Latent Heat

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Latent Heat disorders are those in which an acute invasion by Heat was never

fully overcome. Now the Heat is lying dormant or not so dormat in the body,

waiting for the right circumstances to flare up again.

 

These usually are cases of a compromised immune system. Recurring infections

such as recurring mononucleosis, recurring cystitis, etc. often are due to

Latent Heat. So are cases of post viral syndromes.

 

In the case of infectious agents, the body doesn't fully overcome the pathogen

(virus, bacteria, fungus). The immune system has become screwy in some way in

some of these cases (not all) and either can't completely overcome the pathogen

or has become altered in such a way that it acts like there's a pathogen present

when there's not.

 

A good example of a manifestation of Latent Heat is CFIDS (Chronic Fatigue

Immune Dysfunction Syndrome). There's a lot more from a TCM viewpoint going on

in CFIDS than just Latent Heat when it is present, and not all cases diagnosed

as CFIDS will have a Latent Heat component. But many cases of CFIDS do. Some

cases of CFIDS will be characterized by an immune which is overactive for the

most part but is deficient in some key area. Because of that deficiency,

viruses present in the PWC (Person With CFIDS) never get fully overcome. In the

meanwhile, the rest of the immune system is running flat out trying to overcome

any viruses the PWC has. An analogy would be flooring the gas pedal in a car

without putting the car in gear. You never go anywhere but cause a lot of wear

and tear on the car. In PWCs who also have elevated titers to various viruses,

it's not always clear if there's an active viral infection in the body that

can't quite be overcome or if the body's immune system is continuing to churn

out massive amounts of antibodies to fight a virus that no longer is active. In

either case, these are examples of Latent Heat.

 

Not all cases of Latent Heat are characterized by part of the immune system in

overdrive and part being deficient. Latent Heat is any condition in which an

invading pathogen was not fully overcome or the body still is acting as though

the pathogen is present and active even though it is not.

 

In tongue diagnosis, a small v-shaped fissure near the tip of the tongue can be

a sign of a Lung problem that wasn't fully overcome. Often there will be Latent

Heat in the Lung when these v-shaped fissures are present. The assault to the

Lung may have occurred years or even decades before.

 

One class of herbs used to treat Latent Heat (and fight pathogens) are Herbs

That Clear Heat Toxins. An example of one of these herbs is Fr Forsythiae

(Frutus - the fruit of Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl. - Lian Qiao). Fr

Forsythiae has been covered in a previous post.

 

Many of the herbs that Clear Heat Toxins have board antiviral and antibacterial

actions.

 

Keep in mind that the Latent Heat may not be the only problem. In some cases it

will be, but there may be a mixed pattern of the person being Cold overall but

having Latent Heat in one or two meridians/ organ systems. In these cases Heat

Toxin Clearing herbs can be chosen that target the meridian(s)/ system(s) where

the Heat is, or the Heat Toxin Clearing herbs can be mixed with guide herbs that

will get the Heat Toxin Clearing herbs to the meridian(s)/ system(s) where they

are needed.

 

One acupuncture/ acupressure point that is used to clear Latent Heat is

Governing Vessel 14. The Governing Vessel is the Yang meridian that runs up the

middle of the back, over the head, and terminates above the lip. GV 14 is

called Da Zhui or Big Hammer. This point is located in the area where the upper

back turns into the neck. (Check the Governing Vessel section on

acupnucture.com for a better idea of where this point is located. This point

may be sore in cases of Latent Heat, though Latent Heat is not the only thing

which can cause it to be sore. This is a point on your upper back that you can

reach very easily to perform acupressure (unless you're having some rigidity

and/or pain problems). A handheld massager also can be used to massage the

point. (Note: People with fragile bones need to see a healthcare professional

rather than performing acupressure on themselves.)

 

Latent Heat can trigger Qi Deficiency if the problem goes untreated for too

long. It's not uncommon to see PWCs as well as others who suffer from both

Latent Heat and Qi Deficiency.

 

Victoria

 

 

 

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Before you buy.

[Guest guest]

Hi friends,

 

Here is a portion of a paper I presented at AAOM on knotty disease. The notion

is latent heat as a powerful contributor to knotty disease. This piece is still

'in the works' and I am very much open to comment. There is an attachment in

Word format with a graphic of the pulse. It

won't show unless you print it. The text is included for those with difficulty

opening attachments.

 

 

 

Latent heat – Secret Desires – Harsh World

© 2000 William Robert Morris

 

The use of resolving pox is a treatment that works occasionally. There are a

group of doctors called the Pox Docs who treat only the result of chicken pox,

measles and related conditions.

 

Theory

 

Wen Bing

Wen Bing theory is a commonly used model to describe the location of Latent Heat

in the system. The latency typically is identified in the area at the deeper

portion of the Qi stage, close to the Ying. The use of Xiao Chai Hu Tang may be

appropriate here as it is in the various

Shao Yang patterns.

 

Nei Jing

The Nei Jing in chapter 3 states: " If Cold enters the body in wintertime, it

comes out as Heat in springtime. "

When this occurs after damage in the Winter, it is sometimes referred to as

“Spring Heat”. It is clearly described in the Wen Bing literature for the use of

Huo Xiang Zheng Qi Pian (Agastache Formula) when a Summer Heat pathogen remains

latent and re-emerges in the Fall. I have

seen this in numerous instances and the Li Dong Yuen formulas for summer heat

are appropriate for the latent heat that is a product of Summer Heat.

 

The Nei Jing, chapter four states “the essence is the root of the body, if it is

guarded and stored, Latent Heat will not occur in the springtime”. The

implications of this are two-fold. One, modifying ones behavior such that the

essence is guarded and stored helps to prevent

latent heat. Two, deficiency signs in the proximal pulse positions may give an

indication of those individuals prone to Latent Heat patterns.

 

Latent heat is a pathogen that has been contained at the interior and is

concealed from awareness by any number of compensating mechanisms. The Ying

encapsulates the latent heat as it progresses past a relatively subclinical form

of Blood Heat in to the Ying stage.

 

Shao Yang and the management of latent heat pathogens

 

Latent heat may be trapped in the Shao Yang according to Shang Han Lun theory.

The Shao Yang syndrome as treated by Xiao Chai Hu Tang may also address

up-flaring of ministerial fire which is a fire that exists in contrast to the

Sovereign fire of the Heart. Ministerial fire exists

in the Ming Men, the Liver, Gall Bladder, Pericardium and Triple Burner.

 

Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum combination) additions for the various

patterns that complex with the Shao Yang pattern: Damp Heat: add Huo Xiang Zheng

Qi Pian (Agastache Formula) Blood Xu: add Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (Ginseng and

Astragalus) and add Dang Gui (Rx Angelica sinensis)

Qi and Yang Xu: add Ren Shen Lu Rong Wan (Ginseng and Cornu Cervi pill)

Qi/Blood/Phlegm/Damp stagnation Excess: add Yin Chen Chao (Artemesia

capillaries), Zhi Zi (Fr Gardenia), Guam Lou (Fr Trichosanthes), Che Qian Zi (Sm

Plantaginis), Jin Qian Cao (Hb Jinaqiancao), Chi Shao (Rx Peonia rubrae), Chuan

Xiong (Rx Ligustici wallichi), Tao Ren (Sm

Persica), subtract Gan Jiang (Rz Zingiberis) Deficiency: add Huang Qi (Rx

Astragalus). Sheng Ma (Cimicifuga) is an ideal herb for unbinding latent heat,

it releases the exterior and vents measles, clears heat and relieves toxins, and

raises the Yang.

 

Qing Ying Tang is the classic formula for management of this condition, however,

the confirmation is a relatively severe state of Yin Xu that takes place after

long-standing Latent Heat.

 

Essential Substances and the Meridian Systems

The meridian systems containing large amounts of Jing and Yuan Qi are the Eight

extraordinary vessels and the Divergent vessels. Wei Qi travels outside the

primary vessels and Ying Qi travels inside the vessels. Wei Qi tends to travel

in the Muscle Meridians, the Divergents, and

in some extra vessels such as the Yang Wei. The Ying Qi travels inside the

primary vessels.

 

It is said that unresolved infections cause Yin Xu. Antibiotic therapy may leave

residual infection that remains unresolved. An external pathogen may combine

with the Wei Qi; The Wei Qi gets trapped and incubates this produces stagnant

heat. This state of affairs may burn off Jing

in an attempt to clear the stagnation. Examples of this could include

degeneration of the spine and joints.

 

The Divergent Meridians trap either internal or external pathogens and divert

them away from the primary organs. When the Wei Qi is strong enough to stop a

pathogen but not strong enough to expel it entirely the residual is kept latent

in the Divergent Meridians.

 

When the Wei Qi combines with a pathogen, a static Heat may result. This may

manifest in many forms such as heart attack, uterine tumors, and infertility. A

prime feature of Divergent Meridian involvement is the presence of a lesion in

the mesenchyme. Rough vibrations in the organ

depth are possible indicators of mesenchymal damage thus the potential for the

use of the divergent meridian system under these circumstances.

 

Diagnosis

 

The pulse and latent Heat

Patterns may include a rapid arrival or departure in the wave form while the

rate remains fairly normal, this may be described as a pounding sensation. Or,

there may be a suspicious slippery quality in the arrival. There may be a tense

surface with a slippery turbulence in the

Blood depth and clear signs of heat in the Blood (the pulse gets wider as you

lift from the Organ depth towards the Qi depth).

 

Most important: signs of latent heat are those subtle heat signs existing inside

a larger picture of normalcy. This is pointing to the potential of compensation

or encapsulation. According to Yang Tiande, latent heat is identified as a pulse

of excess nature in the deeper section,

the confined pulse fits this picture. Maciocia describes the pulse and tongue as

fine and rapid this would be true after a substantial damage to the Yin through

the attempt to contain Latent Heat over a period of time.

 

A ropy (atherosclerotic) pulse due to heat in the blood stream may be a result

of focal infections such as gum infection or chronic appendicitis.

 

 

The Tongue

The tongue frequently has depressed pale red remnants of the prickles associated

with excess heat. I find this type of tongue presentation more frequently than

the classical scarlet tongue body.

 

Etiology

Unresolved infections

Latent heat has differing etiologies in the 21st century, primarily viral, but

environmental toxins may also contribute to the development of latency.

Potential sources of latent heat include vaccination procedures, mononeucleosis,

human papilloma virus, herpes, and HIV.

 

Unresolved emotions

Emotional heat latency is generated from emotional experiences that are bound at

the interior for survival purposes. When dealing with these issues the ecology

of treatment is always an issue. To what degree may the material be released,

expelled, purged, or transformed without

opening a Pandora’s box?

 

Focal infection

Once the focal infection has been in place for some time place (gums, teeth,

appendicitis etc) then it enters the Blood. Now...the manifestation is possibly

different than the original ST Heat or K Yin Xu. There may be Heat in the Blood.

Nonetheless, we are talking about a

potential sign of Latent Heat, a Latent Heat so well encapsulated that it takes

a lifetime to reveal itself. And it is possible that the standard formulas are

not appropriate for such a condition.

 

One of the most prevalent sources of the bacterial infections that were found

lead to atherosclerosis was gingivitis (hence the unforgettable headline a few

years back " Floss or Die " . ) The theory goes that the bacteria enter the blood

stream through the damaged gum tissue

and then damage the intima of the vessels, and that plaque formation is the

body's attempt to repair the damage.

 

Additional treatment

 

Lead Surface-Dispersing Medicinals to the Kidneys to disperse deep-lying Latent

Qi

Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang

Pathogens from thermic disease hidden in the Yin aspect. This classic formula is

used for the treatment of latent heat that has continued till Yin has been

damaged to a relatively remarkable degree. The Qing Dynasty physician Liu Bao-yi

used the treatment principle disperse Hidden

Evils by nourishing the Zheng Qi (correct or righteous Qi) emphasizing the

Kidneys. This concept is expressed in the Formula Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang, the

Artemesia (Qing Hao) disperses Heat from the interior out to the surface, and

the Bie Jia nourishes Yin and relieves binding of

Blood.

 

Liu also combined Herba Menthae (mentha/bo he) and Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae

(rehmannia/sheng di) with the Semen Soja Preparatum (soja/dou chi) to nourish

the yin and promote the expulsion of pathogens. Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae

(rehmannia/sheng di) has several actions, it

relieves Heat in the Nutritive (Ying) level, strongly nourishes the yin, and

leads cooling and Heat dispelling herbs to the Kidneys. Mentha (Bo He) disperses

Wind Heat. Liu Bao-yi’s primary prescription for expelling latent pathogens is

(Huang qin Tang) which includes Huang Qin,

along with Bai Shao, Radix Glycyrrhizae uralensis (Gan Cao), and Fructus Zizyphi

jujube (Da Zao).

 

Ecology of treatment

 

Can your patient withstand the treatment you are giving? We have all had this

experience, giving a modest treatment and the patient reports a severe relapse.

I suppose this encourages humility within the successful doctor.

 

This issue is present in a powerful way when treating latent heat phenomena. It

is essential to assess the patient's fortitude and capacity to withstand

treatment. The point is I often find the treatment of life’s shocking events not

appropriate for opening the case. It is

occasionally necessary to build the substances, clear latent heat or use other

strategies till a person can handle the treatment. Layers of shock may also be

taken into consideration during the course of therapy; it is similar to

forgiveness, like an onion peeling. So we clear

shock, then treat necessary aspects, and then return to treatment of shock as a

salient issue during the course of treatment. This may take place any number of

years into treatment. There is a saying that one must move before

tonifying…..that is…Unless you have to tonify before

you move........Example: A very weak individual with a long history of trauma

and environmental sensitivity......giving someone like this Yu Nan Bai Yao could

open a Pandora's box that you will never get closed again. In these instances,

the individual may be built up with tonics

to the point of tolerating a moving treatment.

 

The treatment of latency must be done with thought toward this “ecology of

treatment”. It must be done judiciously and cautiously since the process of

generating latency is frequently a survival mechanism. The decision to sustain

latency or unbind it may have profound clinical

ramifications. We must be prepared for a period of discomfort when these latent

toxins physical or emotional are released

 

Attachment: vcard [not shown]

[Guest guest]

,

>

> Here is a portion of a paper I presented at AAOM on knotty disease. The

notion is latent heat as a powerful contributor to knotty disease.

 

Hi Will,

 

do you think there is any connection between latent heat and autoimmune

disorders, giving as a prime example gluten intolerance. I imagine low

grade inflammatory responses may be characterised as 'useless heat' although

it is a case more of auto-intoxication rather than trapped exogenous

toxins.

 

 

Andrew