Update on TCM visit

[Guest guest]

I finally got to one of the TCM's you posted. She was pretty far

away, and I got lost on the way, but she is soon opening another

practice closer to me!! She was very nice and we seem quite

compatable. I really didn't get to go over all my symptoms with her,

but she said it sounds like I am depressed and that is can have

physical symptoms. She wants me to come weekly, but I really can't

afford that, plus the drive. I really enjoyed the acupuncture. It was

so relaxing and you don't even feel the needles. So I told her two

weeks. I didn't tell my husband yet. He will probably have a fit. It

took about 4 hours including driving and he called me three times to

see when I was coming back. She said what I already know, that I need

to change my diet and lifestyle. I know what I have to do, I just

don't have the willpower or support to do it. She said just take baby

steps and work on one or two things at at time. Concentrate on myself

and hopefully the family will follow my example. She is anti-dairy. I

told her that is one of the few healthy things that I can get into my

kids. She said cow's milk is bad, even the raw milk, but then on her

list of foods that keep you young, she has buttermilk, yogurt and

cottage cheese?? So I have to ask her about that. I hope I don't have

to give up my raw milk because I love it and its one of the few good

things I can get the kids to drink. So I will let you know of my

progress and future appointments. Thanks for helping me find her.

 

Melanie

[Guest guest]

Chinese Traditional Medicine , " Melanie " <jermelkramer wrote:

>

> She is anti-dairy. I

> told her that is one of the few healthy things that I can get into my

> kids. She said cow's milk is bad, even the raw milk, but then on her

> list of foods that keep you young, she has buttermilk, yogurt and

> cottage cheese?? So I have to ask her about that. I hope I don't have

> to give up my raw milk because I love it and its one of the few good

> things I can get the kids to drink. So I will let you know of my

> progress and future appointments. Thanks for helping me find her.

 

The reason these dairy products are on the okay list, is because

they're cultured. That changes the enzymes and makes them more easily

digested. Dairy isn't necessarily as healthy as we think; yes, it's

high in calcium, but it's proteins interfere with the absorption of

it. Other foods are higher in calcium than dairy products. Raw milk is

better than pasteurized though, and more easily digested. She's right

about the baby steps; it's easier to make drastic changes in what you

eat by doing it a little bit at a time.

 

sue

[Guest guest]

That sounds good to me =) How much closer will she be moving to you?

That is quite a drive. I drive about 3 hours round trip to my appt

plus the actual visit every 2 weeks, so I know what that is like.

 

Sounds like you had a really good acupuncture treatment, and yeah the

needles don't hurt. One of two things I've found hurt, the idea of

needles, and if you have alot of stagnation of energy in that channel

or point.

 

Also different people have different things they are picky about.

Sounds like she really has seen some not so good things about milk.

In all honesty it may or may not be that big of a deal, but that

doesn't matter if you are going to see her. She thinks it's a big

deal, so an agreement will have to be come to. Some TCM docs are

quite intolerant of deviation, while others tolerate certain types

better. This also depends greatly on the patient, and what the Dr

feels the patient needs to heal, as some really need structure in

their lives even if it isn't about something too important. The

pattern of structure is more important in some situations rather than

what the issue seems to be about.

 

I apologise if this isn't helpful, but honestly this statement " I know

what I have to do, I just don't have the willpower or support to do

it. " sounds like you've failed already =P I know this isn't what you

mean and you are trying to describe something, but sometimes the words

we use can mean alot more than we think about. Maybe try using

different words.... this is called affermation (truely believe, and

live like something is going to happen and it will).

 

Also one other thing... this sort of lack of decisiveness and will

power, from what I have read, seems to be related to a damp spleen

problem. It seems depression can also come from that sort of

condition too. If this is indeed your condition, you will want to cut

down on the fatty greasy sweet junk food types of calories, and that

will help alot. Some other members will probably have good advice too

=). If your condition is excess and you find yourself worrying alot,

something like green tea will probably also help.

 

Chinese Traditional Medicine , " Melanie " <jermelkramer wrote:

>

> I finally got to one of the TCM's you posted. She was pretty far

> away, and I got lost on the way, but she is soon opening another

> practice closer to me!! She was very nice and we seem quite

> compatable. I really didn't get to go over all my symptoms with her,

> but she said it sounds like I am depressed and that is can have

> physical symptoms. She wants me to come weekly, but I really can't

> afford that, plus the drive. I really enjoyed the acupuncture. It was

> so relaxing and you don't even feel the needles. So I told her two

> weeks. I didn't tell my husband yet. He will probably have a fit. It

> took about 4 hours including driving and he called me three times to

> see when I was coming back. She said what I already know, that I need

> to change my diet and lifestyle. I know what I have to do, I just

> don't have the willpower or support to do it. She said just take baby

> steps and work on one or two things at at time. Concentrate on myself

> and hopefully the family will follow my example. She is anti-dairy. I

> told her that is one of the few healthy things that I can get into my

> kids. She said cow's milk is bad, even the raw milk, but then on her

> list of foods that keep you young, she has buttermilk, yogurt and

> cottage cheese?? So I have to ask her about that. I hope I don't have

> to give up my raw milk because I love it and its one of the few good

> things I can get the kids to drink. So I will let you know of my

> progress and future appointments. Thanks for helping me find her.

>

> Melanie

>

[Guest guest]

Chinese Traditional Medicine , " mrasmm " <mrasmm wrote:

>

> Also one other thing... this sort of lack of decisiveness and will

> power, from what I have read, seems to be related to a damp spleen

> problem. It seems depression can also come from that sort of

> condition too.

 

This needs to be emphasized and discussed a lot. Healers please keep

in mind that in some cases clients are going to have imbalances that

work against following suggestions. Two I've mentioned on here is

that people who are Yin Deficient often have problems learning to

meditate until the Yin Deficiency is somewhat corrected, and people

who are very Spleen Deficient don't have the energy to exercise

(unless it's some special Qi Gong exercises) and furthermore run the

risk of further weakening the Spleen if they force themselves to

exercies before they have enough Qi.

 

Getting back to a lack of resoluteness and willpower, in addition to

possible Spleen problems, the Kidneys can play a role as Will resides

in the Kidneys. Giovanni Maciocia writes, " This means that the

Kidneys determine our will power. If the Kidneys are strong, the

Will Power will be strong, the Mind will be focused on goals that it

sets itself and it will pursue them in a single-minded way.

Conversely, if the Kidneys are weak, Will Power will be lacking and

the Mind will be easily discouraged and swayed from its aims. Lack

of will power and motivation are often important aspects of mental

depression and tonification of the Kidneys will often give very good

results. " (The Foundations of , 1st. ed., p.98.)

 

The Gall Bladder also can play a role:

 

" While the Liver is said to control the ability of planning one's

life, the Gall Bladder controls the capacity to make decisions. The

two functions have to be harmonized so that we can plan and act

accordingly.

 

" Besides controlling decision-making, the Gall Bladder is also said

to give an individual courage and initiative. For this reason, in

Chinese, there are several expression such as 'big gall bladder'

meaning 'courageous' and 'small gall bladder' meaning 'timid or

fearful'.

 

" This is an important function of the Gall Bladder on a psychological

level. It controls the spirit of initiative, the 'drive' and the

courage to take decisions and make changes. Although as we have

seen, the Kidneys also control the 'drive' and vitality, the Gall

Bladder gives us the capacity to turn this drive and vitality into

positive and decisive action. Thus a deficient Gall Bladder will

cause indecision, timidity and the affected person will be easily

discouraged at the slightest adversity.

 

" The Gall Bladder provides the courage for the Mind, governmed by the

Heart, to carry out decisions. This reflects the Mother-Child

relationship existing between Gall Bladder and Heart according to the

5 Elements. In case of weak Mind from Heart deficiency, it is often

necessary to tonify the Gall Bladder to support the Heart. " (p. 116.)

 

Readers who are new to TCM, don't worry about what 5 Elements theory

is. That's info for the students on the list.

 

Melanie, did the acupunturists tell you what your TCM imbalances are?

[Guest guest]

On Apr 5, 2007, at 9:18, Melanie wrote:

 

> She said what I already know, that I need

> to change my diet and lifestyle. I know what I have to do, I just

> don't have the willpower or support to do it.

 

It's worth remembering that cravings, even extreme ones, are simply

the body's attempt at correcting imbalances. The willpower issue will

likely disappear when balance is restored.

 

Good luck!

Ariel

 

------

Ariel Frailich

Ginseng Press, publisher of " The Chinese Almanac "

http://www.ginsengpress.com

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Chinese Traditional Medicine , " victoria_dragon "

<victoria_dragon wrote:

>

> Melanie, did the acupunturists tell you what your TCM imbalances are?

>

She said probably my spleen. I go back next Weds. the 18th, so

hopefully get more news and another treatment. I didn't get to tell

her all my symptoms. Yes I hope she gets her new place up and running

soon. She will be about a half hour away then!! BTW, my energy levels

have improved since my visit. I don't feel I have to lay down all the

time and I am more focused as well. Thanks for all the tips you

guys. )

 

Melanie

[Guest guest]

Chinese Traditional Medicine , " Melanie " <jermelkramer

wrote:

> BTW, my energy levels

> have improved since my visit. I don't feel I have to lay down all the

> time and I am more focused as well.

 

This is great! It's also only the beginning. Other changes for the

better will start to unfold.

 

As your clinical picture changes, the treatment will change.