Clinical Consultation and Acupuncture Treatment Plan for Art School Student

Stress Level Assessment: * The patient rates her current level of stress as an $8/10$ . * She is under significant pressure due to attending a highly competitive art school that maintains both a heavy arts curriculum and a strong academic schedule. * The patient describes herself as being in the dance program, noting that the pressure is compounded by the dual demands of physical performance and academics.
Schedule and Workload: * She recently dropped one optional academic class to help alleviate her workload. * Dance Schedule: * In-school: Two dance classes per day, each lasting $75\,minutes$ . * Total daily dancing: Approximately $2\,hours$ per day. * Outside school: One dance class per week. This was for a competition that has now concluded, making further attendance optional. * Gym/Exercise: She occasionally goes to the gym, though these visits are becoming less frequent. * Volunteering: * She works on the weekends, specifically face painting children at a fun fair. * She describes the volunteer environment as "very packed inside." * The practitioner inquired if she could skip this weekend to rest, but the patient insisted on attending because she still needs volunteer hours for school and finishes in June. * The patient noted that she is able to sit while doing the face painting, which the practitioner suggested using as an opportunity for mental rehearsal or repetition of her routines.

Performance Review: * The patient recent performance "went good." * She sustained "huge bruises" on her knees as a result of the performance. * Treatment for Injuries: She has been using ice and applying Arnica to the bruised areas. She notes they are looking "a little bit better now."
Physical Fatigue: * Energy level is currently rated at a $4/10$ . * She reports feeling "so exhausted" and experiencing muscle soreness from a workout the previous day.

Current Symptoms: * The patient is currently suffering from symptoms that feel like a cold or allergies, which began around Tuesday. * Nasal Congestion: She describes her nose as being very congested, though she denies having a sore throat. * Voice: The practitioner observes that her voice sounds "nasally." * Migraine: She reports having a migraine during the session, described as a "heavy" feeling that makes her want to close her eyes.
Temperature Regulation: * The patient reports feeling much colder than usual. * She has been turning on the heater and noted that she has been "a lot less cold" since doing so. * The practitioner warned that the cold can further "constrict" her system, especially given her current congestion.

Dietary Habits: * The patient enjoys eating salads, but the practitioner advised her to "stay off from the cold salads" until her current cold/congestion resolves. * Specific Dietary Advice: * Do not eat cold salads on an empty stomach. * Always eat something warm first (e.g., for dinner) and save the salad for the end of the meal. * Suggested adding boiled edamame to her diet. * Recent Meals: She has been eating lentil soup and leftover rice prepared by her mother. * Meal Timing: She generally does not eat too late unless she is "staying up and studying really [late]."
Elimination and Digestion: * Bloating: She has not experienced bloating for two or three weeks. * Bowel Movements: Occur every day. * Stool Consistency: They are not "sticky" (no need to wipe excessively) and are a regular brown color.
Other Physiological Markers: * Sleep: She reports sleeping deeply ("sleeps deep"). * Hearing: No ringing in the ears ( $tinnitus$ ) recently. * Thirst: She continues to drink water. * Cravings: She currently has a craving for salty foods. * Menstrual Cycle: Her period has not arrived yet but is expected soon.

Practitioner Observations: * The practitioner notes she is "very Qi deficient." * The symptoms are attributed to "upper jaw, more lung related and wind cold," potentially triggered by severe weather with warm spells and gusty winds.
Tongue Diagnosis: * Puffy. * Wet. * Contains a "little coating." * Slightly redder on the sides.
Organ System Notes: * Heart: Linked to her deep sleep. * Kidney: Linked to her current salt cravings. * Spleen: Noted as "fine with sin," though the tongue puffiness relates to Spleen Qi.

Previous Session Points: * $Liver\,15$ * $Kidney\,3$ * $Liver\,8$ * $GB20$ * $REN4$ * $Point\,6$
Points Discussed/Proposed for Current Session: * $LI17$ * $LI19$ * $LI15$ * $Liver\,3$ * $Spleen\,6$ * $Stomach\,36$ (Decided against) * $LI4$ * $LI11$ * $LI20$ * $DU12$ * $DU14$ * The practitioners aimed to address the "heavy" headache and "upper jaw cold" without overdoing the treatment.

Practitioner: "How would you rate the level of stress at the time?"
Patient: "An $8$ ."
Practitioner: "Is it very important to do [the volunteering] at this point?"
Patient: "I'd say yes. I still need volunteer hours for school… I finish at the June."
Practitioner: "Before I go there, what may I ask is the volunteer work?"
Patient: "It's face painting little kids that are fun fair."
Practitioner: "Did you have your performance already? How did that go?"
Patient: "Yes. It was good. I have huge bruises on my knees… my friends kept asking me to call me after—oh, no. But it was fine. It was good. I was icing it in Arnica."
Practitioner: "Other than the stress, how's the migraine?"
Patient: "I kind of have one right now just because I think I have, like—I don't know if it's a cold or allergies… My nose is so… congested."
Practitioner: "Do you remember how to at least stick these stools or feel like you have to wipe a few times to get it clean?"
Patient: "For what? Bowel movement… no sticky stools."
Practitioner: "You mentioned that you dropped a class. That doesn't affect your standing within the program?"
Patient: "It was, like, an optional academic."