A Case Report on Home-Based End-of-Life Care with Traditional Korean Medicine Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine for an Elderly Patient with Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract

Background:

Managing multiple symptoms in home-based palliative care (HBPC) is challenging. Acupuncture and herbal medicine have been widely used to alleviate symptoms in patients with cancer receiving palliative care, but their role in HBPC for nonmalignant diseases such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) remains underexplored.

Case Presentation:

We report the case of an 86-year-old woman with end-stage PD who received HBPC. She suffered from seborrheic dermatitis, constipation, and dyspnea, which significantly impaired her quality of life. Conventional treatments provided limited relief, prompting the integration of acupuncture and herbal medicine as complementary therapies. Over a two-month HBPC period, she experienced notable symptom improvement, including alleviation of skin conditions, relief from constipation, and reduction in dyspnea. Notably, acupuncture was administered until her final moments, contributing to a peaceful and comfortable end of life without severe respiratory distress.

Conclusion:

This case suggests that acupuncture and herbal medicine may serve as valuable adjunctive therapies for managing symptoms in patients with PD receiving HBPC. Notably, their integration into end-of-life care may help alleviate terminal dyspnea and support a peaceful death. These findings warrant further research and policy support to establish their role in palliative care for neurodegenerative diseases.