2 Horse comments from LAc

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LAc comments:

 

After charting all the signs and symptoms (thanks to your very complete

observations and case history) I see him as constitutionally a weak kidney

both yin and yang but, leaning more toward the kidney yin deficiency. AND He

seems highly influenced by the seasons (elements) For example he is worse in

summer the season of the heart because kidney yin is failing to cool the

heart and better in the winter the season of the kidney. There appears to be

some dampness (KD yang deficiency not supporting the Spleens T & T

functioning) involved which sounds contradictory but you can have multiple

patterns occurring simultaneously in different organ systems.

 

My treatment plan would include combination constitutional /elemental theme

to guide formulas as needed as the seasons change.

 

Here is my thinking:

1) Kid source of all yin and yang of the body. A congenital deficiency of KD

yin and yang (always consider both when dealing with the KD - less so for

any other element or organ)

2) Big picture = Kidney qi supports the total metabolic functioning (like

the battery in your car is the spark that runs everything)

 

Elementally speaking:

· Kidney yin nourishes Liver yin (KD is the mother of LIV) KD is failing to

nourish Liver = thyroid, pituitary, insulin and glucose issues

· Kidney yin cools heart fire (Heart & KD not communicating) = summer droop

and anhydrosis (sweat is the fluid of the heart)

 

Symptom break down (not all of them just the highlights)

Thyroid/ pituitary issues reflect a wood - Liver/water- kidney imbalance

Starting with poor growth from birth and epiphysitis (bone/KD)

Dull, lethargic & weak in summer - season of the heart (KD yin not cooling

the heart or heart blood)

Hyperactive (KD yin deficiency = unrestrained Yang)

Fear (KD)

Hyper sexual as a youngster (KD yin deficiency!!!!)

Liver rules hoofs, tendons, blood, hormones

Hard, dry, cracking hoofs - Liver yin deficiency = liver blood deficiency (a

part of liver yin)

Laminitis = Liver yin = liver blood deficiency & heat and stagnation in the

blood (a part of liver yin)

 

{**This is one type of laminitis only I believe, the sugar/starch overload

type. There are other, hormonal vasoconstrictive causes which I do not

believe are solely Lv}

 

 

As you observed kidney is the mother of liver. Or in his case Kidney yin

fails to nourish liver yin. That can give rise to aggression, fear and

anger. I see the liver as a blood sponge. When it is moist and full of cool

blood it is happy. When it gets dry it becomes tense and hard. The Chinese

say to use a cooling yin nourishing herbs to soften a tense liver.(you did

just that with the Bai Shao)

 

Allergic sensitivities butter cup and clover can be toxic to the liver

impacting an already stressed system.

 

Generalized yin deficiency

Dehydration

Dry mouth

High appetite = Stomach yin deficiency not enough yin to cool the stomach

(typical presentation in yin deficient diabetics and ST ulcers)

Muscle wasting = possible glucose/insulin issues (typical presentation in

yin deficient diabetics) Something to consider.

 

Dampness

Greasy coat, fat pads and weight gain (congealed dampness)

 

Treatment goals

 

· Slowly nourish Kidney yin and give a nod to the Kidney yang at the same

time.

Charge the battery to support the entire metabolic system. By nourishing the

kidney yin you will nourish the liver yin and liver blood. By nourishing

liver yin we will pull down and anchor liver yang = reduce cranky behavior.

See formula below.

· Focus on nourishing, supporting and softening the liver rather than

detoxing, which is most likely too strong for him right now. Spring is a

great time to do this because it is the season of the liver.

· As the summer approaches add yin nourishing herbs and herbs to cool the

heart and heart blood consider a tian wang bu xin dan like formula to get

the heart and kid communicating

 

 

I'd do the following for a balanced Kid yin and yang boost (this formula is

also used to balance high glucose levels in humans) Of course we'll add a

digestive for his touchy stomach and a qi regulator or

two to avoid the heat and stagnation from tonics.

 

 

He shou wu = KD

Du zhong = KD

Gou qi zi = liver and blood

Shu di huang & Sheng di huang small but equal amounts

Tu si zi drain deficiency heat from KD

American ginseng = cooling tonic - yin and yang

Dang gui = optional hoofs and blood

Shan zhu yu = astringe and tonify KD

Chen pi and/or Sha ren = SP/ST digestive

Fu ling = damp and ST/ SP, balance tonics

Bai shao = friend to the liver, Softens and sooths nourish yin of liver

Ju hua = friend to the liver

...............

 

Just such a formula produced the laminitis.

 

Jackie