Raynaud's Disease and Raynaud's Syndrome

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This is an excellent article for looking at how classical formulas are

modified in TCM.

 

Raynaud's Disease and Raynaud's Syndrome are conditions characterized by

extreme sensitivity to cold, very poor blood circulation in the hands and

feet (especially in the fingers and toes), feelings of pain or numbness or

burning, etc. Both conditions affect more females than males, and Raynaud's

Syndrome is very common in people with CFIDS (Chronic Fatigue Immune

Dysfunction Syndrome). From a TCM standpoint we're looking at possible Yang

Deficiency and/or Qi Stagnation and/or Blood Stasis.

 

The article points out that Raynaud's Disease and Syndrome rarely are

mentioned in the Chinese medical literature. This probably is because the

symptoms are covered so well by traditional TCM syndromes and diagnoses.

(Note: Raynaud's disease is not equivalent to Yang Deficiency and/or Qi

Stagnation and/or Blood Stasis, but the symptoms associated with Raynaud's

disease and syndrome can be manifestations of these TCM syndrome.) I

personally suspect that another reason why Raynaud's gets mentioned so

little in the Chinese medical literature is because Raynaud's-like symptoms

get nipped in the bud long before they become severe enough to be recognized

as Raynaud's in the Western context. Most Western doctors AND patients

simply do not recognize that feeling cold a lot, having trouble warming up,

having cold hands and feet as significant symptoms other than raising the

possibility of hypothyroidism and some circulation problems. If those tests

are negative (and they frequently are because even though hypothyroidism can

be a manifestation of Kidney Yang Deficiency, KI Yang Deficiency does not

always manifest as hypothyroidism (at least not in the beginning), both

patients and doctors usually just ignore symptoms that are very significant

in TCM. Ignored problems tend to get worse and worse.

 

When Raynaud's disease does get mentioned in the Chinese medical literature

it's usually in connection with scleroderma. Scleroderma is a really

bizarre autoimmune process in which the skin and tissue thickens and

tightens. To put this into popular terminology, the person turns to stone.

Scleroderma is progressive and often fatal. It's not only the skin being

affected but the internal organs as well. From the TCM perspective it's

usually associated with Yang Deficiency and Cold which lead to Blood

Stagnation. In addition, there frequently is Qi Stagnation. (Note how TCM

recognizes that one Root can lead to other Roots. Yang Deficiency and Cold

can lead to Blood Stasis and Qi Stagnation. In very " knotty cases " one

often can trace out a sequence of Roots - like a row of dominoes going down.

It's often necessary to treat ALL Roots - the initial as well as the

descendents. Or, multiple Roots may arise independently of each other.)

 

The article states that cold hands often have a Root of Spleen Yang

Deficiency and cold feet often point to Kidney Yang Deficiency. Have any of

the professionals and students on this list noticed this correspondence?

 

Aconite (monkshood root) is mentioned as an ingredient in some of the

formulas for treating Yang Deficiency, Raynaud's Disease, Raynaud's

Syndrome, and scleroderma. In many states in the U.S. you cannot get

aconite unless you are a professional herbalist or a doctor. This is an

extremely powerful herb that one should use only when there is a real need

for it. (You definitely do not want a Ma Huang-like misuse occurring with

this very powerful herb.) Even if it's toxicity is reduced by proper

treatment, it still packs a powerful punch. It's included in high altitude

and artic first aid kits it's so Hot. Of course, if you're sick enough to

need aconite instead of some of the milder herbs that Warm the Interior, you

need to be under treatment by a professional herbalist and/or doctor -

especially in the case of scleroderma.

 

http://www.itmonline.org/pdf/raynauds.pdf

 

Victoria

 

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