Dimock Community Health Center Chinese Herbal Medicine Clinic Case Reports

The NESA Clinic at the Dimock Community Health Center provides Chinese herbal medicine to an inner city, primarily African-American and Hispanic population. The majority of the herbal clinic patients have chronic conditions with complaints that include diabetes, musculoskeletal conditions and/or pain, gastrointestinal issues, neurological conditions, and gynecological conditions or symptoms.

The objectives of this study are:

1. To conduct a limited archival review of the active cases at the NESA Herbal Clinic at the Dimock Community Health Center. This profile will include descriptive data (age, gender, race/ethnicity, initial presentation or main complaint, secondary presentations). This information will comprise a profile of the herbal clinic patients at Dimock: Who are the users of this facility, and for what conditions do they seek treatment?
2. Three patients, selected from the active cases described above and who consent to participate in this part of the project, will have their cases described in detail so as to illustrate the Chinese herbal clinic protocol. This will include a brief patient health history, primary and secondary complaints, signs and patterns, Chinese diagnosis, treatment strategy, student intern/clinic supervisor interactions and information on herbal prescriptions including ingredients, dosage, follow-up visits and modified herbal formulas. To insure confidentiality, no identifiable personal characteristics will be included.

Current Status: Phase 1 has been completed; Phase 2 is in progress.

Principal Investigator: C.J. Allen, MAc, LicAc, DiplCH

Other NESA Participants: Peter M. Wayne, Ph.D.; Julie E. Dunn, Ph.D.