Lingual Ascorbic Acid test, and the strength and weakness of clinical Chinese medicine

[Guest guest]

Dear friends, colleagues and teachers,

 

An associate of mine uses a spot test to check the Vitamin C levels of all of

his patients. It is called the Lingual Ascorbic Acid Test (LAAT). Is anyone

familiar with it? I love the idea of using quick and accurate tests (I already

use the zinc status test) to determine if there are real deficiencies (as

opposed to vacuities!) in certain essential nutrients. Sometimes, with

difficult to resolve patients, we may do everything right in terms of diagnosis

and treatment, but if there are real nutrient deficiencies (or toxicities for

that matter), then I question whether herbs and/or acupuncture alone can, in

completely resolve the complaints.

 

Though not directly related, I would add that one of the interesting strengths

of Chinese medicine, is that it addresses not only physical symptoms, but mental

and emotional ones as well. But I would venture to say, along the same

vain,that this is ironically also a great weakness of Chinese medicine--for

although herbs may address emotional symptoms, with all due respect, if a

substance clearly biochemically poisons the body, (and in our materia medica

there certainly are some) and REMAINS in the body, though symptomatically the

patient may feel better and the pulses and tongue may reflect greater balance,

that this is a Faustian devil's bargain, similar to the patient who gets chemo

(like my sister in law did) to treat her lymphoma, convinced that she was

" healed " of cancer, only to 5 years later die of leukemia resulting from the

chemo poisoning her blood.

 

We are blessed to live in wonderful times. I think the bottom line is that we

need to use the gifts that we inherit from our ancestors as well as the

conclusions derived by our experiences as researchers and physicians with

humility, wisdom, thoughtful analysis, and knowledgeable awareness.

 

I appreciate your feedback,

 

 

Yehuda

 

 

 

http://traditionaljewishmedicine.com/

 

 

 

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