Night Sweats 2 other patterns to consider

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>Of the above this woman would most closely fit the Spleen Deficiency with

>Damp Obstruction ... yet she is not Spleen Deficient either! Ugh. But ...

>Liver displays numerous signs of stagnation and too much Damp will restrict

>the free flow of Liver Qi and create stagnation quickly. Her constitution

>is

>such that she should restrict foods that create Damp and her diet is such

>that it would create a good bit of it. She just doesn't show enough to

>confirm any type of Yin Deficiency. Liver Blood Deficiency possible ...

>but

>very little to signify Heart Blood Deficiency.

 

Liver Invading the Spleen:

 

" Irritability, abdominal distension and pain, alternation of constipation

and diarrhoea, stools sometimes dry and bitty and sometimes loose,

flatulence, tiredness.

 

" Tongue: Red on the sides or Pale. " (Liver and/or Gall Bladder problems

sometimes show up in the sides of the tongue.)

 

" Pulse: Weak on the right and Wiry on the left.

 

" Key symptoms: alternation of constipation and diarrhoea, abdominal

distension and pain.

 

" Pathology

 

" The Liver is responsible for the smooth flow of Qi throughout the body.

When Liver-Qi stagnates in the abdomen, it often disturbs the Spleen

function of transformation and transportation: in terms, it

is said that the " Liver invades the Spleen " , or that " Liver and Spleen are

not harmonized " . In 5-Element terms, it corresponds to Wood overacting on

Earth. In 8-Principle terms, it is a pattern of mixed Deficiency and

Excess: Excess os the Liver (stagnation of Liver-Qi) and Deficiency of

Spleen-Qi. " (Maciocia, The Foundations of , p. 227.)

 

Sometimes the Liver invades the Spleen because the Liver is so " excessive "

(Liver Qi Stagnation). But sometimes the Liver isn't so excessive as the

Spleen is weak and allows itself to be invaded. This is why there are

varying symptoms and signs in this syndrome. If the Liver Excess

predominates, the person will tend toward the consipation and the red sides

of the tongue. The pain will be greater than if the Liver is invading

because the Spleen is weak.

 

If the primary reason the Liver is invading is because the Spleen is weak,

the loose stools will predominate and the tongue probably will be pale all

over. The pain will not be as great when the Spleen is weak as when the

Liver Qi Stagnation is so bad.

 

" This pattern is usually caused by emotional problems which affect the

Liver, such as anger, frustration and resentment. These emotions, over a

long period of time, cause Liver_Qi to stagnate and this interferes with the

Spleen functions.

 

" However, the emotional factors are usually combined with other factors that

cause Spleen deficiency, such as irregular diet and overwork. " (Maciocia,

pp. 227-228.)

 

Damp Heat in Liver and Gall Bladder:

 

" Fever, scanty-dark urine, fullness and pain of chest and hypochondrium "

(sides of upper upper abdomen), jaundice, bitter taste, nausea, vomiting,

loss of appetitie, abdominal distention, vaginal discharge,

pain-redness-swelling of scrotum, vaginal itching.

 

" Tongue: Red body, sticky-yellow coating.

 

" Pulse: Slippery-Wiry-Rapid.

 

" Key symptoms: fever, fullness chest and hypochondrium, nausea, sticky

yellow coating, Slippery pulse.

 

" Pathology

 

" This pattern arises from a combination of Heat in the Liver and Dampness

arising from Spleen deficiency. The Spleen deficiency is therefore a

pre-condition for this pattern to manifest.

 

" The accumulation of Dampness in the Liver and Gall-Bladder channel

obstructs the smooth flow of Qi and causes stagnation of Liver-Qi resulting

in distension and pain of the hypochondrium and chest. Dampness can

obstruct the flow of bile which accumulates and over-flows under the skin

causing jaundice.

 

" The stagnation of Liver-Qi deriving from the accumulation of Damp, causes

Liver-Qi to invade the Stomach and gives rise to nausea, vomiting, loss of

appetite and abdominal distension.

 

" Damp-heat causes low-grad continuous fever. This is easily distinguished

from the Yin-deficiency fever (which is also low-grade) because the fever

from Damp-Heat is continuous, whereas that from Yin deficiency only arises

in the afternoon and evening. Bitter taste is caused by Liver Heat.

 

" Dampness has a tendency to infuse downwards, and if it flows down and

settles in the Lower Burner " (lower abdomen) " it will cause vaginal

discharge and itching or pain-swelling and redness of the scrotum in men.

 

" The stickiness or greasiness of the tongue coating is highly indicative of

the presence of Dampness.

 

" Aetiolgoy

 

" Firstly, since Spleen dificiency leading to the formation of Dampness is

the pre-condition for this pattern, any of the causes which lead to Spleen

deficiency can be present. These are the excessive consumption of greasy

foods or an irregular diet and life-style (see pattern of Spleen-Qi

deficiency, p. 242).

 

" Long-term stagnation of Liver-Qi can lead to Liver Heat which combines with

the Dampness. Any of the causes of Liver-Qi stagnation (excessive anger,

etc.), therefore, can lead to this pattern.

 

" Finally, Damp-Heat can also be caused by external, climatic Damp-Heat.

This is very common in tropical countries, but is not altogether unknown to

happen in temperate or cold countries, especially in summertime. "

(Maciocia, p. 223.) (One reason gall stones are so common in the southeast

U.S. is not just the traditional fatty diet but also the humidity and heat.

Plus, social factors that engender frustration and anger also play a role.)

 

>Very interesting. I can list all of her signs if you would like ... just

>for

>others to learn (besides I could be wrong) ... I just don't want to bore

>everyone to tears with all of the details.

 

People are here to learn. The students on the list in particular need the

details. Please list; otherwise narrowing it down to possibles and

probables is impossible.

 

>It does seem however that if Yin

>Deficiency is involved ... it may be more of a Yin Fire type scenario

>damaging the Kidneys or loss of essence due to age (she does have some low

>back pain) and I will look at that more closely before deciding treatment.

 

It's fairly common for Kidney Yin Deficiency and Liver Yin Deficiency to

occur together. There's even a pattern called " Liver and Kidney Yin

Deficiency " . A key thing about Yin Deficiency is that the Heat appears in

the afternoon and evening. The rest of the time the person is fine

heatwise.

 

Dampness can occur with Heat, with Cold, or with neither.

 

Victoria

 

 

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