Where Does Phlegm Come From?

[Guest guest]

Today I read the article named " Where Does Phlegm Come From? " written

by Victoria_Dragon from the website:

" http://www.acupuncture.com/Diagnosis/tanyin.htm.

 

I was so excited that the article explained the question that

bothered me for a long time (nearly one year). Thank you so

much,Victoria.

 

I got this problem (lots of phlegm & severe cough) from the end of

last year, I went to see more than 20 (western) doctors in Canada and

took two X-rays, one blood test and one ultrasound (because last

month I found a lump under skin on my neck). All the doctors told me

that everything is normal. But I am still suffering phlegm and cough

every day and night. I can hardly sleep even at night! I was so

afraid and frustrated.

 

Last week I went to see a TCM doctor and got three bags of herbal

tea. I was told that it was called " Ying Jie " from " Mei He Qi " . I

understood some of the explanations from the doctor. After I read the

article, I become more clear about my disease. But what I am worry

about now is: because I was ill for a long time, so how long will it

take to cure my disease and can I recover completely at last? Will it

become worse? In addition, I still feel like there is something

staying in my throat and it's hard to breathe sometimes.

 

Victoria, could you please do me a favour to tell me what is your

thinking about my disease? I need your answer and support! I nearly

lose confidence. There are not many TCM doctors in my city.

 

 

 

 

Cz

[Guest guest]

I love error 404

WOuld you check the url you give before, please

 

Today I read the article named " Where Does Phlegm Come From? " written

by Victoria_Dragon from the website:

" http://www.acupuncture.com/Diagnosis/tanyin.htm.

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Articals found:

http://www.docflash.com/phlegm.html

 

http://www.ilpi.com/msds/ref/phlegm.html

 

http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/mar97/858498689.An.r.html

 

regards,

 

Nico

 

 

Today I read the article named " Where Does Phlegm Come From? " written

by Victoria_Dragon from the website:

" http://www.acupuncture.com/Diagnosis/tanyin.htm.

 

I was so excited that the article explained the question that

bothered me for a long time (nearly one year). Thank you so

much,Victoria.

 

I got this problem (lots of phlegm & severe cough) from the end of

last year, I went to see more than 20 (western) doctors in Canada and

took two X-rays, one blood test and one ultrasound (because last

month I found a lump under skin on my neck). All the doctors told me

that everything is normal. But I am still suffering phlegm and cough

every day and night. I can hardly sleep even at night! I was so

afraid and frustrated.

 

Last week I went to see a TCM doctor and got three bags of herbal

tea. I was told that it was called " Ying Jie " from " Mei He Qi " . I

understood some of the explanations from the doctor. After I read the

article, I become more clear about my disease. But what I am worry

about now is: because I was ill for a long time, so how long will it

take to cure my disease and can I recover completely at last? Will it

become worse? In addition, I still feel like there is something

staying in my throat and it's hard to breathe sometimes.

 

Victoria, could you please do me a favour to tell me what is your

thinking about my disease? I need your answer and support! I nearly

lose confidence. There are not many TCM doctors in my city.

 

 

 

 

Cz

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Cathy, and welcome to Chinese Traditional Medicine.

 

Mei He Qi, Plum Pit Qi, has a very good prognosis. There are a

number of different formulas as well as acupuncture techniques which

can be used. If one doesn't work, chances are another will.

 

Ying Jie is Pinellia and Usnea formula. I couldn't find it in Bensky

and Gamble's Materia Medica but was able to find it via Googling.

 

> I got this problem (lots of phlegm & severe cough) from the end of

> last year, I went to see more than 20 (western) doctors in Canada

and

> took two X-rays, one blood test and one ultrasound (because last

> month I found a lump under skin on my neck).

 

Did anything unusual happen a year ago in your life? A move, unusual

weather, an accident like a fall, a change in diet, etc.?

 

> All the doctors told me

> that everything is normal. But I am still suffering phlegm and

cough

> every day and night. I can hardly sleep even at night! I was so

> afraid and frustrated.

 

Are the breathing problems worse at night than during the day? Worse

when laying down than when sitting or standing? Is it harder to

inhale than exhale, or harder to breathe out than breathe in?

>

> Last week I went to see a TCM doctor and got three bags of herbal

> tea. I was told that it was called " Ying Jie " from " Mei He Qi " . I

> understood some of the explanations from the doctor. After I read

the

> article, I become more clear about my disease. But what I am worry

> about now is: because I was ill for a long time, so how long will

it

> take to cure my disease and can I recover completely at last? Will

it

> become worse? In addition, I still feel like there is something

> staying in my throat and it's hard to breathe sometimes.

 

Feeling like something is stuck in the throat is the defining symptom

of Plum Pit Qi (Mei He Qi). The Chinese describe the sensation as a

plum pit stuck in the throat; people in other cultures describe it as

a " rock " , a " lump " , etc.

 

Is Plum Pit Qi the only diagnosis?

 

Do you have a hand-held massager? If so, use it to check your back

for sore spots over the spine. Or, have a friend or relative lightly

massage your back over the spine along the coarse of the spine. You

or the other person will want to use light pressure. What you're

checking for are any sore spots. Whenever someone is having

breathing problems I recommend that they do this. Sometimes

breathing problems and/or congestion in the head are caused by spinal

misalignment. When this is a factor, if the sore spots can be gently

massaged and go away after massaging, the breathing will improve.

 

There also are treatments that chiropractors and osteopaths can give

when congestion is due to spinal misalignment.

 

Did the TCM healer give any diet recommendations? Do you suffer from

allergies, and did the Western doctors rule this out?

 

Qi Gong exercises get both Qi and Blood moving.

 

Is the lump under the skin in the area or the thyroid gland or is a

swollen lymph node?

 

Victoria

[Guest guest]

Hello, Victoria, thanks for your reply!

 

> I got this problem (lots of phlegm & severe cough) from the end of

last year, I went to see more than 20 (western)doctors in Canada and

took two X-rays, one blood test and one ultrasound (because last

month I found a lump under skin on my neck).

 

> Did anything unusual happen a year ago in your life?

> Yes, I finished school and began to work from the end of last year.

(The weather was too dry and cold then.)

 

> All the doctors told me that everything is normal. But I am still

suffering phlegm and cough every day and night. I can hardly sleep

even at night!

 

> Are the breathing problems worse at night than during the day?

Worse when laying down than when sitting or standing? Is it harder to

inhale than exhale, or harder to breathe out than breathe in?

> The breathing problems worse at night and when laying down. Hard to

say if it harder to inhale than exhale.(Not too severe)

 

> Last week I went to see a TCM doctor and got three bags of herbal

tea. I was told that it was called " Ying Jie " from " Mei He Qi " . I

understood some of the explanations from the doctor. After I read the

article, I become more clear about my disease. But what I am worry

about now is: because I was ill for a long time, so how long will it

take to cure my disease and can I recover completely at last? Will it

become worse? In addition, I still feel like there is something

staying in my throat and it's hard to breathe sometimes.

 

> Feeling like something is stuck in the throat is the defining

symptom of Plum Pit Qi (Mei He Qi). The Chinese describe the

sensation as a plum pit stuck in the throat; people in other cultures

describe it as a " rock " , a " lump " , etc.

 

> Is Plum Pit Qi the only diagnosis?

The TCM doctor told me that it is Plum Pit Qi, other doctors said

maybe if comes form heartburn, and I took medicine for curing

heartburn for more than two months before I got the lump under skin

around my neck. Last week the TCM doctor also gave me a kind of pasta

to drink for curing heartburn/liver hot.

 

> Do you have a hand-held massager? If so, use it to check your back

for sore spots over the spine. Or, have a friend or relative lightly

massage your back over the spine along the coarse of the spine. You

or the other person will want to use light pressure. What you're

checking for are any sore spots. Whenever someone is having

breathing problems I recommend that they do this. Sometimes breathing

problems and/or congestion in the head are caused by spinal

misalignment. When this is a factor, if the sore spots can be gently

massaged and go away after massaging, the breathing will improve.

 

I never tried this before, but I really have some sore spots around

my right shoulder. It came from my typing exercises. After I

practicing typing every day last year, I found the tension of muscles

around my right shoulder can't be relieved. This feeling stays until

now.

 

> There also are treatments that chiropractors and osteopaths can

give when congestion is due to spinal misalignment.

>

> Did the TCM healer give any diet recommendations?

From this week, because I am on the heartburn/liver hot medication

from the TCM healer, he suggested me not to eat egg, spicy food, cold

food, yellow and green beans and Tofu, aslo not to drink cold drinks

and alcohol.

 

> Do you suffer from allergies, and did the Western doctors rule this

out?

Yes, I took allergy test this year. Too many things found, such as

trees, grass, weeds, pets, etc. Not food.

 

> Qi Gong exercises get both Qi and Blood moving.

> I am too lazy, so I don't think I can do Qi Gong exercises.

 

> Is the lump under the skin in the area or the thyroid gland or is a

swollen lymph node?

>The lump is around my neck (right side larger than left side, left

side lump can't be seen, but can be felt by doctor). The western

doctor told me that the Ultrasound result shows my thyroid gland is

normal. I am not sure if the lump is a swollen lymph node? How can I

know that?

 

Now, the lump seems to be smaller, but still there. The frequency of

coughing and the amount of phlegm seems less than before. I was told

that I have to take the herbal tea for a few months. Is it necessary?

Can I recover completely after that? I really want to know.

 

 

Thank you again, Victoria, I would like to hear from you. Your

opinion is very helpful and valuable.

 

Cz

[Guest guest]

Sorry to be so late replying. First there were family problems, then

we lost power for over a day, and when we finally got power, my modem

was out and had to be replaced.

 

> > Did anything unusual happen a year ago in your life?

> > Yes, I finished school and began to work from the end of last

year.

> (The weather was too dry and cold then.)

 

For those new to TCM, Dryness and Cold are what the Chinese

call " Pernicious Evils " . Other Pernicious Evils are Heat, Dampness,

Wind, and Fire. Any of the other Pernicious Evils, even Cold, can

turn into Fire if conditions are wrong.

 

If you see a TCM healer, one of the things s/he will take note of is

if you have problems with a particular Pernicious Evil or season of

the year, For example, back when I had bad allergies, they got a lot

worse one spring that was unusually hot, unusually windy, and

unusually dry. That spring was so bad that people who had never had

allergies before in their lives developed allergies that spring. The

fact that the problems began for cathyinchina during a period that

was cold and dry raises the possibility that Cold and Dryness may be

the precipitating agents.

 

Dampness is Excess moisture. (Simplified definition.) Dampness that

hangs around too long becomes Phlegm. )Another simplified

definition.) There frequently are co-factors in the development of

Phlegm. For example, when Cold is a co-factor, the Phlegm may be

refered to as " Cold Phlegm " . When Heat is a co-factor, this is Hot

Phlegm. Etc. In order to successfully resolve the Phlegm, the co-

factors also have to be addressed. The treatment for Cold Phlegm is

different from that for Hot Phlegm, and the treatment for Dry Phlegm

is different from the treatments for Hot Phlegm and for Cold Phlegm

and for Damp Phlegm.

 

Phlegm can appear anywhere in the body, but it has a special affinity

for the Lungs.

 

Phlegm can take a long time to treat because of its nature, but it

can be treated. It does take patience and persistence. (There are

several posts in the message base on Phlegm. There is a search

function in the message base.

 

> > Are the breathing problems worse at night than during the day?

> Worse when laying down than when sitting or standing? Is it harder

to

> inhale than exhale, or harder to breathe out than breathe in?

> > The breathing problems worse at night and when laying down. Hard

to

> say if it harder to inhale than exhale.(Not too severe)

 

Breathing problems that are worse at night than during the day raises

the possibility of a problem with Cold. Note that I said " raises the

possibility " because it is impossible to diagnose via email. This is

one of the things that a TCM healer will consider and either rule in

or rule out.

 

Breathing problems that are worse when the person lays down raises

the possibility of Kidney Yang Deficiency. Actually a type of Kideny

Yang Deficiency known as Kidneys Refusing to Grasp Qi. But other TCM

imbalances also can underlie breathing being most difficult when the

person is prone.

 

When it is easier for the person to breathe out than breathe in, this

suggests that the Root is Deficiency. When it's harder to exhale

than inhale, this suggests Excess. These are not hard and fast

fules, but generalities. Also, both Excess and Deficiency can be

present and usually are. Deficiency problems are those caused by

there not being enough of something - Yang, Yin, Blood, Qi, Fluid.

Escess problems are caused by there being too much of something.

Both Dampness and Phlegm are classified as Excess problems because

any is too much and can cause problems. Qi Stagnation and Blood

Stasis also are classified as Excess problems. (Any Qi Stagnation,

any Blood Stasis is too much and can cause problems.)

 

> But what I am worry

> about now is: because I was ill for a long time, so how long will

it

> take to cure my disease and can I recover completely at last? Will

it

> become worse? In addition, I still feel like there is something

> staying in my throat and it's hard to breathe sometimes.

 

In general, the longer someone is sick, the longer it takes to

reverse the problem. But it can be reversed. What probably will

happen is gradual improvement as long as you stay on treatment. From

time to time the TCM healer will need to reevaluate you and change

treatment as your clinical picture changes.

 

> > Is Plum Pit Qi the only diagnosis?

> The TCM doctor told me that it is Plum Pit Qi, other doctors said

> maybe if comes form heartburn, and I took medicine for curing

> heartburn for more than two months before I got the lump under skin

> around my neck. Last week the TCM doctor also gave me a kind of

pasta

> to drink for curing heartburn/liver hot.

 

TCM is very concerned with identifying and treating Roots. If one

just treats symptoms instead of treating the Root, the Root will

manifest in other ways.

 

> I never tried this before, but I really have some sore spots around

> my right shoulder. It came from my typing exercises. After I

> practicing typing every day last year, I found the tension of

muscles

> around my right shoulder can't be relieved. This feeling stays

until

> now.

 

Repetitive motion can be a cause of Qi Stagnation. It's not the only

possible cause, but it is one. Qi Stagnation often manifests with

pain.

 

> > Do you suffer from allergies, and did the Western doctors rule

this

> out?

> Yes, I took allergy test this year. Too many things found, such as

> trees, grass, weeds, pets, etc. Not food.

 

I used to be miserable because I was allergic to so many different

things - grasses, trees, weeds, some animal danders, dust mites,

molds, newspaper print, etc. The allergist said I had the kind of

allergies that I was miserable all the time. There was never a time

when the wasn't something something around that gave me problems. If

it rained and washed the pollens out of the air, the mold count went

up. If it was dry and the mold was down, the pollens and dust got

worse.

 

From a TCM standpoint, the most frequent factor in allegies is a weak

Spleen. This also is the most common factor in Dampness

accumulation. One of the functions of Spleen Qi is to transport and

transform liquids in the body. Some of the TCM dietary

recommendation you were given are also general recommendations for

helping the Spleen. Like not drinking Cold drinks. (The Spleen

hates Cold, almost as much as the Kidneys do.)

 

> > Qi Gong exercises get both Qi and Blood moving.

> > I am too lazy, so I don't think I can do Qi Gong exercises.

 

Qi Gong exercises aren't like aerobic or even weight-lifting

exercises. Instead of putting more strain on the Spleen, they help

it. I have a problem with aerobic exercises because I have CFIDS

(Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome). (One of the hallmarks

of CFIDS is that exercise -especially aerobic exercise - can make the

person feel worse.) BTW, whenever anyone reports that exercise tires

him/her out too much and the person doesn't excercise for that

reason, suspect that there may be Spleen Qi Deficiency. Over-

exercise, like over-work, can damage the Spleen further. The person

shouldn't attempt to do most kinds of exercise until the Spleen is in

better shape and the person has more Qi. Otherwise, the Spleen will

be diminished even more. But Qi Gong exercises are different. Qi

Gong exercises can be selected that not only don't fatigue the person

but causes the person to feel more energized. (One of the effects of

Qi starting to move again.) It's amazing how much " looser " Qi Gong

exercises can make one feel.

 

> Now, the lump seems to be smaller, but still there. The frequency

of

> coughing and the amount of phlegm seems less than before.

 

If the lump is shrinking and there is less coughing and phlegm than

before, the TCM healer is on the right track.

 

> I was told

> that I have to take the herbal tea for a few months. Is it

necessary?

 

Yes. TCM treatments frequently work more slowly than prescription

drugs, but often end up working more thoroughly and better than the

drugs. Making the teas can be time consuming, and you will get to

the point where you hate to mess with them. Even I slack off someime

and just don't want to mess with them. BUT, experience has taught me

that I had better not slack off too long if I want to continue to

feel good. (I was sick for over 20 years before finally getting TCM

treatment. That's a big part of why I need to remain on treatment.

But treatment today consists of far less than it did when I first

started seeing a TCM healer. There has been a vast improvement.)

 

> Can I recover completely after that? I really want to know.

 

Yes. But it's going to take patience and persistence. And I highly

recommend the Qi Gong exercises.

 

Victoria

[Guest guest]

San shedan chuan bei ye (snake bile and other ingredients) helped

immensely with a case of walking pneumonia that traditional Western

treatment couldn't help with). Not certain it's applicable in your

case, but it quickly resolved lower chest phlegm for me and is now a

staple in my house for just-in-case.

 

Chinese Traditional Medicine , " Nico Karssemeijer " <nkars@x>

wrote:

> Articals found:

> http://www.docflash.com/phlegm.html

>

> http://www.ilpi.com/msds/ref/phlegm.html

>

> http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/mar97/858498689.An.r.html

>

> regards,

>

> Nico

>

>

> Today I read the article named " Where Does Phlegm Come From? "

written

> by Victoria_Dragon from the website:

> " http://www.acupuncture.com/Diagnosis/tanyin.htm.

>

> I was so excited that the article explained the question that

> bothered me for a long time (nearly one year). Thank you so

> much,Victoria.

>

> I got this problem (lots of phlegm & severe cough) from the end of

> last year, I went to see more than 20 (western) doctors in Canada

and

> took two X-rays, one blood test and one ultrasound (because last

> month I found a lump under skin on my neck). All the doctors told

me

> that everything is normal. But I am still suffering phlegm and

cough

> every day and night. I can hardly sleep even at night! I was so

> afraid and frustrated.

>

> Last week I went to see a TCM doctor and got three bags of herbal

> tea. I was told that it was called " Ying Jie " from " Mei He Qi " . I

> understood some of the explanations from the doctor. After I read

the

> article, I become more clear about my disease. But what I am worry

> about now is: because I was ill for a long time, so how long will

it

> take to cure my disease and can I recover completely at last? Will

it

> become worse? In addition, I still feel like there is something

> staying in my throat and it's hard to breathe sometimes.

>

> Victoria, could you please do me a favour to tell me what is your

> thinking about my disease? I need your answer and support! I nearly

> lose confidence. There are not many TCM doctors in my city.

>

>

>

>

> Cz

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I am treating a phlem condition and think that a liver/lung link

along with a triple burner adjustment might help/

 

 

 

Chinese Traditional Medicine , " victoria_dragon "

<victoria_dragon@h...> wrote:

> Sorry to be so late replying. First there were family problems,

then

> we lost power for over a day, and when we finally got power, my

modem

> was out and had to be replaced.

>

> > > Did anything unusual happen a year ago in your life?

> > > Yes, I finished school and began to work from the end of last

> year.

> > (The weather was too dry and cold then.)

>

> For those new to TCM, Dryness and Cold are what the Chinese

> call " Pernicious Evils " . Other Pernicious Evils are Heat,

Dampness,

> Wind, and Fire. Any of the other Pernicious Evils, even Cold, can

> turn into Fire if conditions are wrong.

>

> If you see a TCM healer, one of the things s/he will take note of

is

> if you have problems with a particular Pernicious Evil or season

of

> the year, For example, back when I had bad allergies, they got a

lot

> worse one spring that was unusually hot, unusually windy, and

> unusually dry. That spring was so bad that people who had never

had

> allergies before in their lives developed allergies that spring.

The

> fact that the problems began for cathyinchina during a period that

> was cold and dry raises the possibility that Cold and Dryness may

be

> the precipitating agents.

>

> Dampness is Excess moisture. (Simplified definition.) Dampness

that

> hangs around too long becomes Phlegm. )Another simplified

> definition.) There frequently are co-factors in the development

of

> Phlegm. For example, when Cold is a co-factor, the Phlegm may be

> refered to as " Cold Phlegm " . When Heat is a co-factor, this is

Hot

> Phlegm. Etc. In order to successfully resolve the Phlegm, the co-

> factors also have to be addressed. The treatment for Cold Phlegm

is

> different from that for Hot Phlegm, and the treatment for Dry

Phlegm

> is different from the treatments for Hot Phlegm and for Cold

Phlegm

> and for Damp Phlegm.

>

> Phlegm can appear anywhere in the body, but it has a special

affinity

> for the Lungs.

>

> Phlegm can take a long time to treat because of its nature, but it

> can be treated. It does take patience and persistence. (There are

> several posts in the message base on Phlegm. There is a search

> function in the message base.

>

> > > Are the breathing problems worse at night than during the day?

> > Worse when laying down than when sitting or standing? Is it

harder

> to

> > inhale than exhale, or harder to breathe out than breathe in?

> > > The breathing problems worse at night and when laying down.

Hard

> to

> > say if it harder to inhale than exhale.(Not too severe)

>

> Breathing problems that are worse at night than during the day

raises

> the possibility of a problem with Cold. Note that I said " raises

the

> possibility " because it is impossible to diagnose via email. This

is

> one of the things that a TCM healer will consider and either rule

in

> or rule out.

>

> Breathing problems that are worse when the person lays down raises

> the possibility of Kidney Yang Deficiency. Actually a type of

Kideny

> Yang Deficiency known as Kidneys Refusing to Grasp Qi. But other

TCM

> imbalances also can underlie breathing being most difficult when

the

> person is prone.

>

> When it is easier for the person to breathe out than breathe in,

this

> suggests that the Root is Deficiency. When it's harder to exhale

> than inhale, this suggests Excess. These are not hard and fast

> fules, but generalities. Also, both Excess and Deficiency can be

> present and usually are. Deficiency problems are those caused by

> there not being enough of something - Yang, Yin, Blood, Qi,

Fluid.

> Escess problems are caused by there being too much of something.

> Both Dampness and Phlegm are classified as Excess problems because

> any is too much and can cause problems. Qi Stagnation and Blood

> Stasis also are classified as Excess problems. (Any Qi

Stagnation,

> any Blood Stasis is too much and can cause problems.)

>

> > But what I am worry

> > about now is: because I was ill for a long time, so how long

will

> it

> > take to cure my disease and can I recover completely at last?

Will

> it

> > become worse? In addition, I still feel like there is something

> > staying in my throat and it's hard to breathe sometimes.

>

> In general, the longer someone is sick, the longer it takes to

> reverse the problem. But it can be reversed. What probably will

> happen is gradual improvement as long as you stay on treatment.

From

> time to time the TCM healer will need to reevaluate you and change

> treatment as your clinical picture changes.

>

> > > Is Plum Pit Qi the only diagnosis?

> > The TCM doctor told me that it is Plum Pit Qi, other doctors

said

> > maybe if comes form heartburn, and I took medicine for curing

> > heartburn for more than two months before I got the lump under

skin

> > around my neck. Last week the TCM doctor also gave me a kind of

> pasta

> > to drink for curing heartburn/liver hot.

>

> TCM is very concerned with identifying and treating Roots. If one

> just treats symptoms instead of treating the Root, the Root will

> manifest in other ways.

>

> > I never tried this before, but I really have some sore spots

around

> > my right shoulder. It came from my typing exercises. After I

> > practicing typing every day last year, I found the tension of

> muscles

> > around my right shoulder can't be relieved. This feeling stays

> until

> > now.

>

> Repetitive motion can be a cause of Qi Stagnation. It's not the

only

> possible cause, but it is one. Qi Stagnation often manifests with

> pain.

>

> > > Do you suffer from allergies, and did the Western doctors rule

> this

> > out?

> > Yes, I took allergy test this year. Too many things found, such

as

> > trees, grass, weeds, pets, etc. Not food.

>

> I used to be miserable because I was allergic to so many different

> things - grasses, trees, weeds, some animal danders, dust mites,

> molds, newspaper print, etc. The allergist said I had the kind of

> allergies that I was miserable all the time. There was never a

time

> when the wasn't something something around that gave me problems.

If

> it rained and washed the pollens out of the air, the mold count

went

> up. If it was dry and the mold was down, the pollens and dust got

> worse.

>

> From a TCM standpoint, the most frequent factor in allegies is a

weak

> Spleen. This also is the most common factor in Dampness

> accumulation. One of the functions of Spleen Qi is to transport

and

> transform liquids in the body. Some of the TCM dietary

> recommendation you were given are also general recommendations for

> helping the Spleen. Like not drinking Cold drinks. (The Spleen

> hates Cold, almost as much as the Kidneys do.)

>

> > > Qi Gong exercises get both Qi and Blood moving.

> > > I am too lazy, so I don't think I can do Qi Gong exercises.

>

> Qi Gong exercises aren't like aerobic or even weight-lifting

> exercises. Instead of putting more strain on the Spleen, they

help

> it. I have a problem with aerobic exercises because I have CFIDS

> (Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome). (One of the

hallmarks

> of CFIDS is that exercise -especially aerobic exercise - can make

the

> person feel worse.) BTW, whenever anyone reports that exercise

tires

> him/her out too much and the person doesn't excercise for that

> reason, suspect that there may be Spleen Qi Deficiency. Over-

> exercise, like over-work, can damage the Spleen further. The

person

> shouldn't attempt to do most kinds of exercise until the Spleen is

in

> better shape and the person has more Qi. Otherwise, the Spleen

will

> be diminished even more. But Qi Gong exercises are different. Qi

> Gong exercises can be selected that not only don't fatigue the

person

> but causes the person to feel more energized. (One of the effects

of

> Qi starting to move again.) It's amazing how much " looser " Qi

Gong

> exercises can make one feel.

>

> > Now, the lump seems to be smaller, but still there. The

frequency

> of

> > coughing and the amount of phlegm seems less than before.

>

> If the lump is shrinking and there is less coughing and phlegm

than

> before, the TCM healer is on the right track.

>

> > I was told

> > that I have to take the herbal tea for a few months. Is it

> necessary?

>

> Yes. TCM treatments frequently work more slowly than prescription

> drugs, but often end up working more thoroughly and better than

the

> drugs. Making the teas can be time consuming, and you will get to

> the point where you hate to mess with them. Even I slack off

someime

> and just don't want to mess with them. BUT, experience has taught

me

> that I had better not slack off too long if I want to continue to

> feel good. (I was sick for over 20 years before finally getting

TCM

> treatment. That's a big part of why I need to remain on

treatment.

> But treatment today consists of far less than it did when I first

> started seeing a TCM healer. There has been a vast improvement.)

>

> > Can I recover completely after that? I really want to know.

>

> Yes. But it's going to take patience and persistence. And I

highly

> recommend the Qi Gong exercises.

>

> Victoria