Herbal medicine: On tonifying / complex formulas

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Tay for a good list.

 

> Tonifying the Yin might aggravate an existing dampness condition,

> might then lead to Qi stagnation.

> Thats why we add Poria and sharen or qingpi, chenpi when using shu

> dihuang.

 

Actually, this one has though I haven't seen it put as succinctly as

you put it here.

 

It's why I've been hestitant to recommend Yin tonic herbs on here.

The Yin tonic herbs can be particularly cloying. A high number of

people following Western diets have weak Spleens and Dampness or a

high likelyhood of developing Dampness problems if given Yin tonic

herbs.

 

I talk a lot on here about the ideal vs. the real situation. Ideal

situation: An affordable TCM herbalist in the community who can

analyze and mix the formulas appropriate for the individual. Second

best situation: The person has enough knowledge and access to bulk

herbs to mix the appropriate formula or enough knowledge to know

which patent formulas to order (as well as a way to order them.)

What often is the situation in America: Person, being brainwashed by

years of the medical paradigm that calls for one magic bullet,

expects one herb to do the trick in all situations without herb (or

pill) touching off other imbalances. Also, person prefers something

that can be picked up in the community instead of ordering. Also,

person prefers ease of capsules over teas. Plus, person is unsure TCM

works or that there is anything to it, and thus is unlikely to invest

a lot of time learning some key basics or money for a lot of

different herbs. Doesn't know where to look for guidance on choosing

a patent formula or may not want to read labels. Given the facts that

because the likelihood of Spleen Deficiency and a tendency to

Dampness is so high in the U.S. and Yin tonic herbs are so cloying

and given the fact that so many Americans are reluctant to change

their diets and eating habits (may actually be hard to because of

schedules), I've been hesitant to go into recommending Yin tonic

herbs. One reader has pointed out that privet seeds probably are one

of the safest Yin tonic herbs to use singularly. (The idea situation

is a formula, but there are going to be people who are going to try

the one herb first route without paying attention to possible side

effects in this approach.)

 

My apologies to people in other countries where this isn't a

problem. One of these days I need to sit down and figure out the

best and safest recommendations for people who are Yin Deficient and

also likely to be Spleen Deficient.

 

These are all some good guidelines for students on the list to keep

in mind as they are learning about formulas.

 

> " Getting rid of Qi-stagnation will automatically tonify the Qi " (as

> most of the time we have proper air to breath and enough calories

> eaten but the mechanism to transform/transport is just obstructed).

> (like adding xiang fu, hou po)

 

Note he is saying " most of the time. " There are going to be cases

where the Qi tonic herbs will be needed. Also, one effect of the Qi

moving herbs is that they will disipate Qi. Some of the Qi moving

herbs are safer to use in cases where the person is Qi Deficient than

other Qi moving herbs are. (I believe there are some posts on this

in the message base though the info may be hard to find. I or

someone may need to do a post on the safest Qi moving herbs to use if

the person is Qi Deficient.)

 

Also, enough calories often is not enough. The correct foods need to

be eaten. People who are overweight often get plenty of calories,

but this by itself is not enough. The proper foods for the

individual often are not eaten. Obesity often has a Root of Qi

Deficiency. One reason the person may overeat (in the cases where

this is a factor, it isn't always in cases of obesity) is to get that

temporary energy from the food. But this is not enough. Spleen-

building and Qi-building herbs and foods are needed. Also, there

frequently are Dampness and Phlegm problems in obesity. Also,

Interior Wind.

>

> " Pushing/promoting the blood (making its flow faster) will

> automatically tonify the blood. " (like danggui, chuanxiong).

>

> Also stagnations have to be diagnosed properly as

> longstanding deficiency always leads to some kind of stagnancy

> (phlegm, qi, blood, dampness).

 

This one is especially important to keep in mind because in a lot of

cases, correcting the underlying Deficiency without also addressing

the stagnancy problem(s) which resulted from it can worsen problems.

For example, a person who is Qi Deficient who also has Qi Stagnation.

If just the Qi is supplemented without addressing the Qi Stagnation,

this can worsen problems like pain (due to Qi Stagnation). I compare

it to trying to force more water into a hose which is blocked without

removing the block. All that extra water just backs up behind the

blockage, creating more pressure and problems.

 

> And then you mix the formulas to treat all at once.

> Xiangshaheweiwan (xiangshayangweiwan) being my favourite:

>

> Codonopsis, R.

> Atractylodis macro., Rh.

> Citri reticulatae, Pericarpium

> Poria

> Pinellia Praep., Rh.

> Amomi, Fructus

> Cyperi, Rh.

> Aucklandiae, R.

> Aurantii immat, Fr.

> Amomi rotundus, Fr.

> Agastachis, H.

> Magnolia off., Cortex

> Glycirrhizae, R.

>

> this cleans up stagnations from longstanding deficiency...

 

Thanks for some good guidelines.

 

Victoria