anxiety and panic disorder

December 17, 2007

I have major depression panic disorder and generalized anxiety. Would

this be associated with other organs in addition to the brain in TCM?

The liver being the major detoxer would it need to be cleansed first?

How would these conditions be diagnosed by the 8 systems the taoists

usesd to diagnose? This diagnosis is by my psychiatrist btw so I

believe I have been properly diagnosed in modern medicine. What would

be the TCM diagnosis?

Bill

December 18, 2007

On Dec 17, 2007 2:09 PM, Bill Cunningham <billcu4 wrote:

>

> I have major depression panic disorder and generalized anxiety. Would

> this be associated with other organs in addition to the brain in TCM?

>

Hi Bill,

Firstly, there are many different takes on this sort of thing. TCM is a

particular style that is commonly taught in China and in most of the schools

in the West as well. However, there are other systems out there too.

That being said, I do TCM, so here's what I have to say about your

panic/anxiety. In most (if not all) approaches, this is an indication of

some sort of Heart disorder. (I capitalize it to remind you that this isn't

just a pump for the blood, but also stores the spirit which links it to some

emotional and cognitive functions.)

Speaking in general terms, any problem we have can be due to too much of

something or not enough of something. In the case of panic or anxiety, heat

originating just about anywhere in the body can give rise to some

cognitive/emotional issues should that heat rise up to the heart. However

this heat usually gives rise to restlessness and irritability, not panic or

anxiety. Thing is, with these emotional differentiations, you may actually

have restlessness but are calling it anxiety. I've treated many people for

what they call depression, but I call apathy, so the words we choose are not

always the best way to describe things.

The other cause for Heart problems is deficiency. This comes down to yin,

yang, qi, or blood. It could be more than one thing too.

>

> The liver being the major detoxer would it need to be cleansed first?

>

No, please don't jump to " liver cleanse " or " detox " . The whole concept of

the liver cleanse is being fueled by product manufacturers who sell products

to this end. Most of these products are somewhat benign, but some are not.

Just as importantly, you could be wasting your money on something that has

no effect on your anxiety. Now, that isn't to say that these products don't

work for some, everything works for " some " . My point is simply that these

products being marketed to these ends have nothing to do with the TCM

approach.

There are very specific indications for herbs that clear toxicity from the

body in TCM. 9 times out of 10, the key indication for toxicity is pus as

you would see in a localized infection. Acne for instance when it is acute

is a toxic heat problem. The other 1 time out of ten, there is no pus, but

it is not the default go-to problem that many believe it is.

>

> How would these conditions be diagnosed by the 8 systems the taoists

> usesd to diagnose?

>

If there is heat in the Heart, that is EXCESS. But usually the anxiety comes

from a DEFICIENCY of something. If there is EXCESS, it is probably HEAT that

is effecting the Heart (consistent with five element theory too). COLD in

the Heart would more likely result in chest pain than anxiety. Because this

is not something that you caught from someone else, or was the result of

banging your chest on something, this is not considered an EXTERNAL problem,

but an INTERNAL one. As for YIN and YANG, that isn't as simply stated in all

caps.

> This diagnosis is by my psychiatrist btw so I

> believe I have been properly diagnosed in modern medicine. What would

> be the TCM diagnosis?

>

Here's a basic list of all the things it could be:

1. Heart qi deficiency

2. Heart and Kidney yin deficiency

3. Heart blood and Spleen qi deficiency

4. Heart qi and yin deficiency

5. Heart and Gall Bladder qi deficiency

6. Phlegm heat

The first four overlap somewhat. These will be worse when you're tired or

are working too hard. #5 is constitutional, something that you were born

with. Option #6 is going to favor that restlessness that I mentioned above.

#1 and #3 could have a pale tongue body color.

#2 and #4 could have a red tongue body color. (normal is pink)

#5 will make you " timid " and easily startled. Probably a light sleeper too.

#6 might manifest with some bloating and red or orange color in the face.

(alcoholism?)

So, our goal is to differentiate which of the above fits your pattern the

best, then we have a treatment principle and stuff we can do for you.

You'll notice that not one of these options include anything to do with the

Liver (or liver).

-al.

--

, DAOM

Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.

December 21, 2007

Chinese Traditional Medicine , " Al Stone " <al wrote:

>

> On Dec 17, 2007 2:09 PM, Bill Cunningham <billcu4 wrote:

>

> >

> > I have major depression panic disorder and generalized anxiety.

Would

> > this be associated with other organs in addition to the brain in

TCM?

> Hi Bill,

>

> Firstly, there are many different takes on this sort of thing. TCM

is a

> particular style that is commonly taught in China and in most of

the schools

> in the West as well. However, there are other systems out there too.

>

> That being said, I do TCM, so here's what I have to say about your

> panic/anxiety. In most (if not all) approaches, this is an

indication of

> some sort of Heart disorder. (I capitalize it to remind you that

this isn't

> just a pump for the blood, but also stores the spirit which links

it to some

> emotional and cognitive functions.)

>

> Speaking in general terms, any problem we have can be due to too

much of

> something or not enough of something. In the case of panic or

anxiety, heat

> originating just about anywhere in the body can give rise to some

> cognitive/emotional issues should that heat rise up to the heart.

However

> this heat usually gives rise to restlessness and irritability, not

panic or

> anxiety. Thing is, with these emotional differentiations, you may

actually

> have restlessness but are calling it anxiety. I've treated many

people for

> what they call depression, but I call apathy, so the words we

choose are not

> always the best way to describe things.

>

> The other cause for Heart problems is deficiency. This comes down

to yin,

> yang, qi, or blood. It could be more than one thing too.

>

> >

> > The liver being the major detoxer would it need to be cleansed

first?

> >

>

> No, please don't jump to " liver cleanse " or " detox " . The whole

concept of

> the liver cleanse is being fueled by product manufacturers who sell

products

> to this end. Most of these products are somewhat benign, but some

are not.

> Just as importantly, you could be wasting your money on something

that has

> no effect on your anxiety. Now, that isn't to say that these

products don't

> work for some, everything works for " some " . My point is simply that

these

> products being marketed to these ends have nothing to do with the

TCM

> approach.

>

> There are very specific indications for herbs that clear toxicity

from the

> body in TCM. 9 times out of 10, the key indication for toxicity is

pus as

> you would see in a localized infection. Acne for instance when it

is acute

> is a toxic heat problem. The other 1 time out of ten, there is no

pus, but

> it is not the default go-to problem that many believe it is.

>

> >

> > How would these conditions be diagnosed by the 8 systems the

taoists

> > usesd to diagnose?

> If there is heat in the Heart, that is EXCESS. But usually the

anxiety comes

> from a DEFICIENCY of something. If there is EXCESS, it is probably

HEAT that

> is effecting the Heart (consistent with five element theory too).

COLD in

> the Heart would more likely result in chest pain than anxiety.

Because this

> is not something that you caught from someone else, or was the

result of

> banging your chest on something, this is not considered an EXTERNAL

problem,

> but an INTERNAL one. As for YIN and YANG, that isn't as simply

stated in all

> caps.

>

> > This diagnosis is by my psychiatrist btw so I

> > believe I have been properly diagnosed in modern medicine. What

would

> > be the TCM diagnosis?

> Here's a basic list of all the things it could be:

>

> 1. Heart qi deficiency

> 2. Heart and Kidney yin deficiency

> 3. Heart blood and Spleen qi deficiency

> 4. Heart qi and yin deficiency

> 5. Heart and Gall Bladder qi deficiency

> 6. Phlegm heat

>

> The first four overlap somewhat. These will be worse when you're

tired or

> are working too hard. #5 is constitutional, something that you were

born

> with. Option #6 is going to favor that restlessness that I

mentioned above.

>

> #1 and #3 could have a pale tongue body color.

> #2 and #4 could have a red tongue body color. (normal is pink)

> #5 will make you " timid " and easily startled. Probably a light

sleeper too.

> #6 might manifest with some bloating and red or orange color in the

face.

> (alcoholism?)

>

> So, our goal is to differentiate which of the above fits your

pattern the

> best, then we have a treatment principle and stuff we can do for

you.

>

> You'll notice that not one of these options include anything to do

with the

> Liver (or liver).

>

> -al.

> --

> , DAOM

> Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.

>

Something else I have developed under emotional strain now is

hypertension. I am also a bit overweight for my frame.

Bill

December 21, 2007

Also I noticed you didn't mention the liver. There are so many chi's

though yang/yin concepts. Organ energies. 5 directions as they are in

man. What do you recommend I do? I also do drink alot of that diet soda

drinks.

I have access to herbs in bulk not from CHina, but they exhibit the

same characteristics. Alterntives, vermifuges, etc

Bill

December 21, 2007

I notice you didn't mention the Brain at all. Phlegmatic heat? I am

familiar with the humors. I would like to fix this problem once and for

all and get away from prescription meds. I do not like their side

effects. I am a bit jumpy or " timid " .

December 21, 2007

Chinese Traditional Medicine , " Bill Cunningham " <billcu4

wrote:

>

> Also I noticed you didn't mention the liver.

I believe he did mention the liver and the Liver. He posted about

detoxing the liver usually not being helpful, and I believe he

mentioned that he didn't think it was a Liver imbalance.

Al's extremely savvy. He doesn't just have a private acupuncture

practice, he doesn't just teach at a TCM college, he's an instructor

who oversees TCM students in clinc. His clinical experience is very

great. I'd concentrate on learning about and considering what he

mentioned as possibilities. IF on the off chance it turns out to not be

one of those, other things will be explored.

BTW, I believe the " brain " roughly falls under the concept of the

Kidneys in TCM. I believe he mentioned possible Kidney imbalance.

(The names of TCM Organs are capitalized because they refer not to the

anatomical organ but to collections of functions.)

As for relating TCM to other medical systems, I wouldn't try to do that

at first. It's best to first learn TCM within the context of TCM,

becoming very familiar and comfortable with TCM concepts and

definitions. Later, once you have a firm TCM foundation, it will be

much easier to spot what I call the points of intersection between TCM

and other medical systems.

BTW, diet soda can be very hard on the Kidneys.

Victoria

December 22, 2007

On Dec 20, 2007 6:58 PM, Bill Cunningham <billcu4 wrote:

> Something else I have developed under emotional strain now is

hypertension. I am also a bit overweight for my frame.

The syndromes that can give rise to anxiety were mentioned already, but

there can be some variations too. Again, a lot of times, what one person is

calling " anxiety " is what another would call " restlessness " . The way that we

interpret our somatizations varies greatly. In other words, when we have an

emotion, it generates physical sensations. We apply certain words to these

sensations, but they don't always agree between two people. So, if you are

really stressed out and there's a lot of unexpressed frustration that is

causing your chest to tighten and perhaps cause to sigh frequently, you

could call that " anxiety " but a TCM doc might rather treat you for

" restlessness " .

> Also I noticed you didn't mention the liver. There are so many chi's

though yang/yin concepts. Organ energies. 5 directions as they are in man.

What do you recommend I do? I also do drink alot of that diet soda

drinks.

That stress leading to stagnation leading to heat that enters the Heart is a

Liver pattern. But like I say, that's not where I immediately go in treating

" anxiety " . It still may apply to you, though.

Diet soda is some whacky stuff. You know that didn't grow on no tree!

Alcohol has a warm nature too that can generate restlessness or anxiety in

its wake. You a beer drinker too?

> I have access to herbs in bulk not from CHina, but they exhibit the same

characteristics. Alterntives, vermifuges, etc

I don't think you need to reach for any vermifuge yet. Let's see if we

can't figure out what might work best for you first.

> I notice you didn't mention the Brain at all. Phlegmatic heat? I am

familiar with the humors. I would like to fix this problem once and for all

and get away from prescription meds. I do not like their side

effects. I am a bit jumpy or " timid " .

In TCM, the Heart stores the spirit, and so many cognitive and/or emotional

issues can be addressed through the Heart. I'll add to what Victoria wrote

below.

The " humors " that you're talking about is traditional Greek medicine. TGM

and TCM have some similarities such as looking at nature and looking at the

human body with the same eyes. But beyond that, the terms " phlegm " have

quite different in meanings.

On Dec 21, 2007 2:13 PM, victoria_dragon <victoria_dragon wrote:

> I believe he did mention the liver and the Liver. He posted about

> detoxing the liver usually not being helpful, and I believe he mentioned

> that he didn't think it was a Liver imbalance.

>

Right, but of course stagnation could be part of what's going on here, but

definitely not a toxicity issue.

>

> Victoria added:

>

> Al's extremely savvy.

>

Don't forget good looking!

>

> BTW, I believe the " brain " roughly falls under the concept of the

> Kidneys in TCM. I believe he mentioned possible Kidney imbalance.

> (The names of TCM Organs are capitalized because they refer not to the

> anatomical organ but to collections of functions.)

>

In the functions of the organs that we're taught in TCM school, the brain

is, as Victoria describes, related mostly to the Kidneys by virtue of their

being the source of " marrow " in the body, and the brain being known as the

" sea of marrow " .

Later on in the evolution of TCM, they did begin to see the brain has having

some cognitive (thinking) functions. this is like in the 1700's and 1800's.

But going back a little bit further, we can look at the functions of many of

the organs as having some relationship with cognitive functions. Certainly

if the Spleen isn't working well, there will be a deficiency of qi and blood

leading to lightheadedness or unclear thinking. Or the Heart because of its

storage of the spirit is implicated in some states of dementia (and

enlightenment).

So, I think of the Kidneys relationship to the brain like the hard disc on a

computer. Its the physical stuff, the hardware. The Heart then would be more

like the operating system, its a base fundamental function that determines

how everything else looks such as the background image or the appearance of

the windows. Finally, the Spleen storing the " yi " or conscious thought would

be more like installed software.

I'm really bending, folding, and mutilating the basic information here for

the sake of a good analogy, and there are many ways to organize how the

different organs all work together to create thought, clarity, insight, and

other cognitive functions. Results may vary.

Anyway, Bill. I've gotten a few private emails from you, let's take this

off-list and later on you can come back and describe your findings if TCM

was able to help you out.

Honestly, I don't recall if I mentioned this before, but anxiety is hard to

treat. Not because it is especially stubborn, but because it is a Heart

pathology, it really effects people and they'll take just about anything to

fix it. Patience is not the strong suit in someone with anxiety and so

they'll be grabbing at whatever remedy sounds good at the time and not allow

any one approach a therapeutically significant amount of time to fix it.

Its completely understandable too. Anxiety effects the Heart and it is more

than pain, it causes an inability to be okay with the present moment. This

pushes you in to constant activity attempting to alleviate that sensation in

your chest or wherever it may be. This constant activity is attracted to new

and improved therapies and this is where we can leave therapies before

they've had a chance to work. So don't do that.

-al.

--

, DAOM

Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.

December 22, 2007

Chinese Traditional Medicine , " Al Stone " <al wrote:

> Honestly, I don't recall if I mentioned this before, but anxiety is

hard to

> treat. Not because it is especially stubborn, but because it is a

Heart

> pathology, it really effects people and they'll take just about

anything to

> fix it.

One non-TCM possibility in relation to anxiety is sensitivity to OTC

and prescription antihistamines. For these people going off

antihistamines or finding one they can tolerate will stop the anxiety.

Breathing problems can result in anxiety. This includes very mild

breathing problems. This may or may not be due to Lung imblance.

(There are a number of TCM imbalances that can cause trouble

breathing, and not all of them are Lung imbalances. For example,

Kidneys Refusing to Receive Qi.)

Back misaligment can trigger breathing problems which trigger

anxiety. If this is due to trauma, a chiropractor or DO is needed.

If the back keeps gettin pulled out of alignment because the person

is unusually sensitive to Cold and the muscles stay overly contracted

as a result, that may be a TCM problem. One of the possibilities is

that the person is Protective Qi Deficient.

These are just some extra remarks on anxiety and probably have no

bearing on the case at hand. It's some of that general info on

anxiety that it's good to know.

> Its completely understandable too. Anxiety effects the Heart and it

is more

> than pain, it causes an inability to be okay with the present

moment.

I just wanted to emphasize this.

Victoria

December 22, 2007

> Diet soda is some whacky stuff. You know that didn't grow on no tree!

> Alcohol has a warm nature too that can generate restlessness or anxiety in

> its wake. You a beer drinker too?

I never touch alcohol.

>> I have access to herbs in bulk not from CHina, but they exhibit the same

> characteristics. Alterntives, vermifuges, etc

>

> I don't think you need to reach for any vermifuge yet. Let's see if we

> can't figure out what might work best for you first.

>

>> I notice you didn't mention the Brain at all. Phlegmatic heat? I am

> familiar with the humors. I would like to fix this problem once and for

> all

> and get away from prescription meds. I do not like their side

> effects. I am a bit jumpy or " timid " .

>

> In TCM, the Heart stores the spirit, and so many cognitive and/or

> emotional

> issues can be addressed through the Heart. I'll add to what Victoria wrote

> below.

>

> The " humors " that you're talking about is traditional Greek medicine. TGM

> and TCM have some similarities such as looking at nature and looking at

> the

> human body with the same eyes. But beyond that, the terms " phlegm " have

> quite different in meanings.

Hippocratic medicine mentions 4 humors. I think TCM mentions 3. They

might not be the same. Yes the Greeks talked about black and yellow bile,

phlegm and blood. Maybe this is dirty blood ? No leeches though just herbs

Bill

December 23, 2007

Chinese Traditional Medicine , " Bill

Cunningham " <billcu4 wrote:

>

> I have major depression panic disorder and generalized anxiety.

Would

> this be associated with other organs in addition to the brain in

TCM?

> The liver being the major detoxer would it need to be cleansed

first?

> How would these conditions be diagnosed by the 8 systems the

taoists

> usesd to diagnose? This diagnosis is by my psychiatrist btw so I

> believe I have been properly diagnosed in modern medicine. What

would

> be the TCM diagnosis?

>

> Bill

>

Hello Bill,

In your quest for answers to your health, lets begin by taking a

break from your journey. Stop all movement, take some deep breaths

and just let these thoughts flow within you.

Today we hear we need to " think outside the box " , in which case we

find many of us are looking for healing everywhere but " inside the

box " .

In answer to your question which is first, healing begins with

cleansing your mind, ( " the box inside " ).

Take a look at why this this is true.

As your mind OK's and releases a thought process, an energy pattern

is released thru the body that will fulfill that process.

To fulfill this thought process all your organs are involved as each

thought has many parts and each organ completes a certain part.

In progression each organ OK's it part and then this part is passed

on to the next organ as a buiding block until the whole thought

process is complete.

In the case of depression and anxiety the loop has been stopped or

slowed by one of the organs which has not agreed to pass on it's

part. This then slows down the whole loop causing congestion and

chaos, just like a wreck does on our freeways.

So healing begins as you work with your mind Doctor thru resolve to

find the component part of your thought process that is refusing to

release it's part, so that the completion of the whole can take place.

Only then with your permission to go forward can true healing begin.

Now your Tcm Doctor can link those thoughts with an organ that

has stopped the traffic. He can help bring calmness and soothing to

this organ as the healing begins.

Aso this troubled organ and all other organs can then be cleaned up

from any heat,dampness or blockages etc.

Now the refueling and rebuilding of the organs systems can be

sustainable with careful maintance, if it is not to late.

One other note, drinking cold drinks is typical to cool the internal

body from the built up heat in your liver, heart,etc. Also the

bubbles help more yet because they increase the available surface

area to grab the heat.

Reverend Mark Hoffman

Psysoenergetics of Healing.

December 31, 2007

Hi Bill,

I don't have what you would call panic disorder, but I have been

following your posts on the topic of anxiety . . .

I can relate to the anxiety in the sense of restlessness. And a

constant worrying which is related to Spleen-Pancreas which is what I

assumed they were going to tell me at my last session. Turns out that

I have a build up of heat in various organs due to qi stagnation. I

had stomach heat, painful periods, and various other problems which

you would think were unrelated to the anxiety in a western mindset.

I believe the qi stagnation was more of an overall thing rather than

in any particular TCM organ. I can feel it in my chest as a feeling

of being about to boil over or like a simmering pot. Not heat really,

but a pressure. I started running to relieve it a bit, but sometimes

it helps sometimes it doesn't. But it gives me a sense of

accomplishment nevertheless. I also tried eating a simpler diet

based on rice and veggies, but I was always famished and craving

richer food. They said that was stomach heat. But I'll keep trying,

it's hard around the holidays.

The clinicians at the clinic also look at sleep patterns. Sleep

seems to be closely related to Heart problems and they should want to

know if you fall asleep easily, do you sleep restfully and how easy

or difficult is it for you to wake up. What time do you wake up if

you wake up in the middle of the night, that kind of thing.

I have had trouble sleeping for going on a year now actually. Now in

addition to moving the stagnation, I guess we are working on

tonifying Yin with a patent herb formula with Rehmannia. I have

noticed a difference, although I am falling asleep during the day,

too. I have chronic knee problems which it relieved also if you

believe that.

I need to lay off the diet cokes and it sounds like my alcohol

consumption (to get to sleep) is not helping with the inadequate yin

situation. Bill, it may help to read, " The Web That Has No Weaver "

to get some perspective on TCM philosophy. I think it emphasizes a

bit to much the mystical rather than the practical aspects of chinese

medicine. I think people assume that I'm a New Ager when they hear

of my interest in TCM, but I have just discovered that TCM is just

one of the best tools to achieve overall wellness.

Happy New Year!

Syria

Chinese Traditional Medicine , " Bill Cunningham "

<billcu4 wrote:

>

> > Diet soda is some whacky stuff. You know that didn't grow on no

tree!

> > Alcohol has a warm nature too that can generate restlessness or

anxiety in

> > its wake. You a beer drinker too?

>

> I never touch alcohol.

>

> >> I have access to herbs in bulk not from CHina, but they exhibit

the same

> > characteristics. Alterntives, vermifuges, etc

> >

> > I don't think you need to reach for any vermifuge yet. Let's

see if we

> > can't figure out what might work best for you first.

> >

> >> I notice you didn't mention the Brain at all. Phlegmatic heat? I

am

> > familiar with the humors. I would like to fix this problem once

and for

> > all

> > and get away from prescription meds. I do not like their side

> > effects. I am a bit jumpy or " timid " .

> >

> > In TCM, the Heart stores the spirit, and so many cognitive and/or

> > emotional

> > issues can be addressed through the Heart. I'll add to what

Victoria wrote

> > below.

> >

> > The " humors " that you're talking about is traditional Greek

medicine. TGM

> > and TCM have some similarities such as looking at nature and

looking at

> > the

> > human body with the same eyes. But beyond that, the

terms " phlegm " have

> > quite different in meanings.

>

> Hippocratic medicine mentions 4 humors. I think TCM mentions 3.

They

> might not be the same. Yes the Greeks talked about black and yellow

bile,

> phlegm and blood. Maybe this is dirty blood ? No leeches though

just herbs

>

> Bill

>

January 1, 2008

Chinese Traditional Medicine , " syriajboyd " <syriajboyd

wrote:

>

> Hi Bill,

>

> I don't have what you would call panic disorder, but I have been

> following your posts on the topic of anxiety . . .

<snip>

Panic disorder is an intense feeling of fear and it rises to a

peak and then subsides. It is usually accompanied by and with me

this is so, a drawing up and trembling. Western medicine calls it

convulsions not to be confused with seizures that accompany

neurological disorders. I must get this fixed and I have decided to

work with Al Stone on this. Any progress I make I will report to the

group for the benefit of all. I have alot of my panic attacks under

control with medication now so I don't feel like I'm dying anymore.

I am thinking that stress has cause this problem to begin with.

Bill

January 2, 2008

Oh, thanks for the clarification. I think what I have might be more

classified as a generalized anxiety disorder. I am experiencing good

relief already in my treatment and I am sure Al will be of great

help. Look forward to hearing your progress and what you do for self-

care. sjb

Chinese Traditional Medicine , " Bill Cunningham "

<billcu4 wrote:

>

> Chinese Traditional Medicine , " syriajboyd " <syriajboyd@>

> wrote:

> >

> > Hi Bill,

> >

> > I don't have what you would call panic disorder, but I have been

> > following your posts on the topic of anxiety . . .

>

> <snip>

>

> Panic disorder is an intense feeling of fear and it rises to a

> peak and then subsides. It is usually accompanied by and with me

> this is so, a drawing up and trembling. Western medicine calls it

> convulsions not to be confused with seizures that accompany

> neurological disorders. I must get this fixed and I have decided to

> work with Al Stone on this. Any progress I make I will report to

the

> group for the benefit of all. I have alot of my panic attacks under

> control with medication now so I don't feel like I'm dying anymore.

> I am thinking that stress has cause this problem to begin with.

>

> Bill

>

January 3, 2008

-

" syriajboyd " <syriajboyd

Wednesday, January 02, 2008 11:28 AM

[Chinese Traditional Medicine] Re: anxiety and panic disorder

Oh, thanks for the clarification. I think what I have might be more

classified as a generalized anxiety disorder. I am experiencing good

relief already in my treatment and I am sure Al will be of great

help. Look forward to hearing your progress and what you do for self-

care. sjb

Yes that seems to be what you are experiencing and I have that too.

Generalized anxiety is the proper western diagnosis from DSM IV-TR.

Bill

January 4, 2008

Hi Syria,

I just thought to offer a recipe, don't know if accessing the ingredients

might be an issue, though, but I think they're common enough to find.

If you're into drinking green tea, put in some dried hawthorn, jujube, and

wolfberry, add in a few slices of American ginseng to brew. Drink it as you

would diet coke.

I want to stress that hawthorn is good for circulation - especially improving

the condition of the blood vessels by cleaning away fatty deposits, so as an

aside, if you're one to munch on rich foods, this tea helps to counter the

effects. For many Chinese families during holidays, when it's just an endless

parade of grease food, the mothers would always nag (to death) to drink the tea

afterward as a safety measure.

Plus, hawthorn is kinda miraculous, if you're able to visit a chinese

supermarket, go to the sweets section, you will see cube after cube of dried

candied fruits. There is one, called Hawthorn Cake, which are these

quarter-sized slices of crunchy cookies, slightly sweet, with a taste like some

fruit cereal - again, mothers wanting to curb consumption of candies and

chocolate often buy these for children as snacks. What it does is it increases

production of saliva, stimulates appetite, not to mention with all the benefits

to the heart and circulation. Might be good for your friend too.

This is an interesting area for me - eating as both science and art, not

exclusive in and of themselves. What makes the tongue crave any one or

combination of the five tastes? How tasting good must also match feeling

healthy, to make eating come alive for the person. A little bit of Remy in me

(Ratatouille?)

Good luck!

Merl

syriajboyd <syriajboyd wrote: