Spleen and Stomach

[Guest guest]

There is an interesting book written by Li DOng Yuan called Pi Wei Lun.

He was sort of a revolutioner in TCM at his time.

Li dong yuan in 'Pi wei lun' said: The old formulas were made for

their time, as things change(environment, diet, lifestyle etc)new

formulas and treatments have to be developed.

 

I like a lot what he said, because I feel it is true but I seldomly see

practicioners change or adjust a lot in their approach to treatment

modern China. But some people I know abroad are using their rudimental

knowledge of herbal theory and create pretty effective formulas by

mixing their herbs as they feel may match.

 

One thing for example in todays societies Piwei xu due to malnutrition

is quite rare isn't it? So does it still make sense to tonify that

much? Especially tonifying spleen and kidney.I don't see much

neccessity whatsoever for most patients even when deficient to use all

the tonifiers, especially Ginseng and the like. They often appear in

bad spirits, depressed, burned out, energy-less,but not deficient, it

is just that their Fu Organs are overloaded all the way down, making

them lazy, containing too much load to bowl properly. It seems more to

be important to clear all the rubbish out first, make sure that when

the stomach gets full, the small intestine is empty, and when the

stomach has passed on the well 'prepared food to the small intestine,

it stays empty for a while, to maintain all Fu organs well functioning.

( the xu shi thing of the Neijing).

regards,Steve

[Guest guest]

Dear Zev,

 

You are right, there are more reasons than only malnutrition in the Pi

wei lun.

I see you are quite knowledgeable, may I ask you, whether you think

that the old formulas can still be used?

As you say, taxation in all areas is until now very common, so is there

any difference between then and now?

I am just trying to figure out, if I can use what I learn in the

classics.

Regards and Thanks

Steve

[Guest guest]

Not only can the 'old formulas' be used, they are the mainstay of

many people's practices. Bu zhong yi qi tang is perhaps one of the

most commonly used formulas. Also, such modern product lines as Blue

Poppy Herbs and my own Alembic Herbals are inspired by Li Dongyuan's

prescriptions.

 

There are a number of factors, of course, that differ in modern post-

industrial societies from the Jin-Yuan era that need to be taken into

account, but that would require a long essay, not a short e-mail

posting.

 

Since the classics are based on li lun, or principle, they can still

be applied to modern conditions.

 

 

On Jun 8, 2005, at 11:29 PM, Stefan wrote:

 

> You are right, there are more reasons than only malnutrition in the Pi

> wei lun.

> I see you are quite knowledgeable, may I ask you, whether you think

> that the old formulas can still be used?

> As you say, taxation in all areas is until now very common, so is

> there

> any difference between then and now?

> I am just trying to figure out, if I can use what I learn in the

> classics.

> Regards and Thanks

> Steve

>

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Chinese Medicine , " Stefan "

<littleprince_s>

wrote:

> > I see you are quite knowledgeable, may I ask you, whether you think

> that the old formulas can still be used?

>

 

I second Z'ev's response and would add that in Japanese Kanpo medicine the vast

majority

of the formulas used are from Shang Han Lun/Jin Gui Yao Lue and He Ji Ju Fang,

all of

which predate the Pi Wei Lun. Of course there are formulas from Li and Zhu and

some

more recent (but still " classical " ) formulas from Gong Ding Xian which are used

commonly

as well.

 

In Japan, the formulas are used unmodified from the classical sources and are

applied to a

wide range of conditions which were unknown before the modern era; certainly the

practice of formula modification used in China broadens the potential scope of

each

formula that much further.

 

robert hayden

[Guest guest]

I emphatically agree. I would add that the original use of such

formulas as chai hu jia long gu mu li tang/bupleurum, dragon bone and

oyster shell decoction was limited to a complex disorder (transmuted

pattern) caused by the use of precipitating da huang/rhubarb

prescriptions, called a combination disease of tai yang, yang ming

and shao yang channels. In modern practice, the prescription is used

for a wide range of emotional/psychological disorders not related to

the original conditions that inspired it.

 

 

On Jun 9, 2005, at 8:37 AM, kampo36 wrote:

 

> In Japan, the formulas are used unmodified from the classical

> sources and are applied to a

> wide range of conditions which were unknown before the modern era;

> certainly the

> practice of formula modification used in China broadens the

> potential scope of each

> formula that much further.

>

> robert hayden