Western spleen, some critical viewpoints on translations/comparisons

[Guest guest]

Following text is for medium/advanced herbalTCM-readers, beginners

might feel disturbed:

 

Comparing western with chinese spleen might help attract western

medicals to TCM,

but it might lead more advanced practitioners off from the TCM track.

You will find many similarities like the .doc above describes.

But dont stop there. Get back to which classical sayings seem to make

no sense,

meditate over them.

The chinese Spleen is equivalent to what new-ager call the spleen

chakra.

All the 'it transports energy here and receives energy from there,

sinks here and lifts there'

texts align very well with the common chakra theories.

If you stick on the 'spleen organ' similarities you dont view the

whole chinese 'spleen'.

It is the spleen energies that affect the western spleen, but the

spleen energies affect much more!

You cant put the 'having an effect on the mind' phenomenon down

to 'bloodsugar activity'

as Tierra describes.

Narrowing down the theories will result in less efficient

diagnosis+therapy.

It might also make it hard to understand the roots of TCM as you

might develop troubles in understanding the 'dynamic' roots.

 

I use spleen tonics to help people 'digest'.

Long forgotten childhood memories appeared and were remembered now in

a different context. Clotted slimy stagnant thoughts had no energy to

become digested.

The client started to forgive the 'guilty' people

that mistreated him. He digested.

 

The lifting/sinking theories, in general all the 'dynamic action'

theories

might tend to be forgotten if we stick to the 'organ' theory.

Chinese language describes moving, dynamic actions, not

static/material/dead matters.

In transcribing the theories we have to use our static language which

kills a lot of the

flowing character chinese texts have.

Tierras text is an example of summing up 'static descriptions'. She

omitted important

dynamic facts concerning the spleen (just for the sake of finding

similarities?).

 

By understanding the lifting action you will

- gain access to the Tinnitus/deafness recipe 'tonic the middle, lift

the Qi formula'.

It is invisible (unscientific) energy that transports the

fluids/phlegms out of the ear.

-gain access to alzheimer/dementia treatment with 'show phlegm the

way out-formula' TiaoTanTang

'dispell the phlegm out-fomula' DaoTanTang

to wash out plaques. It happens via fragrant mechanisms (fragrant as

in steamed/dispersed/shot through/soaked, get what I mean with

translation errors?)

(western medicine is still working on how to get the medicine into

the brain,

well go answer them to use the spleen *cynical grin*)

 

By narrowing down/seeing TCM through western glasses you will drop

important theories.

A lot is already lost (P.R.of China said: 'there is no use for the

demonology part of TCM, lets ignore it!',

I am sure the demon-medicine-herbal-recipes that are lost might help

in our western psychosomatic diseases.

[Guest guest]

Hi tayfx,

 

While it is crucial for us as practitioners to understand

to it's utmost (uh, lifelong study for most of us, I believe). And, yes,

it is helpful/importand to try to get patients to think

holistically/dynamically.

Most where born and educated in linear thinking. For that reason using

comparisons and translations along reductionist lines is often a necessity.

Hopefully, this would not lead a practitioner " off-track " but only hone

his/her

skills in interfacing with Western patients. Not to mention, a good

ole Western diagnosis (which, alas, we cannot legally give) is often

the best guarantee for patient compliance. Kit

[Guest guest]

c>I use spleen tonics to help people 'digest'.

>Long forgotten childhood memories appeared and were remembered now in

>a different context. Clotted slimy stagnant thoughts had no energy to

>become digested.

>The client started to forgive the 'guilty' people

>that mistreated him. He digested.

 

Whenever people have been sick for some time, when they start to heal,

things like this sometimes happen. It doesn't mean that the healer is doing

something wrong; this sometimes is the nature of healing.

 

When people start to heal - really heal as opposed to temporarily relieving

symptoms - they start to heal physically, mentally, emotionally, and

spiritually. This can be frightening as unresolved issues and strong

emotions come to the surface.

 

One commonly encountered example of this is the use of Liver and liver herbs

bringing suppressed anger to the surface. This is not necessarily a bad

thing. In some cases the anger can give the person the energy to make

significant changes in his or her life for the better. For example,

sometimes when a person finally realizes that s/he's furious about

mistreatment, s/he will leave an abusive situation or make demands that

leads to the abusive relationship becoming non-abusive and healthy.

 

The emotion is not the reality. It is a signpost that something needs to be

examined and dealt with.

 

Sometimes the emotion will have a primarily physical root. For example,

trauma to the liver or an infection or a toxin has primed the person to feel

anger. As the Liver is balanced, the anger and frustration will fade. But

in other cases, the trigger for the imbalance was emotional or spiritual or

partly so. In these cases the healing can be scary for the person

undergoing the transformation of healing because the healing also will

involve having to face and deal with the very emotions and issues that

triggered the imbalance. What happens if the person is willing to face and

deal is that s/he emerges stronger not only physically but emotionally,

mentally, and spiritually. Being healthy doesn't mean never feeling a

particular emotion and always being blissed out. It means being able to

face the lessons that the emotion is pointing to, to face life, and to

learn. It means gaining wisdom and understanding. It means a deeper

examination of self, of others, and sometimes of society.

 

Facing and fully experiencing strong emotions sometimes can burn lessons

into the soul. (My poetic way of putting it.) The person can come to a

rock solid realization that such and such a way or situation is not

working, and some changes have to be made. In some cases the person will

resolve, " This really stinks, and I don't want to be treated like this

anymore or treat anyone else this way. It's not healthy. There has got to be

a better way, and I'm going to find it. " The person often does find a better

way - and more happiness than s/he ever thought possible.

 

In cases where emotions have played a role in triggering the imbalnce (or

keeping it going), as the imbalance is corrected, the issues will come to

the forefront. TCM Lung imbalances may be associated with issues of grief

and learning to let go. The Kidneys with fear and fright. Etc.

 

Some people have read about deep and painful massage such as Rolfling (sp?)

as a tool for bringing emotions and issues to the surface. It doesn't have

to be any technique this dramatic. Sometimes simple massage or chiropractic

or D.O. treatments will do it. Sometimes herbs will do it. It's important

that healers and clients realize that they are not doing something wrong

when it happens, that sometimes the healing journey involves this. If the

healer lacks the training to deal with this aspect of the healing, simply

refer to someone who does have the expertise. Sometimes teams of healers,

each with different talents and training are needed.

 

One component of " spiritual " can be a person being true to one's self. Or

as the Chinese may put it, to one's Tao. If the person is not fulfilling

certain aspects of him/herself, this can lead to imbalance. The classic

example in the West is someone in the wrong career for the wrong reasons

(usually family pressure or societal pressures like making more money and

having more respect and power in the unsuitable career than in the career

the person is a match for).

 

I don't want to leave the impression here that the Chinese concept of spirit

is simply self-realization dressed up in cosmic terms. There is a lot more

to it than that.

 

>By narrowing down/seeing TCM through western glasses you will drop

>important theories.

>A lot is already lost (P.R.of China said: 'there is no use for the

>demonology part of TCM, lets ignore it!',

> I am sure the demon-medicine-herbal-recipes that are lost might help

>in our western psychosomatic diseases.

 

There is an article on acupuncture.com about this. I can't think of the

title this morning. Search for demon on the site.

 

>The lifting/sinking theories, in general all the 'dynamic action'

>theories

> might tend to be forgotten if we stick to the 'organ' theory.

>Chinese language describes moving, dynamic actions, not

>static/material/dead matters.

>In transcribing the theories we have to use our static language which

>kills a lot of the

> flowing character chinese texts have.

 

This is important. Keep in mind that the Chinese see everything as being in

a constant state of change. Yang becomes Yin, and Yin becomes Yang.

Sometimes people are passive, sometimes active. Imbalance also can come

from a person believing that s/he always is to be passive in all things at

all times or active in all things at all times.

 

One important thing about TCM and psychosomatic illness is that it can

strengthen the person physically so that the person is in a better position

to face and deal with the emotional, mental, and spiritual components. It's

a lot easier to face and deal when one has been strengthened physically than

when one has not.

 

Victoria

 

 

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