TCM Mechanisms

[Guest guest]

Hi All, & Hi

 

 

> Homeopathy and TCM can both be practiced without any need to

> understand their " mechanisms " , however intellectually satisfying

> that might be.

 

IMO, that statement needs qualification.

 

I understand that homeopathy is very safe; if it does not help, it has

few if any documented adverse reactions. One could down a whole

bottle of Plumbum C6 and not do serious harm. One could also

take homeopathy safely with other medications. In that sense, I

agree that one need not know the mechanism of homeopathy to

use it well.

 

I also understand that, correctly used, acupuncture is a very safe

therapy with few contraindications. Thus, one need not know much

about AP mechanisms to practise it safely and well. There is some

research evidence that wrong points may have bad outcome.

Allergicencephalomyelitis was induced in guinea pigs by injections

of an encephalogenic antigen. Needling certain points (LI11; ST36)

enhanced the immune response and exaggerated the allergic

response. On the other hand, needling BL52 (beside BL23)

prevented the allergic response. The antiallergic effect may have

been due to release of ACTH and corticosteroids. BL52 has effects

on the kidney and adrenal. [i cannot find that reference but it was

Chinese research, I think]

 

That said, most immunostimulant AP points are also used for

immunosuppression in allergies and autoimmune diseases and I

am unaware of documented porrf of fatal outcome in humans from

wrong selection of AP points.

 

IMO, that cannot be said for TCM Herbal medicine. CHMs can be

toxic in their own right, and they can have profound effects on the

adaptive (humoral / autonomic / central nervous nervous system.

IMO, the least that TCM herbal practitioners should know about

mechanisms of action of their herbs/formulas is the main effect(s) -

do they increase of decrease BP, heart rate, testosterone /

estrogen, etc. Also, the question of herb / drug interaction is a real

one; practising herbalists must be very conscious of possible

adverse reactions when combined with other medication.

 

In one sense, Todd is correct; those topics are not strictly

" mechanisms of TCM " , but they are closely related. For example,

some herbs increase interferon; such herbs may be dangerous if

given to people on interferon therapy.

 

 

 

 

Best regards,

 

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[Guest guest]

One could also take homeopathy safely with other medications. In that

sense, I

agree that one need not know the mechanism of homeopathy to use it well. -

Phil

 

Many years ago, before I knew anything about herbs or homeopathy or much of

anything else, I was dealing with a recurrent case of blood poisoning. I

was given a homeopathic remedy by my chiropractor (who had advanced

training in homeopathy) and then an antiobiotic by my allopathic

practitioner. I had taken the antiobiotic before with no adverse effects,

but this time I had strange, unpleasant reactions. Knowing the allopathic

doctor's hostility to " other " medical practices, I had not mentioned that I

was seeing the chiropractor or taking homeopathic remedies. When I

returned to the chiropractor, she was annoyed that I had taken the

antibiotic and said the reaction I had was not surprising, since the

homeopathic remedy and the antiobiotic should not have been taken together.

This idea was unknown to me at the time. Your statement above would seem

to contradict this notion. I do agree, however, that herbal medicines and

other medications need to be considered carefully before being given

together.

 

Pat

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

, " " <@e...>

wrote:

> Hi All, & Hi

>

>

> > Homeopathy and TCM can both be practiced without any need to

> > understand their " mechanisms " , however intellectually satisfying

> > that might be.

>

 

> IMO, that cannot be said for TCM Herbal medicine. CHMs can be

> toxic in their own right, and they can have profound effects on the

> adaptive (humoral / autonomic / central nervous nervous system.

> IMO, the least that TCM herbal practitioners should know about

> mechanisms of action of their herbs/formulas is the main effect(s) -

> do they increase of decrease BP, heart rate, testosterone /

> estrogen, etc. Also, the question of herb / drug interaction is a real

> one; practising herbalists must be very conscious of possible

> adverse reactions when combined with other medication.

>

> In one sense, Todd is correct; those topics are not strictly

> " mechanisms of TCM " , but they are closely related. For example,

> some herbs increase interferon; such herbs may be dangerous if

> given to people on interferon therapy.

 

 

Phil

 

I refer only to the theory of how something works according to that it

is warm and sweet and thus supplements cold vacuity is no more helpful than

saying the remedy resonates with the person's vibrational matrix and thus

results in the supplementation of cold vacuity. The fact that the substance is

a qi tonic with precise uses is all that matters to me. The theory of why

herbs do what they do from a traditional perspective does change my usage. I

have long thought and find considerable evidence for the idea that herb flavors

are more didactic tools than actual explanations for the actions of herbs. My

statement had nothing at all to do with modern physiology in this context. I

agree wholeheartedly that one should understand what the herbs do in the

body. I just think the distinctions between homeopathy and CM may be more

semantic and specualative than anything else.