Your diagnosis (for advanced readers)(&students)

[Guest guest]

Chinese Traditional Medicine , " tayfx " <aajohansen@u...>

wrote:

 

> In online forums I tend to see people easily 'diagnose'

> deficiency patterns and never take into account that

> after long standing disease there is always blood/energy stasis.

 

This is something which needs to be stressed. In all cases of

chronic medical problems that have gone on for some time, suspect at

the very least Qi Stagnation and rule in or rule out. (One always

continuously doublechecks to make sure. Standard Operating

Procedure (SOP).)

 

Why would Qi Stagnation develop in someone who has been chronically

ill? FRUSTRATION!!!! ANGER at the medical condition and for not

being able to do the things one wants to do. The longer one has been

ill, the more likely Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis are. Qi

Stagnation can lead to Blood Stasis, and vice versa.

 

For any readers new to TCM reading this post, the reason that

frustration and anger can trigger Qi Stagnation is because the Liver

is particularly vulnerable to anger and frustration, and the Liver

has a big influence over Qi flow in the body. (Yes, I know this

sounds odd to many Westerners, but this is TCM physiology, not

anatomy and physiology. Note the capitalized Liver instead of liver.

When writing about the TCM Liver instead of the anatomical liver,

capitalize the word. Common words that have special meaning in TCM

are capitalized. TCM Organs are collections of functions.)

 

TCM recognizes that each Organ is particularly vulnerable to certain

emotions. Not only that, but once the Organ is out of balance, the

person is going to be more prone to experiencing that particular

emotion. It's a snowballing situation. When sickness has gone on for

some time without adequte relief,when there have been

disappointments in healing, there is frustration. This frustration

in turn works to make the Liver more out of balance which results in

the person getting sicker plus being more prone to feel anger and

frustration. It snowballs.

 

For the students, any time you find Qi Deficiency, you'll want to

doublecheck for Qi Stagnation and rule in or out. If Qi Stagnation

also is present, something for Qi Stagnation will need to be

included in the formula. Otherwise, all that Qi you're

supplementing is going to be blocked and create more problems for

the client. The analogy I use is a garden hose with a kink in it.

If you don't remove the kink when you turn up the water pressure,

the hose can blow out from all that extra pressure.

 

You don't want to automatically include something for Qi Stagnation

if it's not present. This could create imbalance and cause

additional health problems for the client.

 

Always keep in mind that longterm Qi Stagnation can lead to Blood

Stasis, and longterm Blood Stasis can lead to Qi Stagnation. Because

of the relationship between Blood and Qi.

 

Also, frustration and anger are not the only possible triggers for

Qi Stagnation. It's just that it's the most obvious mechanism at

work in cases of chronic illness that have gone on for some time.

You'll want to consider the other possibilities too.

 

> Some food for thought:

> Blood stasis might cause hot palms/hotflushes/sweats.

> Blood stasis might cause cold hands.

 

This is important for students to remember. Especially the cold

hands part. Blood and Qi travel together. Qi is warming in nature.

If the Blood is not making it to an area of the body, Qi will not

either. Blood Stasis may be localized. (Like what happens when

there is physical trauma like an accident or surgery.) Or, it can

be generalized, affecting the entire body. The Blood and Qi are not

making it to the hands in the amount they need to; thus the cold.

 

Back behind the blockage, things are different. When Qi is blocked,

heat can and will build up. Plus, Heat damages Yin. So back behind

the blockage, there may be Heat, but the peripheral areas of the

body like hands and feet are cold. In a few odd cases you might even

run across the palms being hot but the rest of the hand is cold. If

the outer, upper edge of the hand is particularly cold (along the

course of the Small Intestine meridian)you may be seeing a case of

Wind Cold Invasion and what is called Exterior Deficiency. Exterior

Deficiency may sound like a contradition. It means that the reason

the person is so vulnerable to Wind Cold Invasion is because of

longstanding Blood and/or Qi Deficiency. Not just Protective Qi

Deficiency, but generalized Qi Deficiency. The Spleen is seriously

weak, and has been for some time. (The Spleen plays a major role in

both Qi accumulation and the manufacture of Blood.) Longstanding

Blood and Qi Deficiency also can lead to Blood Stasis and Qi

Stagnation. If there's not enough of it, it's not making it to the

places it needs to be. Think of the analogy of a stream in an area

that is undergoing drought. Not only is the water not making it to

certain areas of the stream bed, but what water there is is moving

very slowly. (Stagnation and Stasis may not be due to a blockage but

to the sluggishness of there not being enough.) It may not be

moving at all if there is very little water. Now think of the same

stream swollen by rain. There water is making it to all of the

stream bed plus it's moving very rapidly. There's nothing sluggish

about that water.)

 

I realize that this post may be a bit overwhelming to the beginning

TCM students. But hang in there. All this will fall into place and

become easier the longer you stick with it. You'll gradually move

from looking at the particulars to looking at a holistic overview.

But that takes time.

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much for the information in your last e-mail. It's the

story of my life, so I'm glad to have it explained so clearly and

succinctly. I was diagnosed with severe qi deficiency (kidney and

spleen qi deficiency with phlegm), but after ten months of treatment

(herbs and acupuncture) am finally feeling a little bit better. For

the amount of time and money it's taken to get this far, I would

obviously have liked to experience more improvement, but beggars

(literally, at this point), can't be choosers.

 

I have two questions:

 

[1] Victoria, may I ask you, or some of the other list members, to

please list a few herbs you've found especially helpful for both

qi

deficiency and liver qi stagnation? I understand that there are

obviously a lot of other factors and symptoms to be considered, but

I'd just like to get an idea of some good basic (and strong)

herbs

for these types of conditions.

 

[2] Also, I've heard shen disturbances described as an event in

which " the spirit lifts off the blood, " usually due to some

horrendous event or trauma. I understand the spirit is thought to

reside in the blood, but coming from a western viewpoint, it's

hard

to understand this concept, and any information on how to

conceptualize it, metaphorically, or otherwise would be a huge

help. When someone improves with treatment, and the spirit returns

to the body and blood, what does that entail, and what should they

feel, or begin to experience?

 

I hope these aren't too basic questions, but I haven't been

able to

find much info on either.

 

Thanks as always for the very helpful information.

 

Linda

 

 

Chinese Traditional Medicine , " victoria_dragon "

> This is something which needs to be stressed. In all cases of

> chronic medical problems that have gone on for some time, suspect

at

> the very least Qi Stagnation and rule in or rule out. (One always

> continuously doublechecks to make sure. Standard Operating

> Procedure (SOP).)

>

> Why would Qi Stagnation develop in someone who has been

chronically

> ill? FRUSTRATION!!!! ANGER at the medical condition and for not

> being able to do the things one wants to do. The longer one has

been

> ill, the more likely Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis are. Qi

> Stagnation can lead to Blood Stasis, and vice versa.

>

> For any readers new to TCM reading this post, the reason that

> frustration and anger can trigger Qi Stagnation is because the

Liver

> is particularly vulnerable to anger and frustration, and the Liver

> has a big influence over Qi flow in the body. (Yes, I know this

> sounds odd to many Westerners, but this is TCM physiology, not

> anatomy and physiology. Note the capitalized Liver instead of

liver.

> When writing about the TCM Liver instead of the anatomical liver,

> capitalize the word. Common words that have special meaning in TCM

> are capitalized. TCM Organs are collections of functions.)

>

> TCM recognizes that each Organ is particularly vulnerable to

certain

> emotions. Not only that, but once the Organ is out of balance, the

> person is going to be more prone to experiencing that particular

> emotion. It's a snowballing situation. When sickness has gone on

for

> some time without adequte relief,when there have been

> disappointments in healing, there is frustration. This

frustration

> in turn works to make the Liver more out of balance which results

in

> the person getting sicker plus being more prone to feel anger and

> frustration. It snowballs.

[Guest guest]

Linda:

 

I've been treating myself with acupuncture and herbs

for withdrawal (dian kuang) for the past month.

 

One of the clearest signs is the tongue. Last year my

tongue (central area) was full of cracks, like

ravines.

 

Between daily doses of Gallbladder Warming Concoction

and a group of selected acupoints, there is almost

visible daily improvement. The cracks aren't quite

smoothed out, but the tongue gradually becomes

smoother.

 

You may notice areas of your daily life gradually

improving at the same time.

 

Regards, Jack

 

--- keats65 <keats65 wrote:

>

>

> Thanks so much for the information in your last

> e-mail. It's the

> story of my life, so I'm glad to have it explained

> so clearly and

> succinctly. I was diagnosed with severe qi

> deficiency (kidney and

> spleen qi deficiency with phlegm), but after ten

> months of treatment

> (herbs and acupuncture) am finally feeling a little

> bit better. For

> the amount of time and money it's taken to get this

> far, I would

> obviously have liked to experience more improvement,

> but beggars

> (literally, at this point), can't be choosers.

>

> I have two questions:

>

> [1] Victoria, may I ask you, or some of the other

> list members, to

> please list a few herbs you've found especially

> helpful for both

> qi

> deficiency and liver qi stagnation? I understand

> that there are

> obviously a lot of other factors and symptoms to be

> considered, but

> I'd just like to get an idea of some good basic (and

> strong)

> herbs

> for these types of conditions.

>

> [2] Also, I've heard shen disturbances described as

> an event in

> which " the spirit lifts off the blood, " usually due

> to some

> horrendous event or trauma. I understand the spirit

> is thought to

> reside in the blood, but coming from a western

> viewpoint, it's

> hard

> to understand this concept, and any information on

> how to

> conceptualize it, metaphorically, or otherwise would

> be a huge

> help. When someone improves with treatment, and the

> spirit returns

> to the body and blood, what does that entail, and

> what should they

> feel, or begin to experience?

>

> I hope these aren't too basic questions, but I

> haven't been

> able to

> find much info on either.

>

> Thanks as always for the very helpful information.

>

> Linda

>

>

> Chinese Traditional Medicine ,

> " victoria_dragon "

> > This is something which needs to be stressed. In

> all cases of

> > chronic medical problems that have gone on for

> some time, suspect

> at

> > the very least Qi Stagnation and rule in or rule

> out. (One always

> > continuously doublechecks to make sure. Standard

> Operating

> > Procedure (SOP).)

> >

> > Why would Qi Stagnation develop in someone who has

> been

> chronically

> > ill? FRUSTRATION!!!! ANGER at the medical

> condition and for not

> > being able to do the things one wants to do. The

> longer one has

> been

> > ill, the more likely Qi Stagnation and Blood

> Stasis are. Qi

> > Stagnation can lead to Blood Stasis, and vice

> versa.

> >

> > For any readers new to TCM reading this post, the

> reason that

> > frustration and anger can trigger Qi Stagnation is

> because the

> Liver

> > is particularly vulnerable to anger and

> frustration, and the Liver

> > has a big influence over Qi flow in the body.

> (Yes, I know this

> > sounds odd to many Westerners, but this is TCM

> physiology, not

> > anatomy and physiology. Note the capitalized Liver

> instead of

> liver.

> > When writing about the TCM Liver instead of the

> anatomical liver,

> > capitalize the word. Common words that have

> special meaning in TCM

> > are capitalized. TCM Organs are collections of

> functions.)

> >

> > TCM recognizes that each Organ is particularly

> vulnerable to

> certain

> > emotions. Not only that, but once the Organ is out

> of balance, the

> > person is going to be more prone to experiencing

> that particular

> > emotion. It's a snowballing situation. When

> sickness has gone on

> for

> > some time without adequte relief,when there have

> been

> > disappointments in healing, there is frustration.

> This

> frustration

> > in turn works to make the Liver more out of

> balance which results

> in

> > the person getting sicker plus being more prone to

> feel anger and

> > frustration. It snowballs.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

 

" The ills of the flesh are unknown to the man who absorbs and distributes prana

with accuracy. "

 

http://www.geocities.com/mojavecowboy/clinicgz.htm

 

Guangzhou Clinic, China

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Chinese Traditional Medicine , " keats65 " <keats65>

wrote:

> [2] Also, I've heard shen disturbances described as an event in

> which " the spirit lifts off the blood, " usually due to some

> horrendous event or trauma. I understand the spirit is thought to

> reside in the blood, but coming from a western viewpoint, it's

> hard

> to understand this concept, and any information on how to

> conceptualize it, metaphorically, or otherwise would be a huge

> help. When someone improves with treatment, and the spirit

returns

> to the body and blood, what does that entail, and what should they

> feel, or begin to experience?

 

The TCM concept of Blood was hard to me to understand. I had a hard

time getting past what anatomical blood is. Probably because I'm so

familiar with what blood is. (Common words which have special

meaning in TCM are capitalized to help readers realize there is a

difference.)

 

TCM Blood, like TCM Organs are defined more in terms of functions

than anatomy. Two of the main functions of Blood is to moisten and

nourish the tissues. When this is not happening, there is Blood

Deficiency. Thus, Blood Deficiency can be not only a matter of

there being too little volume of blood but there is something wrong

with the quality of the blood which prevents it from properly

performing those two vital functions of moistening and nourishing

tissues. For this reason, even though the Western diagnosis was too

many red blood cells, the TCM diagnosis was Blood Deficiency. (The

symptoms and signs of Blood Deficiency were present. The TCM

diagnosis wasn't made on the basis of a Western diagnosis.)

 

ALL tissues need to be nourished and moistened by Blood, and that

includes the brain. When the brain is not being properly nourished

and moistened, there can be a number of effects. When the Heart is

not being properly nourished and moistened, this can in turn have a

number of effects on the Blood.

 

BTW, sometimes Blood Deficiency and Blood Stasis can go hand in

hand. One thing that happens from a Western viewpoint is a high

percentage of nondiscocytes. Nondiscocytes are misshapened, rigid

red blood cells that have trouble making it through the smallest

capillaries. The area of the brain which is responsible for

homeostasis and keeping the body in proper balance is the

hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is particularly rich in very small

capillaries that misshapened, rigid red blood cells have trouble

making it through. High percentages of nondiscocytes are found in a

number of medical conditions. For example, diabetes. But the

highest percentages have been found in people with CFIDS. B12

encourages the production of properly shaped and flexible red blood

cells. But one needs to be aware if using B12 - especially the

injections - is that in some people they can result in too many red

blood cells. Especially if the person lives at a high altitude.

Calcium can have a stiffening effect on red blood cells.

 

For more info on nondiscocytes, consult the work of L.O. Simpson,

MD, New Zealand researcher.

 

In time, people get more comfortable with the TCM definitions, and

can move easily back and forth between the two paradigms. But that

takes some time and reflection. The two are not the same, but the

two frequently intersect. As one becomes more familiar with both,

the intersections become more apparent. There comes a realization

that the ancient Chinese were onto some things even though TCM

physiology is so different from anatomy and physiology. For

example, in TCM physiology, the Kidneys pay an important role in the

manufacture of Blood. This sounds really weird until one realizes

that the TCM concept of the Kidneys includes the bones. Bone marrow

does play a role in the manufacture of certain blood cells.