Re:Is there anything which might substitute for Ma Huang...

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> > Sometimes Fu Ling can cause problems when there is Phlegm. Also

when

> > a person suffers from both Dampness and Dryness. Other things

may

> > have to be addressed before the person can benefit from Fu Ling.

> >

> >

>

> What sort of problems Victoria??

 

Breathing problems for one.

 

Heat tends to rise. It's not uncommon to find people with Dampness

(and even Cold) in the Lower Burner ( Kidneys, Intestines - lower

abdomen) but who have Heat (and Dryness) in the Upper Burner (Lungs

and Heart).

 

Any area of the body can have Phlegm, but it especially loves to

collect in the Lungs. AFter a time, the combination of Heat and

Phlegm in the Lungs can produce Dry Phlegm (and/or Hot Phlegm) in the

Lungs. Dry Phlegm is more likely to happen in a desert area than in

a humid area, but it can happen anywhere. Air conditioning as well as

some heating systems can create a dry microclimate in a room or

building.

 

Since Fu Ling draws moisture out of tissues, this can aggravate the

Dryness and Dry Phlegm problems in the Lungs. The person starts to

have breathing problems and may become more susceptible to

respiratory infections.

 

The person may or may not have an allergy to Fu Ling, but allergy-

like symptoms (breathing problems) result because of the increased

Dryness and increase in Dry Phlegm.

 

Fu Ling can cause a decrease in blood volume and a host of problems

from that - headache, weakness, fatigue, nausea, etc. Fu Ling is

classified as an herb to drain Dampness. It promotes urination. Too

much moisture can get drained from certain areas of the body when the

person is suffering from certain mixed Dryness and Dampness patterns.

 

From Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia

Medica, revised ed., p. 132:

 

" Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindicated in cases of frequent,

copious urine due to cold from deficiency. " (Yang

Deficiency) " According to some traditional sources, this herb

counteracts Radix Sanguisorbae Officinalis (di yu), Radix Gentianae

Qinjiao (qin jiao), and Carapax Amydae Sinensis (bie jia). Taking

the herb in large doses or long-term is discouraged. "

 

Long-term Kidney Yang Deficiency is one of the times you're likely to

see mixed Dampness and Dryness problems. The person already is

losing too much fluid because of the Kidney Yang Deficiency. Give

the person Fu Ling (without other appropriate herbs), and even more

fluid is lost. Somewhere in there what usually happens is the Spleen

also becomes weak - if it's not already weak. Fluids are not getting

transformed and transported. (I'm talking about TCM fluid physiology

here - not the Western model.) The clear is not getting separated

from the unclear, and the clear is not getting uplifted.

 

Eventually the person gets to the point where there is both edema

(Dampness - usually in the lower body) and Dryness (usually in the

Lungs). And there may be some blood volume problems. Plus, by this

time that aggravating problem of Kidneys Refusing to Receive Qi (a

form of Kidney Yang Deficiency) has developed.