Dosage/Sympathetic NS/Shen

[Guest guest]

<<Dr Shen typically used small doses to affect chronic,

 

sympathetic dominant

 

> tendencies - effectively.

 

Will

 

could you elaborate on the presentation of sympathetic

dominant tendencies in a patient and what formulas or other

substances one would use to treat this. If I understand you

correctly, I have a possibly terminal patient who might conform to

this pattern.

>>

- the entire class of surface relieving agents are peripheral

vasodilators. Dr Shen typically used Jing Jie and Fang Feng 1.5 - 3g

 

Will

 

Here are some notes I give to my students when discussing

neuroanatomical acupuncture styles:

 

Sympathetic Function

 

SYMPATHETIC innervation drives the " fight or flight " emergency

response system. Highest

centers are located in hypothalamic nuclei, although these

certainly receive input from cerebral

emotional cortex. These nuclei connect to the reticular

formation of the brainstem. This latter

is a multineuronal network that is in direct or indirect

contact with all aspects of brain function,

but sympathetic/reticular interactions are very well

integrated. The reticulo-spinal tract

conducts instructions to all segmental levels of the cord where

there are autonomic cells (that

includes the sacral parasympathetic output as well).

 

 

 

Pupil -- dilatation (approach someone with a pleasant

smile on your face, establish eye contact, and hit them

hard in the belly. Notice their pupils flare open. Yours

will also when they hit you back 1 or 9 times.)

[Parasympathetic]

Ciliary muscle -- relax (far focus) [Parasympathetic]

Lacrimal gland -- secretion (low level)

[Parasympathetic]

Parotid gland -- secretion (low level) [Parasympathetic]

Submandibular gland -- secretion (low level)

[Parasympathetic]

Heart -- increased pulse rate and myocardial

responsiveness

Lung -- dilation of air passages

Gut -- reduced motility

Liver, pancreas -- increase in blood glucose

Kidney -- reduced urine production

Urinary bladder -- contraction of exit sphincter and

relaxation of bladder wall (having the piss/shit scared

out of you is a myth!)

Penis -- ejaculation (we'll get to that in more detail later)

Arterioles in general -- constriction

Arterioles in voluntary muscular system -- response is

variable...the entire syndrome of

arteriole sympathetic response is to direct blood to those

muscles coping with the

emergency. Since you have a limited blood volume, this

means blood must be directed

away from other areas, such as gut and skin (you do turn

pale from fright). In general,

the brain itself is exempt from this kind of regulation,

so that the neural flow rate is

maintained. Blood pressure is up and ventricular exit

volume are increased; therefore,

fainting from fright is more a phenomenon of Hollywood

than of neurology. If syncope

does occur, the causes is psychological rather than

biological.

Piloerector muscles (raise hair or goosebumps) -- contraction

Sweat glands -- secretion

 

If any of the above happen, all tend to happen (ejaculation being an

exception). However, this is a graded, not an absolute, response.

 

Parasympathetic Function

 

PARAYMPATHETIC innervation drives the ordinary nuts and bolts

of such homeostatic

systems as digestion and delivery of respiratory gases. Highest

centers are located in

hypothalamic and other nuclei, although these certainly receive

input from cerebral emotional

cortex. These nuclei connect to the reticular formation of the

brainstem. This latter is a

multineuronal network that is in direct or indirect contact

with all aspects of brain function, but

parasympathetic/reticular interactions are very well

integrated. Reticular formation spreads

throughout the brainstem, and there is extensive two-way

interaction with all brainstem nuclei.

The reticulo-spinal tract conducts instructions to the sacral

parasympathetic output as well.

 

 

 

Pupil -- constriction (greater depth of focal field)

Ciliary muscle -- constrict (near focus)

Lacrimal gland -- secretion increased

Submandibular gland -- secretion released and increased

Parotid gland -- secretion increased

Heart -- decreased pulse rate and myocardial responsiveness

Lung -- constriction of air passages

Gut -- increased peristaltic and segmentation motility

Liver, pancreas -- reduced blood glucose generation (from

starch breakdown) and insulin

release

Kidney -- no innervation

Urinary bladder -- relaxation of sphincter and contraction

of bladder wall musculature

Penis -- erection plus sensory facilitation

Arterioles in general -- no innervation

Arterioles in voluntary muscular system -- no innervation

Piloerector muscles (raise hair or goosebumps) -- no

innervation

Sweat glands -- no innervation