About Hay Fever
In the various seasons (spring, summer, and fall) during the year, pollen grains are dispersed from trees, weeds, and grasses. These pollen grains travel on air currents to fertilize other plants. Inhaling pollen, in some people, can trigger seasonal allergic rhinitis which is also called pollen allergy or hay fever. In this condition the mucous membranes in the nasal passages inflame, which causes swelling, sneezing, itching, irritation and a runny nose.
Allergy seasons are:
• May - July/August – Grass pollen:
• Feb – June – Tree pollen (depending on whether allergic to early or late flowering trees)
• August – September – Nettle/weed pollen
Hay fever symptoms can continue all the year round and may also occur from indoor allergens like house dust mites, pets and possibly indoor moulds.
Hay fever is actually an attempt by the body to rid itself of allergens but the immune system overreacts and releases chemicals which cause inflammation, causing:
• Itchy, watery, red eyes
• Frequent sneezing
• Constantly dripping nose
Sufferers, when afflicted with this condition, have to struggle to breathe through their nose. Symptoms are often quite bad in young people and tails off in later years as the body adapts. Studies have shown that hay fever can severely affect the quality of life, disturb sleep patterns, impair daytime concentration and work performance.
What is pollen allergy?
Pollen once released from trees, weeds and grasses, ride on air currents with a mission to disperse and fertilize other plants. However, they rarely reach their targets. On the way they get into human noses and throats, triggering allergic reactions.
Pollen is one of the most pervasive things that can cause an allergy and cannot be avoided. Many allergy causing foods, drugs, or animals can be largely avoided but insects and household dust are inescapable. However, short of staying indoors, there is no foolproof method of evading windborne pollen. Nonetheless, ways have been established that help ease the symptoms of hay fever. Moreover, scientists are working to find better approaches to allergy treatment.
Research has helped provide a better understanding of the causes of allergy, improve the methods for diagnosing and treating allergic reactions and thereby eventually preventing them. The common signs and symptoms of pollen allergy are:
• Sneezing, the most common, may be accompanied by a runny or clogged nose
• Itching eyes, nose, and throat
• Allergic shiners (dark circles under the eyes caused by restricted blood flow near the sinuses)
• The "allergic salute" (in a child, persistent upward rubbing of the nose that causes a crease mark on the nose)
• Watering eyes
• Conjunctivitis (is inflammation of the membrane that lines the eyelids, causing red-rimmed eyes)
In a pollen-sensitive person, as soon as the allergy-causing pollen lands on the mucous membranes of the nose, a chain reaction occurs that leads the mast cells in these tissues to release histamine. This potent chemical dilates the small blood vessels in the nose; causing the fluids to escape through the expanded vessel walls, which in turn results in swelling of the nasal passages as well as nasal congestion. On the other hand, histamine also causes itching, irritation, and excess mucus production. Similarly, other chemicals like prostaglandins and leukotrienes also contribute to allergic symptoms.
Some people with pollen allergy also develop asthma, a serious respiratory condition, which can eventually become chronic. Symptoms include coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath due to a narrowing of the bronchial passages and excess mucus production.
Author Resource:- Webmaster associated with hay fever related site. This site provides various information headache and pollen allergy.Resources are available on site headclinic.co.uk
Showing posts with label Guide to Traditional Chinese Medicine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Guide to Traditional Chinese Medicine. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Sunday, February 10, 2013
What Is Neuropathy? Neuropathy Causes And Treatments
Neuropathy is a
collection of disorders that occurs when nerves of the peripheral
nervous system (the part of the nervous system outside of the brain and
spinal cord) are damaged. The condition is generally referred to as
peripheral neuropathy, and it is most commonly due to damage to nerve
axons. Neuropathy usually causes pain and numbness in the hands and
feet. It can result from traumatic injuries, infections, metabolic
disorders, and exposure to toxins. One of the most common causes of
neuropathy is diabetes.
Neuropathy can affect nerves that control muscle movement (motor nerves) and those that detect sensations such as coldness or pain (sensory nerves). In some cases - autonomic neuropathy - it can affect internal organs, such as the heart, blood vessels, bladder, or intestines.
Pain from peripheral neuropathy is often described as a tingling or burning sensation. There is no specific length of time that the pain exists, but symptoms often improve with time - especially if the neuropathy has an underlying condition that can be cured. The condition is often associated with poor nutrition, a number of diseases, and pressure or trauma, but many cases have no known reason (called idiopathic neuropathy).
In the United States, about 20 million people suffer from neuropathy. Over half of diabetes patients also suffer from the condition.
How is neuropathy classified?
Peripheral neuropathy can be broadly classified into the following categories:
How is neuropathy treated?
There are a variety of treatments available for peripheral neuropathy. They range from traditional pills and creams to special diets and therapies that stimulate the nervous system. Antidepressants, especially tricyclics and selective serotonin-norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitors (SNRI's), are a favored treatment for neuropathies. They will relieve neuropathic pain in non-depressed persons.
In June 2012, researchers from the University of Michigan School of Nursing reported that Cymbalta (duloxetine), an antidepressant, can relieve the symptoms of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
Another class of medicines commonly prescribed for neuropathy is that of anticonvulsants. These medicines block calcium channels on neurons to limit pain. Opioid narcotic treatments for neuropathy are used as well to treat the condition, but are less favored because of the risk of dependency. However, opioids have been the most consistently effective in reducing pain.
For some types of neuropathy, such as post-herpes neuralgia, physicians recommend treatment with a topical anesthetic such as lidocaine. Topical applications of capsaicin (the chemical that makes peppers hot) has also been used to treat neuropathic pain.
Alternative therapies for peripheral neuropathy include cannabinoids (an class of chemicals found in marijuana), Botulinum Toxin Type A (better known as Botox), NMDA antagonists (such as ketamine), dietary supplements (such as alpha lipoic and benfotiamine), chiropractic massages, yoga, meditation, cognitive therapy, and accupuncture.
A final class of therapies for neuropathy are called neuromodulators. These include both implantable and non-implantable technologies (electrical and chemical) such as spinal cord stimulators, implanted spinal pumps, electrodes that stimulate the motor cortex of the brain, and methods called deep brain stimulation.
How can neuropathy be managed and prevented?
There are several ways to manage neuropathy and prevent its symptoms. Good foot health is important, especially for diabetics. Patients should check feet for blisters, cuts, or calluses and avoid tight fitting shoes and socks. Doctors can recommend an exercise plan that will reduce neuropathy pain and control blood sugar levels. Patients should also quit smoking and eat healthful meals. Massages of hands and feet may also aid neuropathy management by stimulating nerves and temporarily relieving pain. Finally, it is advised to avoid prolonged pressure on knees or elbows in order to prevent new nerve damage.
Neuropathy can affect nerves that control muscle movement (motor nerves) and those that detect sensations such as coldness or pain (sensory nerves). In some cases - autonomic neuropathy - it can affect internal organs, such as the heart, blood vessels, bladder, or intestines.
Pain from peripheral neuropathy is often described as a tingling or burning sensation. There is no specific length of time that the pain exists, but symptoms often improve with time - especially if the neuropathy has an underlying condition that can be cured. The condition is often associated with poor nutrition, a number of diseases, and pressure or trauma, but many cases have no known reason (called idiopathic neuropathy).
In the United States, about 20 million people suffer from neuropathy. Over half of diabetes patients also suffer from the condition.
How is neuropathy classified?
Peripheral neuropathy can be broadly classified into the following categories:
- Mononeuropathy - involvement of a single nerve. Examples include carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar nerve palsy, radial nerve palsy, and peroneal nerve palsy.
- Multiple mononeuropathy - two or more nerves individually affected.
- Polyneuropathy - generalized involvement of peripheral nerves. Examples include diabetic neuropathy and Guillain-Barre syndrome.
Neurophathies may also be categorized based on a
functional classification (motor, sensory, autonomic, or mixed) or the
type of onset (acute - hours or days, subacute - weeks or months, or
chronic - months or years).
The most common form of neuropathy is (symmetrical) peripheral polyneuropathy, which mainly affects the feet and legs on both sides of the body.
What causes neuropathy?
About 30% of neuropathy cases are considered idiopathic, which means they are of unknown cause. Another 30% of neuropathies are due to diabetes. In fact, about 50% of people with diabetes develop some type of neuropathy. The remaining cases of neuropathy, called acquired neuropathies, have several possible causes, including:
The most common form of neuropathy is (symmetrical) peripheral polyneuropathy, which mainly affects the feet and legs on both sides of the body.
What causes neuropathy?
About 30% of neuropathy cases are considered idiopathic, which means they are of unknown cause. Another 30% of neuropathies are due to diabetes. In fact, about 50% of people with diabetes develop some type of neuropathy. The remaining cases of neuropathy, called acquired neuropathies, have several possible causes, including:
- Trauma or pressure on nerves, often from a cast or crutch or repetitive motion such as typing on a keyboard
- Nutritional problems and vitamin deficiencies, often from a lack of B vitamins
- Alcoholism, often through poor dietary habits and vitamin deficiencies
- Autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Guillain-Barre syndrome
- Tumors, which often press up against nerves
- Other diseases and infections, such as kidney disease, liver disease, Lyme disease, HIV/AIDS, or an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
- Inherited disorders (hereditary neuropathies), such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and amyloid polyneuropathy
- Poison exposure, from toxins such as heavy metals, and certain medications and cancer treatments
Who gets neuropathy?
Risk factors for peripheral neuropathy include several conditions and behaviors. People with diabetes who poorly control their blood sugar levels are very likely to suffer from some neuropathy. Autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis also increase one's chance of developing a neuropathy. People who have received organ transplants, AIDS patients, and others who have had some type of immune system suppression have a higher risk of neuropathy. In addition, those who abuse alcohol or have vitamin deficiencies (especially B vitamins) are at an increased risk. Neuropathy is also more likely to occur in people with kidney, liver or thyroid disorders.
What are the symptoms of neuropathy?
Neuropathy symptoms depend on several factors, chiefly where the affected nerves are located and which type of nerves are affected (motor, sensory, autonomic). Several types of neuropathy affect all three types of nerves. Some neuropathies suddenly arise while others come on gradually over the course of years.
Motor nerve damage usually leads to symptoms that affect muscles such as muscle weakness, cramps, and spasms. It is not uncommon for this type of neuropathy to lead to a loss of balance and coordination. Patients may find it difficult to walk or run, feel like they have heavy legs, stumble, or tire easily. Damage to arm nerves may make it difficult to do routine tasks like carry bags, open jars, or turn door knobs.
Sensory nerve damage can cause various symptoms, such as an impaired sense of position, tingling, numbness, pinching and pain. Pain from this neuropathy is often described as burning, freezing, or electric-like, and many report a sensation of wearing an invisible "glove" or "stocking". These sensations tend to be worse at night, and can become painful and sever. On the contrary, sensory nerve damage may lead to a lessening or absence of sensation, where nothing at all is felt.
Autonomic nerve damage affects internal organs and involuntary functions and can lead to abnormal blood pressure and heart rate, reduced ability to perspire, constipation, bladder dysfunction, diarrhea, incontinence, sexual dysfunction, and thinning of the skin.
How is neuropathy diagnosed?
Peripheral neuropathy is often not easy to diagnose. It is not a single disease, but a symptom with often several potential causes. The standard diagnostic process begins with a full medical history with physical and neurological exams that will examine tendon reflexes, muscle strength and tone, the ability to feel sensations, and posture and coordination. Blood tests are also common in order for doctors to measure levels of vitamin B-12. Other common tests include urinalysis, thyroid function tests, and a nerve conduction study that includes electromyography (to measure electrical discharges produced in muscles). Physicians may also recommend a nerve biopsy, where a small portion of nerve is removed and examined under a microscope.
Risk factors for peripheral neuropathy include several conditions and behaviors. People with diabetes who poorly control their blood sugar levels are very likely to suffer from some neuropathy. Autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis also increase one's chance of developing a neuropathy. People who have received organ transplants, AIDS patients, and others who have had some type of immune system suppression have a higher risk of neuropathy. In addition, those who abuse alcohol or have vitamin deficiencies (especially B vitamins) are at an increased risk. Neuropathy is also more likely to occur in people with kidney, liver or thyroid disorders.
What are the symptoms of neuropathy?
Neuropathy symptoms depend on several factors, chiefly where the affected nerves are located and which type of nerves are affected (motor, sensory, autonomic). Several types of neuropathy affect all three types of nerves. Some neuropathies suddenly arise while others come on gradually over the course of years.
Motor nerve damage usually leads to symptoms that affect muscles such as muscle weakness, cramps, and spasms. It is not uncommon for this type of neuropathy to lead to a loss of balance and coordination. Patients may find it difficult to walk or run, feel like they have heavy legs, stumble, or tire easily. Damage to arm nerves may make it difficult to do routine tasks like carry bags, open jars, or turn door knobs.
Sensory nerve damage can cause various symptoms, such as an impaired sense of position, tingling, numbness, pinching and pain. Pain from this neuropathy is often described as burning, freezing, or electric-like, and many report a sensation of wearing an invisible "glove" or "stocking". These sensations tend to be worse at night, and can become painful and sever. On the contrary, sensory nerve damage may lead to a lessening or absence of sensation, where nothing at all is felt.
Autonomic nerve damage affects internal organs and involuntary functions and can lead to abnormal blood pressure and heart rate, reduced ability to perspire, constipation, bladder dysfunction, diarrhea, incontinence, sexual dysfunction, and thinning of the skin.
How is neuropathy diagnosed?
Peripheral neuropathy is often not easy to diagnose. It is not a single disease, but a symptom with often several potential causes. The standard diagnostic process begins with a full medical history with physical and neurological exams that will examine tendon reflexes, muscle strength and tone, the ability to feel sensations, and posture and coordination. Blood tests are also common in order for doctors to measure levels of vitamin B-12. Other common tests include urinalysis, thyroid function tests, and a nerve conduction study that includes electromyography (to measure electrical discharges produced in muscles). Physicians may also recommend a nerve biopsy, where a small portion of nerve is removed and examined under a microscope.
How is neuropathy treated?
There are a variety of treatments available for peripheral neuropathy. They range from traditional pills and creams to special diets and therapies that stimulate the nervous system. Antidepressants, especially tricyclics and selective serotonin-norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitors (SNRI's), are a favored treatment for neuropathies. They will relieve neuropathic pain in non-depressed persons.
In June 2012, researchers from the University of Michigan School of Nursing reported that Cymbalta (duloxetine), an antidepressant, can relieve the symptoms of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
Another class of medicines commonly prescribed for neuropathy is that of anticonvulsants. These medicines block calcium channels on neurons to limit pain. Opioid narcotic treatments for neuropathy are used as well to treat the condition, but are less favored because of the risk of dependency. However, opioids have been the most consistently effective in reducing pain.
For some types of neuropathy, such as post-herpes neuralgia, physicians recommend treatment with a topical anesthetic such as lidocaine. Topical applications of capsaicin (the chemical that makes peppers hot) has also been used to treat neuropathic pain.
Alternative therapies for peripheral neuropathy include cannabinoids (an class of chemicals found in marijuana), Botulinum Toxin Type A (better known as Botox), NMDA antagonists (such as ketamine), dietary supplements (such as alpha lipoic and benfotiamine), chiropractic massages, yoga, meditation, cognitive therapy, and accupuncture.
A final class of therapies for neuropathy are called neuromodulators. These include both implantable and non-implantable technologies (electrical and chemical) such as spinal cord stimulators, implanted spinal pumps, electrodes that stimulate the motor cortex of the brain, and methods called deep brain stimulation.
How can neuropathy be managed and prevented?
There are several ways to manage neuropathy and prevent its symptoms. Good foot health is important, especially for diabetics. Patients should check feet for blisters, cuts, or calluses and avoid tight fitting shoes and socks. Doctors can recommend an exercise plan that will reduce neuropathy pain and control blood sugar levels. Patients should also quit smoking and eat healthful meals. Massages of hands and feet may also aid neuropathy management by stimulating nerves and temporarily relieving pain. Finally, it is advised to avoid prolonged pressure on knees or elbows in order to prevent new nerve damage.
Penulis: Peter Crosta M.A.
Friday, February 8, 2013
FILARIARIS DISEASE
 |
 |
| MECHANISM OF DISEASE |
 |
| Mikrofilaria W.bancrofti |
Filariasis (elephantiasis disease) is a chronic infectious disease caused by the filarial worm blockage in the gland / lymph channels, causing acute clinical symptoms such as recurrent fever, sore glands / lymph nodes, edema and chronic symptoms such as elephantiasis.
Cause
3 species in Indonesia determined filarial worms, including Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi and Brugia timori that each - each as the cause filariasi bancrofti, malayi filariasis and filariasis timori. Various species of mosquitoes can act as transmitters (vector) disease.Modes of TransmissionA person bitten by a mosquito infected with filariasis when infective larvae containing filarial worms. Mosquitoes that transmit filariasis is Anopheles, Culex, Mansonia, Aedes and Armigeres. Mosquitoes are widespread throughout Indonesia according to the state of their habitat (sewer / water lines, fields, marshes, woods).
Clinical
1. Filariasis without symptoms
Generally endemic areas, the physical examination is only found enlarged inguinal lymph nodes, especially in areas. In blood tests found microfilaria role in large quantities and eosinophilia.
2. Filariasis by Inflammation
Fever, chills, headache, vomiting, and weakness may last a few days to a few weeks. Organs affected mainly the lymph channels limbs and genitals. In the men - men generally are accompanied by thickening and funikulitis pain epididymitis, orchitis and scrotal swelling. Acute attacks can last a month or more. If the condition can lead to severe kidney abscesses, swelling epididymal, retroperitoneal tissue, and muscle ileopsoas inguinal glands.
3. Filariasis with Healing
In the chronic stage occurs proliferative granulation tissue and extensive enlargement of lymph channels and elephantiasis arise. Torasikus duct blockage or abdominal lymph channels is affecting the scrotum and penis in males - males and the external genitalia in women. Inguinal gland infection can affect the limbs and external genitalia. Elefanthiasis typically affects the limbs and genitals and cause extensive changes. When the lymph channels bladder and kidney rupture will occur kiluria (lymph fluid discharge in the urine), whereas that of rupture of tunica vaginalis hydrocele or kilokel will happen, and if the rupture occurs peritoneal ascites lymph channels that contain kilus. The picture that appears is often hydrocele and lymphangitis genitals. Lymphangitis and elephantiasis can be exacerbated by secondary infections Streptococcus.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis can be established clinical filariasis. The diagnosis is confirmed by finding microfilaria in the peripheral blood were taken at night (22:00 to 02:00 o'clock midnight) and daubed with Giemsa staining. In the chronic state examination is often negative.
Management
1. General Care
• Rest in bed
• Antibiotics for secondary infection and abscess
• Treatment of elephantiasis with foot washing and wound care
2. Specific Treatment
For individual treatment given Carbamazine Diethyl Citrate (DEC) 6 mg / kg 3 times daily for 12 days.Side effects: nausea, dizziness and fever while using this medication.Treatment missal (WHO recommendations) are DEC 6 mg / kg and albendazole 400 mg (+ paracetamol) a single dose, once a year for 5 years. Implementation unit (IU) is a district / area of work centers (population 8000-10000 people)
Dose Table DEC for filariasis by age
Age DEC (100 mg) Albendazole (400 mg)
2-6 years 1 tablet 1 tablet
7-12 years 2 tablets 1 tablet
> 13 years 3 tablets 1 tablet
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Guide to Traditional Chinese Medicine by: Tania Plantier
The Origin of Chinese Medicine
It began in China over four thousand years ago. But its methods have no geographic bounds. Today, it is practiced the world over. Chinese herbs do not only come from China, they come from everywhere.
The oldest known book about Chinese Medicine is The Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic. It was compiled before 200 BC. It's a summary of medical ideas and techniques that were in use long before the second century BC.
Today, Chinese Medicine has expanded far beyond the Inner Classic. Countless variations and innovations have appeared. But some principles are unchanging. These root principles, such as yin and yang, describe natural laws, the laws your body must ultimately obey. These root principles endow Chinese Medicine with a unique knowledge making it, in some ways, far more evolved than modern technological medicine.
Qi and Blood - It's all about Flow
Chinese medicine is about qi. We study where it comes from, where it goes, and how it flows. Your body is nourished by, cleansed by, and dependent on flows. Think of your qi as all your body's energies, electrical, chemical, magnetic, and radiant.
Matter and energy, (flesh and qi), are governed by natural law. Natural forces such as gravity, time, inertia, friction, yin, and yang, all affect us, inside and out.
Qi must flow. Movement shows that qi exists. Warmth shows that qi is present.
There are many kinds of qi. There's qi of the channels and qi of the collateral channels, protective qi, digestive qi, central qi, and original qi. There's normal qi and perverse qi, kidney qi and lung qi and liver qi (every organ has its own qi).
Qi and blood nourish the body. Qi moves the blood, and blood is mother of the qi.
Normal flows of qi and blood are the basics of good health. When they are abundant and flowing, we are well. When blood or qi is weak or stuck, we become ill.
Theory of Yin and Yang
Yin and Yang describe change.
Yin and Yang refer to the sides of a mountain.
In the morning, one side is in shade, the other in sunlight.
Later in the day, the sides have reversed.
Dark becomes light and light becomes dark.
Nature is like this, forever changing, undulating. In time, Yang turns to Yin. Yin predictably becomes Yang.
Change is certain, a basic law of nature you can count on, like gravity.
Yang and Yin support one another as they oppose each other. There is always yin within yang and yang within yin. You simply can' t have one without the other.
We see the body and its disharmonies in changing shades of Yin and Yang. This helps to understand where events come from and where they are going to.
This helps to understand the disease and the patient.
Theory of the Organs (Zhang and Fu)
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the internal organs have the same familiar names as those we know - heart, liver, kidney etc. However in TCM these 'organs' include more than the flesh and blood of the viscera. Some of the organs also perform tasks which are not perceived by current instrumentation or understood in the West.
As Chinese medicine is largely about energy (qi), many of the organs involve the production, circulation, and storage of energy. To the Chinese doctor, the normal biological function of an organs is often secondary to how the organ is functioning in the creation or circulation of Qi. When the qi is normal, the organ will behave normally.
Chinese medical theory groups the organs into Yin/ Yang pairs. The Yin organs - the heart, spleen, lungs, kidneys, and liver are called the Zang are considered most important, structurally solid, and primarily responsible for the creation and storage of Qi and Blood.
The Yang organs, large intestine, small intestine, stomach, gall bladder, and urinary bladder are called the Fu and are considered less important. They are the hollow organs, responsible mainly for digestion transportation, and elimination.
There is another pair of organs which have energetic functions, yet have no physical reality. These are referred to as the Pericardium and Triple-Heater.
The Five Elements - Relationships of the Organs
A Storm in the Mountains and the Valley is Flooded
Parts of the body are interdependent. The heart depends on the lungs for oxygen. If the kidneys don't work, all the organs suffer. The Five Elements help us understand these relationships. According to this principle, there exist five elemental types. They are known as Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood.
Each type corresponds to a major organ system. Fire corresponds to the Heart, Earth the Spleen, Metal the Lungs, Water the Kidneys, and Wood to the Liver. Each type also has a characteristic taste, color, body odor, or emotion. Some of these correspondences are:
1 - Fire/Red/Heart/Joy/Bitter/Scorched (acrid)
2 - Earth/Yellow/Stomach/Spleen/Worry/Sweet/Fragrant
3 - Metal/White/Lungs/Grief/Hot/Fleshy
4 - Water/Black/Kidneys/Fear/Salty/Putrid
5 - Wood/Green/Liver/Anger/Sour/Rancid
Each element relates to the other according to two cycles of influence- the generating cycle (clockwise) and the checking cycle. Disharmony in one element will create disharmony in others according to these cycles.
The 8 Principles: Pathogenic Yin/Yang Pairs (Disease Factors)
Another way to see disharmony is according to the Eight Principles. These are four Yin / Yang conditions that assess the nature and location of the disharmony. Then, the treatment plan is usually simple - strengthen what is weak, cool the hot, moisten the dry, and so forth. These pairs are:
EXCESS/ DEFICIENT (shi/xu) Simply put, too much or too little. These terms describe both the disease and the patient. Sudden illness is excess. Chronic illness suggests deficiency. Symptoms of excess are stronger or more pronounced than those caused by deficiency. A severe sore throat suggests wind-heat excess (viral), while a persistent scratchy throat implies heat cause by a deficiency of coolness (yin).
INSIDE/ OUTSIDE (interior/exterior) Does the disharmony originate inside the body, or is it invading from the exterior? Diseases caused by deficiency, emotion, or stagnation are Interior. Airborne viruses, bacterial infections, or other pestilential diseases are Exterior. Exterior diseases can penetrate the body and become Interior disease.
HOT/ COLD People can be hot and cold. And just as it can be hot in Miami and cold in Siberia, the Liver can be hot while the Kidney is cold. Disease can also be called hot or cold according to the way it affects the body.
DAMP/ DRY Because life loves water, excessive dampness inside the body helps microscopic life such as bacteria, virus, fungus, etc to breed. Because your body is a whole world, you can have damp-heat in the south (a bladder infection) and dry conditions in the north (dandruff) Swollen tissue, excess phlegm or other fluids are also examples dampness. Dryness indicates a scarcity of fluids. Causes of dryness are Blood or Yin deficiency. Excessive heat scorches the yin fluids and leads to dryness. Prolonged exposure to dry weather will cause dryness inside the body as well.
The Five Emotions
Emotions mingle in the mind/body with countless other currents. They affect the flow and rhythm of our organism by influencing the qi. The qi directly affects the organs.
When emotions are intense, they change our body in profound ways. The emotions correspond to the organs and the five elements. For example,
Joy (or a lack of it) is associated with the Heart (fire),
sadness (over contemplation) the Spleen/Stomach (earth),
grief the Lungs (metal),
fear the Kidneys (water),
anger the Liver (wood).
Strong emotions pervert the qi to create disease. Fear or anger lead to constraint of qi, which results in depression, stagnation, and a multitude of physical ailments.
http://www.eqilibrium.net
It began in China over four thousand years ago. But its methods have no geographic bounds. Today, it is practiced the world over. Chinese herbs do not only come from China, they come from everywhere.
The oldest known book about Chinese Medicine is The Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic. It was compiled before 200 BC. It's a summary of medical ideas and techniques that were in use long before the second century BC.
Today, Chinese Medicine has expanded far beyond the Inner Classic. Countless variations and innovations have appeared. But some principles are unchanging. These root principles, such as yin and yang, describe natural laws, the laws your body must ultimately obey. These root principles endow Chinese Medicine with a unique knowledge making it, in some ways, far more evolved than modern technological medicine.
Qi and Blood - It's all about Flow
Chinese medicine is about qi. We study where it comes from, where it goes, and how it flows. Your body is nourished by, cleansed by, and dependent on flows. Think of your qi as all your body's energies, electrical, chemical, magnetic, and radiant.
Matter and energy, (flesh and qi), are governed by natural law. Natural forces such as gravity, time, inertia, friction, yin, and yang, all affect us, inside and out.
Qi must flow. Movement shows that qi exists. Warmth shows that qi is present.
There are many kinds of qi. There's qi of the channels and qi of the collateral channels, protective qi, digestive qi, central qi, and original qi. There's normal qi and perverse qi, kidney qi and lung qi and liver qi (every organ has its own qi).
Qi and blood nourish the body. Qi moves the blood, and blood is mother of the qi.
Normal flows of qi and blood are the basics of good health. When they are abundant and flowing, we are well. When blood or qi is weak or stuck, we become ill.
Theory of Yin and Yang
Yin and Yang describe change.
Yin and Yang refer to the sides of a mountain.
In the morning, one side is in shade, the other in sunlight.
Later in the day, the sides have reversed.
Dark becomes light and light becomes dark.
Nature is like this, forever changing, undulating. In time, Yang turns to Yin. Yin predictably becomes Yang.
Change is certain, a basic law of nature you can count on, like gravity.
Yang and Yin support one another as they oppose each other. There is always yin within yang and yang within yin. You simply can' t have one without the other.
We see the body and its disharmonies in changing shades of Yin and Yang. This helps to understand where events come from and where they are going to.
This helps to understand the disease and the patient.
Theory of the Organs (Zhang and Fu)
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the internal organs have the same familiar names as those we know - heart, liver, kidney etc. However in TCM these 'organs' include more than the flesh and blood of the viscera. Some of the organs also perform tasks which are not perceived by current instrumentation or understood in the West.
As Chinese medicine is largely about energy (qi), many of the organs involve the production, circulation, and storage of energy. To the Chinese doctor, the normal biological function of an organs is often secondary to how the organ is functioning in the creation or circulation of Qi. When the qi is normal, the organ will behave normally.
Chinese medical theory groups the organs into Yin/ Yang pairs. The Yin organs - the heart, spleen, lungs, kidneys, and liver are called the Zang are considered most important, structurally solid, and primarily responsible for the creation and storage of Qi and Blood.
The Yang organs, large intestine, small intestine, stomach, gall bladder, and urinary bladder are called the Fu and are considered less important. They are the hollow organs, responsible mainly for digestion transportation, and elimination.
There is another pair of organs which have energetic functions, yet have no physical reality. These are referred to as the Pericardium and Triple-Heater.
The Five Elements - Relationships of the Organs
A Storm in the Mountains and the Valley is Flooded
Parts of the body are interdependent. The heart depends on the lungs for oxygen. If the kidneys don't work, all the organs suffer. The Five Elements help us understand these relationships. According to this principle, there exist five elemental types. They are known as Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood.
Each type corresponds to a major organ system. Fire corresponds to the Heart, Earth the Spleen, Metal the Lungs, Water the Kidneys, and Wood to the Liver. Each type also has a characteristic taste, color, body odor, or emotion. Some of these correspondences are:
1 - Fire/Red/Heart/Joy/Bitter/Scorched (acrid)
2 - Earth/Yellow/Stomach/Spleen/Worry/Sweet/Fragrant
3 - Metal/White/Lungs/Grief/Hot/Fleshy
4 - Water/Black/Kidneys/Fear/Salty/Putrid
5 - Wood/Green/Liver/Anger/Sour/Rancid
Each element relates to the other according to two cycles of influence- the generating cycle (clockwise) and the checking cycle. Disharmony in one element will create disharmony in others according to these cycles.
The 8 Principles: Pathogenic Yin/Yang Pairs (Disease Factors)
Another way to see disharmony is according to the Eight Principles. These are four Yin / Yang conditions that assess the nature and location of the disharmony. Then, the treatment plan is usually simple - strengthen what is weak, cool the hot, moisten the dry, and so forth. These pairs are:
EXCESS/ DEFICIENT (shi/xu) Simply put, too much or too little. These terms describe both the disease and the patient. Sudden illness is excess. Chronic illness suggests deficiency. Symptoms of excess are stronger or more pronounced than those caused by deficiency. A severe sore throat suggests wind-heat excess (viral), while a persistent scratchy throat implies heat cause by a deficiency of coolness (yin).
INSIDE/ OUTSIDE (interior/exterior) Does the disharmony originate inside the body, or is it invading from the exterior? Diseases caused by deficiency, emotion, or stagnation are Interior. Airborne viruses, bacterial infections, or other pestilential diseases are Exterior. Exterior diseases can penetrate the body and become Interior disease.
HOT/ COLD People can be hot and cold. And just as it can be hot in Miami and cold in Siberia, the Liver can be hot while the Kidney is cold. Disease can also be called hot or cold according to the way it affects the body.
DAMP/ DRY Because life loves water, excessive dampness inside the body helps microscopic life such as bacteria, virus, fungus, etc to breed. Because your body is a whole world, you can have damp-heat in the south (a bladder infection) and dry conditions in the north (dandruff) Swollen tissue, excess phlegm or other fluids are also examples dampness. Dryness indicates a scarcity of fluids. Causes of dryness are Blood or Yin deficiency. Excessive heat scorches the yin fluids and leads to dryness. Prolonged exposure to dry weather will cause dryness inside the body as well.
The Five Emotions
Emotions mingle in the mind/body with countless other currents. They affect the flow and rhythm of our organism by influencing the qi. The qi directly affects the organs.
When emotions are intense, they change our body in profound ways. The emotions correspond to the organs and the five elements. For example,
Joy (or a lack of it) is associated with the Heart (fire),
sadness (over contemplation) the Spleen/Stomach (earth),
grief the Lungs (metal),
fear the Kidneys (water),
anger the Liver (wood).
Strong emotions pervert the qi to create disease. Fear or anger lead to constraint of qi, which results in depression, stagnation, and a multitude of physical ailments.
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