The importance of knowing etiologies

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This is something I've posted about before on here, but it needs repeating.

It's especially important in correctly analyzing " knotty " (complex) problems

to know how the various TCM syndromes can develop. When there are multiple

TCM syndromes present, the symptoms of one totally can mask the symptoms of

others, and in some cases just treating the most obvious can aggravate

others.

 

A classic example of this is Kidney Yin and Yang Deficiency tending to occur

together, especially if one has been going on for some time untreated. One

will always be more severe than the other, and in some cases may be so

severe as to mask the other totally or near totally. So what happens in a

case where one is masking the other? Let's look at the example of extreme

Kidney Yin Deficiency masking the Kidney Yang problems. The person takes

Kidney Yin tonic herbs. After a time, the person changes from being

agitated, from feeling too hot and being bothered by heat, from having night

sweats and waking in the middle of the night, etc. to being very withdrawn,

to feeling too cold and having problems warming up, to wanting to sleep all

the time, etc. Now that the Kidney Yin Deficiency problem is being

corrected, it's no longer masking the Kidney Yang Deficiency problem. In

such a scenario, the person may still be Kidney Yin Deficient too and still

be having some Kidney Yin symptoms mixed in with the now more obvious and

now more numerous Kidney Yang Deficiency problems. What has happened is

that due to not treating the Kidney Yang Deficiency problem at the same time

the Kidney Yin Deficiency problem is treated, the person is now more Kidney

Yang Deficient than s/he is Kidney Yin Deficient. (Note: There is such a

thing as a relative Yin Deficiency or relative Yang Deficiency. The person

may have enough Yang, but due to taking too many Yin herbs or foods, the

person creates a Yin Excess.)

 

" Knotty " multiple problems are becoming more common in some Western

countries due to the converging factors of poor diet, increased pollution,

and stressful/ overactive lifestyles. These are combinations of factors

that more primite societies rarely encounter. Also, TCM is still relatively

rare in Western countries. By the time most people consult a TCM healer,

problems have been getting worse for years and generating new imbalances.

 

In looking at etiologies, consider history, lifestyle, diet, the emotions,

how long the person has been sick, AND how particular TCM syndromes can give

rise to other syndromes. For example, Spleen Deficiency can give rise to

Blood Deficiency which in turn can trigger constraint of Liver Qi. When

etiologies such as these are not understood, it's sort of like trying to

keep a leaky row boat bailed out without ever plugging the leak. One keeps

having to bail.

 

Victoria

 

 

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