Deficient and unable to take tonification

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For students:

 

" The practitioner should also be aware of a condtion called 'deficient and

unable to take tonification'. This refers to two types of cases. In the

first, signs of fire from deficiency appear after taking tonics, including

dry mouth and lips, irritability, insomnia, indigestion, and abdominal

distention. In the second, digestive problems develop, such as nausea,

bloating, or loss of appetite. From a modern biomedical perspective, one

explanation for these phenomena is that the digestive systems in such

patients are very weak, as is their resistance to disease. Most tonifying

herbs are rich and difficult for the body to absorb; their administraiton

places an extra burden on the digestive system. Another aspect is that many

debilitated patients, especially those with patterns of yin deficiency,

suffer from insufficient fluids and an imbalance in the autonomic nervous

system. Many of the tonifying herbs, particularly those that tonify the qi

or yang, stimulate the body and the sympathetic nervous system. This could

give rise to signs associated with fire from deficiency. " (Dan Bensky &

Andrew Gamble, Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica, Revised Ed., p. 313.)

 

What you often are looking at in terms of the first scenario are problems

with localized Heat and/or Qi Stagnation, and/or direction of Qi flow

problems. For example, consider a person who is Kidney Yang Deficient

(Deficiency Cold) but who has localized Heat in the Upper Burner (Lungs and

Heart). It is in Heat's nature to rise - plus there may also be some

problems with Dampness and Cold accumulation in the Lower Burner (Kidneys,

Bladder, and Intestines) and blockages to Qi flow in the Lower Burner. The

warming is barely penetrating where it's needed the most - the Lower Burner

- and instead is rising to the Lungs and Heart which already are too Hot.

This can be trickly to treat with just herbs alone. This can be a case

where Qi Gong exercises (which equalize and promote the smooth flow of Qi)

and acupuncture, acupressure, and massage can be particularly needed in

conjunction with the herbal therapies. There are several ways to go about

this. Mix the Yang tonic herbs with cooling herbs that target the Lungs and

Heart, use acupoints (via acupressure, acupuncture, or massage) that

specifically release Heat from the Lungs and Heart, and teach basic Qi Gong

excerices to the person in order to equalize and smooth the flow of Qi

throughout the body. Other readers may have other suggestions.

 

The second scenario is a very common scenario. In cases where health

problems have been particulary severe and/or have gone on for some time, the

digestive system frequently will be a wreck. The person simply cannot

tolerate, digest, and absorb the benefits of the herbs. Instead, the herbs

that are supposed to be healing become another source of distress. These

cases include people with a lot of food intolerances and allergies, people

who suffer from frequent yeast infections, people who have been sick a long

time (especially people with CFIDS), people with Leaky Gut Syndrome, people

who have been on antibiotics, people who have been on long-term NSAIDs

(Non-Steroid Anti-Inflammatory Drugs), people with long-term Spleen

Deficiency, people with parasites, people who have been poisoned, people

with celiac disease, etc.

 

A priority in these cases has to be getting digestive system problems under

control and improving digestion. The strategy is going to vary according to

the underlying cause of the digestive system problems. See the Fratkin

article on Leaky Gut Syndrome. See the Bob Flaws article on the Spleen.

The person may have to stay on a highly restricted though easy to digest

diet for some time. In addition, consider omega-3 supplementation in some

cases. Thyme and fennel seed tea can aid some of these cases (not all) -

especially in cases where the digestive system problems also are causing

nightmares (particularly images of decay and right turns and/or winding

roads). If Food Stagnation is a problem, consider herbs that Relieve Food

Stagnation. Digestive enzymes may be called for in some cases. Some people

may need supplements of vitamins and minerals in order to improve digestion.

In some cases, the vitamin and mineral deficiency may be so great and the

digestion so poor that the person will require injections from a doctor.

Also, regular eating times, not eating when under stress, and not eating

late at night. Etc. Also, some tonic herbs are less hard on the digestion

than others. Rehmannia is one that can be especially hard to digest.

 

In cases of Kidney Yang Deficiency, also consider that if Kidney Yang

Deficiency is present, Kidney Yin Deficiency is almost sure to also be

present to a lesser degree. In an untreated person, the Yang Deficiency

symptoms may even mask the Yin Deficiency symptoms. As Yang is supplemented

and the problems associated with Yang Deficiency start to resolve, the

Kidney Yin Deficiency problems start to become more apparent because they

haven't been addressed. The Kidney Yang Deficiency is no longer masking the

Kidney Yin Deficiency problems. Both Kidney Yang and Kidney Yin may still

be Deficient, but the untreated Kidney Yin Deficiency is now worse than the

Kidney Yang Deficiency. In other cases, the person may have continued to

take Yang tonic herbs long after s/he needed them, and Yang is now in

Excess.

 

Victoria

 

 

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