Month: June 2014

Jun

2014

Headache Patterns in Chinese Medicine

www.ElementalChanges.com Headache Patterns in TCM

TCM Patterns in the Diagnosis of Headaches

According to Chinese medical theory,

various factors can effect the body to

become the underlying pattern of headaches

• Headaches that start between 7 to 10 years of age strongly indicate the presence of a constitutional factor of disease, usually derived from the heredity from one or both parents.

• Emotional causes of disease are, of course, extremely frequent causes of headaches.

• Over-work, long hours, inadequate rest are all common causes of deficiency that give rise to headaches.

• Diet has a direct and profound influence on various organ systems and the etiology of headaches.

• Accidents and severe falls affecting the head can cause blood stasis in a particular area of the head and are frequently causative factors in headaches.

• Sexual activity in excess is a common cause of headaches, particularly in men, by depleting Kidney Essence. Childbirths can be a causative factor of Kidney Essence loss in women which lead to headaches.

• External Pathological Factors which affect the head are wind and dampness.

“The head is like Heaven (being the top): The clear Qi of the three Yang channels (Greater, Lesser, and Bright Yang) are the six Yang organs. As well, the Blood and Essence of the three Yin channels (Greater, Lesser, and Terminal Yin), and the five organs all reach the head. It is affected by the six eternal pathogenic climates, as well as by internal factors.” • Giovanni Maciocia

Jun

2014

Diagnostic Tongue Maps

Look at your tongue daily before brushing or eating.

See what it may be revealing to You.

Here is a basic overview

Normal (top left) – reflecting a relative balance of internal QI, blood, humors, organs, and essence.

Qi Deficient – basic symptoms of poor appetite, sluggish, weak digestive function, fatigue, worrying and overthinking, dizziness.

Heat – basic symptoms of irritability, thirst, constipation, skin issues.

Dampness – basic symptoms of fullness, bloating, edema, lethargy, discharges.

Blood Stasis – basic symptoms of varicosities, headaches, chest pain, skin spots, painful menstruation.

Qi Stagnation – basic symptoms of pms, some types of abdominal pain, moodiness.

Damp-Heat – basic symptoms of skin conditions, urinary infections, clammy skin, angry and irritable tendency.

Yang Deficiency – basic symptoms of chilled easily, seeking warmth, pallor, lower back pain, low emotional state, impotence, infertility.

Yin Deficiency – basic symptoms of night sweating, tinnitus, menopausal symptoms, insomnia.

Blood Deficiency – basic symptoms of dizziness, poor concentration, pale nail beds, poor memory, thin blood and conditions resulting therefrom.

Chinese tongue diagnostic maps offer a simple overview of the body. Tongue coating and its specific color and texture, cracks, teeth marks, pauplues, absence of tongue coating, color of tongue body, quivering tongue body, swollen or thin tongue body all corroborate the greater diagnostics of the person according to TCM.

Jun

2014

Bodily Teachings

Qīngyuán Shan 清源山, formerly North Mountain, with atmospheric clouds rising amongst peaks, became known during the Tang dynasty and reached a peak in reputation between 1297 to 1911. The centuries of reverence of this place have imparted 9 Taoist sculptures and hundreds of stone carving relics. Li, one of the the legendary eight immortals, roamed the winding paths amongst the dark green pine and cypress. When Li placed his iron crutch onto mountain rock a spring issued forth revealing one of numerous clean, fresh springs of Qīngyuán Shan.

· The hands teach us not to be selfish.

· The mouth teaches us to give thanks in word and song.

· The nose teaches us to learn from our environment.

· The eyes teach us to show compassion and sincerity.

· The ears teach us to keep our balance.

· All parts of ourselves both give and receive.

Jun

2014

Toxins

The manifestation of pathologies from toxins [DU 毒] evolve from unresolved excesses that, over time, consume the vitality of body-mind-spirit essences, brewing heat and binding Qi that results in fire. Fiery hot toxins are fierce in nature. From the perspective of classical Chinese medicine, symptoms that develop from toxic evils tend to be both extreme, profuse and destroy the organ systems of the body with the sequelae of conditions that ensue. It is wise to recognize that the Chinese medical context of DU differs from allopathic or naturopathic concepts of toxins.

Jun

2014

Progress

Our progress occurs naturally when we act in harmony and seek no progress at the expense of our genuine devotion to the ways of the Sage. Correcting our own thoughts, attitudes, and actions sets a course for wholehearted improvement.

Tea Ceremony, Photo by Stephane Barbery

Jun

2014

Living Qi is the Ruling Qi

External environmental excesses generate pathogenesis, and whether they originate from cold, dampness, wind, fire, summer heat, or dryness, transform into heat within the body. Liu Wan Su’s herbal protocol advocates the use of cool and cold medicinals.

Bob Flaws is a master of the innumerable distinctions of Chinese medicine and sinology. This short presentation on a significant facet of evolution in Chinese herbal medicine is worth the few minutes to appreciate.

Living Qi is the Ruling Qi

Jun

2014

Taoist Interpretation of Acupuncture

Ma Danyang wrote an ode to the “11 Miraculous Acupuncture Points,” published in the text of The Jade Dragon Manual [1329]. The name of the song, “Song of the Eleven Points Responding to the Stars in the Sky” is instructive. It is likely that Ma not only offered interpretation of the wondrous, inherent nature of the acupuncture points, but also the influence the stars have on them.

Taoist interpretation of acupuncture. Read More http://www.itmonline.org/arts/madanyang.htm

Here, Taoist Immortal Lu Dongbin, an inspiration for Wang Chongyan, travels through the clouds riding on a dragon – representational of the Tao. In his left hand he holds an uncorked bottle of immortality elixir. The elixir fragrance wafts upward, becoming another dragon [smaller dragon in upper right]. Lu Dongbin’s supernatural powers are, in fact, quite natural because he is in perfect harmony with the Tao.

Ma Danyang’s Heavenly Star Points Part I Lecture by Andrew Nugent-Head