Intro & Constipation-phlegm question

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone,

 

I recently joined this group after having learnt about

it while searching Onibasu.

I'm interested in understanding the benefits of

Chinese medicine and I'm looking forward

to learning from this group and increasing my

awareness of alternative medicine.

 

I suspect I suffer from Yang Deficiency and

constipation as a result of phlegm/

mucus buildup. I also think the mucus is the result of

increased consumption of

pasteurized dairy products. My diet is rich in fresh

vegetables, fruits, brown

rice, seaweed, kimchi, meat, legumes and more recently

(last 2 months) home-brewed

kefir. I do not consume any sugar, wheat, alchohol,

caffeine and processed foods.

During the past 4 years, I've been consuming large

amounts of pasteurized

dairy on a daily basis (milk, cottage cheese and

yogurt). I have noticed that in

the last two years, my bowel movements have been

rather sluggish, though I have at

least one BM a day.

 

I recently decided to try a bowel cleanse, using

Bentonite and Psyllium. I did this

for 8 weeks, hoping to pass some mucoid plaque, but I

noticed that I was severely

constipated, bloated and felt very light-headed

despite drinking plenty of water. I

did not pass any plaque, and decided to stop treatment

and do more research about

adding herbs to help remove any plaque.

 

When I searched Onibasu for information about

constipation and mucus, I came across

this interesting post:

 

" But, there are other types of constipation which

require different

treatments. For example, Cold, either Deficiency Cold

(Yang

Deficiency - not enough Yang to properly activate and

warm the body)

or Excess Cold (too many foods and herbs with Cold

thermal energy,

direct invasion of Exterior Cold into the Intestines)

can trigger a

different type of constipation which more properly

could be described

as " colonic inertia " . These are not hard, dry stools

of Heat

constipation, but moist, maybe even loose stools. The

person simply

does not have to go to the bathroom a lot. One

characteristic of

Cold is it slows things down. Needless to say, giving

a person who

suffers from colonic inertia due to Cold an herb like

psyllium which

moistens and cools is going to aggravate this type of

constipation.

The psyllium is just going to lie there in the

intestine because the

problem is not due to Heat or Dryness but due to a

lack of

peristalsis (the wave-like motions that move feces

through the

intestines). "

 

(http://onibasu.dyndns.org/archives/ch/msg02851.html?highlight=mucus)

 

I am wondering what can I do to get rid of my

mucus/phlem constipation problem.

I've stopped consuming dairy, including kefir. I also

reduced the amount of meat/

eggs in my diet. I tend to get tired easily (though I

used to practice martial arts

and was an avid road cyclist and had a lot of energy)

and feel spaced-out and difficult to concentrate. I

always feel cold, winter or summer. I'm female and in

my early 30's.

 

Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

Kim

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Kim,

 

Welcome to Chinese Traditional Medicine.

 

It's best to see a trained TCM healer for diagnosis and treatment if

one is available in the area where you live. A TCM healer can spot

things in person that people on a message group couldn't possibly

spot. Also, a TCM healer in person will treat everything that may be

wrong with you at the same time (whenever possible).

 

But not everyone has access to a nearby TCM (Tradional Chinese

Medicine) healer. And, when they do, sometimes they become so

interested in TCM because of the help they get, that they want to

learn more about it.

 

The earliest posts in the message group are designed to walk those

new to TCM through the basics. There is a search function so you can

search for posts on Yang (Deficiency). Or just go back to message

number 1 and read through the titles of the posts for those on Yang

Deficiency. Read through some of them, and see if that sounds like

you.

 

Something else to consider is Spleen Qi Deficiency. In TCM

physiology, the Spleen plays a critical role in extrating Qi from

foods and accumulating Qi in the body. The word Spleen is

capitalized when it refers to the TCM Spleen because the TCM Spleen

is not equivalent to the anatomical spleen. The Spleen is very

vulnerable to Dampness, and dairy products are Dampness-

engendering. So is wheat. If the Spleen becomes weakened through

things like eating too many Damp-engendering foods, not getting

proper rest, studying too much, over-doing, eating on the run and at

irregular times, eating when upset, and obsessing, the body will

begin to lack enough Qi. Also, one of the key functions of Spleen Qi

is to transform and transport liquids in the body. This includes

within the intestinal tract.

 

Something else to consider is Liver Qi Stagnation. " If the stools

are not dry, difficulty in performing a bowel movement indicates

stagnation of Liver-Qi. " (Giovanni Maciocia, The Foundations of

, p. 157.)

 

One or all 3 (and some possibles I haven't named) could be the cause

of your sluggish bowel movements. Each requires a different

treatment. That why either seeing a TCM healer in person or being

prepared to do a lot of research is so important.

 

For the students on the list:

 

Staying cold all the time does strongly suggest the possibility of

Kidney Yang Deficiency as not having enough Yang to warm the body

properly will cause a person to feel cold and have trouble warming

up. However, there are some other things which could also cause a

person to feel cold. For example, thyroid deficiency. Even though

Kidney Yang Deficiency and hypothyroidism frequently occur together,

they are not the same thing. Also, one of the symptoms of

hypothyroidism is sluggish bowel movements. Kim may need to see a

MD or DO to be checked for hypothyroidism. There are other things

besides the two listed so far that can cause a person to feel cold.

For example, Cold can invade from the Exterior and lodge in the

body, particularly in the Lower Burner (lower part of the trunk of

the body). " Cold can invade three organs directly. These are the

Stomach (causing epigastric pain and vomiting), the Intestines

(causing abdominal pain and diarrhoea) and the Uterus (causing acute

dysmenorrhoea). In all these three cases the symptoms would be

accompanied by chilliness and the pain would be alleviated by

application of heat. " (Maciocia, p. 297.)

 

Both Spleen Qi Deficiency and Kidney Yang Deficiency can cause a

person to feel tired a lot and tired out of proportion to what the

person does physically. Usually the fatigue of Kidney Yang

Deficiency can be more extreme than that of Spleen Qi Deficiency.

 

Kim provided another clue when she mentioned that she used to do

martial arts. Martial artists get hit, and this can cause Blood

Stasis which leads to Qi Stagnation. There is a possibility of Qi

Stagnation due to trauma. This needs to be considered and ruled in

or ruled out. Remember Maciocia's comment about Liver Qi Stagnation

and difficulty in defecating. BTW, aside from the TCM standpoint,

splnal misalignment can cause sluggish bowel moments. A chiropractor

or DO may be called for.

 

A part of TCM diagnosis includes weighing possibilities. What is the

strongest possibility or probability? Without having seen Kim in

person and going just by what she reports, that's a lot of dairy!

Dairy is Dampness-engendering, the Spleen is very vulnerable to

Dampness, and when the Spleen is weakened that interferes with Qi

accumulation and also with the Spleen's function of transporting and

transforming liquids in the body.

 

This is a consideration from a combination TCM and Western

allopathic viewpoint: One of the symptoms of Qi Deficiency is the

person sweats a lot. Minerals such as magnesium can be lost through

sweat. Especially when sweating is excessive. The person also may

fail to get enough Mg because of diet or because the plants are

grown on soil which is Mg deficient. Or, the person has trouble

absorbing enough Mg either because of genetics or because the Spleen

is weak and digestion is poor as a result. One of the possible

manifestations of Mg deficiency is sluggish bowel movements.

Excessive sweating from over-doing physically and not replacing Mg

also can cause this problem.

 

For Kim: One herb which is known to increase intestinal peritalsis -

the wavelike motions that move feces through the digestive tract -

is cayenne. BUT, there is something to be aware of if cayenne helps

and is used. It disipates Qi. Even though it will work fine for a

while in helping bowel movements, it will disipate Qi. If Qi

Deficiency already is a problem, it can worsen it. If Qi Deficiency

is present, the person also will need to supplement Qi with Qi tonic

herbs and foods. It's things like this which is why seeing a TCM

healer in person or doing a lot of research on one's own is so

important. BTW, cayenne works fine for some people in capsule form.

For me, the capsules didn't work that well, but cooking homemade

chili and adding plenty of cayenne and eating the chili with brown

rice worked very well.

[Guest guest]

Hi Victoria,

 

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my post. I

sincerely appreciate the effort and depth you put into

your e-mail. It is this kind of complexity and

interdependencies in TCM that I find most intriguing.

 

[Victoria]

Kim provided another clue when she mentioned that she

used to do martial arts. Martial artists get hit, and

this can cause Blood Stasis which leads to Qi

Stagnation. There is a possibility of Qi Stagnation

due to trauma.

 

[Kim]

Can frequent superficial bruising lead to Qi

Stagnation, or does it usually require more intense

physical impact to cause this condition? I did not

experience much more than frequent bruising, so I am

wondering about this.

 

[Victoria]

One of the symptoms of Qi Deficiency is the person

sweats a lot. Minerals such as magnesium can be lost

through sweat. Especially when sweating is excessive.

The person also may fail to get enough Mg because of

diet or because the plants are grown on soil which is

Mg deficient. Or, the person has trouble absorbing

enough Mg either because of genetics or because the

Spleen is weak and digestion is poor as a result. One

of the possible manifestations of Mg deficiency is

sluggish bowel movements.

 

[Kim]

I do happen to sweat a lot, when exercising or even

house work. However as soon as I stop, I get cold

starting from my hands and feet. If I start moving

again, I will continue to sweat but sometimes my

extremities remain cold. Would this be considered a

cold sweating?

 

I found one of your old posts on Onibasu which spoke

of the benefits of Qi Gong

(http://onibasu.dyndns.org/archives/ch/msg01835.html).

I used to practise Qi Gong as part of martial arts,

and remember being warm and comfortable while

practicing Qi Gong. I think my first step towards

dealing with my condition(s) is to return to

practicing Qi Gong at home.

 

It sounds like Yang Deficiency and Spleen Qi

Deficiency might be the culprits. I'll continue to

read the archives and hopefully come back with more

questions.

 

Thank you again, for your time and expertise.

 

Kim

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mail - 250MB free storage. Do more. Manage less.

http://info.mail./mail_250

[Guest guest]

> [Kim]

> Can frequent superficial bruising lead to Qi

> Stagnation, or does it usually require more intense

> physical impact to cause this condition? I did not

> experience much more than frequent bruising, so I am

> wondering about this.

 

Even frequent superficial bruising can cause this problem if the

body falls to clear the effects of the brusing. Also, there could

have been internal bruising from falls. There are liniments that

people can apply externally to take care of this problem. Did your

martial arts instructor tell you about them? I'm not familiar with

this area of TCM. I know that sometimes acupuncturists will use

them when they have a patient who bruises easily.

 

Also, certain herbs and foods are classified as Herbs That

Invigorate the Blood.

 

But trauma isn't the only thing that can cause Blood Stasis and Qi

Stagnation. Dampness accumulation can do it. So can Cold. Etc. In

the case of Cold triggering Blood Stasis and/or Qi Stagnation, the

Cold is going to have to be expeled in order to get things flowing

normally again.

 

> I do happen to sweat a lot, when exercising or even

> house work. However as soon as I stop, I get cold

> starting from my hands and feet. If I start moving

> again, I will continue to sweat but sometimes my

> extremities remain cold. Would this be considered a

> cold sweating?

 

When one is cold but sweats, this is a cold sweat.

 

It's significant that the cold is starting in the hands and feet and

spreaking or is first noticed in the hands and feet, but I don't

know what the significance is. Are you only cold after you exercise,

or are you cold most of the time, warm up some when exercising, and

then quickly get cold again when you stop?

 

> I found one of your old posts on Onibasu which spoke

> of the benefits of Qi Gong

> (http://onibasu.dyndns.org/archives/ch/msg01835.html).

> I used to practise Qi Gong as part of martial arts,

> and remember being warm and comfortable while

> practicing Qi Gong. I think my first step towards

> dealing with my condition(s) is to return to

> practicing Qi Gong at home.

 

Qi Gong is excellent for getting Qi and Blood moving. Sometimes

people can even feel blockages in the body going away and " things "

inside loosening up.

 

> It sounds like Yang Deficiency and Spleen Qi

> Deficiency might be the culprits. I'll continue to

> read the archives and hopefully come back with more

> questions.

 

When Qi needs to be supplemented via herbs and foods that are Qi

tonic, the healer always checks for the possibility of Qi

Stagnation. If Qi Stagnation is present in addition to Qi

Deficiency, the healer will include one or more herbs in the formula

to also take care of Qi Stagnation. Otherwise, there will be a side

effect from the Qi tonic herb(s). A good analogy is a hose with a

kink or other blockage in it. If one tries to keep forcing water

into the hose without removing the blockage, the pressure keeps

building up behind the blockage. So if both Qi Deficiency and Qi

Stagnation are present, the healer includes herbs to treat both at

the same time in the formula.

 

There is a class of herbs called Herbs That Stabilize and Bind. In

some texts they are called astringent herbs (though the

word " astringent " isn't really descriptive of all the herbs in this

class. Some are, but some aren't. Of the latter these are herbs

that treat prolapse.)

 

Qi can be lost from the body through excessive sweating, excessive

urination, and diarrhea. What I call " leaks " . Sometimes it's

appropriate for the healer to include one or more of these herbs in

a formula for treating Qi Deficiency. BUT the use of these herbs are

contraindicated in cases where the person has an Exterior condition

which hasn't resolved, INTERNAL STAGNATION OF DAMPNESS, or " heat

from constraint " . (Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, Chinese Herbal

Medicine Materia Medica, Revised Edition, p.375). In these cases

the herbs should be used very, very carefully or not at all. An

experienced herbalist will know when to use these herbs and how much

even though one or more of the 3 contraindications are present. The

herbalist also will know what herbs to mix in with herbs from this

class in order to prevent Qi loss from being excessive while at the

same time preventing the side effects from this class of herbs.

Different herbs from this class will stop different " leaks " .

 

Sometimes herbs from this class are not needed. The Qi tonic herbs

(or other tonic herbs) are enough to stop the " leaks " . For example,

Lung Qi controls the opening and closing of pores. Not enough Lung

Qi, the person sweats excessively. Supplement Qi, the person has

enough to control the opening and closing of the pores, and the

excessive sweating stops. A general rule is to go with the least

treatment that is needed.

 

In cases where there is excessive urination, this usually is due to

Kidney Yang Deficiency. Urination will be frequent and excessive

with large amounts of clear urine. (Normal urine is " straw "

colored. A light yellow.) When urine is colorless and there is a

lot of it and the person goes to the bathroom a lot, the healer will

suspect Kidney Yang Deficiency. Deficiency Cold. When urine is

very yellow and concentrated and there is not much of it, the healer

suspects a Hot condition.

 

A TCM healer also will examine your tongue. A normal tongue is pale

red or pink. A red tongue usually means a Heat condition. A pale

or white tongue points to either Yang Deficiency or Cold from some

other source, or Blood Deficiency. Usually in cases of Yang

Deficiency the tongue will be swollen whereas usually (but not

always) in cases of Blood Deficiency the tongue will be shriveled.

The color blue also points to a Cold condition.

 

Purple indicates Blood Stasis. Bluish-purple is Blood Stasis with

Cold; reddish-purple is Blood Stasis with Heat. Qi Stagnation

frequently will show up in the tongue as a dusky and mottled tint in

the tongue tissue.

 

When a TCM healer looks at your tongue, s/he may have you not extend

your tongue for too long at a time. This is because extending it

too long at a time can change the coloration and throw the analysis

off.

[Guest guest]

Advanced Naturals has a bowel cleanse formula that I used and felt

rather gentle. Called Cleanse Max II But if you done that and you

are looking to try other things there is an acupuncture treatment to

help get your bowels to move.

 

I had this done and it works only when the practicianer knew realy how

to do it properly. They insert a needle in each side near your large

intestines at your abdomin. I guess it contacts where the nerve function

are to the bowel. I got very good movement feelings after that.

 

Later I got sick on some chemicals in my soap and this stuff slowed

my system down again. I would look into anykind of chemicals you

are sensitive too that is causing your problems also. From what I felt

that these chemicals have to travel the pattern of the liver into the bowel

eventually. Chemicals can be nerve irritants and then slow the nerve

function until the nerves weaken and stop signaling. That is how I felt

with this problem.

 

I have only occasional BM problem but I do connect the issue with my

body having trouble detoxing by this sulfer pathway that is so important.

Perhaps you can find out if your pathway is working. There are some

kinds of amino acid profile tests that can be done to see if there is some

additional clue as to why you are still slowed down.

 

I went to a second acupuncturist to get my spleen and liver meridian

treated. I felt very well on that treatment but the treatment didn't help

stimulate my bowels to move. He said it should. But I found that I had

the problems with dextoxing and chemicals irritating me at that time.

No fault of his.

 

However I did ask him to treat me for constipation like my first doctor

did. I didn't get any results from his treatment. I do believe he used

smaller needles and didn't put them in as deep as the first doctor I

visited. Don't give up.

 

Liz D.