Interesting article today in Scientific American on acute compartment syndrome, a potentially devastating injury that can even lead to amputation of a limb, and that also gives a glimpse into the role of the fascia in organizing the tissues of the body. Releasing the fascia is a big part of what myo-fascial acupuncture does. And when i treat people with soft tissue pain involving restrictions of the circulation, such as in Raynaud’s disease, but even just if their hands and or feet are cold to the touch or reported as cold, I almost always use a Chinese medicine herbal formula called Dang Gui Si Ni Tang, or Dang Gui Frigid Extremities decoction. It works like a charm in cases of Thoracic outlet syndrome, Brachial plexus and other nerve impingement syndromes, along with acupuncture treatment to release the fascia and release the nerve impingement.

I have not yet treated acute compartment syndrome, but reading about it, I know what I would probably do if had the chance–very very careful Classical Chinese or Japanes acupuncture, moxabustion, and high doses of Dang Gui Si Ni Tang. Dose is a function of severity of the disorder and size of the patient. In a case like that, a large dose might save a limb, in conjunction with conservative biomed treatment.