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Introduction to Chinese Medicine
Chinese medicine is a complete system of medicine with its own forms of diagnosis, treatment,
prognosis, and therapies. Chinese medicine views the body as an energetic system in dynamic
balance. Qi, which can be translated as energy or life force, flows in a regular pattern through a
system of channels or meridians to all parts of the body.
When the flow of Qi is unimpeded there is harmony, balance, and good health. When there
are Qiblockages, too much or too little qi, there is an imbalance which can lead to disharmony
and disease.
Chinese medicine helps restore the body to balance and works on an energetic level to affect all
aspects of a person: mind/body/spirit. The beauty of Chinese medicine is that it can be used to
correct imbalances that have become illness and pain, or even correct imbalances prior to the
appearance of symptoms, preventing disease.
Chinese medicine treatments address imbalances using food therapy/diet, acupuncture, herbal
remedies, Chinese exercise, and meditation along with Western therapies. Chinese medicine is
the longest existing continuous medical system practiced in the world, with over 3000 years of
history.
1. Cold When hypothermia hits a skier or a mountain climber, muscle control fades, motion
becomes slow and awkward, fatigue sets in, the body shuts down. Thats the same effect that the
Cold Pernicious Influence has it saps the bodys energy and makes movements cumbersome.
The tongue becomes pale; the pulse is slow. A person may develop a fear of cold and feel like
sleeping in a curled up position. Cold is yin and when it invades the body it chills all or part of it. If
theres pain, its eased by warmth.
When External Cold attacks the body, acute illness may develop, along with chills, fever and
body aches. When the External Cold moves inward and becomes an Interior disharmony it is
associated with a chronic condition that produces a pale face, lethargy and grogginess, a craving
for heat, and sleeping for longer than usual periods of time.
2. Heat disorders feel like youve been playing tennis for two hours in the blazing sun. Youre weary
and at the same time, strangely cranked up. You cant stop talking about the game, but your
words stick in your mouth. You dont feel like yourself again until you cool down and quench your
thirst.
Heat disorders cause overactive yang functions or insufficient yin functions. They are generally
associated with bodily heat, a red face, hyperactivity and talkativeness, fever, and thirst for cold
liquids and a rapid pulse. Symptoms include carbuncles and boils, dry mouth and thirst.
Confused speech and delirium arise when Heat attacks the Shen.
3. Dampness: Think about what happens to your backyard when it rains for two days it
becomes soggy and water collects in stagnant pools. That is how Dampness affects the body.
Damp pain is heavy and expansive. Dampness blocks the flow of life energy and causes a stuffy
chest and abdomen. When External Dampness invades, it enters the Channels and causes stiff
joints and heavy limbs. When Dampness invades the Spleen, it can cause upset stomach,
nausea, a lack of appetite, a swollen abdomen and diarrhea. Interior Dampness caused by
either the penetration of External Dampness to the Interior or by a breakdown in the Spleens
transformation of fluids is associated with mucous, which in Chinese medicine is more than
simply bodily secretions. It is produced when the Spleen or Kidney is beset with disharmony and
can cause obstructions and produce tumors, coughing, and if it invades the Shen, can lead to
erratic behavior and insanity. Once Dampness has taken root, it is hard to displace.
4. Dryness is a frequent partner with Heat; just think about the cracked bottom of a dried up
riverbed. But where Heat creates redness and warmth, Dryness creates evaporation and
dehydration. External Dryness invading the body may create respiratory problems such as
asthmatic breathing and a dry cough, acute pain and fever.
5. Summer Heat feels like the humid, oppressive weather that creates the Dog Days of August. It
attacks the body after exposure to extreme heat and causes a sudden high fever and total
lethargy. It is always an External influence and often arises along with Dampness.
6. Wind animates the body, stirring it from repose into motion just as wind moves the leaves of a
tree. When Wind enters the body, it is usually joined to another influence such as Cold. If the
body is infiltrated by Wind, the first symptoms usually appear on the skin, in the lungs, or on the
face. Tics, twitches, fear of drafts, headaches and a stuffed-up nose are symptoms. When
External Wind invades the body more deeply, it can cause seizures, ringing in the ears and
dizziness.
Therapeutic Modalities Used in
Chinese Traditional Medicine
The various therapeutic modalities of Chinese traditional medicine include dietary therapy;
massage therapy, heat therapies, exercise, meditation, acupuncture, and herbal medicine. Heat
therapies include the use of moxibustion, which is the burning of the common herb mugwort
(artemesia vulgaris) over certain areas of the body to stimulate or warm these areas. Exercise
therapy ranges from martial arts to more subtle forms of movement such as tai chi and qi gong.
Acupuncture, perhaps the most well known form of Chinese traditional medicine in the United
States, is the art of inserting fine sterile metal filiform needles into certain points in order to
control the flow of energy in the meridians.
Diagnosis
TCM Offers a Different Way to
Diagnose Your Health
In Chinese Medicine texts, there is no discussion of diseases or disorders as we know them in
the West: If you go to see an herbalist, acupuncturist, or Chinese medicine doctor because you
are suffering from chronic migraine, the practitioner may diagnosis you as having
Liver Qi Stagnation, Liver Heat, Dampness, Qi and Blood Deficiency or Excess Yang, depending
on the signs and symptoms that accompany your headache. If you have nausea, gas, and
bloating you may be diagnosed with Deficient Spleen System Qi.
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Asking the Questions
The Chinese medicine practitioner takes a great deal of time to ask you about yourself. Your
answers allow the practitioner to benefit from the knowledge that you have for no one can
know your body as well as you do. Questioning allows the practitioner to observe your emotions,
voice and self-presentation.
Basic questions that the practitioner will focus on:
Your reaction to heat and cold
Your patterns of perspiration
If and when you experience headaches or dizziness
What type of pain, if any, you may have
Your bowel and bladder function
Your thirst, appetite and tastes
Sleep patterns
Your sexual functioning, sexual activity and reproductive history
General medical history
General physical activity
Emotions
Evaluation of Smell
According to Chinese traditional medicine theory, there are two main odors that clue a doctor to
the origin of disharmony: A strong stench from secretions or excretions indicates Excess and
Heat. A weaker odor indicates Deficiency and Cold.
When examining the tongue, the Chinese medicine doctor looks at the color of the tongue body,
its size and shape, the color and thickness of its coating or fur, locations of abnormalities and
moistness or dryness of the tongue body and fur. These signs reveal not only overall states of
health, but correlate to specific organ functions and disharmonies, especially in the digestive
system. Not all tongue irregularities are indications of disharmony, however. Food and drugs may
change the coating or color of the body of the tongue. For example, coffee yellows the coating
and Pepto-Bismol turns the tongue black.
Furthermore, some people have minor, unchanging cracks on their tongue, which are considered
normal. Others are born with what is called a geographic tongue, which is covered with severe
cracks and covered with hills and valleys. This is considered normal by some practitioners, but a
sign of congenital disharmony by others.
The way a tongue appears is not an absolute indicator of the location of the disharmony, but
when taken as part of an overall pattern that includes a complete evaluation, they offer strong
clues to the location of disharmony.
Tongue Body
Tongue Fur
The tongue body is a fleshy mass and has color, texture and shape independent from the
apparent qualities of the tongue coating. (To evaluate the tongue accurately, always do the
examination in natural light.)
A pale tongue body indicates Deficient Xue or Qi or Yang or Excess Cold.
A overly red tongue body indicates Excess Heat.
A purple tongue indicates that Qi and/or Xue are not moving harmoniously and are Stagnant.
Pale purple means the Stagnation is related to Cold.
Reddish purple is related to Stagnation of Heat.
When the tongue is black or grey, it indicates extreme Stagnation; if black and dry, that indicates
extreme Heat Stagnation; black and wet is an indication of extreme Cold Stagnation.
Bright red indicates deficient Yin or Excess Heat. Dark red indicates Excess Heat.
Cracks in a red tongue indicate Deficient Yin or Heat injuring the fluids. But if the tongue is pale
and cracked, Deficient Qi or Xue is present. Thorny eruptions of the buds on the tongue alert
the doctor to Heat or Stagnant Xue.
Acupuncture
Chinese traditional medicine includes acupuncture as one of its most commonly used therapies.
Acupuncture is the art of inserting fine sterile metal needles into certain body or ear points to
readjust the bodys Qi (vital energy) in order to allow the body to heal itself.
After a Chinese traditional medicine diagnosis is given for a client, an acupuncture treatment plan
is developed considering the overall nature of the disease, the individual presenting complaints,
as well as any underlying constitutional Chinese traditional medicine patterns of illness. On a
symptomatic level, acupuncture treatment may address the digestive functions, appetite, energy
level, stress/anxiety/depression, pain associated with organic illness, and other complications.
Acupuncture is relatively painless, often accompanied with a heavy sensation, warmth, or
movement of energy at the point of insertion or along the energy channels. Acupuncture relieves
pain and rebalances energy to help heal symptoms.
Acupuncture is used extensively at Chicken Soup Chinese Medicine clinic for many issues
including as part of chronic hepatitis protocols, to decrease nausea associated with pregnancy or
chemotherapy, to work with mental issues such as depression and anxiety, and help to relieve
pain from both musculoskeletal and organic problems.
Moxibustion
An important part of Chinese traditional medicine treatment is the use of moxibustion.
Moxibustion is the common herb mugwort (called moxa in Chinese) that is Stick and Cone
Moxibustion burned over certain points or areas. Moxa is rolled into a cigar-like stick or used
loose over protected skin to create warmth and tonification.
Moxa has been shown in Chinese studies to increase digestive function, increase white blood
count and platelets when burned over certain points, and may have an effect on the
transformation of T-cells. It is often used for pain syndromes and areas that appear or feel cold
on the body. Moxibustion is often prescribed for home use.
Herbal Therapy
Chinese herbal medicine works through the physiological action of the herbs, and pays special
attention to the powers unleashed through combinations of herbs. For example, a Chinese
herbalist will choose an herb for a specific effect and complement it with another herb that will
increase that beneficial effect. However, sometimes along with the positive effects an herb may
possess qualities that are not suitable for an individual because of his or her unique constitution.
Then the herbalist must know what other herbs to add to the mixture to eliminate that undesired
action. An herb formula is built to suit the individual diagnoses of each person there is never
one pat prescription for everyone who has the same symptoms. A compound of three or four or
more herbs may be designed to address the persons particular needs.
In Chinese medicine, we do not usually treat specific symptoms with Chinese herbs; instead we
treat the symptom complex known as the syndrome. Every individual is different, so even when
we use a general herbal combination we can add herbs to individualize the formula.
Chinese herbalists know that there are specific rules for herb combining some herbs have
potentiated effects when combined with certain other herbs. Some herbs are traditionally
contraindicated for use in the same formula with other herbs because of negative or toxic effects.
Combining Chinese herbs is an art. Two or more herbs may be combined to form an herbal
prescription. Some contain only one herb and often we find up to twelve or fifteen herbs in a
formula, depending on the condition of the person and the actions of the herbs needed.
Medicinal substances are combined in order to enhance the effectiveness of individual herbs
within the formulas, to minimize unwanted effects, or to deal with complex situations, and to alter
the actions of the substances.
There are many ways to ingest or use Chinese herbal formulas. Formulas may be taken in bulk
tea that has been cooked, in liquid extract form in hot water, in powder extract form in pills or hot
water, in pills, or even used topically in teas, plasters, liniments as well as many other forms.
In my clinic I use many traditional formulas that have been made into herb pills, often called
patent formulas. Various Chinese herb companies produce pills as well as extracts and powders
of traditional Chinese formulas. Some companies also produce modern Chinese herbal formulas
as well as variations of Chinese traditional formulas for a more Western constitution.
Close supervision is necessary when any type of medication is ingested. This includes Chinese
herbal formulas. A person receiving Chinese herbs should be under the care of a competent
licensed practitioner who can differentiate any possible side effects of herbs from organic
conditions. Receiving herbs from unlicensed or untrained personnel, such as in health food
stores, is not good practice.
Side effects are possible with herbal formulas. The most common problem is that persons may
have some digestive difficulties immediately upon beginning herbal intake that can last for a few
days. This can include diarrhea and/or constipation. This is usually due to the sudden addition of
increased fiber in the diet, particularly for those unused to much fiber. If this lasts more than a
few days or is severe, several measures are taken to ameliorate the effects. Side effects can
generally be controlled through varying the time of ingestion or through altering the dosage.
Sometimes we need to change the formulas or give a digestive formula in conjunction.
Dietary Therapy
In Chinese medicine, food therapy and diet are the first treatments given to people who are trying
to stay well, remain in balance, or who are suffering from illness. There are many ways in which
we eat that can either keep us well or can make us sick.
In Chinese thought, we must keep the digestion healthy or we easily become ill. Food intake is
very important to healthy digestion and assimilation of food. In Chinese medicine, our
understanding is that the Spleen and Stomach are the organs of digestion and assimilation, the
Stomach brings food energy into the body and the Spleen distributes it. Therefore, anything that
disrupts the function of the Spleen/Stomach or the digestion is injurious to the bodys energy as a
whole.
Some concepts of Chinese medicine that are most important for digestion and Spleen/Stomach
function are:
1. Eating at regular times.
2. Eating cooked foods this is due to the fact that it takes much more energy of the body to warm
the Stomach to digest foods. Cold and raw foods are injurious to the Spleen and Stomach energy
according to the traditional concepts, and should be eaten sparingly.
3. Eating foods that are in season and grown as close to home as possible. There is
more Qi available from these foods, as they are fresher and have more food energy.
4. Herbs can be added to foods to increase their vitality and for certain conditions.
A basic food used for healing in Chinese medicine is rice along with other grains. Congee or
porridge is a very therapeutic food and is often used traditionally during chronic weakness
diseases and during convalescence from illnesses. There are many varieties suitable for different
conditions but it is usually made from rice. Your Chinese medicine practitioner can give you
recipes that are specific for your situation.
New theories of glycemic values can be incorporated into dietary therapies and treatment in
conjunctions with Chinese medicine.
Massage
The Healing Touch:
Qi Gong Massage & Other Forms of Body
Therapy
Massage, whether done solo, with a partner or by a professional massage therapist, offers the
energy of acupuncture, the serenity of meditation and the spiritual refreshment that comes
through being touched. Massage can be an important part of your every day health care routine.
There are many types of Asian massage and acupressure such as Chinese Qi
Gong massage, Jin Shin Do, Japanese Shiatsu, and other Asian acupressure forms. Western
reflexology techniques are very popular in the United States and Europe and China today. There
are many other forms of massage, each valuable for restoring harmony: Swedish deep muscle
massage is done with long, smooth motions and is effective for muscle aches, stiffness, lower
back pain and stress reduction; Cranio-Sacral bodywork manipulates the pulses, flow of blood
and the bones of the skull with micro-movements. It provides deep calming of the spirit and the
body, eases joint pain and muscle tension, improves concentration and opens up the Channels;
Trager massage works on the nervous system, using gentle shaking and rocking to stimulate
energy and promote relaxation and pain relief; Esalen massage, like Swedish, is a long stroke
massage that works on muscles and joints to ease tension; Rolfing works on tissue realignment
on a deep level. When it come time to choose one of these forms, or any other type, select what
you find most pleasurable and effective.
Careful, relaxed breathing in the foundation of all Qi Gongmovements. For your breath carries
with it the healing powers of well-harmonized Qi and Xue.
Larry Wong
The Circle of Qi
This exercise is part of a routine to help circulate Qi throughout the body, replenish
depleted Qi and calm the Shen.
1. Sit on the floor with legs crossed in lotus or cross-legged style. This is important so that Qi does
not stagnate in the lower body, but follows the breathing path through the torso and the head.
2. Inhale to a count of four to eight, depending on what you are comfortable with.
3. For Buddhas Breath, inhale, extending your belly as you fill it up with air from the bottom of your
lungs upward; exhale by pushing the air out from the bottom of your lungs first, contracting the
lower rib cage and abdominal muscles, then the upper torso.
4. For Taoists Breath, inhale, contracting your abdomen, exhale letting your abdomen relax
outward. You may practice these breathing techniques on alternate days.
5. As you inhale imagine the air and your Qi flowing evenly along the pathways of the
Channels.
6. Become aware of the air as it enters through your nostrils and moves down the center of your
chest to a spot in your abdomen about 1 to 2 inches below the navel. This is the dan-tien.
(Women should not concentrate on it during their periods. Concentrate on the solar plexus,
instead.)
7. Now breath out slowly and evenly, releasing the breath from the abdomen, up through the lungs
and out your slightly open mouth.
8. As you exhale image that the Qi which was at the dan-tien is moving down through your pelvis,
through your crotch and then up your tailbone to your lower back.
9. Keep your exhaling breath in a slow, steady, smooth stream passing gently over your lips.
10. Now as you inhale again, follow the Qi as it moves up along your back to your shoulders.
11. Exhale and move the Qi up the back of the head, over the top of your head, down your forehead,
returning to the nose.
12. At first it may be difficult to follow the flow of Qi through its cycle. Be patient and keep your
breathing calm and your mind relaxed while focusing on your inhale and exhale.
Hepatitis C Help
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is increasing in the United States and around the world today.
HCV infection is the most common chronic blood borne infection in the United States. More than
three-quarters of those who are infected will develop chronic liver disease and up to 20 percent
will develop cirrhosis. It is estimated that there are 8,000 to 10,000 HCV-related deaths each
year and the US Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health expect the rate
to triple in the next 10 to 20 years.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that during the 1980s an average of 230,000
new infections occurred each year. The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
conducted during 1988-1994, indicated that an estimated 3.9 million (1.8%) Americans have
been infected with HCV. Most are chronically infected and might not be aware of their infection
because they do not have apparent symptoms. Infected persons may transmit the virus to others
and are at risk for chronic liver disease or other HCV-related chronic diseases during the twenty
to thirty years following infection.
Free Report
Misha provides a free report The First 3 Steps To Conquer Hepatitis C.
To receive the report and news on hepatitis C treatments, visit www.helphepatitisc.com
Hepatitis C Help
Information for Practitioners
Practitioners of Chinese Medicine may wish to address Hepatitis C with the following treatments.
The following information is derived from the Hepatitis C Professional Certification Program and
is for practitioner guidance only. Visit the MRCE Foundation website for more information on the
the Hepatitis C Professional Certification Program.
Acupuncture Recommendations
Herbal Therapy Recommendations
Interferon Treatment Protocol
Acupuncture Recommendations
General Chronic Hepatitis Treatment
Special points: .75 from Du Channel T10/T11/T12 UB 18/19/20
with deficiency St36, Sp6
Four Gates: Li4, LI3
Costal (liver) pain: Li14, GB24
Note To Practitioners:
For more information on the herb pills or to order Chinese herbal pill formulas, practitioners may
contact Health Concerns, Inc. directly. Other herbs are available through various Chinese herb
sources such as Mayway Herbs, Golden Flower Herbs and Springwind Herbs.
Note To Practitioners:
For more complete information on the above protocols please refer to The Hepatitis C Help
Book and The Hepatitis C Professional Certification Program.
You may also contact Health Concerns, Inc. regarding the herbal formulas mentioned here
Hepatitis C Help
Western Medicine
Lab Tests
Liver enzymes AST and ALT are more commonly elevated in chronic HCV infection.
Levels may fluctuate as part of the normal course of disease. High levels of AST and ALT
indicate that there is damage to the liver due to cell damage. However, unless a liver biopsy is
done, it is hard to know what level of damage has been done.
If having hepatitis symptoms, get hepatitis panels for hepatitis B and hepatitis C. If there are
acute symptoms, have an additional test for hepatitis A as well as hepatitis B and C.
Viral load tests should be done if positive for HBV or HCV.
Evaluation
Western drug therapies may be appropriate for an individual. I advise consultation with a
Western medical doctor.
Current Western bio-medical treatment is primarily using a combination of pegylated interferon
injection with oral ribavirin therapy. You need to talk with your Western doctor about eligibility for
these programs.
There are a number of side-effects of drug therapy, including flu-like syndromes, headaches,
fatigue, fevers, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, hair loss, and depression, as well as the possibility of
the lowering of the white blood counts and platelets through bone marrow suppression. Ribavirin
may cause sudden, severe anemia as well as birth defects.
If you have decided to use a combination of East/West therapies, it is wise to discuss this with
both your Eastern and Western practitioners. Some herbal therapies may be inappropriate in
conjunction with interferon therapy. Chinese medicine, however, is highly effective for the
management of side-effects of drug therapies.
A list of herbs that are considered liver toxic is available from:
Robert Gish, MD
California Pacific Medical Center
3698 California Street
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 923-3911
Interferon Treatment
Who should consider treatment and how to best combine Eastern and Western medicine so you
can get the best results.
Hepatitis Vaccinations
Co-infection with other forms of viral hepatitis is highly dangerous for people with HCV, therefore
vaccination for hepatitis A and B is recommended.These vaccinations are generally
recommended for those at risk if becoming infected and for children.
For people who do not have adequate antibodies to hepatitis B, it is highly recommended to have
an HBV vaccination.Three injections over a 6 to 12 month period are required to provide
complete protection. Some people do not develop enough antibodies to become immune to HBV.
For people who have hepatitis C and who never had hepatitis A, it is highly recommended to
have an hepatitis A vaccination. Immune globulin can be given to receive temporary immunity for
up to 3 months. There is evidence that there may be as much as a 40% death rate from acute
hepatitis A if one is co-infected with hepatitis C. If one has not had hepatitis A and has not been
vaccinated after exposure to hepatitis A,immune globulin should be given as soon as possible
after exposure, no later than two weeks.
For more details and guidelines on vaccination and treatment, please contact the Hepatitis
Foundation International at 1-800-891-0707.
Hepatitis C Help
Self-Care
Moxibustion
Acupressure/Massage
Exercise
Daily Journal
Dietary Recommendations
Supplements
Moxibustion
The following description of moxibustion is an excerpt from The Chinese Way to Healing: Many
Paths to Wholeness, Berkeley Pub Group, 1996.
Moxibustion uses burning herbs, placed on or near the body, to stimulate specific acupuncture
points. This warms the Channels and expels Cold and Dampness; creates a smooth flow
of Qi and Xue ; strengthens Yang Qi ; prevents disease and maintains health.
For hundreds of years, moxibustion has been partnered with acupuncture. According to the
Chinese text, Introduction to Medicine, When a disease fails to respond to medication and
acupuncture, moxibustion is suggested.
There are two basic forms of moxibustion: The cone and the stick. You can use both of them for
self-care at home.
The moxa cone is made by compressing the herb mixture, known as moxa wool, into a cone
about the size of the upper part of your thumb. The cone is then burned on the body. One of the
most common applications is to the navel, where it is effective in relieving abdominal pain,
diarrhea, and easing excessive sweating, cold limbs and a flagging pulse. When moxa cones are
burned on other parts of the body, the effect is to ease disharmonies in Channels and Organ
Systems associated with those points.
Moxa Cone
The following directions are for using the moxa cone. Never place the moxa directly on your skin!
1. Make three cones.
2. Place each one firmly on a slice of dry aconite about an eighth of an inch thick and set within
arms reach. Aconite is a special herb your practitioner can give you. Its toxic if ingested, but
perfectly safe when used with the moxa cone. You may also use a slice of fresh ginger about
1/8th of an inch thick that you have pierced with four or five small holes.
3. Lie Down.
4. Place a piece of clean cotton somewhere on your torso so you can retrieve it quickly if need be.
5. Put two tablespoons of salt in your navel and tamp down until smooth and flat. (If you have an
outie, the Chinese texts suggest taking a long, wet noodle and forming a circle around the navel
to contain the salt.)
6. Pick up the cone and attached piece of aconite.
7. Light the cone from the top if you want it to burn cooler and more slowly; from the bottom
(dont light the aconite) if you want it to burn hotter and more rapidly.
8. Place the aconite/moxa mound on top of the salt.
9. If, as it burns, it becomes too hot, gently lift the moxa and aconite, slip the piece of cotton cloth
over the salt and set the aconite and moxa back in place.
(NOTE: The ginger tends to spread the heat more than the aconite because it is damp and it
doesntt offer as much insulation, so be especially careful not to burn your skin.)
10. Let the moxa burn down. If it still feels too hot, remove the aconite and cotton and let the salt
cool. Repeat three times. When youre done, save the aconite; brush off the salt.
11. To place moxa cones on other points, skip the salt and use a piece of cotton topped with a slice
of ginger or aconite. Never place the moxa directly on your skin!
Moxa Stick
Moxa sticks, the size of a baby cigar, are available pre-rolled. When lit, they are used like wands,
by circling their burning end over various acu-points. This method is particularly effective for
treating painful joints and chronic problems such as dysmenorrhea, hernias, and abdominal pain.
1. Mark the acu-points you want to heat with a small dot.
2. Light the wand and let it burn until it begins to smoke.
For chronic hepatitis, you may use the following points at home as well as in the clinic with a
practitioner. Please have a practitioner show you the location of these points so you can do it
properly. I use these in clinic whenever there are increased AST and ALT levels.
Chronic hepatitis special points:
1. .75 from Du Channel T10/T11/T12
2. UB 18/19/20
Additional points for various conditions include:
1. For Dampness and treating digestive problems associated with Cold, use Ren 12 halfway
between the navel and the tip of the sternum is effective in dispelling cold and Dampness
2. For weak energy and lack of appetite, use St36, Sp6
3. With nausea, moxa Ren 12, Ren 14, and Sp6
Acupressure/Massage
You may use the following points to perform self-acupressure:
1. For nausea, press P6 and Ren 12
2. For weak energy, massage St36, Sp6, and Sp4 For loose stools and abdominal cramping,
massage St37, St25
3. Abdominal massage is helpful to harmonize the Large and Small Intestine, Liver, Spleen,
Stomach, and Gallbladder. To increase the massages effectiveness, warm the abdomen first
with a hot pack or ginger compress. You may also massage using a warming oil infused with
cinnamon (see references listed below for complete self-massage instructions).
Exercise
Qi Gong exercise to strengthen Liver. See Kenneth Cohens books and articles. For simple
beginning Qi Gong exercise by Larry Wong, Quan Yin Healing Arts Centers Qi Gong teacher,
see The Chinese Way to Healing: Many Paths to Wholeness.
Daily Journal
For one to two weeks before going to visit a Chinese medicine practitioner or for your own benefit
in general, keep a daily journal and record the following.
1. Everything you eat and drink and when
2. Any bodily symptoms and the time of day they appear
3. Your physical activities and how long you do them
4. Sleep patterns
5. Digestion and patterns of elimination and urination
6. Your emotions and when they arise
7. Intake of drugs, prescription or recreational, alcohol, nicotine products
8. Mental clarity or lack of clarity
Dietary Recommendations
1. Eat cooked foodsit helps the digestive system to digest more easily. Depending on your
condition, you may want to eat some raw foods occasionally or daily. This would depend on your
general Chinese differential diagnosis. Do not eat foods directly out of the refrigerator.
2. Drink warm or hot drinksdrinking cold fluids puts out the digestive fires which are important to
assimilation of nutrients. Do not drink cold drinks directly out of the refrigerator.
3. With Heat syndromes, avoid hot or warm foods such as ginger, garlic, turkey, chicken, mutton,
shrimp, and heavy oils. Eat an increased amount of raw vegetables, juices and fruits (no more
than 33%)
4. With excess Dampness, fried foods and dairy products should be completely avoided. Limit tofu
and when eaten should always be cooked, preferably with ginger and garlic. Eat carrots, barley,
rice, corn, aduki beans, mustard greens, chicken, potatoes, alfalfa, and rye.
5. Avoid alcohol
6. Limit intake of coffee, chocolate and other highly caffeinated foods
7. Drink green teait has liver protective and anti-cancer effects. However, with anxiety and
depression, this should be limited if you are caffeine-sensitive (the above are not complete lists
see references below for complete lists of foods for various conditions and Chinese diagnoses
also, a practitioner can give you dietary advice)
Doc Mishas special guide on treatments that work, what common mistakes to avoid and how to
get the best from Eastern and Western medicine:
7 Key Facts You Must Know To Choose Your Correct Hepatitis C Treatment
Daily Supplements
As recommended for a general immune health program, modified for chronic viral hepatitis.
1. Lactobacillus acidophilus, refrigerated powdered type (use as directed)
2. Multivitamin, multimineral supplement. Powder capsule form is best for digestion. Sometimes
B complex vitamins can make some people with hepatitis nauseated. Make sure it supplies
selenium and chromium
3. Essential fatty acids. One tablespoon per day of organic flax, raw sesame, or evening primrose
oil to promote prostaglandins. Helps decrease muscle aching and fibromyalgia symptoms.
Should be refrigerated type to avoid rancidity
4. Low dose Carotenoids at 5000 to 10,000 units per day (Do not take Vitamin A)
5. Vitamin E 400 to 1200 I.U. per day can help cell-mediated immune function, skin
problems, memory loss
6. Vitamin C if you can tolerate it, you can take up to six grams per day. Take to bowel tolerance
meaning until too much gas or loose stools, then back off until comfortable
7. Additional supplements as recommended by a nutritionist or qualified practitioner
Links to Hepatitis C resources
http://www.tcmeducation.org/
Womens Health
Gynecological Health Management
Dietary Guidelines
A Meditation Plan
Soaks & Compresses
Gynecological Health: Dietary
Guidelines
Eat a diet of warm, cooked foods. Be particularly careful not to eat cold, raw foods during your
period it only increases cramping and discomfort.
Avoid excess dairy products to decrease dampness and to strengthen the Spleen.
Eliminate caffeine and drink a minimum of alcohol which increases PMS symptoms and is
linked to increased breast cancer risk. Artificial stimulants of all kinds amplify gynecological
disharmonies causing Liver Qi Stagnation and Liver and Heart Fire.
Eat a low-fat diet since excess body fat increases estrogen production and can lead to various
gynecological problems. A fatty diet can also increase Qistagnation and dampness, which is
associated with depression and lack of energy.
Increase fiber and grain in diet to avoid premenstrual constipation.
Eliminate excess salt from diet to ease water retention. Pure foods contribute enough salt to the
diet to maintain health. The use of processed and packaged foods and the addition of salt to
home-cooked meals is unnecessary and can be detrimental to your health. According to the Five
Phases diagnoses, excess salt injures the Kidney Water, counteracts with Earth and injures the
Spleen.
Gynecological Health: A
Meditation Plan
Stress is both a trigger and a result of gynecological problems. Meditation can alleviate the stress
and diminish associated symptoms such as pre-menstrual depression and anxiety.
Stephen Levines Opening the Heart of the Womb meditation concentrates the power of self-
healing on the uterine area and offers a powerful tool for all women those who want to
become more centered, those seeking to heal disease or those whose Shen, or spirt, has been
injured through sexual or emotional abuse.
Endometriosis
A few years ago, a woman, who asked not to be identified, came to see me because shed been
diagnosed by her Western doctor with endometriosis, a disease that affects the uterus and can
possibly cause infertility. She had emergency surgery, which made her symptoms worse, and
she could not tolerate the proffered drug therapy because of her sensitivity to the medication.
She was extremely skeptical about Chinese medicine, but desperate to find some relief from the
severe pain of her condition. I put her on a regimen of herbs, acupuncture and nutritional
supplements. Slowly, she became sensitive to how her body, mind and spirit were affected by
the disease and they might contribute to the cure. She began to meditate and practice
visualization while we continued her healing regimen. After one year, she returned to her original
Western doctor for an examination. He did another laparoscopy to check on the disease. There
was no sign of endometriosis. She had combined Western and Chinese Medicine and had cured
both the physical disorder and propelled herself along a path to body/mind/spirit healing.
Fibroid Tumors
Infertility
(See also: Fertility: Conscious Conception)
Gynecological Health: Organ
Systems
According to Chinese medicine, the menstrual cycle is related to the functioning of various organ
systems:
Kidney System
The Kidney Organ System controls the formation and release of the egg from the ovaries. If
Kidney Qi, Yinor yang are weak, infertility may result. Kidney deficiency can accompany a kind of
chronic fearfulness that causes tension, irritability or depression associated with the monthly
cycle.
Liver System
Since Liver Qi promotes the free flow of Qi and triggers the release of Xue (blood) and the onset
of the period, menstrual problems such as cramps before or during onset of period and mild
pre-menstrual headache are usually due to Stagnant Qi . If Liver Qi is not flowing smoothly,
depression and anxiety may occur in the days before the period.
Liver Excess can accompany generalized anger. Conversely, anger and emotional suppression
can damage Liver Qi . Liver Qi Stagnation is associated with menstrual cramps and mild
headaches that subside with onset of the period. Liver Qi Stagnation with Heat is associated with
irritability, flashes of anger, a feeling of a hot sensation in the upper part of the body and breast
pain. When combined with Stomach Heat you may experience acne, increased appetite and
breast pain.
When Liver Qi Stagnation leads to Xue (blood) Stagnation there may be Xue clots with severe
headaches during the period. When Xue Stagnation is accompanied by a cold sensation, you
may experience a cold sensation in the abdomen, darker flow with dark clots and cramps that are
eased by the application of warmth.
Spleen System
Spleen disharmony develops as either Spleen Qi Deficiency or Spleen Qi Deficiency with
Dampness. These syndromes are associated with digestive disturbances, sugar craving and fluid
retention. When Spleen Deficiency leads to Xue Deficiency it is associated with lengthening of
the cycle or missed periods and difficulty falling asleep.
Womens Health
Managing Menopause
In Chinese Medicine, the symptoms of menopause hot flashes, palpitations, emotionality,
depression, vaginal dryness, change in libido, urinary problems and changes in skin texture are
associated with Deficient Kidney Yin; Deficient Liver Xue ; Deficient Kidney Yang; and
Deficient Yin and Yang of Kidney. But it is important to stress that menopause is not a disease or
a disorder it is part of the natural progress of life. Any physical or emotional discomfort
associated with it can be eased or eliminated.
Dietary Guidelines
Some foods contain phyto-estrogen, which can help ease the symptoms of menopause caused
by lack of estrogen. In some societies half their dietary intakes contains foods which have phyto-
estrogens, while in the U.S. less than 10 percent of our food comes from such sources. Those
estrogen-containing foods that have been found to raise blood levels of estrogen are: soya flour,
tofu, linseed oil and red clover sprouts.
Foods high in calcium and magnesium are recommended as well, although dairy products are
generally discouraged.
Dietary fat should be kept low, especially during peri-menopause when estrogen levels are
unopposed by progesterone.
Exercise Plan
Weight-bearing exercise is an important part of any peri-menopausal or menopausal program. It
is associated with increased calcium uptake and increased bone density. Its important to work
both the lower and upper body. Doing weight-bearing exercises on only one part of the skeleton
will not spread the benefit throughout the body. Again, however, you should only pump iron three
times a week to avoid damaging the strength of Spleen and lead to a Xue Deficiency.
Aerobic exercise is recommended for those who find they gain weight through menopause or
who are at risk for heart disease. (Remember, heart disease is the major killer of women over
50.)
Womens Health
PMS Management
PMS is a loose collection of symptoms triggered by hormonal shifts that afflict an estimated 80
percent of all women during the last week or two of their menstrual cycle.
Symptoms
PMS symptoms include: increased appetite and sugar cravings, fatigue, headaches, dizziness,
palpitations, depression, weight gain, breast tenderness, emotional volatility, vaginal infections,
constipation, worsening of allergies, acne or skin eruptions. For 10 to 20 percent of women the
syndrome is incapacitating.
In Chinese Medicine, these symptoms are associated with various disharmonies :
Liver Qi Stagnation, Depressive Liver Fire, Heart Xue Deficiency/Liver Xue Deficiency, Stomach
Heat and Spleen Qi Deficiency with Dampness.
Dietary Guidelines
In addition to the general gynecologic dietary guidelines, if you have PMS, you should:
Eliminate all refined sugars from the diet.
Eliminate caffeinated coffee, chocolate and dark sodas.
Reduce fat content of diet to 25% of daily calories.
Avoid over-the-counter diuretics. Instead adjust diet to eliminate excess salt, increase grains and
fiber.
Drink 48 ounces of filtered or spring water a day.
Nutritional Supplements
No nutritional supplements should be taken without talking to your Western doctor and/or
Chinese practitioner since there may be contraindications you dont know about.
B6 may provide some relief in doses between 250 and 500mg a day. The proof that it works is
anecdotal at this point.
Zinc Science News reports that women with PMS have lower zinc levels during the luteal
phase, which is between ovulation and onset and may be associated with PMS symptoms.
However, only take supplements under the direction of your practitioner. Minimal amounts of zinc
are needed as supplements and there have been reported side effects from doses as small as
the RDA of 15 mg each day. These include interference with copper and iron metabolism leading
to a negative impact on serum lipids (fat in the blood) and immune function.
Calcium Hydroxyapatite and Magnesium. Chocolate cravings associated with PMS may in fact
result from magnesium deficiency chocolate is relatively high in magnesium. And calcium is
important for general gynecologic health plus as a preventive measure against osteoporosis
the brittle bone syndrome that afflicts so many women after menopause.
Bringing in Additional
Supplements:
One of the most innovative solutions to PMS is the use of Wild Yam cream to provide a small
boost in the level of natural progesterone in the later half of the cycle.
The common theory about PMS is that it stems from elevated levels of estrogen. But another
view holds that it is the relative lack of progesterone in relation to the amount of estrogen that
causes PMS. Western science does prescribe synthetic progestin to counter menopausal
symptoms, but this chemical is not a satisfactory replica of natural progesterone. In fact,
progestin seems to actually inhibit the bodys natural synthesis of progesterone, thereby
worsening symptoms.
Wild Yam contains a chemical that can be converted into natural progesterone and is nearly
identical to the molecule produced in a womans body. By using a cream containing wild yam, the
effects of unbalanced estrogen production can often be eliminated.
Warning: This cream should never be used without a practitioners supervision and never in
conjunction with other hormones or medicines without consulting both your Chinese and Western
doctor.
Exercise Guidelines
To re-establish a regular, symptom-free cycle, the first step is to use Yoga, Qi Gong warm-up
exercises and walking to stimulate balanced flow. Once a routine is established (daily for 30
minutes), you can expand your exercises to include aerobics such as jogging, cycling and
swimming. Exercising 5 times a week, 45 minutes a day will strengthen Qi but you should
avoid exercise to the point of exhaustion or you will deplete Qi. Your total exercise time should
be about 7.25 hours a week including the Yoga and/or Qi Gong and aerobics.
If you have any gynecological disharmony, weight lifting exercises should be done only 3 days a
week the process of tearing down and building up muscle tissue can cause a Spleen
Deficiency, which could lead to a Xue Deficiency and increased menstrual problems.
For example, herbal formulas based on the Chinese herb Ji Xue Teng (Spantholobus) are given
to reduce bone marrow suppression and enable continuation of chemotherapy treatments at a
normal schedule.
In our clinic, we use formulas from various manufacturers that adhere to strict Good
Manufacturing Practices (GMP). One specific formula that has been successfully used in our
clinic and many around the world for more than fifteen years to support our clients undergoing
cancer treatment is Marrow Plus. Marrow Plus is a formula designed by our Clinic Director
Misha Ruth Cohen, OMD, L.Ac., for the highly regarded herb company Health Concerns.
We also use acupuncture, dietary recommendations and evidence-based supplementation with
our clients diagnosed with cancer. We recognize that there are conflicting opinions and
sometimes conflicting evidence on the use of herbs and supplements in conjunction with
chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Oncologists and cancer researchers vary in their opinions
regarding this issue.
YouTube Videos
Cancer Treatment Choices and Paths to Wholeness
Chemotherapy-Related Neuropathy Treatments
Helpful links
The Whole-Food Guide for Breast Cancer Survivors
Society for Integrative Oncology
UCSF Cancer Resource Center
Therefore, we pay very close attention to drug/herb/supplement interactions and use the most
up-to-date Web-based interaction programs, materials and courses to ensure maximum safety
and efficacy. And, of course, we will provide your Western physician, oncologist, pharmacist or
other provider with the treatment plan that has been individualized for you. We will also disclose
all herbs and supplementation that we are proposing for your treatment to your oncology team so
they can review them prior to adding them to your treatment plan.
Our Clinic Director Misha Ruth Cohen, OMD, L.Ac. is a well-known Chinese herbal researcher
and is currently the principal investigator in a two-year funded controlled clinical trial of topical
Chinese herbs for the prevention of HPV-related anal cancer. She is broadly respected as a
teacher of practitioners in the area of viral-related cancers such as HPV (cervical, anal, oral,
vulvar), HCV (liver cancer), HBV (liver cancer) and HIV-related cancers.
We also believe that Chinese medicine studies which center on alleviating side-effects as well as
enhancing Western treatment might be the most efficacious to pursue at this time along with
cancer prevention studies.
Managing Metabolic
Syndrome
Combining East and West
Are you gaining belly fat around the middle?
Are you fatigued after you eat?
Do you have a family history of diabetes or elevated glucose levels?
Do you have borderline high blood pressure?
Are your cholesterol levels elevated?
Do you have liver disease?
If you recognize some of these issues as your own, you are most likely suffering from metabolic
syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions that puts a person at risk for
cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes. Metabolic syndrome affects one in five people in the
United States, and it occurs more frequently with age. Some studies suggest the prevalence in
the USA to be up to 25% of the population. Metabolic syndrome is also known as metabolic
syndrome X, syndrome X, or insulin resistance syndrome.
Nutritional Approaches
Our Managing Metabolic Syndrome Program incorporates knowledge of Chinese traditional
medicine and western/biomedical nutritional approaches. One of the big gifts that Chinese
traditional medicine offers people with metabolic syndrome is the insight into your individual
constitution, as well as any related disease process. Not everyone will do as well on any
particular diet, and the reason is that each individuals constitution demands certain requirements
in their diet.
Based on your Chinese traditional medicine diagnosis and incorporating Chinese traditional
medicine views of healthy nutrition, we make suitable and easy to implement suggestions about
cooked vs. raw foods, warming vs. cooling foods, etc. Based on knowledge of modern
biomedical supplementation, we also offer evidence-based recommendations on what
supplements to take. We also provide referrals where appropriate for further western diagnosis
and treatment, e.g. for heart or reproductive health checks.
For more information on our clinic, Chicken Soup Chinese Medicine, and how we work in
conjunction with your Western physician or health care provider, please
visit chickensoupchinesemedicine.com.
Recipe Box
Diet, acupuncture, herbs and exercise/meditation are the four therapeutic tools of Chinese
medicine. They are used to build, maintain and restore wholeness in mind/body/spirit.
Diet is extremely important because every day what you eat either nourishes or dilutes your
Essential Substances.