Cold can manifest as aversion to drinking liquids

[Guest guest]

This is something I've talked about before on here, but I want to

mention it again. It's recently been driven home to me again just

how critical this can be in treating some long-term or severe health

problems.

 

In text books students learn that Cold (be it caused by not enough

Yang to warm the body propery (Deficiency Cold) or Excess Cold)

manifests as not being thirsty very much or very often and

preferring hot liquids like soup when one is. Heat is described as

being thirsty a lot with a desire for cold drinks. (The Heat can be

Deficiency Heat (not enough Yin to cool the body properly) or Excess

Heat (caused by consuming too many foods or herbs with warming

energy, invasion of Heat from the environment, etc.)

 

Textbooks describe one of the possible symptoms of Dampness as an

aversion to drinking liquids. What I want to emphasize is that Cold

ALSO can result not just in a lack of feeling thirsty but an

aversion to drinking liquids. This can be very important in terms of

successful treatment and client compliance.

 

When an aversion to drinking liquids results from Dampness, the

cause is the obvious reluctance to add more liquid to a body which

already is too Damp. When it results from Cold, the aversion is

caused by the fact that even a couple of sips of room-temperature

water can chill an already too Cold body further. Sometimes even

lukewarm or warm or even hot water can trigger this reaction because

even though the temperature of the water is high when it enters the

mouth, there is nothing in the water that will continue to heat the

body once that heat has dissipated, and the water will then act to

cool the body further. On the other hand, soups frequently will

contain components that will continue to work to add Heat to the

body. There is a reason why texts describe the symptoms of Cold

as " not feeling thirsty very often and preferring hot liquids LIKE

SOUP when one does drink " .

 

When both Dampness and Cold are present, the aversion to drinking

liquids can be extremely strong. AND eventually, Dryness problems

will start to develop. If Dampness had been present (and this is

likely for a variety of reasons), the clinical picture is now one of

mixed Dampness and Dryness. This can difficult to treat, and

compliance problems are very likely because of that very strong

aversion to drinking liquids. What results when a client no longer

drinks as much as he or she needs to is dehydration. And that brings

even more problems to the client from both a Western and a TCM

standpoint. (Like Phlegm from a TCM standpoint.)

 

Compliance in these cases can be very difficult when the client is a

human. In the case of a human, one can explain what is happening,

and the human can decide to force him or herself to drink. Once the

person experiences relief from the various symptoms of dehydration a

few times after forcing oneself to drink, compliance gets better.

But I want to stress that even in cases where the client knows what

is going on and has experienced relief from the dehydration symptoms

numerous times after forcing him/herself to drink, compliance is

still going to be somewhat iffy simply because the aversion to

drinking is so strong.

 

Compliance can be difficult when the client is a human. When the

client is an animal, compliance can be next to impossible. It's

very, very difficult for most people to convey to an animal just how

important it is that the animal move beyond the instinct not to

drink and force him/herself to drink.

 

A note to the healthcare professions - including veterinarians - on

the list: When a person or animal has a below normal body

temperature, eventually you are going to see the sequence of

refusing to drink leading to dehydration eventually leading to

death. The lower the body temperature, the more severe the symptoms.

 

IVs will provide temporary, emergency help, but eventually one will

have to address the Cold problems. Resolve the Cold problems, and

the human or animal will start to drink normally again.

 

TCM emphasizes treating the Roots of problems, not just symptoms.

IVs temporarily will take care of the symptoms of dehydration and

dehydration, but they will not address the Root(s) of the

dehydration. Eventually Roots will have to be addressed.

 

In the case of Cold, this includes warming the Interior of the body.

If there is Yang Deficiency (which is highly likely), this includes

supplementing Yang with Yang tonic herbs and/or moxibustion in

acupuncture.

 

A SPECIAL NOTE TO THOSE TAKING CARE OF ANIMALS: Just because an herb

or other healing substance is safe for humans, this does NOT mean

that it is safe for other animals. A substance can be safe for

humans but toxic for dogs and cats and some other animals. For

example, chocolate is toxic to both dogs and cats. There is a very

long list of substances that are safe for other species but not safe

for cats. So you want to be particularly careful if the animal is a

cat. If treating an animal, one will need to thoroughly research if

a particular substance is safe to use for that animal. I can't

stress this enough. If in doubt, DO NOT USE.

 

A note for healthcare professionals who treat humans: If a person

has a low body temperature and/or dehydration symptoms, don't rely

on asking the person if s/he is drinking enough. Ask the person how

much s/he is drinking per day. Make sure the person knows about the

possibility of dehydration and at least some of the symptoms. The

reason for asking how much the person is drinking per day as opposed

to asking if the person is drinking enough per day is that a lot of

people equate drinking when thirsty with getting enough liquid. The

problem is this group of patients is not feeling thirsty when they

should be feeling thirsty and have an aversion to drinking unless

they are feeling thirsty. They literally can go from 7 am in the

morning to 7 pm at night without drinking anything, and then think

they're drinking enough because they drank when they felt some

thirst. Again, the lower the body temperature, the more severe the

lack of thirst and the more severe the aversion to drinking.

 

Another note: Yang Deficiency doesn't always manifest with a lower

than normal body temperature, but eventually it will. If the Yang

Deficiency and Cold problems have gone on for sometime, it may take

a while to restore body temperature to normal and for the person to

have a normal sense of thirst. In fact, be prepared that Kidney

Yang Deficiency can take a long time to treat.

[Guest guest]

Victoria has written an informative article on cold and liquids.

 

I have often been asked 'what is the best thing i can do to improve my

health?' - my answer is never eat or drink anything cold if one has

disease processes. Because of the sensitivity of the stomach to cold

then cold should be avoided at all costs - even in excess heat

conditions. Cold here means cold in temperature and cold in

energetics. It can also mean cold in feeling which is not true cold

but false cold - this is a different symptom with different etiology

but the issues are similar and cold should be avoided.

 

There is a famous Indian Yogi who recommends to all who come to him

for advise to only eat freshly cooked warm food and only drink warm

water. there is great understanding in this teaching but many miss it

because they do not understand the absolute harm that cold substances

have done to human beings.

 

I hope everyone will take what Victoria has written to heart it is

vitally important. The issue of cold damage is one of the least

understood medical concepts but is actually one of the most important.

 

If you have aversion to fluids then by all means avoid all cold

substances and do not force yourself to drink fluids. The western

concept of drinking large amounts of water to clear toxins from the

body is like many western concepts - only partially true. True in the

sense that water can be profitably used as a theraputic modality but

for a very few cases - certainly not for most - in fact all suffering

from Kidney weakness should drink very little extra fluids. This is a

contraindicated therapy for most as most suffer from Spleen and Kidney

disorders that preclude flooding the body with fluids - this would be

very harmful. Better way to remove toxins is to strengthen and balance

Spleen functions and raise the Qi and Yang this will redistrubte the

fluids and improve digestion. In most cases there is a combination of

hot and cold symptoms - dry and damp - etc. this implys that simple

flooding the body with fluids to thin the blood and lymph and flush

the toxins through the kidneys is a simplistic understanding that will

not work for most - in fact it can cause great harm.

 

Especially do not drink large amounts of fluids with food - this is

very harmful to digestion.

[Guest guest]

Chinese Traditional Medicine , " Vinod Kumar " <vinod3x3>

wrote:

> If you have aversion to fluids then by all means avoid all cold

> substances and do not force yourself to drink fluids. The western

> concept of drinking large amounts of water to clear toxins from

the

> body is like many western concepts - only partially true. True in

the

> sense that water can be profitably used as a theraputic modality

but

> for a very few cases - certainly not for most - in fact all

suffering

> from Kidney weakness should drink very little extra fluids. This

is a

> contraindicated therapy for most as most suffer from Spleen and

Kidney

> disorders that preclude flooding the body with fluids - this would

be

> very harmful.

 

I was one of the cases where it was necessary to force myself to

drink because otherwise I was having more health problems and ending

up in the emergency room because of dehydration. Also, it was

extremely difficult for lab techs to draw blood from me because

blood volume was so low.

 

The lack of feeling thirsty when I should have been thristy and the

aversion to liquids was so bad that I sometimes would go over 12

hours without drinking anything. I don't think I ever tried to drink

anything cold during that time. Room temperature water made me feel

colder. The only time I really liked something liquid was hot soups.

 

It was a nurse who realized what was going on. Doctors in ER had

asked me if I was drinking enough, and I'd tell them yes because I

was drinking when I felt thirsty. I honestly didn't realize that my

thirst mechanism was so messed up.

 

Anyway, one day I had a doctor's appointment. When the nurse who

took my vital signs asked me how I felt, I felt so bad that day that

I blurted out that I felt like ####. She said I looked like I was

dehydrated, and she did some tests which included taking my blood

pressure standing up and lying down. Then she led me out to the

water cooler, handed me a paper cup, and told me to drink until I

felt better. I was skeptical, but I forced myself to drink. To my

great surprise, after a while of drinking, the nausea and some other

things started easing though I still felt weak.

 

She taught me the signs of dehydration since I couldn't go by

feeling thirsty. At first I only forced myself to drink when the

symptoms had started to appear. Then I figured why wait, it would

be better to go ahead and force myself to drink so I could avoid the

symptoms.

 

As time went on, it got a little easier to force myself to drink

though it was still hard. Eventually I saw a TCM herbalist, and as I

began to warm up, my sense of thirst gradually got better. One of

the big healing milestones for me was the eventual return of a more

normal sense of thirst.

 

Sometimes I still have a tendency to feel an aversion to drinking.

Usually at the very time when I most need to be drinking something.

Like after I've sweated a lot. (Note to those new to TCM: Excessive

sweating during the day not only is a symptom of Qi Deficiency,

sweating further depletes Qi. Qi is warming in nature.)

 

Even though my worst problem from a TCM standpoint was Kidney Yang

Deficiency, it was necessary that I force myself to drink. So I

can't agree that everyone suffering from Kidney Deficiency shouldn't

force themselves to drink. BUT, I want to stress that in my case it

wasn't a matter of forcing myself to drink in order to flush toxins

but forcing myself to drink the bare minimum needed for bodily

processes. And it was often difficult to get even the bare minimum

into me.

 

For those new to TCM, not feeling thirsty and prefering hot soups

when one does drink are symptoms of Kidney Yang Deficiency. So is

the feeling cold a lot and having trouble warming up. (Even a sip

of room temperature water would make me feel older.)

 

Another common symptom of Kidney Yang Deficiency is that the person

often tends to produce large amounts of clear urine. This was a

further complication for me. When I did force myself to drink, it

tended to go right through me.

 

After seeing the TCM herbalist, I did discover something that was

easier to me to drink than most things were. Hot ginger tea. It not

only made me feel warmer, it made me feel better overall, including

feeling more energized. I still had trouble getting enough liquids

into me, but the ginger tea made it easier than it had been. (Even

though dried ginger is classified as an herb to warm the Interior

and not as a Qi tonic or Yang tonic herb, it worked indirectly to

produce more energy. Both the Kidneys and the Spleen are hurt by

Cold. Cold also damages Yang. With the tea made from dried ginger

warming my Interior, the Kidneys and Spleen were better able to play

their roles in providing Yang to the body (Kidneys) and accumulating

Qi. I also had more Yang because it wasn't being damaged as much as

it had been. Also, one of the effects of Cold is that it slows

things down. TCM students on the list may want to review what vinod

wrote about the importance of improving Spleen function in these

cases. Think about this from the viewpoint of what the Spleen is

most vulnerable to: Dampness and Cold (in that order). Think about

other things that can harm the Spleen. Overwork, obsessing, eating

at irregular times, eating on the run, eating when upset, not eating

enough, eating too much, eating inappropriate things for a person

who has a weak Spleen (for example dairy and wheat which engender

Dampness and weaken the Spleen), etc.)

[Guest guest]

Victoria,

 

just curious if you got the email i sent to you a while back as i never got a

reply?

 

thanks

 

barry

 

victoria_dragon <victoria_dragon wrote:

Chinese Traditional Medicine , " Vinod Kumar " <vinod3x3>

wrote:

> If you have aversion to fluids then by all means avoid all cold

> substances and do not force yourself to drink fluids. The western

> concept of drinking large amounts of water to clear toxins from

the

> body is like many western concepts - only partially true. True in

the

> sense that water can be profitably used as a theraputic modality

but

> for a very few cases - certainly not for most - in fact all

suffering

> from Kidney weakness should drink very little extra fluids. This

is a

> contraindicated therapy for most as most suffer from Spleen and

Kidney

> disorders that preclude flooding the body with fluids - this would

be

> very harmful.

 

I was one of the cases where it was necessary to force myself to

drink because otherwise I was having more health problems and ending

up in the emergency room because of dehydration. Also, it was

extremely difficult for lab techs to draw blood from me because

blood volume was so low.

 

The lack of feeling thirsty when I should have been thristy and the

aversion to liquids was so bad that I sometimes would go over 12

hours without drinking anything. I don't think I ever tried to drink

anything cold during that time. Room temperature water made me feel

colder. The only time I really liked something liquid was hot soups.

 

It was a nurse who realized what was going on. Doctors in ER had

asked me if I was drinking enough, and I'd tell them yes because I

was drinking when I felt thirsty. I honestly didn't realize that my

thirst mechanism was so messed up.

 

Anyway, one day I had a doctor's appointment. When the nurse who

took my vital signs asked me how I felt, I felt so bad that day that

I blurted out that I felt like ####. She said I looked like I was

dehydrated, and she did some tests which included taking my blood

pressure standing up and lying down. Then she led me out to the

water cooler, handed me a paper cup, and told me to drink until I

felt better. I was skeptical, but I forced myself to drink. To my

great surprise, after a while of drinking, the nausea and some other

things started easing though I still felt weak.

 

She taught me the signs of dehydration since I couldn't go by

feeling thirsty. At first I only forced myself to drink when the

symptoms had started to appear. Then I figured why wait, it would

be better to go ahead and force myself to drink so I could avoid the

symptoms.

 

As time went on, it got a little easier to force myself to drink

though it was still hard. Eventually I saw a TCM herbalist, and as I

began to warm up, my sense of thirst gradually got better. One of

the big healing milestones for me was the eventual return of a more

normal sense of thirst.

 

Sometimes I still have a tendency to feel an aversion to drinking.

Usually at the very time when I most need to be drinking something.

Like after I've sweated a lot. (Note to those new to TCM: Excessive

sweating during the day not only is a symptom of Qi Deficiency,

sweating further depletes Qi. Qi is warming in nature.)

 

Even though my worst problem from a TCM standpoint was Kidney Yang

Deficiency, it was necessary that I force myself to drink. So I

can't agree that everyone suffering from Kidney Deficiency shouldn't

force themselves to drink. BUT, I want to stress that in my case it

wasn't a matter of forcing myself to drink in order to flush toxins

but forcing myself to drink the bare minimum needed for bodily

processes. And it was often difficult to get even the bare minimum

into me.

 

For those new to TCM, not feeling thirsty and prefering hot soups

when one does drink are symptoms of Kidney Yang Deficiency. So is

the feeling cold a lot and having trouble warming up. (Even a sip

of room temperature water would make me feel older.)

 

Another common symptom of Kidney Yang Deficiency is that the person

often tends to produce large amounts of clear urine. This was a

further complication for me. When I did force myself to drink, it

tended to go right through me.

 

After seeing the TCM herbalist, I did discover something that was

easier to me to drink than most things were. Hot ginger tea. It not

only made me feel warmer, it made me feel better overall, including

feeling more energized. I still had trouble getting enough liquids

into me, but the ginger tea made it easier than it had been. (Even

though dried ginger is classified as an herb to warm the Interior

and not as a Qi tonic or Yang tonic herb, it worked indirectly to

produce more energy. Both the Kidneys and the Spleen are hurt by

Cold. Cold also damages Yang. With the tea made from dried ginger

warming my Interior, the Kidneys and Spleen were better able to play

their roles in providing Yang to the body (Kidneys) and accumulating

Qi. I also had more Yang because it wasn't being damaged as much as

it had been. Also, one of the effects of Cold is that it slows

things down. TCM students on the list may want to review what vinod

wrote about the importance of improving Spleen function in these

cases. Think about this from the viewpoint of what the Spleen is

most vulnerable to: Dampness and Cold (in that order). Think about

other things that can harm the Spleen. Overwork, obsessing, eating

at irregular times, eating on the run, eating when upset, not eating

enough, eating too much, eating inappropriate things for a person

who has a weak Spleen (for example dairy and wheat which engender

Dampness and weaken the Spleen), etc.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Recently Victoria and I posted letters concerning drinking water as

a therapeutic modality for dehydration. I was suggesting that those

with Kidney and Spleen problems should avoid drinking extra water –

Victoria gave her personal experience of how she at one time

suffered from severe dehydration yet was strongly adverse to fluids –

forcing fluids proved to be helpful in her case. Is this a

contradiction?

 

No – let's look at another type of situation that demonstrates the

point. For many years the standard advise for those suffering

hypoglycemicsymptoms was to take a soft drink like coke or a candy

bar to provide large amounts of rapidly digesting sugar. Doing this

relieves the symptoms of hypoglycemia in a very short time. What was

not understood is that one of the reasons for the development of

hypoglycemia is eating rapidly digesting carbohydrates to begin

with. Most important is that taking rapidly digesting carbs in no

way cures hypoglycemia it only relieves the symptoms – temporarily –

BUT – it is also stressful to the spleen and the kidneys - and since

it causes acid (false fire) – the overheating symptoms are over time

made worse – but the worst effect overtime is that this flooding the

body with sugar is setting the body up for development of Insulin

Rsistance and Diabetes.

 

The scenario that Victoria describes about her dehydration

experience is in this category. Without knowing the details of

Victoria's case let us look at some ordinary pathologies that many

people have in modern society. Often one sees hypometabolic

individuals who have various deficiencies and excesses mixed.

Sometimes the people are soft and overweight and the fluids are

distributed improperly around the body – an example are those people

with ascites (potbelly) and maybe sagging breasts (men and women)

and heavy hips – but perhaps the legs are thin and underdeveloped –

under examination the muscles which are soft and lax are also full

of fluids – women often are carrying this excess fluid around their

hips and midsection (depending on body type the breasts will be

either swollen or dehydrated and sagging) – these patients are

highly acidic and the tissues are holding the fluids to help to

protect them from the acid toxins – so many tissues of the body may

be waterlogged but the excess heat that is building (where ever

there is stagnation of fluids then acid conditions accumulate

because of stagnation – this is `stagnant damp heat'- this heat is

driving the fluids from the blood and phlegm is forming – The reason

why the blood is becoming thick and non-active is because of the

formation of phlegm – one way to visualize this is to think of the

chemical effect of putting an acid in milk – we get curdling – the

proteins `clump' or adhere (agglutinate) to each other when these

clumped proteins interact with carbohydrates glycation takes place –

which creates a thick sticky substance that is difficult to breakup –

this is phlegm, or mucus, in Ayurveda this is called Ama – this

substance thickens the blood and interferes with many vital

functions (in hypometabolic people phlegm is devastating and causes

a host of serious symptoms – including blockages and sclerosis).

These patients in other words are suffering from both deficiencies

and excesses at the same time – with stagnation and overheating

frequently with feelings of being cold. These people can often

develop poor blood (inactive - very low oxygen carrying) the blood

becomes thick and deficient in yin and overheated (with false fire) –

this can create a condition of dehydration in the blood of a person

who is actually suffering from excesses of fluids in many places in

the body.

 

If we provide water to the patient it will thin the blood and

relieve the major symptoms of overheating caused by the hot thick

acidic blood. Thinning the blood allows a more appropriate oxygen

metabolism, which will clear the mind and make us feel lighter and

fresher. BUT – since we may already have water excess and stagnation

throughout the body this will put extra stress on the Kidneys and

will even further imbalance the water regulating mechanisms

(Aldosterone, etc.- this results in Adrenal fatigue and possible

exhaustion of Cortisol – this excess fluid will shock the Spleen

which is already lost it's ability to properly distribute water (one

of its major jobs) – it will become further water logged. What this

means is that although water can help a great deal to relieve

symptoms of overheating at a deeper level it is causing problems of

its own that sooner or later will also have to be addressed. Even if

the problem s not made significantly worse still we can clearly see

that more water is not the true answer to this problem.

 

The correct therapeutic protocol is to rapidly neutralize the acids,

which will thin and hydrate the blood. Work on the spleen so as to

remove the excess water (by `seeping'and balancing the fluids),

support

the Stomach, Spleen, and Kidneys. Good foods for these two processes

are, porridge (long cooked soupy rice – in Ayurveda they use a food

called Kicheree, which is long cooked rice and mung beans with extra

water – it should be soupy – the mung beans are very cooling to the

excess heat – this will remove the acid toxins from the blood –

gradually – if there is too much cold in the middle then warming

substances can be added – like ginger)- vegetables & non-acidic

fruits are the true antidotes to these types of conditions as they

remove both the heat and the dampness – potassium/magnesium

supplements can achieve similar results. In these acute situations

if the patient is strong then low doses of diuretics (Poria, etc.

according to the case) with a mild diet of porridge and vegetables

and small amounts of beans for a few days will quickly overcome the

overheating symptoms – BUT this is also not a cure it is a temporary

answer to an acute phase of a serious malfunction of the Spleen and

Kidneys. Resolve the acute symptoms first and then address the

chronic condition.

 

There are many instances where we can relieve symptoms with various

substances (like aspirin – coffee – chili peppers – cocaine – Coke –

etc. etc.) but these substances are not the correct things to do in

these acute problems – in the long run it makes things worse.

Aspirin is absolutely not a cure for a headache it simply relieves

(hides) the symptom but the underlying problem keeps developing –

and in the mean time the aspirin is stressing our stomach, kidneys,

blood, and liver – a poor trade off!!!

[Guest guest]

Chinese Traditional Medicine , Becky <bsalibrici> wrote:

>

> Thank you for sharing. Would the liver be involved too?

>

I had Liver imbalance as well as a number of other imbalances. It

definitely was and is what TCM calls a " knotty " (complex) problem.

It had been building not just for years but for decades without

appropriate treatment.

 

The TCM herbalist I saw not only did the pulse and tongue diagnosis,

he asked a lot of questions. The questions were arranged according

to Organs. I answered " yes " to just about every question that

points to Kidney imbalance. Including the ones having to do with ear

and hearing problems.

 

At the time the Kidney imbalance was a big standout. There's not

always a big standout, but that particular imbalance had gotten very

extreme in my case.

 

How are some of the ways that Kidney imbalance can affect the Liver?

For one thing Cold can cause Qi to Stagnate. A good analogy is a

stream that is freezing. It starts to flow slower and slower and in

some cases damn up. In the body, Excess Cold from the environment

can get into the Liver meridian. Another way is that the Kidneys

supply the Yang to the rest of the body. Yang warms, activates, and

dries. When there's not enough Yang to warm the body properly, this

is called Deficiency Cold. Cold of whatever type - Excess (from the

environment, from eating too many foods or herbs with Cold energy)

or Deficiency - eventually will cause Qi to Stagnate. Eventually

this can restrain the Liver.

 

The Kidneys also supply Yin to the body. Liver Yin Deficiency can be

(usually is) caused by the Kidneys not having enough Yin to supply

to the body. This in turn can give rise to problems like Liver Yang

Rising which in turn can trigger Liver-Wind Agitating Within.

 

The Kidneys also play an important role in the manufacture of

Blood. Even though the Spleen plays the major role, the Kidneys

also are important. Kidney Qi Deficiency and Kidney Essence

Deficiency can trigger Blood Deficiency which in turn can trigger

Liver Blood Deficiency. (BTW, one of the most reliable symptoms of

Liver Blood Deficiency is " floaters " in the eye. (Dark spots in the

field of vision. Other symptoms include dizziness, numbness of

limbs, insomnia, blurred vision, muscle spasms cramps, and brittle

nails and hair. In extreme cases the sides of the tongue will turn

orange. (Info from Giovanni Macioia, The Foundations of Chinese

Medicine, pp 224-225.)

 

Whenever there is Kidney Yang Deficiency, there is almost certain to

be Kidney Yin Deficiency too though to a lesser amount. The reverse

is also true. Whenever there is Kidney Yin Deficiency, there is

almost certain to be Kidney Yang Deficiency too though to a lesser

degree. When both are present, one will predominate. Sometimes it

will be by just a little, and it's obvious that both are present. In

my case the Kidney Yang Deficiency was so severe that it almost

completely masked the symptoms of the Kidney Yin Deficiency.

 

Because the presence of one almost always means that the other also

is present, Kidney Yang formulas will contain at least one Kidney

Yin tonic herb. And Kidney Yin tonic formulas will contain at least

one Kidney Yang tonic herb.

[Guest guest]

One thing I should have pointed out in the previous post is that Cold

is not the only thing that can cause Qi to Stagnate.

 

The number one cause of Liver Qi Stagnation is improperly handled

emotions - particularly anger, frustration, and resentment.

 

Trauma to tissues (and bones) can cause Qi to Stagnate and Blood

Stasis.

 

According to Giovanni Maciocia, Liver Blood Stasis always derives from

Liver Qi Stagnation. (Foundations, pp. 218-219.) If Liver Qi

Stagnation is not treated, eventually there will be Liver Blood Stasis

problems too.

[Guest guest]

Chinese Traditional Medicine , " victoria_dragon "

<victoria_dragon> wrote:

>

> One thing I should have pointed out in the previous post is that

Cold

> is not the only thing that can cause Qi to Stagnate.

>

> The number one cause of Liver Qi Stagnation is improperly handled

> emotions - particularly anger, frustration, and resentment.

>

> Trauma to tissues (and bones) can cause Qi to Stagnate and Blood

> Stasis.

>

> According to Giovanni Maciocia, Liver Blood Stasis always derives

from

> Liver Qi Stagnation. (Foundations, pp. 218-219.) If Liver Qi

> Stagnation is not treated, eventually there will be Liver Blood

Stasis

> problems too.

 

Another issue is that liver stagnation is always a base issue in

depression.

>

[Guest guest]

One problem for those new to TCM is the language that is

traditionally used to translate Chinese medical terms. This problem

arises first because the TCM terminology is not exactly the same as

western medical terminology – also the original translators used old-

fashioned western medical terms – another issue is that many

concepts in TCM have no western equivalents. There is a worldwide

effort to develop a standardized terminology that is more

appropriate to modern usage –but in the meantime many people find

themselves lost when listening to or reading TCM terms. Actually all

terms in TCM are relatively easy to understand if we know what is

being referred to – perhaps the meaning of terms will not be exactly

equivalent but using English equivalents at least gives one a

starting point for digesting the Chinese understanding. I have been

aware of this problem for many years, as my father was a medical

translator having translated many Chinese medical works into our

mother tongue – Malayalam. He also had translated many pieces from

English and in the 50s he worked on a project translating many of

the old Malayalam, Sanskrit, and Dravidian medical works into

English and French – unfortunately almost all of these works are

long out of print. This is no longer very important because Indian

physicians are mainly well educated in the western scientific

literature (English Medium) nowadays.

 

We have recently been discussing `hot' and `cold' – so perhaps

discussing some of the terms and concepts that equal `hot' or `cold'

in western pathological understanding will help. What is it that

makes the body `cold' and why is `cold' bad? The human body is meant

to function at a steady 98.6 F – this means that the internal organs

should be kept at this temperature – this is called `normal'

temperature – modern science has discovered through research that as

body temperature falls the body begins functioning less and less

efficiently. The main factor in this is that many of the most

important enzymes of the body only function properly at `normal'

temperatures – as the temperature falls – or rises – enzyme

functions become disturbed (mainly sluggish). Example when the

temperature falls below 98.2 (very common) 40 0f the most important

enzymes become sluggish in their metabolism. Other enzymes and other

physiological pathways slow down more and more as the temperatures

fall. Many people function with a temperature of 95.5 as

their `norm'. People with serious deficiency diseases like

Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome often have these types of

very low temps – this being the case it is easy to understand why

they have all of these very severe deficiencies and symptoms of

deficiency, cold, and decline.

 

When a person has diminished temperatures this is called

Hypometabolism – Hypometabolism means that every cell in the body is

performing at less than efficient metabolism. This means that no

function is capable of normal response. When metabolism slows we no

longer can do many levels of things we would be able to do

otherwise – such as move the fluids well, nourish the cells,

eliminate toxins, etc. etc. we simply are slower, colder, less

functional. This is mainly called diminished circulation. Whenever

any group of cells are sluggish and cold the area

becomes `stagnant' – this is because the processes of metabolism are

not able to move fluids (dampness) or toxins (especially acid

toxins – false heat) efficiently so these substances accumulate and

stagnate. This sluggishness creates thousands of pathologies and the

accompanying symptoms – all hypometabolic people present to the

clinician with a list of symptoms a mile long – this is because in

these states the entire organism is demanding attention – the levels

of anxiety rise and can become serious if the problems are not

solved. The `mind is in distress' because we know something is

seriously wrong – we seem horribly lacking in our ability to keep up

and perhaps are falling further behind in our `normal' functions

weekly – it can be frightening to those who's nature is to be

dynamic and active. The primary mental state of hypometabolic people

is depression – although as the disease progresses the mental

symptoms become worse and perhaps severe.

 

Because in hypometabolic states the temperatures throughout the body

may be slightly different in different places because certain areas

may get more `stagnant' (poorer circulation) than others. One

insurmountable cause is genetics as we may well inherit the fluid

distribution patterns of our parents. So example many people hold

more fluids in their midsection with the extremities being

relatively normal in fluid distribution – these differences refer to

our body type. By definition Hypometabolism is a `deficiency' state.

Whenever there is deficient functioning then energy (Qi) is not

produced properly – this is Qi deficiency. This is a deficiency

state caused by excess. Excess of Yang (even false heat) naturally

transforms into Yin.

 

A very important factor is that one of the areas of the body where

the accumulation of excess fluids is unacceptable is the Spleen –

the Spleen becomes less and less efficient in controlling the fluids

in the body as it loses its ability to control its own fluids. So

when this happens the Spleen loses its ability to rise the clear and

descend the turbid. What this means is when digestion is sluggish

from deficiency from excess fluid accumulation then the food

gets `stuck' in the center (stomach and Duodenum) – this means it is

being held too long in the Stomach. When food is not digested by the

digestive substances from the stomach (hydrochloric acid) and or the

pancreas (pancreatic enzymes) and or the liver (bile) – then it sets

and ferments – this fermentation creates huge quantities of toxins

(alcohols, acids, undigested proteins (the first step in the

formation of phlegm), peroxides, etc.)- these toxins get absorbed

and then poison the blood and through the blood every cell. This

process shifts the acid balance of the body contributing even

further to the acid accumulation at the cellular level. As these

toxins accumulate they put more and more stress on the Kidneys –

this even further concentrates the toxins in the blood destroying

many of its important functions the most important being its oxygen

carrying capacity – this makes the blood toxic and thick (forming

phlegm) – this causes stagnation in the Liver which is responsible

for transforming these toxins into less harmful substances – as the

acid accumulates in the Liver this means the bile is in excess in

relationship to the pancreatic enzymes (in TCM this is called

the `liver attacks the stomach/spleen'. This condition of acidic

water retention in the Spleen is Spleen dampness with false heat-

the condition of the excess accumulation of acid toxins in the Liver

is stagnant Liver with acid water retention (damp heat) – when these

acids accumulate to the point where they overwhelm liver functions

then the toxins will create inflammatory conditions that can develop

into serious liver diseases like infections (Hepatitis) – if this

inflammatory condition continues over time this will cause scars in

the liver from the resolution of these constant inflammations

(cirrhosis)- in advanced stages the liver goes into failure. Through

all of the processes of acidic water accumulation the energy

production decreases at localized areas (Qi deficiency) – depending

on which organ(s) is effected they will be called Qi deficient.

 

Through following this line we can see how the organs affect each

other – the process that I have been describing is one of the

important ones but other pathological pathways to decreased

functioning and stagnation can be described.

 

Ancient observers described the natural way in which the energy of

the body flows in a logical sequence. The energy of the Stomach when

properly functioning nourishes and supports (allows healthy

functioning) the Spleen – the Spleen when it separates the food Qi

into the clear then it enters the blood and nourishes the body – the

turbid enters the small intestine and descends to the rectum – the

fact of the clear, healthy, nourishing energy circulating means the

blood entering the lungs is prepared for the transformation and

nourishing processes of the lungs which allows the Kidneys to

function properly – and as the properly nourished and cleansed blood

from the Kidneys enters the Liver it too is facilitated in its

functions with no stressors – this new even fresher blood is stored

in the Liver where it awaits demand from the muscles and other

tissues – from the Liver the energy moves to the heart which is

richly nurtured by the nice clean oxygenated blood and this

nourishes the Shen – round and round the cycle goes in a sequence of

each function supporting and facilitating the function of the organ

which is most dependant on it for its nourishment and health. So in

this way healthy Kidneys facilitate the proper function of the Liver

the Liver facilitates proper functioning of the Heart – the Heart

the Spleen – the Spleen the Lungs – the Lungs the Kidneys.

 

When the Spleen is not working right the organ system that is first

harmed is the Kidneys because the blood that is full of toxins (the

clear has not risen and the turbid has gotten absorbed instead of

descending) and undigested proteins from the incomplete digestive

process enter the Kidneys (after passing through the Lungs) and

instead of properly nourishing and supporting them act as a stressor

to the Kidneys and their functions – like cleansing the blood –

water metabolism – production of Adrenal hormones – nourishment and

support of the sexual organs and functions – this poor quality

acidic blood enters the Liver where the Liver attempts to do the

cleansing functions that the Kidneys have not done – the even poorer

more toxic blood leaving the Liver damages the Heart functions, etc.

 

Lack of energy in any cell or organization of cells is equivalent to

Qi deficiency. Low heat production in western medicine is seen as a

thyroid problem since it is the thyroid hormones that produce the

stimuli to cellular energy production. But advanced endocrinologists

are speculating that there are many other factors involved in energy

production. This developing new understanding in the west is a

concept that the Indians and Chinese have taken for granted for

centuries.

 

Ayurvedic philosophers postulated thousands of years ago that the

majority of disease starts in the stomach – meaning that they gave

absolute importance to proper digestion in the maintenance of health

and gave equal importance to the loss of health through improper

digestion. Throughout history the medical profession has analyzed

that which can go wrong with digestion. One thing that was

discovered and observed is that all excess is damaging to the

stomach – too much cold is harmful – too much heat is harmful –

dryness is harmful – too much liquid is harmful - too much acid is

harmful – too much pungent is harmful – too much sweet is harmful –

etc. Since maintenance of stomach balance and stability is so

important to the health of the Spleen – since excess conditions in

the Stomach are directly and immediately transferred to the Spleen –

since the Spleen is responsible for separating the good from the bad

in the food we eat – extracting the Qi from the food we eat to

distribute it throughout the body for nourishment and energy

production since digestion is poor we remain malnourished no matter

how much food we eat – even good quality food is transformed into

toxic substances when it sets fermenting in the stomach. Millions of

people eat huge quantities of food yet suffer from malnourishment.

Without proper nourishment all cells will suffer deficit. The issue

of course is not just malnutrition – because the Spleen when

malfunctioning does not just fail to nourish it also allows the

stagnation of the turbid (waste matter from the food) some of which

eventually gets absorbed into the blood where it poisons it and

creates a cascade of increasing toxic states – starting with the

Kidneys as has been discussed previously.

 

As we have seen `cold' and `hot' are relative terms since even a

little bit of temperature reduction is harmful and can lead to

serious deficiency diseases if it goes on for long. So in the human

body an internal temperature below 98.2 is a symptom of a serious

disease process – yet western science sees 98.2F as normal and few

worry about them – although this is changing, as there is a great

movement in western science to understand these low temps. Actually

they do not have to go far to understand this as the Asians have

known about this for centuries – they do not even have to see the

temperatures they can look at the pulses and hear the symptoms to

know – oh - this person is `cold' – where in fact the actual

temperature may be 97 – a temperature that few would think of

as `cold' – but for the internal environment 97 is not sufficient.

This is the reason why many have trouble understanding what is

referred to when the term cold is used. Often when people tell me

about their symptoms of aches and pains here and there and heaviness

in the stomach or constipation or trembling or numbness, etc. – when

I tell them you have too much cold in such and such an organ – they

often look at me questioningly – cold? What cold? I'm not cold –

they might even innumerate some heat symptoms. I explain to them

that cold in the sense I am talking about may mean only a degree or

two of temperature reduction. In severely deficient people one often

sees hot and cold spots co-existing throughout the body. The hot

spots are very often - false heat.

 

What is `false heat'? False heat means the real or imagined

sensations of heat that do not come from metabolism (Qi or ATP

production) There are many types of false heat – some are very

esoteric and difficult to understand as they are caused by complex

physiological processes – these categories of internal tension are

often thought of as the dichotomy between the left and the right –

which is one of the important causes for the ANS (Autonomic Nervous

System) disease that so many suffer from today – this is a dichotomy

or tension between the SNS (Sympathetic- the excitatory system) and

the PNS or PSNS (Para-Sympathetic-the calming system)) nervous

systems – this creates a condition of constantly being `over-revved'

and `overheated' (excess catecholamines) - unable to ever relax –

the person will have many symptoms of being over stimulated and over-

heated but actually they are cold in their internal environment –

this is a type of false heat. Related to the previous is the

category of false heat that is being discussed in many pathological

conditions – this is essentially acid. Acids are stimulatory and act

as irritants in excess or in the wrong forms – they interfere with

the normal functioning of cells – blood PH like temperature is

something the body does everything it can to maintain at a constant

level in this case it is a PH of 7.3 – but one can easily see how

the accumulations of acids in the blood or locally in individual

tissues interferes with metabolism. This stimulation and irritation

is experienced as heat (acid stomach, etc.)this is a false heat.

There are false heat as well as true heat symptoms in inflammations –

in the activities of other organisms that may inhabit our body – of

course from exogenous heat.

 

I would like to add some brief comments on Victoria's letter -

 

[[V - It's very appropriate. Whenever emotions are denied and

suppressed,

they weaken the body and in time trigger imbalances. Personally, I

find a good cry to be very healing. I'm acknowledging that there are

some problems, and after I have a good cry, I feel more like

tackling them. Also, from a Western allopathic viewpoint, crying

rids the body of some harmful chemicals that have built up within.]]

 

This is a way of releasing chemicals and internal tensions but I

would discourage the stimulation of grief symptoms, as it will harm

the lungs – plus during the time of powerful emotions – the body is

stressed in many ways – as an example strong emotions (good and bad)

cause stomach tensions that are a result of the hyper reactive

state. Tense people will become easily imbalanced in many directions

when stressed.

 

 

[[V - I also got very humorous in expressing my anger and

frustration. I

made sure my husband knew the anger wasn't directed at him but at

the illness. That way he could laugh along too. Of course when I

was angry at him for something, I made sure he knew that too. But

mostly I was angry at and frustrated by the illness.]]

 

This is good – when suffering from excess heat symptoms it is very

important to understand that the projected heat is a symptom of your

disease – do not blame yourself or anyone else. All of the organs

have related emotions in health and malfunction – these emotions are

inherent in the disease process and must be understood. Often living

with disease is a trial for us and those around us because we do not

know how to interpret this anger or grief or withdrawal, etc. It is

the responsibility of the ill person to help those around them to

understand and deal with their often inappropriate and excessive

reaction states.

 

It is impossible to experience anger without Liver problems or fear

without Kidney malfunctions. Healthy people with balance in and

between the organs do not suffer inappropriate and excessive

emotional states. My father is a person of true health and I have

never seen him express any excessiveness or projection in my life.

He is always even tempered.

 

[[V-I can't state that visualization works. Who knows? I was doing

other things to put the mono into remission. But at the very least

it gave me something to do other than gritting my teeth because I

had to rest so much. It was entertaining and helped me to drop off

to sleep. I did eventually go into remission even though my doctor

had told me I'd probably never have another negative mono test. It's

not going to hurt. I wouldn't rely entirely upon visualization, but

it might help.]]

 

Perhaps Victoria has not read the literature but there is a mountain

of evidence from scientific studies and thousands of years of

experience that proves beyond any doubt that visualization is a very

effective therapy. All visualization along with many other such

meditative and breath control techniques can in and of themselves

calm many reactive states – but in my mind the true purpose of these

techniques is to heal the imbalance in the ANS (Autonomic Nervous

System) which is the cause of the reactive states.

 

[[V - Each of the 5 Organs also is vulnerable to one or more

emotions.

For the Liver it's anger, frustration, and resentment. The Lungs

(and Qi) can be weakened by grief. The Heart is vulnerable to

mania. The Spleen is vulnerable to pensiveness and obsessing. (Also

to studying too much.) The Kidneys are weakened by fear and fright.]]

 

The emotions are caused by the organs and the fact of having the

emotion - in a feedback loop -damages the organs – example anger is

caused by the upward moving Evil Wind (Liver) – but the fact of

having the emotion of anger is damaging to the Liver.

 

[[V - differentiate between the physical and the

psychological, but I explain it in terms that Westerners can best

understand.]]

 

Please understand that the mind and body are the same thing – the

mind is a function of the body and obviously has no reality outside

of the body – ALL mental states are reflections of the general

condition of the body as well as specific conditions.

 

[[V- The way people usually run into problems with their emotions

is they

deny/ suppress them, they over express them, or they inappropriately

express them. An example of over expression is someone going nuclear

over something slight when a simple " I don't like that! " would

suffice. Inappropriately expressing emotions occurs when someone

substitutes one emotion as a way of not feeling another, more

threatening (to the individual) emotion. For example, a person who

is always angry as a way of avoiding admitting to him or herself

that s/he's scared, feeling vulnerable, in love, etc. Sometimes

anger is the more threatening emotion and sadness and feelings of

hopelessness get substituted for it.]]

 

Understanding the relationship of the emotions to the organs is a

very useful tool for interpreting and diagnosing our organ

conditions. Anger with fear means Liver and Kidney malfunction – it

is not necessary to see a psychiatrist or psychologist – for these

issues – simply balance the energies in the organs and these

symptoms will vanish. I have seen many people who terrorize their

families with anger and irritability become gentle loving other

oriented people when the Liver energies are balanced.

 

 

[[V - Abnormal bone growths as well as nodules can be due to Phlegm.

Again, the TCM term is capitalized because it's not equivalent to

phlegm. If it is Phlegm, Phlegm can take a long time to treat and

can be hard to treat, but it is treatable.]]

 

The subject of phlegm is very important – in Ayurveda the primary

assumption is that when digestion is poor some of the undigested

part turns into phlegm – this is the real reason why digestion is so

important in health – because of the multitude of serious symptoms

that are caused by phlegm. At a later time I will write something

about phlegm if anyone is interested.

 

My wife often asks me if I think anyone reads these long postings. I

do not know – I myself read a lot of other peoples postings but I

know that not everyone has the freedom to do that – but hopefully

someone will find something useful in these attempts to clarify

issues. Hope it does not further complicate things for anyone –

these issues are very complicated and really it takes a true

commitment to come to understand the disease process – but take

heart there is help for even the most difficult cases. Many have

been healed of the most complicated disease patterns – why not give

healing a chance. I know that many feel their diseases are

incurable – the point is that even if the base disease is incurable

still the reduction of symptoms and the achievement of a measure of

balance will improve the quality of life tremendously.

[Guest guest]

Dear sir , I am sooo Happy to have you and victoria explain things in their

fullness, I like others on this list got here by searching for some relief and

understanding of TCM and how it could help me. I have received both here,

and much relief from my symptoms.

Please tell your wife that I read all of the posts. Many of the participants

on the list are guessing , asking or learning, It is so very helpful when

knowledgeable persons offer their insights to seekers such like me For many

years I found TCM intriguing but felt it was too complicated to bother with. It

is complicated, but well worth the effort .I am so enamored of it that I wish

to become Dr of Oriental Medicine.

Please continue to enlighten us with your posts.

 

Rabiah

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Chinese Traditional Medicine , " Vinod Kumar " <vinod3x3>

wrote:

>

> modern science has discovered through research that as

> body temperature falls the body begins functioning less and less

> efficiently. The main factor in this is that many of the most

> important enzymes of the body only function properly at `normal'

> temperatures – as the temperature falls – or rises – enzyme

> functions become disturbed (mainly sluggish). Example when the

> temperature falls below 98.2 (very common) 40 0f the most

important

> enzymes become sluggish in their metabolism. Other enzymes and

other

> physiological pathways slow down more and more as the temperatures

> fall. Many people function with a temperature of 95.5 as

> their `norm'. People with serious deficiency diseases like

> Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome often have these types

of

> very low temps – this being the case it is easy to understand why

> they have all of these very severe deficiencies and symptoms of

> deficiency, cold, and decline.

 

For years I stayed in the 97 range. When I was the sickest, I got

down to the low 96 range. The lower my body temperature went, the

sicker I was and felt. In the winter I was having to take several

hot baths a day to warm up. It didn't even get that cold in the

winter where I lived, but it was too much for me. No matter how many

layers of clothes I put on, how many heavy quilts I covered myself

with, or how high I turned an electric blanket up, I could not warm

up. (That I was living in a desert area may have been a factor in

needing to soak in hot water. Moist air holds more heat than dry air

does.)

 

One of the most frustrating things was that as long as my thyroid

tests were normal, no doctor paid any attention to that low body

temperature or to my having trouble warming up. I do have a history

of on-again, off-again thyroid problems that do correspond to bouts

of mononucleosis and flare-ups of CFIDS. Even when thyroid

supplementation brought test results for thyroid level up to normal,

I still had problems with cold.

 

During the worst of this, there was a sensation like I was so cold I

was neutralizing any heat around me. I could feel the heat from the

electric blanket, but it was like it never penetrated into me. I had

a lot more trouble getting into a bathtub than getting out because

once I had soaked until I felt warm, I was a lot more flexible. As I

warmed up in the bathtub, I needed more and more heat. So I would

let some of the water out of the tub and replace it with hot water

until I finally felt warm enough.

 

The only time I was able to warm up on my own was when I'd been

asleep a few hours. I'd wake up hot and thirsty, but a couple of

sips of room temperature water made me feel cold and sleepy again.

 

One of the milestones in healing for me was being able to feel

warmth when I touched my hands to my face.

 

> Whenever

> any group of cells are sluggish and cold the area

> becomes `stagnant' – this is because the processes of metabolism

are

> not able to move fluids (dampness) or toxins (especially acid

> toxins – false heat) efficiently so these substances accumulate

and

> stagnate. This sluggishness creates thousands of pathologies and

the

> accompanying symptoms – all hypometabolic people present to the

> clinician with a list of symptoms a mile long – this is because in

> these states the entire organism is demanding attention

 

I just wanted to emphasize this for the students on the list who are

studying the effects of Cold on an organism and how Cold can trigger

Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis.

 

> toxic substances when it sets fermenting in the stomach. Millions

of

> people eat huge quantities of food yet suffer from malnourishment.

> Without proper nourishment all cells will suffer deficit. The

issue

> of course is not just malnutrition – because the Spleen when

> malfunctioning does not just fail to nourish it also allows the

> stagnation of the turbid (waste matter from the food) some of

which

> eventually gets absorbed into the blood where it poisons it and

> creates a cascade of increasing toxic states – starting with the

> Kidneys as has been discussed previously.

 

An informal poll of CFIDS patients revealed that the digestive aid

that helped the most was digestive enzymes. Keep in mind the

previous paragraph about how when the body temperature is low that a

number of enzymes in the body have problems doing their jobs. It's

going to take more to get the same job done. Not only that, it's

another one of those snowballing situations. As the body slows down

more and more, gets less and less from food, gets more and

more " clogged " , gets more and more deficient, it's going to produce

less and less enzymes. This in turn leads to the body getting even

less nutrition which leads to less enzymes and so on. The building

blocks simply are not there, and the processes are too sluggish.

>

> As we have seen `cold' and `hot' are relative terms since even a

> little bit of temperature reduction is harmful and can lead to

> serious deficiency diseases if it goes on for long. So in the

human

> body an internal temperature below 98.2 is a symptom of a serious

> disease process – yet western science sees 98.2F as normal and few

> worry about them – although this is changing, as there is a great

> movement in western science to understand these low temps.

 

It's about time!

 

> It is

> the responsibility of the ill person to help those around them to

> understand and deal with their often inappropriate and excessive

> reaction states.

 

One thing to keep in mind is that inappropriate and excessive

emotions can be a symptom of certain viral infections. No amount of

talk therapy is going to help in these cases. At best any drugs

like antidepressants or tranquilizers may mask symptoms. What needs

to be done is to bring the viral infection under control. From time

to time healers will encounter clients who because they are attuned

to their emotions can tell you that the emotions have nothing to do

with anything that is happening or has happened in their lives.

There is something about these emotions that is very different from

any frustration, anger, depression, anxiety, etc. that normally

arises from the course of an illness or from dealing with an

illness. It's like, " Where did that come from???? " I've experienced

this during the worst of bouts of mono, but I can't really explain

what it's like, just that it is very different from emotions that

arise as a reaction to something going on in the person's life or

psyche. The reason why it's important is that it can be diagnostic

and an aid in knowing what to do to prevent one from becoming

sicker. Over the years I've learned in my case that it's a warning

that the mono is flaring or getting worse, and I really need to rest

more, pay more attention to diet, etc.

 

It's also important for healers to be aware of the various emotional

responses that arise when people are ill. Especially when bio-

chemical changes in the body that are directly related to the

illness are triggering the emotions. (Like increased cytokline

production.) It can be like a lifeline to a client who is feeling

overwhelmed by so many things to hear, " Oh, that's the effects of

the infection (or untreated asthma or whatever). That's just the

illness talking. It will pass as the infection lessens. " Once the

client knows what is going on and why, the client can become quite

blase about having the emotions and able to concentrate on healing.

 

> Understanding the relationship of the emotions to the organs is a

> very useful tool for interpreting and diagnosing our organ

> conditions. Anger with fear means Liver and Kidney malfunction –

it

> is not necessary to see a psychiatrist or psychologist – for these

> issues – simply balance the energies in the organs and these

> symptoms will vanish. I have seen many people who terrorize their

> families with anger and irritability become gentle loving other

> oriented people when the Liver energies are balanced.

 

Western healers used to be trained to use emotions in diagnosis a

lot more than they are today. (Hopefully this is changing.) Some

older doctors and nurses can remember being taught in school that

when a patient looks and comes across as angry to suspect the person

is in pain. When one is aware of the TCM correspondences, it becomes

obvious why people who are in pain often are angry and vice versa.

Anger is most associated with the Liver. One of the main functions

of the Liver is the smooth flow of Qi throughout the body. When Qi

Stagnates, one of the common symptoms is pain.

 

I want to mention something about people having trouble learning to

meditate. One of the possible causes is Yin Deficiency. Remember,

Yin calms the body. If a person is very Yin Deficient, the person

will likely have problems learning to and engaging in meditation.

Healers may need to address the Yin Deficiency problem before the

person is able to meditate.

 

Another situation in which people may find it hard to meditate is if

the person is weather sensitive (Protective Qi Deficient) and a

storm is moving in. Even if the person usually finds meditation very

easy.

 

 

> My wife often asks me if I think anyone reads these long postings.

 

I not only read them all the way through, I enjoy and learn a lot

from them.

 

> I

> do not know – I myself read a lot of other peoples postings but I

> know that not everyone has the freedom to do that – but hopefully

> someone will find something useful in these attempts to clarify

> issues.

 

People are at different levels on the list. There are people who are

new to TCM, TCM students, and various Western and Eastern health

professionals. List members also have various interests. For

example, some are interested mainly in massage, some in herbalism,

some in acupuncture, etc. People take from the list what they most

need. People also give to the list of their unique talents and

knowledge. There are a number of list members who are particularly

interested in the intersections between Western allopathic medicine

and TCM. Also keep in mind that there are some MDs and DOs on the

list. You have the combination of talent, training, and interest to

explain things in such a way that they find it easiest to

understand. Not just the MDs and DOs but any list members who have a

strong interest in allopathic medicine. Plus you have other

interests and training that make you unique.

 

I have a special interest in helping those who are new to TCM and

the TCM students. I wish someone had told me about TCM years before

I read a book in a library. I never would have gotten as sick as I

did. For a good part of my life I've been a student. I also used to

teach. At a young age I wanted to teach. So I have a special

interest in helping the students on the list.

 

One of the keys to learning is to hear something in different ways

from different people. Another key is to have something emphasized.

Both of these things help information to " stick " . So I frequently

will comment on topics in posts and put the information in different

words so that it gets emphasized. Sometimes I tell students when

something probably will show up on a test.

 

One of the things I naturally do is to look for and identify

the " building blocks " of learning. They are the facts that the

students will build upon. If they thoroughly understand this concept

and know it's important and why it's important, they will find it

much easier to understand certain other concepts.

 

> Hope it does not further complicate things for anyone –

> these issues are very complicated and really it takes a true

> commitment to come to understand the disease process – but take

> heart there is help for even the most difficult cases. Many have

> been healed of the most complicated disease patterns – why not

give

> healing a chance. I know that many feel their diseases are

> incurable – the point is that even if the base disease is

incurable

> still the reduction of symptoms and the achievement of a measure

of

> balance will improve the quality of life tremendously.

 

This needed to be emphasized.

 

I would say that healers and patients/clients have just begun to

realize what is possible.