Book: Curing Fibromyalgia Naturally with Chinese Medicine by Bob Flaws

[Guest guest]

I just finished reading Curing Fibromyalgia Naturally with

by Bob Flaws. This is one I definitely want my own copy of. It's one of

those rare TCM books that are factually correct yet accessible to people new

to TCM. The last few supposedly TCM books I've gotten from the library have

been so " one size fits all therapy " , so lean on actual TCM info, so " cashing

in on a rising TCM fad, " that it was a relief to finally get one that is

full of *useful* TCM info.

 

This is one of those books that professional healers can recommend to FMS

(fibromyalgia syndrome) patients who are interested in helping themselves

and in understanding more about TCM and FMS. The book is very accessible to

people new to TCM without compromising facts or TCM.

 

I do want to explain some things about FMS. A lot of authorities believe

that FMS and CFIDS (Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome) are the

same, and if the pain predominates, the individual receives a primary

diagnosis of FMS. If the fatigue predominates, the person receives a

primary diagnosis of CFIDS. Other authrorities believe that they're

different syndromes, but FMS is one of the many things (like Irritable Bowel

Syndrome, Mitral Valve Prolapse, hypoglycemia, allergies, hypo- and

hyper-glandular states, etc.) that PWCs (People With CFIDS) are prone to

develop. It is estimated that between 75% and 85% of PWCs also meet the

criteria for FMS. There is an amazing overlap of symptoms between the two

disorders.

 

Flaws is to be praised for stating more than once in the book that the

information that he gives is general and that ideally treatment for each

PWFS (Person With Fibromyalgia Syndrome) should be individualized. In other

words, just because certain patterns are commonly seen in what is called FMS

in the West, this does not mean that other patterns won't be also be

present.

 

In general, the 4 meridians/ systems most affected in TCM are the Liver, the

Heart, the Spleen, and the Kidney. I sat up and took notice when I read

that because Dr. Fratkin, who has done a lot of research into Leaky Gut

Syndrome, also has identified the Liver, the Heart, the Spleen, and the

Kidney as the main systems affected in that disorder. People with CFIDS

frequently suffer from LGS. When I read Fratkin's article, it seems to me

that not only was he describing LGS from the TCM standpoint, he was

describing exactly what was the etiology of CFIDS for me, including the part

about it often starts with a Liver imbalance. Joint Liver, Heart, Spleen,

and Kidney involvement may form the Roots that several chronic conditions

marked by fatigue, headaches, digestive system problems, etc. that manifest

as such Western conditions as LGS, CFIDS, Fibromyalgia Syndrome, etc.

 

The specific TCM syndromes that Flaws sees most often in FMS clients are

Spleen Qi Deficiency (what he calls Spleen Qi Vacuity, what some authors

call Spleen Qi Emptiness), Liver Qi Stagnation, Damp Heat, Blood Deficiency,

Kidney Yin Deficiency, and Blood Stasis. He calls this the core pattern of

FMS.

 

In addition, he lists several other syndromes which frequently occur in FMS:

Kidney Yang Deficiency, Defensive Qi Not Securing (I think this is another

way of saying the person is Protective Qi Deficient as he points out that it

is a branch of Spleen Qi Deficiency which in turn leads to Lung Qi

Deficiency which in turn leads to Defensive Qi Deficiency), and Phlegm

nodulation. Flaws says that most people with FMS will have the core

syndromes but only some PWFSs will have the secondary syndromes. He also

points out that the presence of the secondary syndromes will complicate the

core patterns of FMS.

 

There's a lot of good information in this book not just for PWFSs, not just

for professional healers, but for others. There's a lot of good, general

TCM info in this book.

 

Victoria

 

______________________

Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

[Guest guest]

This sounds really good. I'll have to put it on my " want " list.

 

Cathy, Wise Weeds

http://www.freeyellow.com/members6/wiseweeds/

 

Judy Fitzgerald wrote:

 

> I just finished reading Curing Fibromyalgia Naturally with

> by Bob Flaws. This is one I definitely want my own copy of. It's one of

> those rare TCM books that are factually correct yet accessible to people new

> to TCM. The last few supposedly TCM books I've gotten from the library have

> been so " one size fits all therapy " , so lean on actual TCM info, so " cashing

> in on a rising TCM fad, " that it was a relief to finally get one that is

> full of *useful* TCM info.

>

> This is one of those books that professional healers can recommend to FMS

> (fibromyalgia syndrome) patients who are interested in helping themselves

> and in understanding more about TCM and FMS. The book is very accessible to

> people new to TCM without compromising facts or TCM.

>

> I do want to explain some things about FMS. A lot of authorities believe

> that FMS and CFIDS (Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome) are the

> same, and if the pain predominates, the individual receives a primary

> diagnosis of FMS. If the fatigue predominates, the person receives a

> primary diagnosis of CFIDS. Other authrorities believe that they're

> different syndromes, but FMS is one of the many things (like Irritable Bowel

> Syndrome, Mitral Valve Prolapse, hypoglycemia, allergies, hypo- and

> hyper-glandular states, etc.) that PWCs (People With CFIDS) are prone to

> develop. It is estimated that between 75% and 85% of PWCs also meet the

> criteria for FMS. There is an amazing overlap of symptoms between the two

> disorders.

>

> Flaws is to be praised for stating more than once in the book that the

> information that he gives is general and that ideally treatment for each

> PWFS (Person With Fibromyalgia Syndrome) should be individualized. In other

> words, just because certain patterns are commonly seen in what is called FMS

> in the West, this does not mean that other patterns won't be also be

> present.

>

> In general, the 4 meridians/ systems most affected in TCM are the Liver, the

> Heart, the Spleen, and the Kidney. I sat up and took notice when I read

> that because Dr. Fratkin, who has done a lot of research into Leaky Gut

> Syndrome, also has identified the Liver, the Heart, the Spleen, and the

> Kidney as the main systems affected in that disorder. People with CFIDS

> frequently suffer from LGS. When I read Fratkin's article, it seems to me

> that not only was he describing LGS from the TCM standpoint, he was

> describing exactly what was the etiology of CFIDS for me, including the part

> about it often starts with a Liver imbalance. Joint Liver, Heart, Spleen,

> and Kidney involvement may form the Roots that several chronic conditions

> marked by fatigue, headaches, digestive system problems, etc. that manifest

> as such Western conditions as LGS, CFIDS, Fibromyalgia Syndrome, etc.

>

> The specific TCM syndromes that Flaws sees most often in FMS clients are

> Spleen Qi Deficiency (what he calls Spleen Qi Vacuity, what some authors

> call Spleen Qi Emptiness), Liver Qi Stagnation, Damp Heat, Blood Deficiency,

> Kidney Yin Deficiency, and Blood Stasis. He calls this the core pattern of

> FMS.

>

> In addition, he lists several other syndromes which frequently occur in FMS:

> Kidney Yang Deficiency, Defensive Qi Not Securing (I think this is another

> way of saying the person is Protective Qi Deficient as he points out that it

> is a branch of Spleen Qi Deficiency which in turn leads to Lung Qi

> Deficiency which in turn leads to Defensive Qi Deficiency), and Phlegm

> nodulation. Flaws says that most people with FMS will have the core

> syndromes but only some PWFSs will have the secondary syndromes. He also

> points out that the presence of the secondary syndromes will complicate the

> core patterns of FMS.

>

> There's a lot of good information in this book not just for PWFSs, not just

> for professional healers, but for others. There's a lot of good, general

> TCM info in this book.

>

> Victoria

>

> ______________________

> Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

>

> ------

> Accurate impartial advice on everything from laptops to table saws.

> http://click./1/4634/5/_/701177/_/959803276/

> ------

>

>

> Post message: Chinese Traditional Medicine

> Subscribe: Chinese Traditional Medicine-

> Un: Chinese Traditional Medicine-

> List owner: Chinese Traditional Medicine-owner

>

> Shortcut URL to this page:

> /community/Chinese Traditional Medicine