Extra Health

Plum Blossom Treatment For Depression

Here is a treatment that I learned from Bob Flaws, author of “Curing Depression Naturally”, that I often incorporate into a treatment plan for my patients suffering from depression. I do this in my office, but it is also something that can be taught to a partner and done at home. It is done with an instrument called a plum blossom, or seven star hammer. This is an inexpensive plastic tool with seven small needles embedded on the head. The hammer is used to stimulate specific acupuncture points that are known to have a beneficial effect to move stagnant energy in the body or to calm the mind.

The needles do not actually penetrate the body. Usually the skin is tapped over the acupuncture point until it is flushed red and the patient feels warmth in the area. Only if the patient has signs of heat in the body (red tongue, red eyes, red face, severe headache or extreme irritability) do I continue to tap over specific points until they bleed a little.

First, disinfect all areas of the body to be treated. Start by lightly tapping the back of the neck along the center of the spine and on the BL channel on either side of the spine. Tapping this area will stimulate DU14, which will clear heat from the body and clear the mind. Tap from GB21 to GB 20 to relieve neck and shoulder tension. Next, tap all over the sacral area. Tap Ren 17 lightly in the center of the sternum to open the chest. Tap the side of the body at SP21. SP21 is a major connecting point of energy channels in the body and will open the entire thoracic region. Tap PC6, HT7 and SP6 in that order. All of these points are known to calm the mind, relieve anxiety and help with insomnia. Then tap LI4 on the right for women and on the left for men. Tap LV3 on the left for women and the right for men. These two points, usually used bilaterally, are known as the “four gates” of the body and have a powerful effect of moving stagnant energy in the body. They also have a profound calming effect on the mind.

If any of the areas show any slight bleeding, wipe with an alcohol swab and pat dry with a clean cottonball.

Symptoms Of A Liver Imbalance In Chinese Medicine

In a previous article, I explained the function of the Liver in Chinese Medicine philosophy. The proper functioning of the Liver, from a Chinese medicine point of view, is probably the most important factor in ensuring our physical and emotional health.

So, what can cause a disruption in the free flow of Liver energy? Stress, anger, resentment and repressed frustrations in life will do it every time! These emotions, when experienced for a prolonged period of time, will cause the Liver Qi to stagnate. Diet and lifestyle, in particular the excessive consumption of spicy or greasy foods and the use of alcohol and nicotine, will contribute to or aggravate a Liver imbalance by generating heat in the body.

The phenomenon of Liver Qi Stagnation is probably the most common condition that I see in my clinic.
When the Liver energy is stuck, physically, we experience a feeling of distension in the chest, which the body attempts to relieve by sighing. Often there is discomfort just below the ribcage along the path of the Liver meridian. Hiccups may be due to the Liver Qi stagnating in the diaphragm. Because of the close relationship of the Liver and Gallbladder, neck and shoulder tension are common along the path of the Gallbladder meridian. Because a branch of the Liver meridian ascends to the top of the head, vertex headaches are common.

Emotionally, we feel irritable and depressed or have pronounced mood swings when the Liver Qi is stuck. The Liver channel also flows to the throat, so the feeling of a lump in the throat that is worse when stressed, called plum-pit qi in Chinese medicine, is attributed to Liver Qi stagnation.

Because the energy is predominant in the Liver meridian between 1 and 3 a.m. according to the Chinese medicine body clock, people with a Liver imbalance often will wake up habitually during this time and not be able to fall back asleep.

Menstrual irregularities almost always have a Liver imbalance element due to the Liver's function of storing Blood. Irregular periods, painful periods, breast tenderness and PMS are common symptoms.

Because of the Liver's regulatory effect on the Qi of the Stomach and Spleen, digestive complaints are common. Acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, nausea and abdominal distention may be due to a Liver imbalance affecting the Stomach or Spleen.

Tendon problems may be due to the Liver failing to properly nourish them. Many of my patients with carpal tunnel and plantar fasciitis have other Liver issues. Stiff neck and muscle cramps may be related to the Liver.

Dry eyes, floaters, poor night vision or other eye issues may be related to the function of the Liver in Chinese medicine.

The Liver, in Chinese medicine has a relationship with wind. Not only does environmental wind worsen symptoms of a Liver imbalance, but Chinese medicine believes that Wind may be generated internally due to a prolonged Liver disharmony. Clinical symptoms of Wind are tremors, tics, vertigo and in extreme cases, stroke.

Stress reduction is crucial to keeping the Liver in balance. Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to relax the body and move the Liver Qi to maintain health.

About the Author:

Joyce Marley is a licensed acupuncturist with a practice in New Hartford, NY. She writes alternative health articles about acupuncture and Oriental medicine.

The Liver in Chinese Medicine

It is said in Chinese medicine that when energy is flowing smoothly throughout the body, we have no pain or disease. The Liver is the organ that is responsible for ensuring that energy, or Qi (pronounced “chee”), flows smoothly throughout the body – in all organs and in all directions. The function of the Liver of regulating Qi, is extremely important to both our physical and emotional health.

The Liver is the most important organ in the body for storing Blood. By virtue of this function, the Liver plays a huge role in the regulation of the menstrual cycle. When the Liver is working optimally, women will experience regular menstrual cycles with very little discomfort.

The Liver is also responsible for regulating the volume of blood throughout the entire body according to physical activity. When the body is active, blood flows to the tendons and muscles. At night, blood flows back to the Liver. When this function of the Liver is working harmoniously, we have good energy during the day and feel rested and revitalized when we wake in the morning.

The Liver controls the sinews and tendons. A healthy Liver will moisten and nourish these parts of the body that affect our ability to move our joints fluidly. In Chinese medicine, the nails are also considered a by-product of the sinews. Strong, healthy nails are a sign that the Liver blood is plentiful.

The Liver is said to open to the eye. When the Liver is healthy, our eyes are moist and vision is good.

The Liver, a yin organ, is paired with the Gallbladder, a yang organ. The Liver has a powerful affect on the digestion because not only does the Liver control the proper functioning of the Stomach and Spleen Qi, but also on the secretion of bile.

Because the Liver oversees the smooth flow of Qi of all the organs in the body, it has been compared to an army general, responsible for planning all of the body's functions. For this reason, Chinese medicine believes that the Liver plays a part in our ability to plan our life and make decisions.

Each organ in Chinese medicine is related to a specific emotion. The Liver is related to anger, especially repressed anger or frustration. When the Liver energy is stagnated or rebels upwards, a person is prone to depression or irritability. Ironically, this works both ways. Stress in our lives, leading to anger and frustration will be the biggest factor in causing a Liver imbalance.

Though, the Liver is anatomically located on the right side of the body, Chinese medicine believes that the Liver is related to the left side of the body in many ways. The left side of the tongue reflects the health of the Liver. The Liver pulse is taken on the left wrist.

In a healthy body, the Liver Qi rises upwards and spreads in all directions to nourish the entire body, similar to the rising of sap in a tree. Hence, the Liver is equated to the element of Wood in five element theory. In five element theory, there are many other relationships that are used in Chinese medicine diagnosis. Each organ is associated with a color. The Liver's color is green. With a Liver imbalance the face color will often have a greenish cast. Each organ in Chinese medicine is associated with a particular season of the year and Spring is the season for Wood, or Liver. Symptoms of a Liver imbalance are often aggravated in the springtime, especially by wind.

Spring is a great time to ensure that your Liver is in balance!

Cocks Crow” Morning Diarrhea

There are many patterns of imbalance in the body that can explain why someone would experience chronic diarrhea. “Cock's Crow” or dawn diarrhea is one very famous pattern.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), disease is sometimes described in terms of hot and cold patterns. Other times disease is explained by the excess or deficiency of energy of specific organs.

In TCM, the Spleen has the main function of helping the Stomach digest and transform food into energy for the body. If the function of the Spleen is impaired, there will be poor appetite, bad digestion, abdominal distention and loose stools.

The Kidney Yang provides the energy and heat source for the entire body. The Spleen depends on the Kidney Yang energy for proper digestive peristalsis to move food through the digestive tract. When there is deficiency of Spleen and Kidney Yang, the intestines lose their contractile strength and daybreak diarrhea occurs between the hours of 4 a.m. and 8 a.m.

Other signs and symptoms that would be consistent with this diagnosis would be fatigue, cold abdomen and pain or bloating that is aggravated by eating cold or raw foods. Other yang deficiency signs may be present such as cold limbs, weak lower back and low libido. In severe cases there may be fecal incontinence, as the Kidney has the function of controlling the opening and closing of the anus. The tongue would be pale and swollen with teeth marks due to the poor transformation of fluids in the body. The pulse would be deep, slow and weak.

Acupuncture and herbs can be helpful for this pattern of diarrhea, but treatment may take time due to the severity of the deficiency. A famous herbal formula for this condition is Fu Zi Li Zhong Wan. This formula warms the middle and tonifies qi and yang.

Moxa may also be incorporated into the treatment to warm the middle. Burning moxa cones over salt in the naval powerfully warms the yang. A moxa box may also be used over both the abdomen and lower back.

It is important that this condition be properly diagnosed by a trained TCM practitioner. Herbal formulas must be acquired from companies who are well known to independently test herbs for heavy metals and pesticides. Also, tonics should not be taken during the early stages of colds and flu, as they would drive the disease deeper into the body.

About the Author:
Joyce Marley is a licensed acupuncturist that provides acupuncture therapy in New Hartford, NY. She writes Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) health articles about acupuncture and Oriental medicine.

Morning Diarrhea and Chinese Medicine

There are many patterns of imbalance in the body that can explain why someone would experience chronic diarrhea. “Cock's Crow” or dawn diarrhea is one very famous pattern.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), disease is sometimes described in terms of hot and cold patterns. Other times disease is explained by the excess or deficiency of energy of specific organs.

In TCM, the Spleen has the main function of helping the Stomach digest and transform food into energy for the body. If the function of the Spleen is impaired, there will be poor appetite, bad digestion, abdominal distention and loose stools.

The Kidney Yang provides the energy and heat source for the entire body. The Spleen depends on the Kidney Yang energy for proper digestive peristalsis to move food through the digestive tract. When there is deficiency of Spleen and Kidney Yang, the intestines lose their contractile strength and daybreak diarrhea occurs between the hours of 4 a.m. and 8 a.m.

Other signs and symptoms that would be consistent with this diagnosis would be fatigue, cold abdomen and pain or bloating that is aggravated by eating cold or raw foods. Other yang deficiency signs may be present such as cold limbs, weak lower back and low libido. In severe cases there may be fecal incontinence, as the Kidney has the function of controlling the opening and closing of the anus. The tongue would be pale and swollen with teeth marks due to the poor transformation of fluids in the body. The pulse would be deep, slow and weak.

Acupuncture and herbs can be helpful for this pattern of diarrhea, but treatment may take time due to the severity of the deficiency. A famous herbal formula for this condition is Fu Zi Li Zhong Wan. This formula warms the middle and tonifies qi and yang.

Moxa may also be incorporated into the treatment to warm the middle. Burning moxa cones over salt in the naval powerfully warms the yang. A moxa box may also be used over both the abdomen and lower back.

It is important that this condition be properly diagnosed by a trained TCM practitioner. Herbal formulas must be acquired from companies who are well known to independently test herbs for heavy metals and pesticides. Also, tonics should not be taken during the early stages of colds and flu, as they would drive the disease deeper into the body.

About the Author:
Joyce Marley is a licensed acupuncturist that provides acupuncture therapy in New Hartford, NY. She writes Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) health articles about acupuncture and Oriental medicine.