Clinical Menopause Questions

[Guest guest]

, <yulong@m...> wrote:

> Michael,

>

> > A second question I have relates to a

> > post-menopausal patient that

> > was put on Fosamax. She does not tolerate it

> > well and she wants an

> > herbal alternative. She has had a bone scan

> > which indicated early

> > stages of decalcification. Her physician really

> > pushed HRT a few

> > years ago, but she refused. She has no overt

> > signs of pattern

> > abnormality related to this

>

> I'm confused. You say " she does not tolerate

> it well " and that " she has no overt signs

> of pattern abnormality " .

>

> First, this seems to suggest that there is

> some sort of pattern normality, and though

> I can make guesses as to what you might

> mean, it's part of what's confusing me.

>

> Second, if she does not tolerate her medication

> well, what happens? I presume there's some

> sort of manifestation that she experiences.

>

 

> As I look over what you said, it's not

> real clear to me what the " this " refers

> to. Do you mean she has no signs and

> symptoms whatsoever, i.e., you can detect

> no pattern of abnormality?

>

> Or have you diagnosed her as conforming

> to some standard pattern and there is

> nothing to suggest any sort of abnormal

> interpretation of this pattern?

>

> I don't even know if my question is

> clear. You see, I'm confused.

>

> Ken

 

Ken:

 

Thanks for taking the time to try to figure out what I was asking.

Let me try again.

 

From a TCM perspective, what meaning (if any) does decreased bone

density have (as indicated by a bone scan)?

 

 

Michael

[Guest guest]

Michael,

 

> Ken:

>

> Thanks for taking the time to try to figure out what I was asking.

> Let me try again.

>

> From a TCM perspective, what meaning (if any) does decreased bone

> density have (as indicated by a bone scan)?

>

>

> Michael

 

I've been unable to log on for a few days and

am just now catching up. If others have already

answered this, I apologize for any redundancy.

 

I can only respond in general terms, i.e., by

stating my understanding of the meaning of

bone health and bone disease in terms of

traditional Chinese medical theories.

 

The relationship between the bones and the

kidneys is of some importance in regard to

the question of bone density. If the bones

lose their density, I'd see it as a sign of

an important vacuity of the kidneys.

 

Such a vacuity would naturally have to

be understood and interpreted in terms

of other signs and symptoms that were

present in any case.

 

I think it's worth pointing out that

one of the purported benefits that

comes with the long term practice of

tai4 ji2 chuan2 is an increase in

bone density. I often hear it said

of accomplished tai4 ji2 practitioners

that their bones become " hard as steel. "

 

Hope this helps.

 

Ken