Blood Stasis & diabetes

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" The Chinese word for stasis is derived from the Chinese word for silt.

Therefore, static blood is seen as a kind of dry, dead, or wrecked blood

which silts up and, hence, obstructs the channels and vessels. Such blood

stasis may be due to traumatic injufry, long-standing liver depression qi

stagnation failing to move the blood, qi vacuity failing to push the blood,

cold congealing the blood, or insuffiecient blood to nourish the vessls and

keep them open and functioning correctly. In Chinese medicine, it is a

given that static blood hinders the creation of new or fresh blood. This

means that blood stasis may give rise to blood vacuity and blood vacuity may

give rise to blood stasis.

 

" In cases of diabetes, blood stasis is not usually one of the disease causes

listed in Chinese medical textbooks. However, most diabetics exhibit some

signs and symptoms of blood stasis. This is because, as stated above, the

qi moves the blood. If, for any reason, the qi is not strong enough to move

the blood, if there is something hindering or obstrucitng the free movement

of qi and blood, such as dampness and/or phlegm, or if the liver is not

allowing the free movement of the qi, then blood stasis will eventually also

arise. Therefore, blood stasis typically complicates most chronic and

enduring diseases. Since diabetes directly affects the spllen, heart,

lungs, liver, and kidneys, all the viscera which, in Chinese medicine either

engender and transform the qi and blood or promote their free and

uninhibited flow, it is no wonder that diabeteics almost always show some

signs and symptoms of blood stasis. " (Lynn M. Kuchinski, Controlling

Diabetes Naturally with , pp. 49 -50)

 

" Vacuity " is the term Blue Poppy Press uses for " Deficiency " . Kuchinski

states earlier in the book that Liver Depression Qi Stagnation and dual Qi

and Yin Deficiency are possible disease mechanisms of diabetes. In time,

untreated Qi Stagnation will give rise to Blood Stasis, just as untreated

Blood Stasis can give rise to Qi Stagnation. " Qi is the commander of the

Blood, and Blood is the Mother of Qi. " You'll hear this saying a lot in

TCM. What it means is that Qi provides the energy that moves the Blood, and

Blood provides the nourishment and physical matrix for the Qi to be created

and exist. If Qi is Deficient, in time there won't be enough to move the

Blood (Blood Stasis) or contain the Blood in the vessels (Spleen Failing to

Govern Blood - one of the possible TCM Roots of excessive bruising).

 

Keep in mind that in TCM, the Spleen and the Lungs are the two Organs

responsible for the amount of Qi the body has. The Spleen extracts the

grain Qi from the food " rotted and ripened " in the Stomach and carries it to

the Lungs where it mixes with the air Qi extracted by the Lungs to become

part of the Qi of the body. If the Spleen and/or Lungs are weak, the person

will have Qi Deficiency. Most Qi tonic herbs target the Spleen and Lungs.

 

Another role of the Spleen Qi is to transform and transport fluids. If the

Spleen and Qi are weak, Dampness accumulates. If Dampness hangs around too

long, it it congels into Phlegm. Note the passage where she talks about

Dampness and Phlegm interfering with Blood flow.

 

The Spleen along with the Kidneys and the Heart are responsible for the

creation of Blood. If the Spleen is Deficient, in time Blood will be

Deficient too.

 

The Heart, Liver, and Spleen " control " the Blood. " ... it is the heart qi

which 'stirs' or pushes the blood. If the heart qi does not move the blood,

the blood cannot move on its own. Thus it is said:

 

" If the qi moves, the blood moves. If the qi stops, the blood stops. "

(Curing PMS Naturally with , Bob Flaws, p. 34.)

 

Naturally if the Spleen is weak and Qi is Deficient because the Spleen is

failing to extract and transport the grain Qi, it's not helping to create Qi

for the other Organs to use. If Heart Qi becomes Deficient, the Heart no

longer can move the Blood. (Note: Exactly which Organ system gets hit

hardest by Qi being in short supply is a function of pre-existing (genetic)

weaknesses and aquired weaknesses (due to trauma, diet, lifestyle,

infection, etc.) An individual's body will follow an individual (as well as

universal) rationing of what is available - much as the body will start

cannibalizing muscles during prolonged adrenal stress in order to get the

amino acids necessary for the most critical body functions. If the Speen

weakness goes on long enough without being treated, eventually every Organ

will be severely Deficient in Qi. This is when you see not only an accent

on digestive system (Spleen) problems like diarrhea, bloating, etc. but

pronounced heart problems, breathing problems due to Deficient Lung Qi,

incontinence of urine (Deficient Kidney Qi) combined. The person is very,

very sick. If Qi Deficiency and weak Spleen problems still aren't

addressed, the person will die.)

 

One of the main functions of the Liver is to store Blood. When a person is

at rest, Blood gathers in the Liver. When the person is active, the Liver

sends Blood out to the muscles and other parts of the body. If Liver Qi is

Stagnant, that Blood doesn't get sent out like it should be. " UIf the liver

qi spreads freely, then the blood moves. If the liver qi becomes depressed

and stagnant, then the blood will also eventually become depressed and

static. " (Flaws, PMS, p. 35.)

 

Non-TCM: Readers may want to consult the work of L.O. Simpson, New Zealand

researcher and doctor, about the role of misshapen, inflexible red blood

cells (nondiscocytes) causing circulation problems. Nondiscocytes have

trouble making it through the smallest capillaries. High percentages of

nondiscocytes have been found in a number of chronic medical conditions,

including diabetes. (The highest percentages have been found in people with

CFIDS.)

 

Also, some people are sensitive to UV radiation which causes their

capillaries to constrict, thus creating circulation problems. These are

people who report feeling worse when exposed to sunlight for any period of

time.

 

Victoria

 

 

 

 

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