Fwd: lurking heat case timeline

[Guest guest]

When I was treated herbally 7 years ago, the formulas were principally heat

clearing initially. I can get the exact formulations possibly from Dr. Yu,

though you will need to find someone to translate her Chinese script. The

cremes she used were prepared by her in her pharmacy, and I absolutely

believe that they did not contain any cortisone since she spoke so

negatively of the use of cortisone and it's ultimate aggravation of skin

problems. I will email her to make sure.

 

Since I have not been in San Francisco (1998), I have only seen Dr. Yu

every

year or every other year when I haven't been able to manage the skin

problems by diet only. For the most part, since 1998, I've had very minor

skin rashes that I treat with cremes that she gives me as they come up.

Also, I know that if I stray from my diet (eating many hot-natured foods,

spicy foods, citrus, alcohol), go in the sun, and drink coffee that it

aggravates my skin. Overall, I can tolerate some of these things, but not

many at once without getting a flare-up. Prior to pregnancy, the rhinitis

had only been occuring after eating cow's dairy products, which was very

well controlled by avoiding dairy. I had also been previously

lactose-intolerant with much diarrhea and bloating in high school, though

that does not seem to be a problem now. In fact, for 1999-2001, I ate no

dairy, and had no " rhinitis " at all though still had occassional skin

rashes

worse with the offending foods above, and worse when catching a " cold " .

 

Every winter that I can remember, I have come down with many short

" colds " - as many as a dozen between December and March. The attacks last

a

few days and subside quickly with adequate sleep.

 

During pregnancy, I had only two " colds " which were quickly cleared up, and

I had no rash whatsoever. During that time, I also ate everything on my

restricted food list including dairy (except coffee and alcohol) with no

digestive problems or rhinitis.

 

I gave birth in Sept 2002 after a very normal pregnancy and a totally

natural childbirth (no drugs). Though I was very tired from sleep

deprivation, I was not sick at all until week six of winter semester

(mid-Feb 2003). At that time, 4.5 months post childbirth, I had reached my

pre-pregnancy weight, the baby's nursing was at a maximum, he still woke

every 2-4 hours, and I had been back in school 3/4 time and working 15 h a

week (too much!). That is when I got really really tired and begun to get

" colds " on a weekly or bimonthly basis. The colds were also " cured " by

sleeping and were resolved within a day or two, though in between, I had

rhinitis continually (except when massaging or workout out!). Though I had

been decreasing my dairy intake since the birth of the baby, when the

rhinitis began, I went back to my restricted food diet with only very minor

infractions (occassional piece of cheese or steak, and coffee once or twice

a week). By 5 months post childbirth, the baby was nursing less, sleeping

through the night, and my energy was coming back, though I continued to get

the weekly " colds " .

 

In mid-March, I put myself on a Lv blood tonifying + yu ping feng san

modified formula for a bout a week. I cannot remember why I stopped taking

it, except that I immediately had some negative effect. In the beginning

of

April, I started taking Transformation Enzyme Corporation Protease, which

cleared up both my nose and skin within a few days. I took it for about

two

weeks, and then stopped because I felt so good (duh!). Also, it was

difficult for me to remember to take it (two hours after meals only).

Beginning of April, I also started taking Digest and Carbo with meals

because I did have bloating and abdominal discomfort after eating. Those

helped immensely. I started the Ren shen bai du san modified formulas about

the beginning of May, I believe. I do not recall that they aggravated my

skin at all. In fact, I felt like I had less rashes with the qi tonifying

formulas than I had with any of the other things I had tried within the

last

few months. My energy was good and I recovered easily from the recurrent

weekly colds.

 

After about two weeks of the RSBDS modifications is when you stepped in

because the " colds " were not prevented or stopped. I did not notice the

rash become very aggravated until the second the most recent formula, the

Cang Er Zi san + Er chen tang without wu wei zi modification. I have

noticed since starting at PCOM that any time someone has given me an Er

chen tang base without modification to protect blood and clear blood heat

that my rash is aggravated.

 

Just a side note on the eye- Since mid-Feb, I have had frequently itchy

eyes and the I often get styes with the " colds " .

 

Also, baby is nine months old, and the baby has only been slightly sick

twice. The first time maybe 3-4 months ago with only a minor runny nose

and

slight temp elevation for two days. The second time is now. My current

illness may actually be an external attack of a more virulent pathogen

(though of course I am very susceptible) based on the number of families in

my neighborhood who have been sick this week.

 

Regarding the most recent formula modification to moisten and cool blood

(+bai shao and decreased cang er zi san), because of the seemingly exterior

nature of the most recent attack, I took the formula without the bai shao

or

wu wei zi. Indeed, the most recent formula as written may not be too dry,

but we have yet to see ...

 

 

 

 

Chinese Herbs

 

 

" Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocre

minds " -- Albert Einstein