Guest guest Posted February 22, 2004 Report Share Posted February 22, 2004 I find the english language CM literature on parathesias unsatisfying. I just came across this, though. Guillaume writes in his translation of li yan's yi xue ru men (paraphrasing from his rheumatology text, pg. 340-431), parathesia is due to qi deficiency and numbness [meaning complete absence of sensation] is due to phlegm. this is a general concept. Intermittent and fluctuating parathesias in the upper body relate to wind-damp, usually contracted due to qi vacuity or by qi obstructed by blood stasis. We also have heard the expression that if the blood is flowing freely, the wind-damp has no place to lodge. This presupposes that blood stasis may be a predisposing factor in allowing obstruction by external factors. Qi vacuity leads to blood stasis as well as phlegm and allows for easy entry of external pathogens. With yan de xin's theories of stasis as the cause of vacuity, though, we must consider that this is the initiator of most bi related parathesia. So perhaps it goes something like this for most DJD patients with parathesia (though I think this analysis applies to painful osteoarthritis in general, not just parathesias): Stasis and accumulation of phlegm from injury and poor diet lead to malnourishment of the bones, vessels, muscles and sinews in local areas, possibly becoming generalized. Vacuity makes the patient more susceptible to external influences. Weather changes involving damp, cold or hot often bring on an flareup of NM sx (parathesia or pain). But the root is stasis, followed by vacuity of defensive qi and finally by invasion of external factors, rather than starting with invasion or vacuity. It only makes sense in regard to what we now know about osteoarthritis that vacuity and stasis lead to joint changes PRIOR to aggravation by climate, not as a result. And the main causes are thus poor diet leading to vacuity and phlegm, lack of exercise leading to stasis and repeated injuries and overstrains due to poor posture and ergonomics at work. It is clear from modern research that these factors are the operant ones in OA. Some, including Guillaume, have suggested that the chinese idea of wind damp invasion is a useful concept in diseases that may be virally initiated like rheumatoid arthritis. This may be true and bears further exploration. But I suspect that the groundwork for a sudden flareup of lupus or RA has already been laid. In other words, it still requires vacuity (and perhaps stasis as in my calculation) for the pathogen to lodge so stubbornly in the first place. External invasion into a strong healthy person should not lead to serious illness. IMO, many of these patients are qi and yin vacuous and their first attacks are of the wind damp heat type, but due nevertheless to preexisting dampheat, vacuity and stasis. Chinese Herbs FAX: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 22, 2004 Report Share Posted February 22, 2004 Stasis and accumulation of phlegm from injury and poor diet lead to malnourishment of the bones, vessels, muscles and sinews in local areas, possibly becoming generalized. >>>Todd i have to agree with this. I think restoring blood circulation is almost always the way to deal with the root problem in NM problems. And i mean beyond the idea that pain is lack of flow. Of course the causes of stasis can be many and viaried Alon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2004 Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 Sun, 22 Feb 2004 11:13:56 -0800 < a few thoughts on bi Stasis and accumulation of phlegm from injury and poor diet lead to malnourishment of the bones, vessels, muscles and sinews in local areas, possibly becoming generalized. Vacuity makes the patient more susceptible to external influences. Weather changes involving damp, cold or hot often bring on an flareup of NM sx (parathesia or pain). But the root is stasis, followed by vacuity of defensive qi and finally by invasion of external factors, rather than starting with invasion or vacuity. : This makes a lot of sense to me. I would also add stress to your list of causitive factors. In fact, internal tension due to stress may be a major contributor to blood stasis. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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