Fw: [haroldkulungian] WHO to investigate SARS!

[Guest guest]

I got this from another list,

Pamela

 

-

<harkulungian

<haroldkulungian >

Friday, April 04, 2003 12:07 AM

[haroldkulungian] WHO to investigate SARS!

 

 

>

> One advantage of having studied classical Hippocratic medicine is that

epidemic outbreaks at the changing of the seasons become very easy to

understand.

> What usually happens during the seasonal changes is a sudden change--in

spring an influx of warm air--and then another change back to cold air, as

winter seems to be returning.

>

> In this situation, many people discard their winter clothing prematurely,

and also they start eating and drinking things more suitable for warm

weather.

>

> Then respiratory problems occur because the lungs and the large intestine

work together as a pair: As soon as one's digestion becomes retarded by

inappropriate clothing and food and drinks, it begins to back up into the

lungs.

>

> The simple solution is go back to woolen clothes and unwatery foods, keep

liquid intake to a minimum, use drying foods such as dry wholewheat toast or

rice cakes. This way the lungs can quickly be dried out again and illness

averted.

>

> Sad to say, but neither the medical profession, the governments of the

world, or the World Health Organization now the crucial importance of a

sudden change in the quality of the air--from cold to warm to cold again--by

which epidemic sickness comes about naturally.

>

> --

> Harold Kulungian

> 177 No. Pleasant St. Apt. 2

> Amherst, MA 01002-1719

> (413) 253-2277 by 8:OO a.m.

> email: harkulungian

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Pamela.

 

> -

> <harkulungian@n...>

> > One advantage of having studied classical Hippocratic medicine

is that

> epidemic outbreaks at the changing of the seasons become very easy

to

> understand.

> > What usually happens during the seasonal changes is a sudden

change--in

> spring an influx of warm air--and then another change back to cold

air, as

> winter seems to be returning.

 

This is an area of particular interest to me because of personal

experience over the years. How changing weather conditions can cause

people to be more vulnerable to catching infections or having dormant

infections reactivated.

 

> > In this situation, many people discard their winter clothing

prematurely,

> and also they start eating and drinking things more suitable for

warm

> weather.

 

In some people it goes beyond this. Some people are very weather

sensitive and do not adjust quickly or easily to changes in weather.

I have problems any time the temperature drops quickly. Even in

summer. (I have a pronounced sensitivity to cold. Also problems

with wind.)

 

> > Then respiratory problems occur because the lungs and the large

intestine

> work together as a pair: As soon as one's digestion becomes

retarded by

> inappropriate clothing and food and drinks, it begins to back up

into the

> lungs.

 

For readers new to TCM, the Lungs and the Large Intestine

are " coupled " Organs. The Lungs are Yin Metal and the Large

Intestine is Yang Metal. What this means in practical terms is that

yes, food and drink can impact the lungs. It also means that one

Organ and Meridian can be used to treat the other. For example, in

some cases of Heat in the Lungs, one method of realeasing that Heat

is to purge the Large Intestine. There also are acupoints on the LI

and Lu meridians that can be used to balance out energy in the too.

 

> > The simple solution is go back to woolen clothes and unwatery

foods, keep

> liquid intake to a minimum, use drying foods such as dry wholewheat

toast or

> rice cakes. This way the lungs can quickly be dried out again and

illness

> averted.

 

This is not necessarily true for all sufferers. The Lungs are

particularly vulnerable to Dryness. If the Lungs get too dried out,

this too can trigger infection. Some heating systems are very

drying, and what is happening in some cases is that when the person

turns the heat back on, the air in the house gets too dry, and this

causes the person to be vulnerable to infection.

 

One also sees this in some individuals during the summer because of

air conditioning. The AC makes the air too dry, and the person ends

up with a summer cold. (In TCM, the number one TCM imbalance

underlying the common cold is Wind Cold, but Wind Heat also can aid

and abet the common cold. Some people are getting hit with a double

wammy. First Wind Heat from being outside, and then Wind Cold from

the air conditioner.)

 

The exact treatment is going to depend on what the individual's

particular imbalances are. If Dampness is a problem, this points to

possible Spleen imbalance. Some people have more problems with

Dryness than with Dampness, and they would continue to need foods

that are moistening and to drink lots of liquid.

 

Why are some people more weather-sensitive than others. The number

one cause is weak Protective Qi. Protective Qi circulates at the

surface of the body and increases one's resistence to External Evils

like Cold, Wind, and Dampness. Herbs like astragalus specifically

help Protective Qi.

 

But weak Protective Qi is not the only possible cause of weather-

sensitivity. Blood Deficiency and chronic, long-term Yang Deficiency

also can underlie the problem. The definition of Blood differs

somewhat from blood. In TCM, one of the main functions of Blood is

to moisten and nurture the tissues. If the tissues are not properly

moistened and nurtured, the person becomes more vulnerable to

Exterior Evils.

 

The etiology of chronic, long-term Yang Deficiency is a bit more

complex than that of Blood Deficiency or Protective Qi Deficiency in

triggering weather-sensitivity. Cold is one of those things which

can trigger Qi Stagnation. The Qi has to circulate if it is to

protect and perform its other functions. The Stomach, the

Intestines, and the Uterus are particularly vulnerable to direct

invasion by Exterior Cold. So is the Liver meridian. The Kidneys are

particularly vulnerable to Cold, be it Excess (from the environment,

from foods) or Deficiency (Yang Deficiency - not enough Yang to

properly warm and activate the body). The Spleen also is very

vulnerable to Cold, and the Spleen plays a major role in both Qi and

Blood formation. Cold attacks and diminishes Yang.

 

The Kidneys supply the Yang (and Yin) to the rest of the body. If

the person has been Kidney Yang Deficient for some time, the person

is going to be particularly vulnerable to cold. The person already is

chronicly without enough Yang to properly warm and activate the body.

Qi flow already is disturbed by Cold. Each time the person is

exposed to sudden drops in temperature, the already weakened Kidneys

and Yang takes another assault. " Cold " that wouldn't bother a healthy

person is too much for a person who has been chronically Yang

Deficient for some time. (It used to have to warm up at least to the

80s (F) for me to start to feel warm. Even then, I sometimes

required a heavy quilt to feel warm.)

 

Each Organ is particularly vulnerable to a particular Pernicious Evil

(Wind, Cold, Heat, Dampness, or Dryness). If there already is an

Interior Imbalance, the person is going to tend to be particularly

vulnerable to that Evil in the environment. For example, people with

certain Liver imbalance tend to be particularly vulnerable to

Exterior Wind. People with weak Spleens tend to be vulnerable to

Dampness (and to Cold). People with certain Lung imbalances tend to

be paricularly bothered by air which is too dry. People with Kidney

Yang Deficiency tend to be particularly vulnerable to Cold. People

with certain Heart imbalances tend to do worst in hot weather.

 

People with Protective Qi Deficiency, long-term Blood Deficiency, or

chronic Yang Deficiency tend to be particularly weather-sensitive.

 

Females tend to be more vulnerable to Dampness than males, especially

during the monthly period and immediately after child birth.

 

BTW, the Chinese are not the only people in the world to recognize

that sudden changes of temperature can cause a person to be more

vulnerable to infections. I can remember my great grandmother's

youngest sister in the Apphalacian Mountains of Virginia warming me

against drinking too much cold water too quickly on a hot day. She

said that chilling the body too rapidly could sicken a person with

things like Scarlett Fever. She could remember epidemics that killed

a lot of people. Given the times and the circumstances, the death

rate in our family was a lot lower than normal for the time. My

great grandmother also was an herbalist. As family members moved out

of the mountains or moved away from traditional diets, practices, and

use of herbs, the death rate and health problems among family members

rose. They were worst in the descendents furthest removed from the

practices.

 

Victoria