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Medicine in the Treatment of Allergies Back
Pain and Chinese Medicine Internal
Heat and Inflammation Treating
Autism with Chinese Medicine
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Seasonal
Transitions: Treating Colds and Flu Depression
and Chinese Medicine Irritable
Bowel Syndrome and Digestive Disorders |
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Chinese
Medicine in the Treatment of Allergies Chinese Medicine is very effective in treating both seasonal and perennial allergies. Allergic rhinitis affects an estimated 40 million Americans. With symptoms of nasal congestion, a watery nasal discharge, and sneezing, allergic rhinitis can make sufferers feel sick all the time. Additionally, the swollen nasal mucosa present in allergic rhinitis causes infection or sinusitis in half of those with the condition. Symptoms are a result of allergens that line the nasal mucosa and create a mass release of histamine. Pollen particles are responsible for seasonal allergic rhinitis, whereas other allergens such as dust, dust mites, fungal spores, and animal dander, are the cause of perennial allergic rhinitis. Western medicine treats allergic rhinitis with the use of antihistamines and steroid inhalers and treats sinusitis with antibiotics. Unfortunately, these medications do nothing to correct the underlying cause of the problem and provide only temporary relief from symptoms. Like Western medicine, Chinese Medicine provides relief from the symptoms of allergies. However, Chinese Medicine also treats the underlying disharmony that is creating the allergic response in the individual patient. Allergic rhinitis always involves a deficiency or weakness in the body’s Wei Qi or Defensive Energy. This Wei Qi Deficiency makes the body susceptible to disease from climactic factors and corresponds loosely to the immune system of Western Medicine. In the case of allergic rhinitis, it is an invasion of Wind in the nose which causes the symptoms of nasal discharge and congestion, and, sneezing. Wind can be taken either literally (most seasonal allergies flare up in the springtime when the weather is windier), or metaphorically (think of a breeze blowing an allergen into your nose). Wei Qi Deficiency is often related to an underlying disharmony in the energetic system of the Lungs, Liver, or Kidneys. The goal of Chinese Medicine is to reestablish balance within the patient by eliminating both the symptoms and the cause of the disease, thus “curing” the patient for the long term. Therefore, the treatment plan would be to expel Wind, and tonify the Wei Qi. Because Chinese Medicine is a holistic medicine, we look at everything going on with the patient to determine the source of the underlying disharmony and treat that as well. Sinusitis occurs from repeated invasions of Wind and stagnation of fluids in the nose which lead to Phlegm and Heat and symptoms such as yellow nasal discharge, sinus congestion, and headache. Here, the goal of Chinese Medicine would be to rid the body of the Phlegm and Heat, thus eliminating the infection. Patients typically have some relief from symptoms of allergic rhinitis after just one acupuncture treatment and herbs can be taken to manage symptoms between treatments. Sustained improvement with tonification of the Wei Qi and rebalancing of the underlying disharmony requires a course of treatment which varies depending of the individual. Back
Pain and Chinese Medicine Statistically speaking, back pain is one of the top musculoskeletal disorders that both Western physicians and acupuncturists encounter in their practice. Current lifestyle habits, past and present, can greatly increase the predisposition to experience this disorder. Contributing factors include habitual walking/running on hard surfaces, prolonged sitting or standing, sedentary lifestyle, high impact sports and untreated injuries. Western treatment of pain generally includes cortisone shots, surgery and physical therapy is often prescribed or recommended. Clinically speaking, I have noticed that cortisone shots become ineffective rather quickly and some patients report having severe nerve damage as a result. Pain medications often yield the same result (the dosage is gradually increased until it becomes ineffective). Surgery is frequently the last resort. Surgery is never a guarantee that the pain will not return or require additional surgeries (many times to reduce the scar tissue from the first surgery, which is now causing the pain). In Chinese medicine, pain has several differentiations. The most common one is Qi and Blood stagnation. Qi is seen as the energy that moves the blood, and when the qi (energy) does not move, the blood can no longer flow. The most obvious illustration is bruising from trauma; in C.M., we would also call it Blood Stagnation. Treatment in C.M. often involves determining the nature of the pain: is it local/fixed?, does it travel down the leg or into the buttocks?, is it worse with damp weather?, stabbing pain, burning pain, or achy/throbbing pain?, etc. The answers we gather to these questions, along with the information revealed by feeling a client’s pulse and looking at their tongue (a small-scale map of the body that tells us what is contributing to the pain: deficiency vs. excess, for example). In the first session, the area of stagnation is often just treated with acupuncture, to see how the individual responds. After the first session, electro acupuncture, cupping therapy and/or moxibustion is usually applied. These techniques ‘break up’ the stagnation that has accumulated along the affected meridian or pathway. Generally, we recommend that people experiencing acute pain receive frequent treatments to benefit from the results within a short period of time. Most patients will continue monthly treatments there after as a part of their health maintenance program. Seasonal
Transitions: Treating Colds and the Flu Chinese Medicine is often used to maintain health
in accordance with the seasons. Each season is associated with a
particular organ system. Autumn is related to the Lungs. Winter
is related to the Kidneys. Spring is associated with the Liver,
and summer is the season related to the Heart. Late summer is considered
a separate season because of its tendency to be very hot as well
as humid (similar to our late summers in Asheville) and it is associated
with the Spleen. Chinese Medicine can help to harmonize your body
with the cycles of nature by strengthening the organ related to
the season that is approaching. Herbs
for Colds and Flu Yin Qiao is the classic formula to treat wind-heat
and should be taken at the first sign of any symptoms. Dosage in
pill form is 8 pills, 3 times a day, and 4 pills, 3 times a day
for children. In tincture form the dosage is ten droppers, 3 times
a day for adults and 6 droppers, 3 times a day for children. Isatis
is also a good formula for wind-heat, and is particularly effective
for sore throat and swollen glands. It is best in tincture form
at the same dosage as the yin qiao. Peuraria formula pills are good
to treat wind-colds. Dosage is 5 pills, 3 times a day for adults
and 3 pills, three times a day for children. A formula called Chuan
Xiong Cha Tiao San is a classic remedy for wind-cold, especially
when accompanied by headache. The dosage is 20 pills, three times
a day and it is traditionally taken along with green tea. Depression
and Chinese Medicine No human can avoid grieving or being sad, angry, worried, joyful or fearful at times in their lives. The good news is depression, mental and emotional issues are often successfully treated with acupuncture and herbs. In Chinese Medicine different emotions are associated with different internal organ systems, though all emotions will have an effect on the Heart and Liver. Under normal circumstances, emotions are not the cause of disease. Emotions only become pathological if one becomes overburdened with one or more specific emotions; i.e. being angry about a life situation over a number of years. The emotions associated with Liver Qi stagnation are irritability, frustration, resentment and anger and the symptoms of depression are sighing, moodiness, feeling wound up, and even nausea and bloating; i.e. feelings of being "stuck". All strongly felt emotions affect the Heart, leading to Heart Qi and Lung Qi stagnation causing a feeling of tightness, palpations and oppression in the chest. The emotions of joy that negatively affects the Heart system is excessive excitement and craving from living in a continuous state of mental stimulation. Negative emotions that have an effect on the Heart system derive from too much worry, great sadness and grief. The physical symptoms of Heart and Lung Qi stagnation would be oppression and tightness in the chest, sighing, breathlessness, palpitations, a lump in the throat, difficulty swallowing and a weak voice. According to Chinese Medicine, Qi (energy) flows with the blood. Blood production is finalized in the Heart and is stored in the Liver. Blood is the material basis for mind and spirit, the home for emotional issues. The Liver, which stores our blood, is responsible for the smooth flow of physical and emotional energy. Lifestyles that create stress or frequent frustrations with every day events over which we have no control result in Liver Qi stagnation and influence how we feel emotionally and physically. Acupuncture can move the stagnant energy in the Liver, Heart and Lungs, helping the state of depression to shift. Since Qi in the body flows with blood, exercise such as strolling (not aerobic walking) for twenty minutes seven days a week can help move the stagnant Qi and help to resolve the depression. Diet is also important in the treatment of depression. Two of the most harmful substances in the American diet are caffeine and sugar, which are the leading causes of stagnant Qi. The coffee bean is energetically hot. When roasted, the energetic heat increases. This heat is very aggravating to the Liver, leading to stagnation. Sugar creates "dampness" in Chinese Medicine which can manifest physically as phlegm and mucous in the body. Dampness tends to hold things in place, adding to that "stuck" feeling. Foods that can create dampness are dairy products, wheat, sugar, fried foods and tropical fruits. In treating depression, Chinese Medicine takes into account many factors. This combination of altering various aspects of daily living combined with acupuncture and herbs, has proven to be very effective in treating this type of disorder. Internal
Heat and Inflammation As a practitioner of a medical system that has origins dating back five thousand years, it is always interesting to observe the latest concepts in modern medicine and their similarities to that of an ancient medical system. Chinese Medicine evolved largely through observing how an individual is affected by their environment and their lifestyle, and the terminology is reflective of that. For instance a person can contract heat, cold, or dampness, and wind is seen potentially as a factor that can affect someone’s health or transmit an illness. Diseases develop in two ways – externally through contracting an illness or pathogen, or internally through dietary, emotional, or lifestyle imbalance. Internal heat is a syndrome in Chinese Medicine that often arises through a lifestyle that has too many heat producing factors. Things that can produce heat include chronic stress, too many hot, spicy, fatty, or fried foods, too much sugar or alcohol, some medications and supplements, hormonal imbalances such as menopause, and living in very hot, damp climates. Often these factors can be neutralized by adopting the appropriate heat clearing strategies that may include exercise, stress reduction techniques, a cooling dietary strategy that emphasizes more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean animal and vegetable protein sources, seeds, and legumes, and certain herbs, supplements, and medications. The impact of internal heat is varied and is influenced a lot by a person’s constitution and lifestyle. Some signs of heat can include insomnia, anxiety, depression, hypertension, arthritis, allergies, asthma, irritability, attention deficit hyperactivity disorders, heart disease, some types of cancer, and many others. In fact, heat is probably the most common contributing factor in the majority of the modern, industrialized societies’ health problems. In the ancient texts of Chinese Medicine the major emphasis was frequently on cold issues. This was due to a lack of heating systems, and the fact that many illnesses began with a person “catching a cold” and the potential for a cold to be very dangerous and lead to complications such as bronchitis, pneumonia, etc. Modern medicine has largely resolved this problem, but the new issues facing the culture derive from lifestyles that include too much stress, poor diets, and lack of activity, and lead to the accumulation of heat. Many of the imbalances diagnosed as related to heat in Chinese Medicine are associated with diseases that are related to inflammation in western medicine. On the cutting edge of modern medicine is the study of the impact of inflammation in the body. Inflammation is a necessary process in the body for tissue repair and healing, but it can become excessive. Just as in Chinese Medicine, some heat is required to maintain bodily functions, but too much is damaging. Recent research has shown inflammation to be a contributing factor in many diseases, and most likely the list of diseases that are known to be influenced by the inflammatory process will grow. Asthma, allergies, and arthritis are largely inflammatory conditions. Modern cardiology has been radically altered by the discovery of the role of inflammation in heart disease. Some of the newest diagnostic tests for heart disease are gauges of inflammation in the body, specifically in the blood vessels. Fish oils are strongly anti-inflammatory, and can significantly lower heart disease risk. Some cancers, such as esophageal and colon, are strongly influenced by inflammation. Some of the anti-inflammatory drugs are already being used to treat colorectal polyps, a possible precursor to colon cancer. And a recent study concluded that there is a link between inflammation and breast cancer (Khani, Ashwani, Amer. Assoc. for Cancer Research, 30, March, 2004) So the key to all this new research and ancient wisdom is to start applying heat clearing and inflammation reducing strategies in your life. Chinese medicine has always emphasized the absolute necessity of preventive health care. Treating inflammation is difficult, preventing it may be easier. The prescription for clearing heat is to reduce stress, breath deeply, exercise, reduce your intake of saturated fat and fried food, strongly avoid trans-fats and hydrogenated oils, eat more “cooling” foods, supplement with fish oils, take anti-oxidants and eat anti-oxidant rich foods, eat less sugar (a lot less), and express your emotions before they “boil up”. It is through the traditional methods of clearing heat and using the wisdom of Chinese Medicine, combined with modern science, that we can use an ancient system to address modern illnesses. Irritable
Bowel Syndrome and Digestive Disorders Acupuncture and Chinese medicine are very effective in treating many digestive disorders including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, and acid reflux. IBS is a common disorder of the intestines that affects an estimated 20% of Americans. Symptoms include cramping abdominal pain, gas, bloating, and irregular bowel habits (diarrhea, constipation, or alternating between the two) and can range in severity from mildly annoying to disabling. IBS is considered a functional disorder because no structural irregularity or disease is found when the colon is examined. It is usually diagnosed after physical examination, x-rays, colonoscopy, and/or testing of a stool sample, rule out the presence of a structural disease. From a Western standpoint, the cause of IBS is not known and there is no known cure. Doctors treat IBS symptomatically and may prescribe fiber supplements or laxatives for constipation, or pharmaceuticals to control colon muscle spasm or to slow the movement of food through the digestive system. In Chinese medicine, we treat the individual’s pattern not their disease. Because Chinese medicine is a holistic medicine, a person’s pattern is determined by the entirety of their signs and symptoms, not just those that make up the disease. Two people diagnosed with IBS who complain of abdominal pain and diarrhea may have different patterns. Moreover, a pattern in Chinese medicine may manifest itself in different people with such diverse symptoms or diseases as migraines, depression, painful periods or IBS. In Chinese medicine, disease is seen as stemming from an imbalance. Treatments are aimed at restoring balance to the individual, as well as alleviating symptoms of disease. The treatment principles necessary to correct the imbalance and restore the patient to good health vary according to the pattern. So, two people with IBS but different patterns will be treated according to different treatment principles, whereas two people with different diseases would be treated according to the same treatment principles if they share the same pattern. In treating IBS or other digestive disorders with Chinese medicine, we use many modalities including acupuncture, Chinese herbs, dietary therapy, and lifestyle counseling. The acupuncture points and herbs used will vary according to the individual’s pattern, as will the dietary and lifestyle advice. A standard course of treatment is eight to ten weekly acupuncture treatments with herbs taken daily. Depending of the severity of the condition, more than one course of treatment may be required. However, many patients have a reduction of symptoms in less time. Additionally, patients often notice an improvement in a seemingly unrelated symptom or experience a general sense of better health after a course of treatment. In fact, many patients now rely of Chinese medicine as their primary healthcare system. Although treatment is always based on the individual, there are some general recommendations for anyone suffering from a digestive disorder. • Eating habits have a profound influence
on the digestive function. Eat regular meals. Do not skip meals,
overeat, eat in a hurry, or discuss business or other stressful
topics during a meal. Treating
Autism with Traditional Chinese Medicine “On an emotional level, the state of the Heart determines a persons capacity to form meaningful relationships. A healthy Heart and Mind will positively influence our ability to relate to other people”. This quote from The Foundations of Chinese Medicine, by Giovanni Maciocia, is paramount to the understanding of Autism within the framework of Chinese Medicine. In the early 1990s, founder of the Chinese Acupuncture and Herbology, Dr. Majebe became interested in Autism, which led to a trip to Asia in 1998 when she traveled to Seoul Korea meeting doctors who were treating children at Kyung He University Hospital with acupuncture and herbal medicine. From there she traveled to Beijing where she met the foremost doctors in China specializing in the treatment of autistic children. In 2001, the Journal of Chinese Medicine published Dr. Majebe's paper, Chinese Medicine and Autism. It introduces Chinese Medicine theory and its approach to Autism Spectrum Disorders. She explains how genetic, nutritional, and lifestyle factors all have an impact on the development of Autism. Click on the PDF files below to view the papers on Autism by Dr. Majebe.
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