My wife Chana and why I do what I do (or don't)

[Guest guest]

Hi Margie,

 

Thank you for your concern and I really appreciate your sensitivity.  I

absolutely agree with what I sense is underlying your thought:  Sometimes the

best medicine is a tincture of time,  and that more is definitely not better. 

Please understand, however, that what Chana suffers from is NOT a chronic

degenerative disorder. (Years ago, MS,  Parkinson's and other such diseases were

ruled out, and 5 different MRI's as well as CT, PET and EEGs could not find foci

of seizure activity).   Rather it is a very complex  functional syndrome of a

woman who her whole life has been driven to do more than she is capable, and who

hasn't learned to set boundaries for herself, to let go of control.  The best

way to describe the neurological aspect is to call it Sympathetic

Hypertonicity.  To use an analogy, it can be compared to a car thermostat that

doesn't work, that doesn't  regulate the engine's temperature and it burns

itself out.  Understand that

there are deep emotional traumas going back decades, long before we met thirty

years ago, which she carries inside. 

 

Margie,  we have tried going on  " herb and acupuncture vacations " and

clearly, her situation became worse.  Also, clearly, as I may have said, when

the formula is right, and the acupuncture is right, her symptoms improve,  she

becomes MUCH calmer and MUCH more focused, the frown line on her forehead

relaxes, and she smiles the most beautiful smile. . 

 

We walk around 3/4 mile nearly every day at a beautiful park close by our home,

and Chana has a voracious appetite: she loves to eat, and eats a wonderful

balanced diet of fish, chicken, and organic cooked vegetables and grains. 

Really, every system in her body works wonderfully, that is except for her

nervous system. 

 

To use the cliche, " been there, done that " would be condescending,

invalidating, and  unappreciative,  but by the same token, I believe that with

my very strong willed, very complex, and very beautiful (inside and out) wife

the approach that we are taking is slowly working.  Though it has been suggested

in the past by very sincere friends and professionals that perhaps I am imposing

my will on her and stifling her independence, I can assure you (as will other

family members and caregivers that know the situation intimately) that I am

not.  Some contend that she needs more stimulation, interaction with people and

artistic expression.  And before she became sick, BTW, she had a successful

career in opera and musical theater with starring roles in many productions. 

   But, Margie,  Chana is tired.  When she exerts herself more, she spasms more,

and the seizures occur more frequently.  She needs nurturing, stroking

(physically and

emotionally).  She is raw, exhausted, it is difficult for her to move by

herself,  and stimulation is precisely the wrong thing.  At least now.    I hope

that I have given you very important additional facets to my precious diamond,

and you understand better where I am coming from and why I do what I do.

 

Respectfully,

 

 

 

 

 

--- On Tue, 8/26/08, margi.macdonald <margi.macdonald wrote:

 

margi.macdonald <margi.macdonald

Re: an observation concerning phlegm vs. pathogenic fluids

Chinese Medicine

Tuesday, August 26, 2008, 5:00 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greetings from Brisbane, Australia.

 

I'm Margi Macdonald, a new member - have followed the many threads here

for the past week, and am thankful to be a part of this forum.

 

Yehuda, Chana's story has struck a chord, and I'm moved to hop in and

make a contribution.

 

In another - timely - thread Emmanuel Segmen wrote:

 

" First, do nothing exogenous. " Rest. Then adjust the basics of

lifestyle: diet, sleep, exercise. Then add practices: like tai ji or

just a walk in the park. Only after that if balance is not achieved,

try exogenous means: add medicine. "

 

I'm wondering if at this stage, it's appropriate for a time, to cease

all interventions, and simply observe Chana. It's evident that Chana's

patterns of disharmony have evolved markedly, and that there is now

extreme exhaustion. Being ill is debilitating, receiving constant

treatment can also be exhausting.

 

Many years ago, as an RN, I regularly observed a WSM physician cease

poly-pharmaceutical interventions in people with complex and protracted

disorders. He would then wait, and observe, and eventually recommence

treatment, but with very few pharmaceuticals. It was easier for

everyone to manage his simple, rather than complicated protocols.

 

I like that 'non-treatment' can for a time, be just as powerful

as 'treatment'. My practice interest is oncology, and if there's one

thing I've learnt along the way, it's that I need to discern when to

treat, and when not to.

 

If Chana requests to continue treatment, I might by now - for a little

while - choose the simplest path possible, and focus only on the

Kidney - its Yin, Yang, Qi, and Jing. No herbs, no needles, just a

little moxa to tonify. Nourishing Ki Yin will also support the Liver

and Heart, boosting Ki Yang will support all Zang-fu involved in fluid

transport, transformation, dispersion and descent. Nourishing Ki Qi

will boost Blood and Qi production, taking care of Jing will nourish

Chana's brain/CNS.

 

My TCM herbs professor came from a lineage of 'Spleen protectors'. She

would always remind us to support the Spleen - in all conditions - and

keep the centre strong. My keep-it-simple- response for Chana would be

no herbs for now, but a diet full of Spleen/Stomach- friendly foods.

 

I can't imagine what this has been like for you - Yehuda and Chana.

Thank-you for sharing your story with us.

 

Kind regards,

Margi Macdonald

 

www.luminahealth. com.au

info (AT) luminahealth (DOT) com.au

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Ahhh Yehuda

yes...

there is always room for love in this work!

Margi

 

 

Chinese Medicine , yehuda frischman

< wrote:

>

> Hi Margie,

>  

> Thank you for your concern and I really appreciate your

sensitivity.  I absolutely agree with what I sense is underlying your

thought:  Sometimes the best medicine is a tincture of time,  and

that more is definitely not better.  Please understand, however, that

what Chana suffers from is NOT a chronic degenerative

disorder. (Years ago, MS,  Parkinson's and other such diseases were

ruled out, and 5 different MRI's as well as CT, PET and EEGs could

not find foci of seizure activity).   Rather it is a very complex 

functional syndrome of a woman who her whole life has been driven to

do more than she is capable, and who hasn't learned to set boundaries

for herself, to let go of control.  The best way to describe the

neurological aspect is to call it Sympathetic Hypertonicity.  To use

an analogy, it can be compared to a car thermostat that doesn't work,

that doesn't  regulate the engine's temperature and it burns itself

out.  Understand that

> there are deep emotional traumas going back decades, long before

we met thirty years ago, which she carries inside. 

>  

> Margie,  we have tried going on  " herb and acupuncture vacations "

and clearly, her situation became worse.  Also, clearly, as I may

have said, when the formula is right, and the acupuncture is right,

her symptoms improve,  she becomes MUCH calmer and MUCH more focused,

the frown line on her forehead relaxes, and she smiles the most

beautiful smile. . 

>  

> We walk around 3/4 mile nearly every day at a beautiful park close

by our home, and Chana has a voracious appetite: she loves to eat,

and eats a wonderful balanced diet of fish, chicken, and organic

cooked vegetables and grains.  Really, every system in her body works

wonderfully, that is except for her nervous system. 

>  

> To use the cliche, " been there, done that " would be condescending,

invalidating, and  unappreciative,  but by the same token, I believe

that with my very strong willed, very complex, and very beautiful

(inside and out) wife the approach that we are taking is slowly

working.  Though it has been suggested in the past by very

sincere friends and professionals that perhaps I am imposing my will

on her and stifling her independence, I can assure you (as will other

family members and caregivers that know the situation intimately)

that I am not.  Some contend that she needs more stimulation,

interaction with people and artistic expression.  And before she

became sick, BTW, she had a successful career in opera and musical

theater with starring roles in many productions.     But, Margie, 

Chana is tired.  When she exerts herself more, she spasms more, and

the seizures occur more frequently.  She needs nurturing, stroking

(physically and

> emotionally).  She is raw, exhausted, it is difficult for her to

move by herself,  and stimulation is precisely the wrong thing.  At

least now.    I hope that I have given you very important

additional facets to my precious diamond, and you understand better

where I am coming from and why I do what I do.

>

> Respectfully,

>

>

>

>  

>

> --- On Tue, 8/26/08, margi.macdonald <margi.macdonald wrote:

>

> margi.macdonald <margi.macdonald

> Re: an observation concerning phlegm vs. pathogenic

fluids

> Chinese Medicine

> Tuesday, August 26, 2008, 5:00 PM

Greetings from Brisbane, Australia.

>

> I'm Margi Macdonald, a new member - have followed the many threads

here

> for the past week, and am thankful to be a part of this forum.

>

> Yehuda, Chana's story has struck a chord, and I'm moved to hop in

and

> make a contribution.

>

> In another - timely - thread Emmanuel Segmen wrote:

>

> " First, do nothing exogenous. " Rest. Then adjust the basics of

> lifestyle: diet, sleep, exercise. Then add practices: like tai ji

or

> just a walk in the park. Only after that if balance is not

achieved,

> try exogenous means: add medicine. "

>

> I'm wondering if at this stage, it's appropriate for a time, to

cease

> all interventions, and simply observe Chana. It's evident that

Chana's

> patterns of disharmony have evolved markedly, and that there is now

> extreme exhaustion. Being ill is debilitating, receiving constant

> treatment can also be exhausting.

>

> Many years ago, as an RN, I regularly observed a WSM physician

cease

> poly-pharmaceutical interventions in people with complex and

protracted

> disorders. He would then wait, and observe, and eventually

recommence

> treatment, but with very few pharmaceuticals. It was easier for

> everyone to manage his simple, rather than complicated protocols.

>

> I like that 'non-treatment' can for a time, be just as powerful

> as 'treatment'. My practice interest is oncology, and if there's

one

> thing I've learnt along the way, it's that I need to discern when

to

> treat, and when not to.

>

> If Chana requests to continue treatment, I might by now - for a

little

> while - choose the simplest path possible, and focus only on the

> Kidney - its Yin, Yang, Qi, and Jing. No herbs, no needles, just a

> little moxa to tonify. Nourishing Ki Yin will also support the

Liver

> and Heart, boosting Ki Yang will support all Zang-fu involved in

fluid

> transport, transformation, dispersion and descent. Nourishing Ki Qi

> will boost Blood and Qi production, taking care of Jing will

nourish

> Chana's brain/CNS.

>

> My TCM herbs professor came from a lineage of 'Spleen protectors'.

She

> would always remind us to support the Spleen - in all conditions -

and

> keep the centre strong. My keep-it-simple- response for Chana would

be

> no herbs for now, but a diet full of Spleen/Stomach- friendly foods.

>

> I can't imagine what this has been like for you - Yehuda and Chana.

> Thank-you for sharing your story with us.

>

> Kind regards,

> Margi Macdonald

>

> www.luminahealth. com.au

> info (AT) luminahealth (DOT) com.au

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>