Epimedium & Prostate Cancer? Or Tx by Pattern?

November 8, 2006

What do people think of giving Yang Tonics esp Epimedium in Prostate

Cancer? Will these raise PSA, DHT, Androgen Levels?

Patient is definitely showing cold, weak Kd Yang(ED,weak urinary

stream, dribbling,ect). Thanks Steve

November 9, 2006

What is ED? If you are accurately diagnosing the pattern than your

treatment will not increase the PSA, DHT or Androgen. But, weak

urinary stream and dribbling are not, in and of themselves,

definitive signs for Yang vacuity. What are you basing your pattern

diagnosis of Yang vacuity on? In addition, all Yang tonics are not

equal. Epimedium is warm but is more of a Jing tonic than a Yang

tonic that would help open up urination. If your pattern diagnosis

is correct, the formula and herbs you choose should address the

disease factor, (Yang vacuity) as well as the location (liver channel

and lower warmer) and the symptom (weak, dribbling urinary flow).

Epimedium only partially addresses the correct disease factor and

location but not the right symptom.

Sharon

Sharon Weizenbaum

86 Henry Street

Amherst, MA 01002

413-549-4021

sweiz

www.whitepinehealingarts.com

November 9, 2006

_____

On Behalf Of sharon weizenbaum

Epimedium is warm but is more of a Jing tonic than a Yang

tonic...

Sharon,

Could you elaborate on this, I always considered YYH (epimedium) more of a

yang tonic than an essence (jing) tonic. Actually glancing at a few MMs they

say nothing about jing (or jing tonic) and conversely lists its functions

(i.e.) as " assisting kidney yang and augments ming men " , It is in the

category of i.e. augmenting yang . Maybe I am missing something. Thoughts?

November 10, 2006

On Behalf Of sharon

weizenbaum

Epimedium is warm but is more of a Jing tonic than a Yang

tonic...

Sharon,

Could you elaborate on this, I always considered YYH (epimedium) more

of a

yang tonic than an essence (jing) tonic. Actually glancing at a few

MMs they

say nothing about jing (or jing tonic) and conversely lists its

functions

(i.e.) as " assisting kidney yang and augments ming men " , It is in the

category of i.e. augmenting yang . Maybe I am missing something.

Thoughts?

Hi Jason, Yes I can.

There are a few aspects to the fire of Ming Men. One is the aspect

of fire that transforms fluids and opens urinary block. For this

aspect you would use herbs such as Fu Zi and Rou Gui along with herbs

like Fu Ling. Another aspect is that which stimulates reproductive

and sexual energy. My teacher, Dr. Shu-rong Zhu, used to call these

" hormone boosters " . Some of these are very warm such as xian mao or

ba ji tian. Others are mildly warm such as yin yang huo or suo

yang. Others are neutral such as tu si zi. A third aspect of Ming

Men is the ability to strengthen bones. This aspect overlaps with

the " hormone boosters " but is a bit more on the du zhong, xu duan, gu

sui bu side of things. Finally there is the aspect that warms the

intestines which is more bu gu zhi, yi zhi ren. Obviously there is

overlap of functions.

The reason these hormone boosters are Jing tonics is because of the

effect they have on the reproductive energies. Though they are yang

tonics, they are not used to transform fluids or open up blocked

urine from yang deficiency. For this you actually need herbs from

the expel cold catagory. These are often used with herbs that help

the absorptive function of the Kidney so that the lower warmer fluids

can be held better such as Shan Yao, Bu Gu Zhi, Duan Mu Li....

Sharon

Sharon Weizenbaum

86 Henry Street

Amherst, MA 01002

413-549-4021

sweiz

www.whitepinehealingarts.com

November 10, 2006

Sharon:

Thank you for the very interesting explanation of the yang tonifying herbs!!! I

just finished school and have started an advanced course in gynecology, where I

am sure that this information will be helpful!