TMC and morning sickness

[Guest guest]

I have a friend who is pregnant for the first time and having a

terrible time with hormonal problems and morning sickness. She is

constantly weak and lethargic with morning sickness that lasts

throughout the day. Any suggestions?

 

Thanks,

Barb

[Guest guest]

Hi barb, and all,

 

If the morning sickness is very severe you should go to a TCM doc and get a good differential diagnosis style treatment; there are several different potential causes of Morn Sick that your friend is experiencing.

 

There are some good general remedies though to try in any case.

 

1. Have here eat something right away, as soon as she awakes in the morning.

 

2. Perillia aka. Zi su yi as a simple tea can really help.

 

3. Pressing pericardium 6 either manually or with a wrist band available at your local health food store works good too.

 

Good Luck

 

Adam

[Guest guest]

>There are some good general remedies though to try in any case.

>

>1. Have here eat something right away, as soon as she awakes in the

>morning.

>

>2. Perillia aka. Zi su yi as a simple tea can really help.

>

>3. Pressing pericardium 6 either manually or with a wrist band available

>at

>your local health food store works good too.

 

Thanks, Adam

 

For those of you new to TCM, Pericardium 6 gets used for a lot of things but

is best known for its use in treating nausea.

 

Nausea often is due to rebellious Stomach Qi. " In addition to its action on

the Heart and Liver, it is a major point to affect the Stomach, particularly

the upper and middle part of the Stomach. It subdues rebellious Stomach-Qi

and is the point of choice to treat nausea and vomiting. It can also be

used in most STomach patterns characterized by epigastric pain, acid

regurgitation, hiccup and belching. " (Maciocia, The Foundations of Chinese

Medicine, p. 436.)

 

Maciocia lists the following actions of P 6: " Opens the chest, regulates

Heart Qi and Blood, regulates and clears the Triple Burner, calms the Mind,

regulates the Terminal Yin, harmonizes the Stomach. " (p. 435) He also says

" it moves Qi and Blood in the chest and is the point of choice for

discomfort or pain of the chest due to stagnation of Qi or Blood. " (p. 436)

 

It can promote sleep and be useful in premenstrual depression and

irritability. (p. 436.)

 

Something I found very interesting is, " As it is the Commecting point of the

Pericardium channel, it connects with the Triple Burner channel and is

effective in treating neck ache on the occiput, especially in women. Women

often suffer from neck ache after a hysterectomy and this point is very

effective in treating it. " (p. 436)

 

" Finally, owing to its relationship with the Liver and its action of moving

Blood, this point indirectly connects with the Blood of the uterus, and can

be used to regulate irregular or painful periods. " (p. 436)

 

Michael Reed Gach in Acupressure's Potent Points gives the following

directions for finding P 6, aka Inner Gate: " In the middle of the inner

side of the forearm two and one-half finger widths from the wrist crease. "

(p. 36) I usually hold it and TW 5, aka Outer Gate, at the same time.

Triple Warmer 5 is good for " allergic reactions, rheumatism, and tendonitis;

regulates and relaxes the entire body. " (p. 237) I personally find holding

both points very relaxing.

 

P 6 is recommended by Gach in the chapters on anxiety and nervousness,

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Epstein Barr Virus) (anything that helps a PWC's

digestive system problems helps the PWC), insomnia (remember what Maciocia

says about this point and sleep), motion sickness and morning sickness and

nausea, relieving discomfort during pregnancy, for relieving stomachaches

and indigestion and heartburn, and wrist pain.

 

I checked the acupressure.com website to see if there was a picture of P 6.

There wasn't. But there is a picture of TW5.

 

http://www.acupressure.com/articles/chap_23.htm

 

I find the easiest way to find P 6 on myself is to first find TW 5. I bend

my hand at a 90 degree angle to my forearm. I place my ring finger on the

crease on the top of the forearm. TW 5 approximately is under the index

finder between the two bones. I press on the other side of my forearm with

my thumb for P 6.

 

Zi Su Ye, aka Folium (leaf of) Perillae Frutescentis, is classified as a

warm, acrid herb that releases the Exterior, but also " Promotes the movement

of qi and expands the chest: for nausea, vomiting, or poor appetite. "

(Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica, Revised Edl, Dan Bensky and Andrew

Gamble, p. 30.) Its thermal energy is Warm; its taste is acrid. It has an

affinity for the Lungs and Spleen. It is contraindicated for " patterns of

exterior deficiency with pronounced sweating, and for patterns of

damp-heat. " (p. 31) Bensky and Gamble list the dose as 3-9 grams and say it

should not be cooked for long periods. (This one is aromatic.)

 

Ginger is good for motion sickness and many cases of nausea BUT is

CONTRINDICATED in pregnancy. Ginger during pregnancy should not be used

except on the advice of a trained TCM healer.

 

The other points which Gach recommends for motion sickness, morning

sickness, and nausea are Small Intestine 17, Spleen 16, Pericardium 5,

Stomach 36 (though I imagine a woman far along in pregnancy would have

trouble reaching this one below the knees or) Liver 3 and Stomach 45 on the

feet and toes. Liver 3 can be worked with the heel of the other foot. (pp.

173-176)

 

Victoria

 

 

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