Constant small thirst and exhaustion

[Guest guest]

I have a case in my western herbal practice where heat and cold signs are

quite intertwined and I could use some guidance in analyzing this

according to the 8 parameters.

 

Patient, 52, female, postmenopausal, 200 lbs, smoker, came with a chief

complaint that she needed to sip water all day and that she lacked

energy. Her water metabolism seems to be functioning poorly: the constant

small thirst is not satisfied by drinking and her mouth generally feels

dry, she sweats profusely throughout the day and night and has clear pale

urine which she attributes to excessive water. The thirst came on about 7

years ago after she undertook a 10 day juice fast with daily enemas, at a

chiropractor's suggestion to (unsuccessfully) get rid of gallstones. The

fast, she believed triggered Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Her fast followed

a period of grief over moving and burnout from excessive work, too much

caffeine, poor dietary practices and lack of rest, and warm potassium

broth was exceedingly important to her after 10 days of cold juices.

Chronic fatigue lasted 15 months, including a period during which acute

pancreatitis caused a week's hospitalization before her gallbladder could

be removed. The frequent small thirst started shortly after the fast,

accompanied by severe night sweats with pungent perspiration. Sweats

currently throughout the day. Blood sugar during the CFS period seemed

" all over the map " but was not explicitly monitored, although it is now

around 100 and stable. Lithium supplements at the tail end of her CFS

helped depression and energy. The CFS is over, she believes, but she has

generally low energy and is easily fatigued.

 

She has poor thermoregulation, although her feet are usually cold

regardless of season. (hands were too, until a few years ago- possibly

false cold since she has other heat signs?) Chronic pain in lower

back/kidney area and heat in the upper back/neck. Teeth have all been

removed due to pereo problems- history of heat/bleeding gums.

Grapefruit-sized fibroid removed 15 years ago. Otherwise unremarkable

menstrual history, although had tubal ligation after pregnancy in 20s,

and easy menopause. Has had weight issues all her life and lost and

gained 80 lbs on a rotation diet in the decade preceeding her fast.

Wheat allergy, but no other gluten sensitivity. Leaky gut syndrome

symptoms. Skin tags for 15 years. Urine is pale, clear and copious.

Stools vary but often floating, loose to well-formed, foul odor,

undigested food. No obvious phlegm now. Slight edema in legs and wrist.

History of migraines but rarely has them now. Prefers her drinks cold.

Appears to have qi deficiency and stagnation issues, as well as fluid/

kidney yin deficiency issues and spleen/stomach disorders. Tongue is

dry, very pale and peeled along margins, pale red tip and somewhat

darker in lung position, pale grey fur, no cracks, rear papillae, wide

body with no scallops, sunken center with raised margins. Skin and hair

not overly dry. Sinking pulses, also strong in middle level, almost

absent in chi position, at normal rates. Sedentary due to fatigue now,

but a lifelong issue. Good mental energy.

 

I had initially approached this as a blood sugar/syndrome X issue, but

her blood monitoring indicates pretty normal waking blood sugar levels.

I still think there are mineral and digestion/assimilation issues. She

has been taking a chiro-recommended gentian/milk thistle bitters before

meals which helps digestion when she remembers it.

 

My approach is to warm her digestion (soups, warm food, ginger) while

cooling her down elsewhere, giving her a formula that simultaneously

nourishes yin and builds qi. I'm considering Bu Yin tang, a dang gui and

Rhemannia combination to nourish the Spleen/Stomach and Liver/ blood,

tonifies yang, nourishes yin and purges fire. (any recommended sources

for this in granular form ?) Since minerals and EFAs seem to be an issue,

I am having her grind flaxseed and milk thistle seed over her hot cereal,

and have her drink an overnight infusion of avena sativa (nourishes and

tonifies blood, qi and essence, harmonizes urination, relieves fatigue,

regulates metabolism- Sp, K) with some licorice and marshmallow (to

nourish yin and moisten dryness -Lu,St, LI, SI, UB, K).

 

Any suggestions or insights would be appreciated, since there seems to be

a delicate balance to be walked here.

 

Karen Vaughan

CreationsGarden

***************************************

'People have illness because they do not have love in their life and are

not cherished'.- Sun Si Miao

 

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[Guest guest]

Karen,

 

If you're talking about Gong Ding-xian's Bu Yin Tang (Supplement Yin

Decoction) from the Wan Bing Hui Chun (Returning Spring to the Tens of

Thousands of Diseases), it is available as a 12:1 concentrated powdered

extract in capsules from Blue Poppy Herbs, www.bluepoppy.com,

1-800-487-9296.

 

Bob

 

> [Original Message]

> Karen S Vaughan <creationsgarden

>

> 05/19/2000 9:10:05 AM

> Constant small thirst and exhaustion

>

> I have a case in my western herbal practice where heat and cold signs are

> quite intertwined and I could use some guidance in analyzing this

> according to the 8 parameters.

>

> Patient, 52, female, postmenopausal, 200 lbs, smoker, came with a chief

> complaint that she needed to sip water all day and that she lacked

> energy. Her water metabolism seems to be functioning poorly: the constant

> small thirst is not satisfied by drinking and her mouth generally feels

> dry, she sweats profusely throughout the day and night and has clear pale

> urine which she attributes to excessive water. The thirst came on about 7

> years ago after she undertook a 10 day juice fast with daily enemas, at a

> chiropractor's suggestion to (unsuccessfully) get rid of gallstones. The

> fast, she believed triggered Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Her fast followed

> a period of grief over moving and burnout from excessive work, too much

> caffeine, poor dietary practices and lack of rest, and warm potassium

> broth was exceedingly important to her after 10 days of cold juices.

> Chronic fatigue lasted 15 months, including a period during which acute

> pancreatitis caused a week's hospitalization before her gallbladder could

> be removed. The frequent small thirst started shortly after the fast,

> accompanied by severe night sweats with pungent perspiration. Sweats

> currently throughout the day. Blood sugar during the CFS period seemed

> " all over the map " but was not explicitly monitored, although it is now

> around 100 and stable. Lithium supplements at the tail end of her CFS

> helped depression and energy. The CFS is over, she believes, but she has

> generally low energy and is easily fatigued.

>

> She has poor thermoregulation, although her feet are usually cold

> regardless of season. (hands were too, until a few years ago- possibly

> false cold since she has other heat signs?) Chronic pain in lower

> back/kidney area and heat in the upper back/neck. Teeth have all been

> removed due to pereo problems- history of heat/bleeding gums.

> Grapefruit-sized fibroid removed 15 years ago. Otherwise unremarkable

> menstrual history, although had tubal ligation after pregnancy in 20s,

> and easy menopause. Has had weight issues all her life and lost and

> gained 80 lbs on a rotation diet in the decade preceeding her fast.

> Wheat allergy, but no other gluten sensitivity. Leaky gut syndrome

> symptoms. Skin tags for 15 years. Urine is pale, clear and copious.

> Stools vary but often floating, loose to well-formed, foul odor,

> undigested food. No obvious phlegm now. Slight edema in legs and wrist.

> History of migraines but rarely has them now. Prefers her drinks cold.

> Appears to have qi deficiency and stagnation issues, as well as fluid/

> kidney yin deficiency issues and spleen/stomach disorders. Tongue is

> dry, very pale and peeled along margins, pale red tip and somewhat

> darker in lung position, pale grey fur, no cracks, rear papillae, wide

> body with no scallops, sunken center with raised margins. Skin and hair

> not overly dry. Sinking pulses, also strong in middle level, almost

> absent in chi position, at normal rates. Sedentary due to fatigue now,

> but a lifelong issue. Good mental energy.

>

> I had initially approached this as a blood sugar/syndrome X issue, but

> her blood monitoring indicates pretty normal waking blood sugar levels.

> I still think there are mineral and digestion/assimilation issues. She

> has been taking a chiro-recommended gentian/milk thistle bitters before

> meals which helps digestion when she remembers it.

>

> My approach is to warm her digestion (soups, warm food, ginger) while

> cooling her down elsewhere, giving her a formula that simultaneously

> nourishes yin and builds qi. I'm considering Bu Yin tang, a dang gui and

> Rhemannia combination to nourish the Spleen/Stomach and Liver/ blood,

> tonifies yang, nourishes yin and purges fire. (any recommended sources

> for this in granular form ?) Since minerals and EFAs seem to be an issue,

> I am having her grind flaxseed and milk thistle seed over her hot cereal,

> and have her drink an overnight infusion of avena sativa (nourishes and

> tonifies blood, qi and essence, harmonizes urination, relieves fatigue,

> regulates metabolism- Sp, K) with some licorice and marshmallow (to

> nourish yin and moisten dryness -Lu,St, LI, SI, UB, K).

>

> Any suggestions or insights would be appreciated, since there seems to be

> a delicate balance to be walked here.

>

> Karen Vaughan

> CreationsGarden

> ***************************************

> 'People have illness because they do not have love in their life and are

> not cherished'.- Sun Si Miao

>

> ______________

> YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET!

> Juno now offers FREE Internet Access!

> Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit:

> http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.

>

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>

 

 

 

--- Robert Flaws

--- bobflaws

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