detox

[Guest guest]

I just came across this intro to western style detoxification that group

members might enjoy. There are quite a few articles discussing the topic and

helps shed some light on the intricacies involved in detox.

 

 

 

http://www.alternative-therapies.com/at/web_pdfs/ifm_proceedings_low.pdf

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Jason,

 

Thanks for posting this. From your posts it is clear you are both erudite

and passionate about T.C.M. and I imagine that you bring a similar enthusiasm to

your work with with supplements and the functional medicine work you do. I would

enjoy hearing more about how you integrate these or if you compartmentalize with

patients for the sake of clinical clarity in terms of what therapies are

providing what results. Are you mainly using lab work to inform your Chinese

herbal prescribing or are you using Chinese herbs in conjunction with other

types of supplements? I know this is a vast topic but I welcome some expounding

from you and others who might also feel like stepping out of the shadows to

celebrate heterodoxy in practice:)

 

Ben

 

 

 

 

 

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:40:49 -0600

detox

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I just came across this intro to western style detoxification that group

members might enjoy. There are quite a few articles discussing the topic and

helps shed some light on the intricacies involved in detox.

 

http://www.alternative-therapies.com/at/web_pdfs/ifm_proceedings_low.pdf

 

-

 

 

[Guest guest]

Jason

Thanks for the link...it is interesting reading

 

Stephen Woodley LAc

 

--

http://www.fastmail.fm - The way an email service should be

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Ben,

 

This is a huge topic, which I've spent over 10 years thinking about.

Consequently, a generalized e-mail does not do the topic justice. Here is a

small introduction to my thinking.

 

In the clinic, I always start out with a clear Chinese medicine treatment

strategy and get that working before I even consider adding anything else.

Many times I just end up using basic Chinese medicine.

 

However, this is complicated, especially in Boulder, because so many

patients take supplements, buy supplements on their own, read extensively

about health and supplements, and are prescribed supplements from other

practitioners. When I first see them, I try to have the patient limit all

supplements, and not to start anything new. However each case is individual

and sometimes it is best for patients to stay on everything.

 

I use traditional blood work, as well as some alternative tests, but in the

end I mostly rely on the tongue and pulse. I think traditional blood work is

essential so as not to miss major diseases. Since I often see patients that

have seen many other practitioners, they often will come in with a folder of

tests and a box of supplements. If one does not understand how to integrate

this information, one may still be able to get the job done, but it is like

the one armed cook.

 

Students often ask me this question, how do I integrate supplements? I

always tell them the same answer. Do not consider thinking about supplements

/integration until one has a solid successful practice in Chinese medicine,

at least five years. It just muddies the water.

 

Chinese medicine teaches one how to think. One of the reasons I am

successful with this integration is that I still think in a Chinese medicine

manner in relation to supplements. Actually when you get deeper into

functional medicine, the patterns, relationships, and thinking are very

similar to Chinese medicine. So I try to understand the deeper pathways and

ideas behind supplements, protocols, or etc. it requires a lot of reading

and thinking.

 

However, if one does not learn Chinese medicine first I see a couple things

happen. 1) practitioners get sucked into the supplement company traps. For

example, if the patient has disease X, then give this Y protocol. 2) because

of the initial illusion of ease with supplements, practitioner/students will

often neglect rigorous study in Chinese medicine and never really get it.

Consequently the results are not as favorable (for Chinese medicine) as one

might hope for, giving even more incentive to try to " branch out. " My

supplement usage almost always compliments Chinese medicine not the other

way around. In the instances that Chinese medicine fails, usually due to my

own inadequacies, the roles may reverse.

 

Therefore, I think it is a mistake for any Chinese medicine school to teach

anything but Chinese medicine, for this very reason.

 

I have set up a to discuss this topic specifically as well as

anything else related to functional medicine. It is:

 

http://health.FunctionalMedicine/

 

If you have specific questions related to this integration, e.g. specific

tests, supplements, diseases, and Chinese medicine patterns, it may be best

to pass them on to this group so as not to clog up the CHA.

 

Hope that helps,

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Behalf Of ben zappin

Tuesday, June 30, 2009 3:52 PM

chineseherb academy

RE: detox

 

 

Hi Jason,

 

Thanks for posting this. From your posts it is clear you are both

erudite and passionate about T.C.M. and I imagine that you bring a similar

enthusiasm to your work with with supplements and the functional medicine

work you do. I would enjoy hearing more about how you integrate these or if

you compartmentalize with patients for the sake of clinical clarity in terms

of what therapies are providing what results. Are you mainly using lab work

to inform your Chinese herbal prescribing or are you using Chinese herbs in

conjunction with other types of supplements? I know this is a vast topic but

I welcome some expounding from you and others who might also feel like

stepping out of the shadows to celebrate heterodoxy in practice:)

 

Ben