Fwd: The Acupuncture Treatment of Bi Syndromes, Arthritis and Pain

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http://acupuncture.com/Clinical/Bi.htm

 

This is a very good article that will give readers the basics of Bi

Sundromes (arthritis and rheumatism).

 

TCM sees arthritis and rheumatism being triggered/worsened by Cold, Wind,

and/or Dampness. In addition, Heat can be present in some cases. Under the

differential diagnosis section of this article, there is a guide to telling

which type of Evil is present. The pain doesn't stay in one joint but moves

around. One day the knuckles may hurt more, the next day the hip. For

example, " Wandering Bi " is characterized by pain that moves around. There

may be chills and fever, and the tongue body usually is normal with a thin

white coat. Wandering Bi is triggered more by Wind than by Cold or Damp.

The pains wander like the Wind. In contrast really severe pain is called

" Painful Bi " , and is triggered more by Cold than by Wind or Damp. Fixed Bi

is more Damp than Wind or Cold, and there often is a feeling of heaviness

and numbness to the pain. (Sensations of " heaviness " often accompany any

Dampness disorder. If someone says something like, " My legs feel like

weights are attached to them, " or " My head feels heavy, " automatically

consider Dampness and rule in or out.)

 

The article also points out that Bi syndromes can be classified according to

the location being affected - skin bi, muscle bi, tendon bi, vessel bi, and

bone bi. These terms are used in at least one of the other articles I'm

forwarding to the list. The article on cervical spondylopathy specifically

mentions tendon bi and bone bi.

 

There's an etiology section in the article. For readers new to healing,

etiology means " what's causing something to go wrong, what triggered it,

what's its source or Root? " . I want to call special attention to this

section because the remarks on the etiology of bi syndromes also apply to

any invasion by Exterior Pernicious Evils. Exterior Pernicious Evils may or

may not manifest as Bi Syndromes.

 

Note the phrase, " Dysfunction of the pores and weakness of Wei Qi " . Wei Qi,

aka Protective Qi, is the Qi that circulates near the surface of the body

and gives protection against invasion by Pernicious Evils (Wind, Cold, Damp,

Dryness, and Heat) and against pathogens (bacteria, viruses, etc.). The

opening and closing of the pores of the skin play a big role in safeguarding

health. One of the symptoms of Qi Deficiency in general and Protective Qi

Deficiency in particular is that a person tends to sweat a lot during the

day. The Qi is too weak to properly control the opening and closing of the

pores. This is sweating independent of how warm it is or how active the

person is. (Night sweats point to the possiblity of Yin Deficiency.)

 

The second possible etiology for Bi Syndrome (and some other things) are

general weakness combined with Yang Deficiency. People who have been sick

for a while and who are debilitated and who are Yang Deficient are going to

be more susceptible to Exterior Pernicious Evils than someone who hasn't

been sick for a while and is not Yang Deficient.

 

A third factor in Bi Syndromes is that Wind, Cold, and/or Damp invade the

meridians (pathways of Qi flow) and collaterals.

 

I also want to call readers' attention to something else the article says.

If a person has Excess Yang or tends toward Excess Yang, if Wind, Cold, and

or Damp are able to invade, this " will give rise to heat bi. " The article

also points out that if a person has been bothered for sometime by Wind,

Cold, and/or Dampness being stuck in the meridians, that they can transform

into Heat. (Anything that is stuck or blocked can transform into Heat.)

 

The article gives some Point and Technique Prescriptions. For those of you

new to TCM, those are abbreviations for meridians. LI is Large Intestine,

SI is Small Intestine, Lu is lung, GB is Gall Bladder, and so on. Some of

you may be shaking your head at the SJ. That's short for San Jiao, aka

Triple Heater, aka Triple Burner, aka Triple Warmer. That's the Organ that

exists in function but not in form. Du is the Governing Vessel, the Yang

meridian that runs up the middle of the back and over the head to a point

above the lips. Ren is the Conception Vessel (aka Directing Vessel), the

Yin meridian which runs up the middle of the front of the body.

 

The article also gives suggestions for needling techniques according to the

type of location of bi pain. The article recommends deep insertion for at

least half an hour for bone, tendon, or vessel Bi.

 

Victoria

 

 

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