Question for Vinod and Victoria

[Guest guest]

I've been struggling to understand something and hope that Vinod and

Victoria can help. I believe that I fit into the spleen qi deficiency

pattern in many ways, for example I have the classic swollen tongue with

teeth marks on the sides and I have problems with sugary foods. I crave

them, but when I eat them they cause me problems. After I eat them, my

blood sugar drops and I feel weak and hungry. Based upon these things

I've tried a few different formulas to supplement spleen qi. The

problem I've run into over and over is that my blood pressure goes up

because of the licorice in the formulas. I also don't seem to see any

change in my symptoms. Does this mean I am barking up the wrong tree in

trying to treat a spleen qi deficiency? Or just that I'm very sensitive

to licorice? Would it be inappropriate to use ginseng as a single herb

in this case? I was able to use dandelion leaf tea for awhile to

counteract the fluid retention, but I wasn't sure if that was really the

appropriate thing to do so I quit using spleen qi herbs entirely.

 

Nancy S+13

[Guest guest]

Nancy wrote –

 

" I've been struggling to understand something and hope that Vinod

and Victoria can help. I believe that I fit into the spleen Qi

deficiency pattern in many ways, for example I have the classic

swollen tongue with teeth marks on the sides and I have problems

with sugary foods. I crave them, but when I eat them they cause me

problems. After I eat them, my blood sugar drops and I feel weak and

hungry. Based upon these things I've tried a few different formulas

to supplement spleen Qi. The problem I've run into over and over is

that my blood pressure goes up because of the licorice in the

formulas. I also don't seem to see any change in my symptoms. Does

this mean I am barking up the wrong tree in trying to treat a spleen

Qi deficiency? Or just that I'm very sensitive to licorice? Would it

be inappropriate to use ginseng as a single herb in this case? I was

able to use dandelion leaf tea for awhile to counteract the fluid

retention, but I wasn't sure if that was really the appropriate

thing to do so I quit using spleen Qi herbs entirely. "

 

Without referring to Nancy's case – since we do not know enough

facts to do that - let us look at some of the issues her posting

raises.

 

What I would think of first is that it may be true she has Spleen

deficiency – but – she probably has generalized deficiency states –

and it is this which is causing her blood pressure to rise when she

takes tonics. It is the same thing I am always writing about here –

Yin deficiency with Yin fire – with a possible or even probable Yang

deficiency. So – in such cases we must build the Yin first – while

working at the `center' – often the many `Stomach' symptoms are

coming from the Liver – the Spleen when it is damp and overheated –

becomes weak and is not able to balance the Liver functions – this

is called `Liver attacks the Stomach/Spleen'. These are hot burning

symptoms – simple Stomach deficiency causes a feeling of heaviness

and or bloated feeling in the Stomach after eating. These are the

classic cases that Li Dong Yuan was referring to when he developed

the great Central Qi formulas. This is also Spleen/Liver disharmony.

We can not directly develop the Qi because the deficient Yin

precludes it. Therefore we must remove the causes of the generalized

deficiency states by improving the digestion (including Liver and

Lungs). We must remember the basics – it is the quality of the

digestion which gives us sufficient righteous Qi to nourish the

blood – if the digestion is weak we simply will not get sufficient

Qi from our food (regardless of the quantity or quality of the

food) – also it will get mixed up with the toxic Qi in food – and

this fouls the blood causing problems throughout the body and in all

of the organs – after all tissues get nourishment from blood as it

passes through the many functions – if it starts out poor quality –

acidic (from the fermentation process in the stomach) – the first

organ function that gets improperly and insufficiently nourished is

the Lung function – from there the Kidney functions receive this

inadequate as well as toxic energy – on and on the energy flows

throughout the body and all cells and all organs receive this

deficient, toxic, overheated blood.

 

Many Central Qi medicines have this problem in mind when it gives

Spleen supporting herbs while at the same time attempting to

harmonize the Spleen/Liver disharmony and breaks up the stagnant

damp heat. When digestion improves and the righteous Qi of food

ascends and the turbid descends then the Qi of the whole body will

rise. This is the only true pathway to raise the Qi throughout the

body. Formulas like Minor Bupleurum (Xiao Chai Tang Wan) and

Rambling Pills (Xiao Yao Wan) come to mind because they work on all

of the issues in the `Center' at the same time – removing the

stagnation's of dampness and heat in the Spleen and Liver –

balancing the Spleen/Liver with each other – etc.

 

This can be achieved in many ways – herbs are very helpful – but

there are many other ways to resolve the Spleen/Stomach/Liver

issues – many books have been written on how to raise the Qi – but

the most effective way to solve this problem is to stop stressing

the Stomach which is causing the water logged Spleen – the best

herbalist will have a hard time correcting these Spleen problems as

long as one is continuing to assault the Stomach with dampening

foods and qualities in foods (like cold) and other substances.

Mentioning `other substances' we have to remember that many (if not

most) medicines are stressful to the Stomach (as well as the

Blood/Kidney/Liver ) – example aspirin and other analgesics are

strongly damaging to Stomach/Spleen/Blood/Kidney/Liver – these are

only a small category of substances that damage the Organs and their

functions – there are many – some people take a long list of

substances that are damaging the Stomach yet they never associate

the decline in digestive function to these common everyday

substances. Cold is damaging – over heated is damaging – spicy is

damaging – over acid is damaging – too much bitter damages - too

much food is damaging – overly sweet foods damage - eating new food

on top of partially digested food is damaging – going to sleep on a

full stomach damages - there are so many things that can harm

stomach function – yet many do several of these things daily – for

sensitive and susceptible people their poor stomachs do not have a

chance – weakening of Stomach functions cause further decline in

those functions which all cause stagnation processes – it is these

stagnation's which cause the accumulation of fluids in the Spleen.

One can even have plenty of Stomach Qi but these assaults simply

overwhelm ordinary functioning and begin the pathological process.

Just adding Qi raising substances in no way is the correct way to

solve this problem – it can not work even if we have plenty of Yin –

because defecient Qi at the local sites is not just a Stomach/Spleen

problem – it is a generalized deficiency - and just taking

stimulants does not solve the problems. Many people and cultures

have the habit of taking spices with their foods (this is a common

cultural habit here in India) to help stimulate stomach functions –

but this does not solve the problems as millions take these

stimulants with every meal yet the deficiencies continue to get

worse – in fact these stimulants make the problem worse in the long

term. In the matter of stimulants we must distinguish

between `warming' like ginger and `irritating' like chili – because

ginger can help to warm but chili causes pathological reactions that

damage function not help it. Strong alkaline substances are also

damaging to the Stomach – like Tums or Alka-Seltzer – they do

neutralize the acid accumulations but they also damage the Qi of the

Stomach itself.

 

Learning how to make the Stomach comfortable is a basic skill to

achieve health – in my opinion it is the true and only real healing

of many of the most serious disease processes that human beings

suffer. Many search far and wide for the perfect healer or herbal

formula to solve the problems of the Stomach/Spleen but the solution

to the problem has been under their control from the very beginning –

stop creating disease in yourself and start living a healing life

and the symptoms will slowly fade away – even without `medicines' –

although proper medicines can be very helpful in the process.

Medicines simply in and of themselves can not heal chronic

deficiency states caused by wrong living patterns – the disease

forming patterns will easily overwhelm the greatest formulas.

 

 

If one does not have someone to help them determine if they are Yin

deficient then a simple test can be performed – take a simple Qi

building substance like Codonopsis and Astragulus Formula – if

symptoms of overheating and stress like high bloodpressure occur

then this is clear indication that the body can not accept this

stimulation. Licorice in small quantities as contained in many

formulas will not cause high blood pressure by itself in most. Even

if licorice is the culprit – this in no way will preclude the taking

of Qi building substances since many of the most famous formulas do

not use licorice. Yin deficiency is our major limitation in taking

Qi building substances. But most can take small amounts of Qi if

there is sufficient support from Yin building substances (like

Rehmannia or Asparagus root) – this will not be very expensive and

if one can accept the herbs they will be helpful – and even if not

then it will not be a great loss – if these herbs raise blood

pressure or create any other heating or overstimulated symptoms then

of course stop them, If the overheating symptoms are mild then see

if adding one of the Rehmannia formulas (like Six Gentleman) can add

sufficient Yin support to allow the use of the Qi substances – if

not continue with the guidelines mentioned above.

 

Nancy remember that I am not referring to your particular case – and

I am not recommending any particular medicine – I am discussing

generalized issues that have to do with deficient, damp, overheated

Stomach/Spleen. These issues can be sorted out on ones own without

having an education in the practice of medicine but it takes great

commitment – many do have this commitment so they have a chance of

resolving the issues – it is mainly these that I am posting for

here. I am not trying to educate anyone in how to practice medicine –

I am trying to offer clues to the ordinary issues of living a

healthy life and solving problems in a natural way.

[Guest guest]

Chinese Traditional Medicine , Nancy S+13 <nancy wrote:

>

> I've been struggling to understand something and hope that Vinod

and

> Victoria can help. I believe that I fit into the spleen qi

deficiency

> pattern in many ways, for example I have the classic swollen

tongue with

> teeth marks on the sides and I have problems with sugary foods.

 

There are two well-known times when a person should not take tonic

herbs without other herbs. One of these is taking Qi tonic herbs

when there is Qi Stagnation. If there are not Herbs To Move Qi in

the formula and resolve that Qi Stagnation, the symptoms of Qi

Stagnation are going to get worse if just Qi tonic herbs are taken.

The analogy I use is it's like trying to force water into a garden

hose that has a kink in it. The obstruction needs to be removed

first, or pressure builds up and can burst the hose.

 

The 2nd well-known time is when an Evil has invaded from the

environment. This includes infectious diseases (though not a

concept in ancient China) as well as the effects of weather on the

person. Tonic herbs will feed the Evil. Herbs will need to be

included in the formula to release the Exterior and drive the Evil

out.

 

There is a third, lesser-known time when tonification can be a

problem: Deficient and Unable to Accept Tonification.

 

The following is from Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica,

Revised Ed., Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, p. 313:

 

" The practitioner should also be aware of a condition

called " deficient and unable to take tonification " . This refers to

two types of cases. In the first, signs of fire from deficiency

appear after taking tonics, including dry mouth and lips,

irritability, insomnia, indigestion, and abdominal distention. In

the second, digestive problems develop, such as nausea, bloating, or

loss of appetite. From a modern biomedical perspective, one

explanation for these phenomena is that the digestive systems in

such patients are very weak, as is their resistance to disease.

Most tonifying herbs are rich and difficult for the body to absorb;

their administration places an extra burden on the digestive

system. Another aspect is that many debilitated patients,

especially those with patterns of yin deficiency, suffer from

insufficient fluids and an imbalance in the autonomic nervous

system. Many of the tonifying herbs, particularly those that tonify

the qi or yang, stimulate the body and the sympathetic nervous

system. This could give rise to signs associated with fire from

deficienty. "

 

In the first, symptoms of Deficiency Fire predominate, and in the

second digestive symptoms predominate. In the first, Yin Deficiency

is the cause or co-cause (though there are other things that can

cause or contribute to Fire - any Pernicious Evil can transform to

Fire, and that includes Cold). In the second, Spleen weakness

predominates.

 

How to get around the problem of Deficient and Unable to Take

Tonification is going to vary according to the Root and according to

the individual's clinical picture. If the primary picture is one of

a very weak Spleen (both a very weak Spleen and Yin Deficiency can

be present), diet is going to be critical. Diet always is important

in the Chinese consider diet the first line of defense in

health - but it becomes especially critical in these cases. There

are several books that give guidelines. For example, The Tao of

Healthy Eating by Bob Flaws and The Book of Jook by Bob Flaws.

There are others; these just happen to be two I have on hand for

reference.

 

Digestive enzymes may be very helpful in cases like this. You also

want to consider if there are other factors playing into the

problem - like dental problems. A person with dental problems may

not be chewing his or her food adequately, and for a while, the

person may need to put food through a food processor to cut it up

into very tiny particles. The person may benefit from vitamin and

mineral supplements. It's best in most cases to take these

supplements on an on-again, off-again rotation.

 

The person may need to stop taking antiacids as these can interfere

with digestion by cutting down on stomach acid needed for proper

digestion. Vegetarians can be at risk for B12 deficiency.

 

Two of the worst foods for creating Dampness are dairy products and

wheat. These may need to be eliminated from the diet for a while.

If a person eliminates dairy, please be advised that you may need to

go on calcium and magnesium supplements. It is extremely difficult

to get enough calcium without eating dairy products if the typical

Western diet is followed. Magnesium deficiency is even more of a

potential problem in the Western diet because modern food processing

methods tend to remove a lot of it, Mg usually isn't supplemented to

soil that crops are grown on, and Mg-rich foods aren't emphasized in

the American diet. Plus, some people have problems absorbing and

utilizing Mg. Aluminum interferes with Mg absorption.

 

Vinod goes into detail on Yin Deficiency. The Yin tonic herbs can be

especially " heavy " and " cloying " , so again, a lot of attention has

to be paid to diet and to strengthening the Spleen.

 

> I crave

> them, but when I eat them they cause me problems. After I eat

them, my

> blood sugar drops and I feel weak and hungry.

 

This is par for the course for reactive hypoglycemia. At first,

there is a feeling of energy and well-being as blood sugar rises.

But this also triggers release of insulin. The blood sugar quickly

falls because of that insulin, and a vicious cycle is started.

 

Some people have a tendency to try to substitute food - especially

sweets - for rest. This doesn't do the blood sugar, the Yin, or the

Spleen any good. Over-doing can be particularly hard on the Spleen.

When a person reaches for a stimulant or food to keep going instead

of getting the rest s/he needs, this can be especially hard on the

Spleen.

 

There's another factor involved when there is excess insulin.

Insulin is one of the 4 factors which will tilt the body toward

making more " bad " prostaglandins than " good " ones. The " bad "

and " good " are in quotes because sometimes the body needs the " bad "

PGs to survive, and sometimes " good " PGs can cause problems. The

effects of " bad " PGs can include pain, fever, achiness, depression,

etc. (You may want to Google to see if high blood pressure can be

associated with too many " bad " or " good " PGs.) (The 4 factors are

infection, advancing age, hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated

fats, and insulin.

 

The omega-3 EFAs (Essential Fatty Acids) tilt the body toward making

more of the " good " PGs than the " bad " , so omega-3 supplementation

may be called for.

 

BTW, reactive hypoglycemia is more common in people who have had

abdominal surgery than those who haven't.

 

> Based upon these things

> I've tried a few different formulas to supplement spleen qi. The

> problem I've run into over and over is that my blood pressure goes

up

> because of the licorice in the formulas.

 

One combination I've found very helpful is to chew a very tiny piece

of licorice along with a little larger piece of asparagus root. The

licorice is Qi tonic, and the asparagus root is Yin tonic. When I

say " tiny " , I mean very small. Maybe about a quarter of the size of

the smallest finger nail. But since you have problems with fluid

retention, licorice may be contraindicated for you. Maybe not.

 

There is a potential catch-22 situation here. One of the functions

of the Spleen Qi is to transport and transform fluids. If Spleen Qi

is insufficient, fluids will build up. (It's not the only possible

cause of fluid-buildup and Dampness, but it's one of the main ones.)

Yin tonic herbs will tend to increase moisture. If a person who is

both Yin Deficient and Qi Deficient treats just the Yin Deficiency,

there's not going to be sufficient Qi to properly move that fluid.

If just the Qi Deficiency is treated, the Yin Deficiency Heat can

transform into Deficiency Fire.

 

> I also don't seem to see any

> change in my symptoms. Does this mean I am barking up the wrong

tree in

> trying to treat a spleen qi deficiency? Or just that I'm very

sensitive

> to licorice? Would it be inappropriate to use ginseng as a single

herb

> in this case?

 

From what you've described, I would not use any single herb.

 

BTW, even when a formula using more than one herb is used,

codonopsis is a better herb for some people than ginseng is. A lot

of herbalists will substitute codonopsis for ginseng in formulas for

certain clients. Among these are people with CFIDS. Codonopsis

should not be taken with Rhizoma et Radix Veratri (Li Lu). Ginseng

is the better herb for collapsed Yang.

 

Astragalis root (aka huang qi) is another Qi tonic herb. This herb

is particularly good for increasing Protective Qi. It tonifies Blood

in addition to being Qi tonic. It does promote urination. It does

have a number of contraindications. " Because this herb raises the

yang, tonifies the qi, and stabilizes the exterior, it should not be

used in cases of exterior excess, qi stagnation, damp obstruction,

food stagnation, yin deficiency with heat signs, or skin lesions

either in their early stages or where there is heat toxin. " (Chinese

Herbal Medicine Materia Medica, Revised Edition, Dan Bensky and

Andrew Gamble, p. 320.) An experienced herbalist might use the herb

in those cases, but would know what other herbs to include in the

formula to counteract those effects.

[Guest guest]

Thank you for your reply, Vindod! I know my dietary habits are not the

best and what I am getting from this is that this is where I need to

begin. Can you recommend a source that spells out in more detail what I

should and should not be eating? Probably the first thing I need to give

up are the many Diet Cokes I drink everyday and that has also been the

hardest thing for me to give up.

 

Nancy S+13

 

Vinod Kumar wrote:

 

> Nancy wrote –

>

> " I've been struggling to understand something and hope that Vinod

> and Victoria can help. I believe that I fit into the spleen Qi

> deficiency pattern in many ways, for example I have the classic

> swollen tongue with teeth marks on the sides and I have problems

> with sugary foods. I crave them, but when I eat them they cause me

> problems. After I eat them, my blood sugar drops and I feel weak and

> hungry. Based upon these things I've tried a few different formulas

> to supplement spleen Qi. The problem I've run into over and over is

> that my blood pressure goes up because of the licorice in the

> formulas. I also don't seem to see any change in my symptoms. Does

> this mean I am barking up the wrong tree in trying to treat a spleen

> Qi deficiency? Or just that I'm very sensitive to licorice? Would it

> be inappropriate to use ginseng as a single herb in this case? I was

> able to use dandelion leaf tea for awhile to counteract the fluid

> retention, but I wasn't sure if that was really the appropriate

> thing to do so I quit using spleen Qi herbs entirely. "

>

> Without referring to Nancy's case – since we do not know enough

> facts to do that - let us look at some of the issues her posting

> raises.

>

> What I would think of first is that it may be true she has Spleen

> deficiency – but – she probably has generalized deficiency states –

> and it is this which is causing her blood pressure to rise when she

> takes tonics. It is the same thing I am always writing about here –

> Yin deficiency with Yin fire – with a possible or even probable Yang

> deficiency. So – in such cases we must build the Yin first – while

> working at the `center' – often the many `Stomach' symptoms are

> coming from the Liver – the Spleen when it is damp and overheated –

> becomes weak and is not able to balance the Liver functions – this

> is called `Liver attacks the Stomach/Spleen'. These are hot burning

> symptoms – simple Stomach deficiency causes a feeling of heaviness

> and or bloated feeling in the Stomach after eating. These are the

> classic cases that Li Dong Yuan was referring to when he developed

> the great Central Qi formulas. This is also Spleen/Liver disharmony.

> We can not directly develop the Qi because the deficient Yin

> precludes it. Therefore we must remove the causes of the generalized

> deficiency states by improving the digestion (including Liver and

> Lungs). We must remember the basics – it is the quality of the

> digestion which gives us sufficient righteous Qi to nourish the

> blood – if the digestion is weak we simply will not get sufficient

> Qi from our food (regardless of the quantity or quality of the

> food) – also it will get mixed up with the toxic Qi in food – and

> this fouls the blood causing problems throughout the body and in all

> of the organs – after all tissues get nourishment from blood as it

> passes through the many functions – if it starts out poor quality –

> acidic (from the fermentation process in the stomach) – the first

> organ function that gets improperly and insufficiently nourished is

> the Lung function – from there the Kidney functions receive this

> inadequate as well as toxic energy – on and on the energy flows

> throughout the body and all cells and all organs receive this

> deficient, toxic, overheated blood.

>

> Many Central Qi medicines have this problem in mind when it gives

> Spleen supporting herbs while at the same time attempting to

> harmonize the Spleen/Liver disharmony and breaks up the stagnant

> damp heat. When digestion improves and the righteous Qi of food

> ascends and the turbid descends then the Qi of the whole body will

> rise. This is the only true pathway to raise the Qi throughout the

> body. Formulas like Minor Bupleurum (Xiao Chai Tang Wan) and

> Rambling Pills (Xiao Yao Wan) come to mind because they work on all

> of the issues in the `Center' at the same time – removing the

> stagnation's of dampness and heat in the Spleen and Liver –

> balancing the Spleen/Liver with each other – etc.

>

> This can be achieved in many ways – herbs are very helpful – but

> there are many other ways to resolve the Spleen/Stomach/Liver

> issues – many books have been written on how to raise the Qi – but

> the most effective way to solve this problem is to stop stressing

> the Stomach which is causing the water logged Spleen – the best

> herbalist will have a hard time correcting these Spleen problems as

> long as one is continuing to assault the Stomach with dampening

> foods and qualities in foods (like cold) and other substances.

> Mentioning `other substances' we have to remember that many (if not

> most) medicines are stressful to the Stomach (as well as the

> Blood/Kidney/Liver ) – example aspirin and other analgesics are

> strongly damaging to Stomach/Spleen/Blood/Kidney/Liver – these are

> only a small category of substances that damage the Organs and their

> functions – there are many – some people take a long list of

> substances that are damaging the Stomach yet they never associate

> the decline in digestive function to these common everyday

> substances. Cold is damaging – over heated is damaging – spicy is

> damaging – over acid is damaging – too much bitter damages - too

> much food is damaging – overly sweet foods damage - eating new food

> on top of partially digested food is damaging – going to sleep on a

> full stomach damages - there are so many things that can harm

> stomach function – yet many do several of these things daily – for

> sensitive and susceptible people their poor stomachs do not have a

> chance – weakening of Stomach functions cause further decline in

> those functions which all cause stagnation processes – it is these

> stagnation's which cause the accumulation of fluids in the Spleen.

> One can even have plenty of Stomach Qi but these assaults simply

> overwhelm ordinary functioning and begin the pathological process.

> Just adding Qi raising substances in no way is the correct way to

> solve this problem – it can not work even if we have plenty of Yin –

> because defecient Qi at the local sites is not just a Stomach/Spleen

> problem – it is a generalized deficiency - and just taking

> stimulants does not solve the problems. Many people and cultures

> have the habit of taking spices with their foods (this is a common

> cultural habit here in India) to help stimulate stomach functions –

> but this does not solve the problems as millions take these

> stimulants with every meal yet the deficiencies continue to get

> worse – in fact these stimulants make the problem worse in the long

> term. In the matter of stimulants we must distinguish

> between `warming' like ginger and `irritating' like chili – because

> ginger can help to warm but chili causes pathological reactions that

> damage function not help it. Strong alkaline substances are also

> damaging to the Stomach – like Tums or Alka-Seltzer – they do

> neutralize the acid accumulations but they also damage the Qi of the

> Stomach itself.

>

> Learning how to make the Stomach comfortable is a basic skill to

> achieve health – in my opinion it is the true and only real healing

> of many of the most serious disease processes that human beings

> suffer. Many search far and wide for the perfect healer or herbal

> formula to solve the problems of the Stomach/Spleen but the solution

> to the problem has been under their control from the very beginning –

> stop creating disease in yourself and start living a healing life

> and the symptoms will slowly fade away – even without `medicines' –

> although proper medicines can be very helpful in the process.

> Medicines simply in and of themselves can not heal chronic

> deficiency states caused by wrong living patterns – the disease

> forming patterns will easily overwhelm the greatest formulas.

>

>

> If one does not have someone to help them determine if they are Yin

> deficient then a simple test can be performed – take a simple Qi

> building substance like Codonopsis and Astragulus Formula – if

> symptoms of overheating and stress like high bloodpressure occur

> then this is clear indication that the body can not accept this

> stimulation. Licorice in small quantities as contained in many

> formulas will not cause high blood pressure by itself in most. Even

> if licorice is the culprit – this in no way will preclude the taking

> of Qi building substances since many of the most famous formulas do

> not use licorice. Yin deficiency is our major limitation in taking

> Qi building substances. But most can take small amounts of Qi if

> there is sufficient support from Yin building substances (like

> Rehmannia or Asparagus root) – this will not be very expensive and

> if one can accept the herbs they will be helpful – and even if not

> then it will not be a great loss – if these herbs raise blood

> pressure or create any other heating or overstimulated symptoms then

> of course stop them, If the overheating symptoms are mild then see

> if adding one of the Rehmannia formulas (like Six Gentleman) can add

> sufficient Yin support to allow the use of the Qi substances – if

> not continue with the guidelines mentioned above.

>

> Nancy remember that I am not referring to your particular case – and

> I am not recommending any particular medicine – I am discussing

> generalized issues that have to do with deficient, damp, overheated

> Stomach/Spleen. These issues can be sorted out on ones own without

> having an education in the practice of medicine but it takes great

> commitment – many do have this commitment so they have a chance of

> resolving the issues – it is mainly these that I am posting for

> here. I am not trying to educate anyone in how to practice medicine –

> I am trying to offer clues to the ordinary issues of living a

> healthy life and solving problems in a natural way.

>

>

>

>

 

> Post message: Chinese Traditional Medicine

> Subscribe: Chinese Traditional Medicine-

> Un: Chinese Traditional Medicine-

> List owner: Chinese Traditional Medicine-owner

>

> Shortcut URL to this page:

> /community/Chinese Traditional Medicine

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Chinese Traditional Medicine , Nancy S+13 <nancy wrote:

>

> Thank you for your reply, Vindod! I know my dietary habits are not

the

> best and what I am getting from this is that this is where I need to

> begin. Can you recommend a source that spells out in more detail

what I

> should and should not be eating? Probably the first thing I need to

give

> up are the many Diet Cokes I drink everyday and that has also been

the

> hardest thing for me to give up.

>

> Nancy S+13

 

Bob Flaws' book 'The Tao of Healthy Eating' is an excellent place to

start. The most difficult part of recovery from disease is learning to

live a health promoting life as opposed to a disease promoting life.

Example changing diet proves to be an insurmountable obstacle for

many. This is because diet has much more meaning in our life than

simple nourishment - diet is an intimate aspect of our self identity -

it is a part of our family and cultural identity as well. Many of the

attachments to foods and food patterns are complicated they are

psychological and physiological patterns - many cravings are either

cravings for some element contained in the food - even though the food

harms us - or they are substitutes for something missing - like diet

cokes which are probably substitutes for energy cravings - many

depressed and or hypometabolic people crave many things that might

produce energy - sugar - caffeine - nicotine - cocaine - etc. Of

course these items do not work to raise the righteous Qi so they are

only substitutes for true needs. Often breaking such patterns are next

to impossible until the real needs are met - then they will fade away

on their own. These craving and compulsive patterns are a disease in

themselves and the underlying cause must be found and resolved.

 

Read the other post I have written today and it will expand somewhat

on these issues.

[Guest guest]

Diet Cokes or caffeinated colas in general can indeed be a hard habit

to break. They seem to increase my cravings for sweets in general as

does wheat which may lead to a craving for ice cream and so forth and

so on. Best to go cold turkey from all of the above.

 

And Bob Flaws' Tao of Healthy Eating is very accessible. After

reading that, Healing with Whole Foods makes a good reference.

 

I started supplementing from B vitamins after reading the Tao and

found them helpful . . . I did take a break from them after a couple

of weeks but then became somewhat depressed. I'm back on them but I

wonder where to go from here.

 

I am disappointed with our college's lack of emphasis on TCM dietary

therapy. After reading Flaws, I have gotten significantly better

results with treatments. For instance, the needling sensation

becomes is quite intense. I felt the sensation of the the area around

the points pulling the needles; it was like a pulsating feeling.

 

I am thinking about breaking away from the college clinic for a while

to consult with one of our graduates who is also a registered

nutritionist.

 

Zenisis

 

Chinese Traditional Medicine , " Vinod Kumar " <vinod3x3 wrote:

>

> Chinese Traditional Medicine , Nancy S+13 <nancy@> wrote:

> >

> > Thank you for your reply, Vindod! I know my dietary habits are not

> the

> > best and what I am getting from this is that this is where I need to

> > begin. Can you recommend a source that spells out in more detail

> what I

> > should and should not be eating? Probably the first thing I need to

> give

> > up are the many Diet Cokes I drink everyday and that has also been

> the

> > hardest thing for me to give up.

> >

> > Nancy S+13

>

> Bob Flaws' book 'The Tao of Healthy Eating' is an excellent place to

> start. The most difficult part of recovery from disease is learning to

> live a health promoting life as opposed to a disease promoting life.

> Example changing diet proves to be an insurmountable obstacle for

> many. This is because diet has much more meaning in our life than

> simple nourishment - diet is an intimate aspect of our self identity -

> it is a part of our family and cultural identity as well. Many of the

> attachments to foods and food patterns are complicated they are

> psychological and physiological patterns - many cravings are either

> cravings for some element contained in the food - even though the food

> harms us - or they are substitutes for something missing - like diet

> cokes which are probably substitutes for energy cravings - many

> depressed and or hypometabolic people crave many things that might

> produce energy - sugar - caffeine - nicotine - cocaine - etc. Of

> course these items do not work to raise the righteous Qi so they are

> only substitutes for true needs. Often breaking such patterns are next

> to impossible until the real needs are met - then they will fade away

> on their own. These craving and compulsive patterns are a disease in

> themselves and the underlying cause must be found and resolved.

>

> Read the other post I have written today and it will expand somewhat

> on these issues.

>

[Guest guest]

Zenisis, after the convo with Vinod the other day I decided to give up

my Diet Cokes. I had a can yesterday morning and that was my last one.

The cravings have been pretty intense and now I am wondering if there is

some truth to the stuff that's posted around the Internet about

aspartame being addictive. I've always thought it was the caffeine in

the past, but this craving is so specific to Diet Coke. If you offered

me a regular Coke right now I'd turn it down. I also have had problems

with sweet cravings and blood sugar control (I'm insulin resistant).

There are those who blame these things on aspartame. It's so hard to

know what is what because there's nobody in the mainstream admitting to

it. I plan to stay off the Diet Coke to see what happens. I've got to

admit, it's a lucky thing I don't have any in the house right now

because talking about it making me want one. There's this little voice

saying, " Just one to make sure you don't get a headache. "

 

Nancy S+13

 

zenisis7 wrote:

 

> Diet Cokes or caffeinated colas in general can indeed be a hard habit

> to break. They seem to increase my cravings for sweets in general as

> does wheat which may lead to a craving for ice cream and so forth and

> so on. Best to go cold turkey from all of the above.

>

> ------

>

[Guest guest]

Right, a specific craving for diet cola . . . I have never liked

coffee at all.

 

Chinese Traditional Medicine , Nancy S+13 <nancy wrote:

>

> Zenisis, after the convo with Vinod the other day I decided to give up

> my Diet Cokes. I had a can yesterday morning and that was my last

one.

> The cravings have been pretty intense and now I am wondering if

there is

> some truth to the stuff that's posted around the Internet about

> aspartame being addictive. I've always thought it was the caffeine in

> the past, but this craving is so specific to Diet Coke. If you offered

> me a regular Coke right now I'd turn it down. I also have had problems

> with sweet cravings and blood sugar control (I'm insulin resistant).

> There are those who blame these things on aspartame. It's so hard to

> know what is what because there's nobody in the mainstream admitting to

> it. I plan to stay off the Diet Coke to see what happens. I've got to

> admit, it's a lucky thing I don't have any in the house right now

> because talking about it making me want one. There's this little voice

> saying, " Just one to make sure you don't get a headache. "

>

> Nancy S+13

>

> zenisis7 wrote:

>

> > Diet Cokes or caffeinated colas in general can indeed be a hard habit

> > to break. They seem to increase my cravings for sweets in general as

> > does wheat which may lead to a craving for ice cream and so forth and

> > so on. Best to go cold turkey from all of the above.

> >

> >

------

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Nancy,

Some timer ago i was drinking a lot of coffee and when the day

was a little more stressfull my heart went beating so strongly

and fast that I got worried about it and decided to stop coffee.

During the first da I had a strong headache during most of the

day, on the second also, but got less in the evening, on the

third day was moderate, and on the fourht it had passed.

Marcos

 

 

> Chinese Traditional Medicine , Nancy S+13 <nancy

> wrote:

> >

> There's this

> little voice

> > saying, " Just one to make sure you don't get a headache. "

> >

> > Nancy S+13

> >

>

 

 

 

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