excess/deficiency

[Guest guest]

Joe wrote:

 

> Particularly in treating Wind Invasions manifesting as common colds or other

> URI I tonify the deficiency first and then remove the excess. I always use

> tonification points in the lower jiao on the theory that I'm less likely to

> tonify a pathogen by not tonifying the region of the body it's in.

 

Oddly enough, Li Gao advocated the use of Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang in the

treatment of external invasions. He might have increased the dosage of

exterior-resolving herbs; Chai Hu, etc. Li Gao's idea being, we don't catch

cold without a lack of zheng qi. So, using Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang to treat

colds is in line with the Nei Jing discussion of biao (primary) and ben

(secondary).

 

Shang Han Lun states, rather early on if I remember correctly, that one

should needle St 36 on people suffering from invasions to " prevent passage, "

i.e. to boost the zheng qi and prevent the xie qi from prevailing and

transmitting to a more interior channel. It's one of the few places in SHL

where acupuncture is even mentioned.

 

As to which comes first... the Nei Jing chapter on biao and ben is

thought-provoking, if not exactly crystal clear. Whether the root of the

illness is repletion or vacuity is important. In mild conditions, one can

treat biao and ben simultaneously. In all cases, obstruction of the bowels

or bladder should be treated first, primary or secondary notwithstanding. In

external invasion with pre-existing zheng qi vacuity, the zheng qi vacuity

is considered secondary, but must nevertheless be addressed first. Of

course, there's a lot more to it. I wonder if obstruction of the fu is what

is inferred in the " first drain, then supplement " homily.

[Guest guest]

FROM: LCTCM

Oddly enough, Li Gao advocated the use of Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang in the

treatment of external invasions. He might have increased the dosage of

exterior-resolving herbs; Chai Hu, etc. Li Gao's idea being, we don't catch

cold without a lack of zheng qi. So, using Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang to treat

colds is in line with the Nei Jing discussion of biao (primary) and ben

(secondary).

 

Shang Han Lun states, rather early on if I remember correctly, that one

should needle St 36 on people suffering from invasions to " prevent passage, "

i.e. to boost the zheng qi and prevent the xie qi from prevailing and

transmitting to a more interior channel. It's one of the few places in SHL

where acupuncture is even mentioned.

 

LC,

My research on the subject of treating cold and flu in China turned up a

pattern that might be of interest. The most commonly prescribed remedy in

the summer was different that in winter. Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San was the

most commonly used formula in the summer. Its ingredients are:

Huo xiang,

Zi su ye

Da fu pi

Fu ling

Shen qu

Ban xia

Hou pu (prepared with ginger juice)

Bai zhu

Zhu pi

Jie geng

Gan cao

Gan jiang

Suan zao ren

 

The most popular treatments in the winter were more along the lines of

clearing heat with Zhong Gan Ling Pian or Gan Mao Qing Re

 

As a general perspective, and without individual differential diagnostics,

my personal experience has shown that tonification with herbs such as huang

qi, dang gui, yin yang huo, xia cao, and/or ren shen, combined with herbs to

expel wind from the muscles such as han fang ji and ci wu jia is quite

effective for prevention or treatment in the first 24 hours of cold symptom

onset...the sooner treatment starts after onset the better. If this doesn't

cut off the pattern at the pass and symptoms decide to dig in, then

tonification is usually not indicated as it will often enhance the ferocity

of the battle between the anti-pathogenic and pathogenic influences and

consequently make the symptoms worse and further weaken the patient. When

sx have clearly taken hold, judged either by sx intensity or length of time

since onset (24+ hours) then I obtain better results by reducing the

pathogenic influence using ingredients such as chuan xin lian, she gan, lian

qiao, and ban lan gen, combined with complementary support such as chai hu,

ge gen, jie geng, etc. In the middle of the cycle there will often be a

sneezing stage that can be effectively treated with cang er zi and other

appropriate herbs. When the battle is nearing an end I find re-introduction

of lower dose tonification along with a reduced dose of the repress pathogen

herbs to be effective in finalizing the cycle of what is often, perhaps

incorrectly, referred to as wind cold. Tonification is clearly best if

administered between symptom patterns.

 

Stephen

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

We need to keep in mind something here. Li Gao (Dong-yuan) recommended

bu zhong yi qi tang NOT for simple wind/cold attack, but for an interior

pattern that resembled a wind/cold attack. To quote:

 

" There is no (insufficient spleen) yang to sustain the ying and the

wei. As they cannot withstand wind and cold, cold and heat (effusion)

are generated. All this is due to insufficient qi of the spleen and

stomach. However, although they look quite the same, this differs

essentially from the pattern of wind cold invasion. "

 

In other words, this is a reaction of sensitivity to the environment

caused by vacuity. In the Nei Jing, this is called xu xie/vacuity evil,

and is caused by qi vacuity. It is not a true external evil attack.

This distinction must be made in this situation.

 

 

 

>

>

> FROM:  LCTCM

> Oddly enough, Li Gao advocated the use of Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang in the

> treatment of external invasions. He might have increased the dosage of

> exterior-resolving herbs; Chai Hu, etc. Li Gao's idea being, we don't

> catch

> cold without a lack of zheng qi. So, using Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang to treat

> colds is in line with the Nei Jing discussion of biao (primary) and ben

> (secondary).

>