dermatitis, lip-smacking nausea, growth on larynx) however. And then with her history I wonder if there is still too much Damp Heat lingering? No cystitis or crystalluria at present though. Wondering if XCHT is enough to start her on her healing process or should I add anything else? Thinking Dang Gui Shao Yao San because it certainly fits with some of the history of Damp Heat and Liver Blood deficiency.