by Michael Peluso, M.S.Ac.
This is a compilation of diagnostic and treatment terms to help you expand your vocabulary and thought processes surrounding this particular disease evil. This is not exhaustive, it is meant to illustrate the importance of studying and understanding medical Chinese toward the end of understanding the logic in the language and therefore the concepts at a deeper level. Expanding your understanding of the language leads to precision in diagnosis, treatment and communication which is essential for the professional practice of medicine. As per usual, with all things Chinese medicine, don’t expect perfect coherence or cohesiveness. Take it as it is.
🍎 General Treatment Principles
・Eliminate chú (general term for elimination of any evils)
・Drain xiè (general and specific)
General term for eliminating evils (including damp) however this term also specifically pertains to elimination of damp-heat in the lower jiao.
• Transform huà
-transform is also used specifically for upper jiao/exterior damp and middle jiao damp)
•Dispel qū (synonym for transform)
🍎 Specific Treatment Principles for Treating Damp
Terms often used in literature attempt to place the treatment principle in context of where the desired action/medicinal/formula is being targeted.
・Disinhibit Water/Dampness lì shī (urination) via Lower Jiao
・Percolate Dampness shèn shī (urination) via Lower Jiao
・Dry Dampness zào shī (aromatics) via Middle Jiao
・Transform Dampness huà shī (aromatics) via Middle & Upper Jiaos
・Transform Turbidity with Aroma(tics) fāng xiāng huà zhuó via Middle & Upper Jiaos
・Dry Dampness & Harmonize the Center zào shī hé zhōng via Middle Jiao
🍎 Representative Patterns/Diseases Examples of Damp patterns in different locations and associated treatment principles. Note how proper terminology tends to guide to appropriate Tx principles/medicinals/formulas.
・Damp-Heat Headache shī ré tóu tòng Treatment Principle: Clear Heat and Transform (middle and upper jiao) Dampness and Stop Pain. Representative Formula: San Ren Tang
・Spleen Encumbered by Dampness pí wèi shī kùn Treatment Principle: Disinhibit Dampness, Dry Dampness, Warm and Harmonize the Center) Representative Formula: Ping Wei San
・Damp-Heat Lumbar Pain shī rè yāo tòng (Clear Heat and Disinhibit (lower jiao) Dampness [or Drain Damp-Heat] and Stop Pain.
- Jia Wei Er Miao San
Clearing Heat and Transforming Dampness (upper and middle)
🍎 Representative Medicinals in Respective Categories
-Drying Dampness and Harmonizing the Center zào shī hé zhōng
- cang zhu
- hou po
- huo xiang
- bai dou kou
- Ping Wei San
-Drying Dampness with Cold and Bitterness ku hán zào shī
- huang lian
- huang qin
- huang bai
- zhi ke
- zhu ling
-Drying Dampness with Warmth and Bitterness ku wēn zào shī
- cang zhu
- hou po
- ban xia
- bai dou kou
- Bu Huan Jin Zheng Qi San
-Transforming Turbidity with Aroma fāng xiāng huà zhuó
- cang zhu
- hou po
- huo xiang
- pei lan
- sha ren
- xian he ye
- bai dou kou
- cao dou kou
- cao guo
- shi chang pu
Dampness Percolating-Water (Urine) Disinhibiting
- fu ling
- zhu ling
- ze xie
- yi yi ren
- che qian zi
- hua shi
- mu tong
- tong cao
- deng xin cao
- di fu zi
- bian xu
- qu mai
- bi xie
- yin chen hao
- dong gua zi
- many others
There is overlap in several categories because these medicinals are dynamic and because the production and location of damp evils result from and result in many pathomechanisms there is fluidity between categories. This is simply something you must accept and be comfortable with if you are to practice Chinese medicine.
Reference: Wiseman, Nigel A Practical Dictionary of Chinese Medicine Paradigm Publishing. Brookline, MA. 1998.
Here's a snippet from the workshop I held last weekend at the Successful Practice Summit.
The difference between Burnout vs. Overwhelm and why it's important to distinguish the two.
Setting Patient Expectations: Menstrual Disorders
I'm enjoying making these little videos and I hope they are helpful to you in your clinics. Today I thought it would be fun to take a case and show how I set expectations with the patient involving 2 menstrual complaints along with several other additional complaints. To be fair, there are some things that can't be taught in school but even in our time in clinic at school, the teachers never did what I do in this video. I suspect they simply didn't have the experience and/or confidence to put themselves out there. Understand that setting expectations is not giving guarantees, it's creating confidence in you as a practitioner in the eyes of your patients. Here's another thing, it's ok to screw up and to be wrong. There's no way around that except through so get over that shit right away. Borrow from your mentors until you get the wins under your belt.
Things I Wish They Taught in TCM School: Part One
Setting Patient Expectations
I am doing a small series addressing some things that I wish I knew as a new practitioner and hoping that the advice I offer will save some time and suffering for any 1st and 2nd year practitioners to help build your confidence with your patients.
I hope this resonates with you.
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https://vimeo.com/778982950/7af071b62d
@chrisvolesky
Hello
I would appreciate some input in approaching this patient.
Male 58 years old, with the diagnosis of type 2 Diabetes mellitus, diagnosed 15 years ago and over the course of his condition he developed diabetic retinopathy for what he is getting local injections; also developed bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and according to his physician due to of that, atrophy of the left thenar eminence.
His main complains when he came to our office were lack of endurance on his lower extremities, very weak knees and legs preventing him from doing much of his regular and normal activities and needing to walk with a cane; very poor balance and a marked, recalcitrant bilateral pitting edema from his ankles up to mid legs. Also, a weak lower back that feels sore and cold, sometimes liking urine and low libido, no drive at all.
During his visits he has always denied any digestive issues, but a mild constipation with most BM daily, but sometimes every other day, with no changes in the ...
@Michael_Peluso @chrisvolesky
Please can I have some help with this case.
Gentleman has been suffering anal pain since a haemorroidectomy 2 years ago. Pain is like a migraine (intense ache & heaviness) that is worse for passing a stool, sitting, standing, through the day.
There is also a constant feeling of heat and tenesmus (feeling of needing to pass a stool). These are not pleasant but can handle compared to the pain. He has had physiology testing which shows all functioning. Coccyx and ganglion nerve blocks had no effect.
He has had two previous heart attacks and is on medication for these. (Ace inhibitor, beta blocker, statin & aspirin)
Pulse is wiry with irregular irregular beat.
He is very cold … included hand photo. He has no spider veins in the sacral area or on the back/ BL40 area. Only around ankles .. photos included.
I have treated with acupuncture, no bleeding, with no change in 4 weeks.
Can you help with herbal suggestions?
Thanks
