Allergy to Chinese Herbs?

[Hypo74]

Last week I woke up in the middle of the night with a weird taste in my mouth and numbness in my arm, mouth and hand. I kind of felt anxious and disoriented for a minute, and then everything was back to normal. This happened 3-4 times about 3 days ago while I was at work, then nothing for the last 3 days. I am 32, in good health, and it has never happened before. I seem to be fine now. I had been taking large doses of Chinese herbal medicine and vitamins for fertility until my "attacks" when I discontinued them, and the episodes have stopped after that -however, the neurologist laughed off the possibility that the vitamins and herbs could be at fault. However, this happened before when I went to another acupuncturist/herbalist and I switched for precisely that reason. My current acupuncturist/herbalist attributes all this to a pinched nerve, but also said to stop the herbs. Is it likely this is an allergy, or could it be something much worse like MS, brain tumor, meningitis? My neurologist has ordered MRIs/EEG to rule out those things, and it is scary.

[originalpk]

If you discontinued the herbal use, and it subsided, it is likely some sort of reaction.  as a student further along in TCM i would suggest that the herbalist/acu people you went to should have listened to you more.  If you feel like it could be causing an episode like you described, it probably did.  Like pharmaceuticals, herbs have strong effects on the body.  I do not know what formula you were on, but any well trained acupuncturist should be able to modify a formula that is affecting you like that.  That is the beauty of herbs.  There is a polypharmacy, and not just one pill that cannot be modified.  I have seen fertility treated beautifully with herbs/acupuncture, and it is sad that you have had this experience, especially since fertility is one that has so much emotion connected to it.  

I would also suggest that in the future you do not take large doses of herbs and vitamins together unless the same person has okayed it.  Or you have at least let them know the amount taken.  Look into vitamin B6 toxicity, because you have some of those s/sx as well.

Best of luck, and I hope you have the child you want!