back pain | dorsalgia

Back therapy on upper back pain in TCM

admin — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 06:18:57 +0000

If you apply retroaction to TCM,it is the back therapy.Such as,the hypertension patients can lead the blood stagnated at brain to feet by feet-dipping in hot water;the postural hypotension patients will demonstrate sudden dizziness from clinostatism to stance,resulting from the decline of vasomotoricity,you can use backward walking to increase the elasticity of blood vessel;if you have pain in knees,you can do backward walking.From the point of biodynamics,both standing and walking will bring burden to cervical vertebra,and the brain labourers work for long time at desk,as a result,the traction and tension of musle can not be relieved,and the chronic convulsion will be formed.This is why lots of people are attacked by upper back pain.Then how to cure? The back therapy in TCM is very effective.

First,cycling
Due to the special frame of mountain bike,the angle between saddle and car beam ranges from 71 degree to 74 degree.Generally speaking ,people need a great angle of inclination,but it is more comfortable at 72 degree.Put your hands on handlebar,upper part of your body forward,keep your head to the sky,this is the key point.We need to lower our head when working,and long-time of this kind of work cause the excessive tension and fatigue of some musles,and some symptoms appear,such as muscular stiffness and cervical discomfort,etc.When riding,we lift our head,taking the effect of back therapy.You had better choose the flat ground with beautiful surroundings to ride,then you could have proper turn,as well as you can control the speed.Each time the exercise should not be more than 1 hour,and 2 to 3 times every week.

Second,cervical exercises
First,choose a chair with arms,about 10cm between the upper edge of the back of chair and shoulder so as to the movement of head.Sit flat on the chair,face foreward and look straight,lean you back on the back of chair,put your legs at natural comfortalbe position,and set your arms on the two sides of your body and hang down naturally.
Step one: move your head forward and downward slowly to the enduring degree,then return to the normal position.Then,move it backward and downward slowly to the enduring degree,and return to the normal position.
Step two:move your head towards the left and downwards to the enduring degree,then return to the normal position.The same way,to the riht and downwards,then to the normal position.
Step three:move your head towards right to the enduring degree,then towards left and upward to the normal position.To the opposite direction do it again.
Do it for 5 to 8 minutes each time.Do remember the action should not be too fast and strong.Do it gently.
Third,doing exercises like bird
TCM has already immitated the actions of animals to build a sound body,prevent and treat diseases,such as five-animal boxing,wild goose qigong,etc.Bird will not be attacked by cervical disease,this is not only related to the structure of its body,but also closely connected with its flying.This set of exercises is to immitate the actions of bird spreading its wings to fly.
Step one:starting;relax and put your arms on the two sides of body naturally,put your feet together to the standing at attention posture.
Step your left foot or right foot according to your habit,the distance between the heel of forward foot and the tip of the backward foot is about half a foot,that is to say,the distance between the two feet is about one and a half sole.
Step two:spreading wings;lift your arms forward to the same height and width with your shoulders,then spread backwards and outwards,meanwhile,extend your head forward slowly to the enduring degree,and stop for 2 to 3 seconds.Suppose you are a leasurely sea-gull flying in the blue sky and sea,breathing fresh air,and enjoying the warm sunshine.
Step three:closing form;two arms return to the normal position from the way comes,and move the head slowly to the original position.
Do it 10 times every time,and do it 1 to 2 times one day.Do not stretch it excessively the first time you do it,to avoid damaging muscles and joints.Make sure you exercise your muscles both in back and neck,and do it gentlely.If you have done cervical operation or are cervical spondylotic myelopathy patients,you should consult doctors before doing the exercises.
Fourth,learning breaststroke
When taking a breath during breaststroke,your head will move upwards and backwards from parallel to water,and come out of water to breath.Therefore,you do a back therapy when taking a breath.Swim 1 to 2 times each time,and each time 30 minutes.
In addition,TCM mainly treat disease from promoting blood circulation to remove meridian obstruction and tonifying kidney.The patients of cervical spondylopathy demonstrate symptoms such as numbness of arms,dizziness,etc.TCM thinks that the stagnation of qi will lead to numbness,and the stasis of blood will result in wooden feeling.
You can use the following prescription: lignum millettiae 30g,drynaria rhizome 30g,herba epimedii 10g,roucongrong 20g,radix rehmanniae preparata 10g,raphani 15g,the root of kudzu vine 20g,scorpio 3g,cockroach 10g.
Add proper water into this prescription to stew,then take out 150ml and take it twice each day.You need to heat it before taking it.
Arcticle Source : http://bodycountry.com/backpain/301.html/back-therapy-on-upper-back-pain-in-tcm.html

Introduction to Traditional Chinese Drugs

admin — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 06:32:44 +0000

Most Chinese medicinal herbs come from crude plants,therefore it is necessary for them to be appropriately processed in order to meet therapeutic requirements,ensuring safety and produce satisfactory medicinal effects in clinical practice.The processing of medicinal herbs,termed as Paozhi in TCM,refers to various processes of preparing crude medicinal materials acccording to the theories of TCM and requirements of therapy,prescription,preparation of forms,and storage of Chinese medicinal herbs.Chinese medicinal herbs can be from plants,animals,minerals and so on which have been classified into various groups with different functions.
I.Herbs for relieving the exterior syndrome.
Herbs in this group,divided into pundent-warm herbs and pungent-cool herbs,can disperse external pathogenic factors from the superficies and relieve the exterior syndrome by perspiration(or mild perspiration).Most of them are pungent in taste and act mainly on the lung and bladder meridians.The indications for herbs of this group are as follows:
(1)Exterior syndrome due to invasion by exogenous pathogenic factors,marked by fever,chills,headaches,stiffness of nucha,general soreness,anhidrosis,floating pulse,etc.
(2)Cough and dyspnea due to obstruction of lung-qi caused by invasion of exogenous pathogenic factors.
(3)With the function of relieving pain,some herbs may be used to treat headache and pantalgia due to invasion by exogenous pathogenic factors and arthralgia or Bi-syndrome due to invasion by wind-dampness.
(4)With the function of promoting eruption of measles,some herbs may be used to treat rublla or measles with lingering exogenous pathogenic factors or in want of eruption.
(5)Some herbs with the effect of sweating and relieving edema can be used to treat edema with exterior syndrome.

II.Herbs for clearing heat
Herbs of this group,whose main function is clearing away interior heat,are mostly cold or cool in nature and have the functions of clearing away heat,purging fire,drying dampness,cooling the blood,relieving toxin materials,clearing away deficiency-heat,etc.They are chiefly used for various internal heat syndromes.They are divided into six groups according to their functions:
(1)Heat-clearing and fire purging herbs.Most of these herbs have the main function of clearing and purging pathogenic heat from qi system,which are mainly bitter in taste and cold in nature while some are sweet and cold,so they are mainly indicated for sthenic heat syndrome at qi system marked by febrile disease with high fever,restlessness,thirst,sweating,full and big pulse and even coma and delirium.
(2)Liver-heat-clearing and eyesight-improving herbs.They are often indicated in up-flaming of liver fire with painful,red and swelling eyes.
(3)Heat-clearing and blood-cooling herbs.These herbs are mainly sweet and bitter in taste and cold in nature,and acting on blood system,which are therefore indicated for seasonal febrile disease involving qi system and blood system manifested as constantly high fever,crimson tongue,unconsciousness and delirium,maculae with bleed and internal injury diseases such as hematemesis,epistaxis caused by blood heat.Since some herbs are sweet in nature and accompanied with the action of nourishing yin,they can be used for yin-deficient syndromes.
(4)Heat-clearing and dampness-drying herbs.Generrally,these drugs are bitter in taste and dry in nature,which are indicated for dampnes-heat syndrome.
(5)Heat-clearing and toxin-romoving herbs.They are indicated in syndrome caused by heat-toxin.
(6)Asthenic-heat-clearing herbs.They have the functions of clearing asthenia-heat and relieving hectic fever due to yin deficiency,so they are often used to treat afternoon fever,lingering of low fever,etc.

III.Herbs for regulating qi
Herbs in this group are fragrant and warm in nature,pungent and bitter in flavor.They have the functions of regulating qi,strengthening the spleen,promising qi flow,stopping pain,facilitating qi flow,reversing rebellious qi activities,soothing the liver,dispersing the depressed qi or cracking qi stagnation and dispersing mass,etc.They are indicated for obstruction of pulmonary qi,failure of dispersion of the liver and imbalance of function between the spleen and stomach.Qi stagnation syndrome is mainly manifested as oppression,fullness and pain;syndrome of abnormal rising of qi is usually manifested as nausea,hiccup or dyspnea.
Arcticle Source : http://bodycountry.com/backpain/303.html/introduction-to-traditional-chinese-drugs.html

The etiology of upper back pain in TCM

admin — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 07:10:26 +0000

There is no upper back pain in TCM,but its symptoms are similar to Bi syndrome,Wei syndrome,headache,dizziness,rigid neck,etc.There is such a description as bone is out of position and tendons are out of groove.In the Plain Question of Huangdi’s Canon of Medicine written about 2000 years ago,it described Bi syndrome as follows:the co-attack of wind,cold,and dampness demonstrated Bi syndrome.The prevail of wind evil demonstrates walking Bi;the prevail of cold demonstrates pain Bi;the prevail of dampness demonstrates landing Bi.According to the syndromes and pain location of the disease,the Bi syndrome can be divided into tendon Bi,bone Bi,pulse Bi,musle Bi and skin Bi.This description includes upper back pain.Therefore,upper back pain is mainly caused by wind-cold-damp evils,blockage of meridians,long-time strain,deficiency of liver and kidney,the stagnation of phlegm and blood stasis,intermingled phlegm and blood stasis,qi stagnation and blood stasis,etc.The Origin and Development of rhinoceros and Miscellaneous Diseases candle mentioned that the cervical stiffness and pain is the disease in liver,kidney and bladder caused by wind-cold-dampness.
1.Blockage of meridians
The blockage of wind-cold-dampness in meridians,long-time strain,poor blood circulation,etc can lead to the disorder of qi and blood circulation,the discord of meridians and qi,the blockage of meridians,qi stagnation and blood stasis,which will lead to the pain all over the body.Because it mainly hurt qi and meridians in Taiyang meridian.The poor circulation of qi and blood,lack nourishment of the body will manifest numbness,atrophy,stiffness,etc.The blockage of deficient and cold evils in meridians,and the damage of Yang qi will lead to headache.
Treatment:expel wind and dispel coldness,dredge meridians and remove bi syndromes.
2.The unfavourable circulation of Taiyang meridian
Wind,cold,damp or summer-heat evil block in meridians,lack of body fluid and blood,qi stagnation and blood stasis,unfavourable meridians and qi,qi and blood block where Taiyang meridian pass through,which will result in pain.It demonstrates the pain between head and neck,neck and back,limbs,unfavourable movement,numbness,or inflexibly extension,etc.
Treatment:dispel wind,remove dampness and ease pain
3.Stagnation of phlegm and blood stasis
Wind,cold or damp evils stop in meridians forming phlegm,blockage of meridians,or qi stagnation and blood stasis lead to body fluid and blood do not distribute,resulting in the blockage of phlegm and blood stasis.The blood stasis will lead to pain,and the stagnation of phlegm will lead to heaviness of the head,dizziness,nausea,unfavouralbe throat.Phlegm belongs to yin evils similar to dampness blocking meridians,as a result,the limbs are heavy,cold,numb,swollen.The stagnation of phlegm blocking qi movement will lead to the fatigue and weakness of the whole body.
Treatment:eliminate dampness to resolve phlegm,dissipate blood stasis and dredge meridians
4.Stagnation of qi and blood stasis
The attack of exogenous evils,stagnation of meridians,deficiency of liver and kidney,feeble movement of qi and blood,trauma,strain,qi stagnation and blood stasis,long-time disease evils attacking meridians will cause poor circulation of qi movement and blood circulation.Blood stasis will lead to the blockage of meridians which will lead to pain.Long-time qi stagnation and blood stasis will affect liver and kidney.The deficiency of liver-blood and kidney essence can not nourish the body and clear orifices demonstrating dizziness,giddiness,and blurred vision.Impaired nourishment of the heart will lead to insomnia,forgetfulness and shock.Dark purple tongue with ecchymosis,
taut and relaxed pulse is the sign of deficiency of liver and kidney.
Treatment:activate blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis,removing obstructions from channels and collaterals
5.Deficiency of liver and kidney
Long-time blockage of meridians and qi stagnation and blood stasis will damage liver and kidney.The deficiency of liver and kidney,insufficiency of essence-blood and brain malnourishment will demonstrate dizziness, giddiness,tinnitus and deafness.The deficiency of yin-blood and prepondence of yang qi will lead to the swelling pain of brain,hot face,dry mouth and throat.The deficiency of kidney essence will lead to soreness and weakness of waist and knees,difficulty in lifting things and movement.The deficiency of liver-blood will lead to lacking nourishment for tendons,resulting in spasm,tremor,difficulty in moving.The taut and thready pulse is the sign of deficiency of liver and kidney.
Treatment:enrich water to nourish wood,regulate blood and qi
Based on the above mentioned points towards upper back pain,TCM has formed a set of treatment such as external treatment,external medicine,cupuncture,internal treatment,etc.According to different etiology,syndromes and pulse,they turn to different treatment and medicine.The combination of internal and external treatment is quite different from modern medicine(western medicine).It not only pay attention to restoring dislocation,slack muscles,stretch tendons and bones,but also focuse more on whole recovery and comprehensive treatment by dredging meridians,regulating zang-fu organs.Therefore,TCM or the combination of TCM with western medicine is a sound treatment towards upper back pain without doubt.
Arcticle Source : http://bodycountry.com/backpain/310.html/the-etiology-of-upper-back-pain-in-tcm.html

Pulse and tongue in Traditional Chinese Medicine(II)

admin — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 06:41:29 +0000

II.Pulse-taking
The formation of pulse condition is closely connected with the zang-organs,fu-organs,qi and blood,so their state will be reflected by pulse condition.Therefore,pulse-taking helps to judge the location and nature of a disease and the prosperity or decline of the healthy qi and pathogenic factors to infer prognosis of the disease and to provide the basis for treatment.
The common diagnostic method of pulse-taking is called cunkou pulse-taking.Cunkou refers to obvious pulsation place of the radial artery on both sides of the wrist,further divided into cun,guan adn chi(inch,bar,cubit).Guan is located medial to the styloid process of the radius at the wrist,cun is distal to it and chi is on the proximal side.These three pulse locations correspond respectively to the five zang-organs and six fu-organs;namely,the left cun corresponding to the heart and shanzhong;the right guan,to the spleen and the stomach;both left and right chi,to the kidney and the lower abdomen.
The most proper time for taking pulse is in the morning when both external and internal conditions of the patient are relatively quiet and his qi and blood are calm.The patient is supposed to sit straight or lie down in a supine position,and put his arm at the same level with his heart,while his wrist is extended straight with his palm upward.Put a small cushion pillow under the patient’s hand.
Pulses should be felt with the pads of the fingers(most sensitive part).The practitioner’s hand must be relaxed,then place the third(middle)finger pad on the radial artery just medial to the styloid process.The index finger on the proximal position.The proper distance of the three fingers should be fixed according to the height of the patient.The applied force of the doctor’s fingers may be great or light when he feels pulse.To press he fingers lightly on the pulse is called “touching” also known as fuqu or qingqu;to feel the pulse with moderate force is defined as “searching”,or zhongqu;to press the fingers deeply to the place between the tendon and bone with great force is termed “pressing,also known as chengqu.
Normal pulse refers to pulsation of a healthy person which is characterized by even and gentle pulse located at cun,guan,chi with moderate force and regular rhythm,each respiration 4 beats at a rate of 60-90 beats per minute.Normal pulse has three characteristic aspects including being full of stomach qi,being full of vitality,and being rooted.
Defined as abnormal pulse showing pathologic changes,which are reflected in the pulse picture,the pathologic pulse refers to abnormal pulse manifested usually in terms of the pulse location,frequency,rhythm,shape and conditioned of the pulse.For example,the floating and deep pulse shows abnormal location of the pulse;slow and rapid pulse,the abnormal pulse frequency;knotted adn intermittent pulse,an abnormal rhythm;feeble and replete pulse,abnormal power or capacity condition;full and thready pulse,the abnormal shape.According to the changes of abnormal pulse in location,frequency,rhythm,shape and power condition,we classify abnormal pulse in location,abnormal pulse rhythm,abnormal pulse shape and power location.
Pulse location refers to the site of palpation,i.e. its depth,length.Normal pulse can be felt in cun,guan and chi,neither floating nor deep.When the pulse feels floating,deep,short and long,it is considered as abnormally located pulses,such as floating,soft,hollow,tympanic,deep,firm,deep-sited,short and long pulses.In case of the abnormal changes of pulsation frequencies,it is defined as abnormal pulse frequency,including acceleration of pulse frequency and deceleration of pulse frequency.Acceleration of pulse frequency refers to pulse over 90 beats per minute(five beats to a normal cycle of respiration) with generally regular rhythm.Its common pulse conditions are defined as rapid pulse,swift pulse and bubble-rising pulse.Deceleration of pulse frequency refers to pulse below 60 beats per minute(four beats to a normal cycle of respiration) with generally regular rhythm.Its common conditions are defined as slow pulse and water-leaking pulse.Pulse characterized by irregular rhythm is called abnormal pulse rhythm.Its common pulse pictures are defined as running pulse,knotted pulse,intermittent pulse,bird-pecking pulse adn rope-unitying pulse.Abnormality of pulse shape refers to changes in pulse wave,mainly manifested as abnormality in amplitude adn ascending and descending rate.Types of pulse shape consist of full pulse,thready pulse,slippery pusle,uneven pulse,taut pulse,tense pusle and moderate or relaxed pulse.Abnormality of pulse force refers to changes in pulse force.The pulse type include mainly replete pulse,feeble pulse,weak pulse,indistinct pulse and scattered pulse.
Arcticle Source : http://bodycountry.com/backpain/292.html/pulse-and-tongue-in-traditional-chinese-medicineii.html

Pulse and tongue in Traditional Chinese Medicine(I)

admin — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 06:20:09 +0000

Inspection of the tongue and pulse-taking are two unique and important diagnostic methods of TCM.The former means observing the abnormal changes in the tongue proper and the tongue coating,while the latter refers to feeling the patient’s arterial pulse with the doctor’s fingers to learn the condition of the disease by judging pulse conditionas.
I.Tongue Inspection
The tongue serves as a mirror of the viscera.The meridians and collaterals of the viscera are all connected directly or indirectly withe the tongue.For example,the meridians and collerals of the heart,liver,spleen,lung,kidney,triple energizer and urinary bladder are directly connected with the tongue.It seems obvious that the tongue is closely related to qi,blood,body fluid and viscera.Moreover,the mucosa on the tongue is thin and transparent with a rich supply of blood,and the tongue papillae are sensitive to changes.Therefore,being a sensitive mark of internal changes,the tongue serves as an indispensable guide in differentiating syndromes.
From the point of view of biological holography,any local part is representative of the whole body.The tongue is no exception.People in ancient times had already established the doctrine that different parts of the tongue correspond to various internal organs;namely,the tip of the tongue reflects the heart and lung;its middle part,the spleen and stomach;its root,the kidney;both sides of the tongue,the liver and gallbladder.This theory is valuable for clinical diagnosis.When a patient’s tongue is observed,the patient should face the light with his tongue protruding very naturally.The coating of the tongue should be inspected first,then the tongue proper.The inspection should be done quickly and thoroughly while special attention is paid to the effect of the light,diet,medicine and season on the tongue.
The inspection of the tongue comprises the inspection of the tongue body and the coating.The tongue body refers to the tissue of the muscle adn blood vessels,which is formed,according to the theory of TCM,by the rising of the qi of the spleen and stomach.The normal picture of the tongue is described as having a soft and flexible body,light red,moist and bright,neither too fat nor too thin,and normally shaped.A thin and white coating with clear grains,which,evenly scattered and rooted on the tongue,can not be wiped out,and which is neither wet nor dry,neither sticky nor greasy,is described as being light red tongue with thin and white coating.Abnormal picture of the tongue are pathological manifestations.The tongue proper and the coating should be examined together and consulted together in examinations.Usually,the emphasis is put on the tongue body when the force of pathogenic factors and the sufficiency or deficiency of the stomach-qi is examined.
Attention should be paid to changes in the color and quality of the tongue body and coating during the inspection of it.Common colors of the tongue coating are white,yellow,grey and black.The coating quality refers to how thick the coating is and whether it is moist,dry,greasy,curdy,exfoliative.The colors of tongue body indicating diseases are pale,reddened,crimson,purple and green-blue.The pathologic shapes of the tongue are decribed as swollen,emaciated,prickled,fissured or having teeth prints.The abnormal states of the tongue may appear flaccid,hard,trembling,deviated,contracted,etc.
Pale tongue primarily indicates qi and blood deficiency or yang deficiency.If blood is deficient,it causes the tongue pale and slightly dry with less fur and the tongue form being either the normal or slightly shrunken.If there is invasion of pathogenic cold,the tongue is pale,and the fur is white,slippery and thick.If there is internal collection of cold-damp due to yang deficiency,the tongue appears pale,the tongue body is enlarged,tender,and moist and there are teeth impressions on the sides of the tongue.
When the entire tongue is reddened,and the body is rough with fur,this is indicative of an excessive heat syndrome.If the tongue is reddened with prickles and thick fur,extreme heat is indicated.If the tongue is reddened and the centre of the tongue is dry,this indicates heat scorching the stomach fluids.If the sides of the tongue are reddened,this is heat in the liver and gallbladder.If the tip of the tongue is reddened,this indicates heat in the upper energizer.A reddened tongue tip with prickles reflects an upflaming of heart fire.A red tongue with petechiae indicates blood stasis.If the tongue is tender and reddened,with little or no fur,deficient heat is generally present.
A crimson tongue can be seen in excessive heat disease.When heat enters the blood phase,the tongue is crimson and prickle arise.Crimson and a dry center suggest stomach fire scorching fluids.Crimson and dry with cracks suggest pathogenic heat consuming yin.If the tongue color is purple-blue and the mouch is dry,with a thirst for water but not swllowing it,or if,on the tongue surface there are petechiae,these indicate congealing stagnation of qi and blood or internal accumulation of blood stasis.Heat toxin causes the tongue color to be purple and crimson,accompanied by dry yellow tongue fur.
If you take the tongue tip upward and curl it,the network vessels on either side of the tongue bottom can be inspected.If the network vessels are engorged or varicose,or are accompanied by petechiae on the tongue,this is due to blood stasis.
Arcticle Source : http://bodycountry.com/backpain/289.html/pulse-and-tongue-in-traditional-chinese-medicine.html

Basic theories of traditional Chinese medicine(II)

admin — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:05:33 +0000

III.Yin-yang theory
Yin and yang generally refer to two opposite aspects of interrelated things or phenomena in the natural world.The early connotations of yin and yang were quite simple,the side facing the sun being yang and the reverse side being yin.In the course of their everyday life and work,the ancient Chinese people came to understand that all aspects of the natural world could be seen as having a dual aspect,for example,day and night,brightness ans dimness,movement and stillness,upward and downward directions,heat and cold,etc.Thus the terms of yin and yang are used to express dual and opposite qualities.
Yin-yang theory believes that everything in the universe contains both aspects of yin and yang.So yin and yang not only represent two opposite aspects within a single entity.According to such an understanding of things,phenomena that are dynamic,bright,hot and functional pertain to the category of yang;while those that are static,dark,cold and substantial pertain to that of yin.The nature of yin and yang of a phenomenon is not absolute but relative.On the one hand,under certain conditions yin may change into yang and vice versa;and on the other,any phenomenon may be infinitely divided into its yin and yang aspects.Yin-yang theory forms the foundation of diagnosis and treatment in TCM.The earliest reference to yin and yang is in Yijing(Book of Changes) written around 700 BC.Four main aspects of yin and yang relationship include opposition of yin and yang and inter-transformation of yin and yang.
Arcticle Source : http://bodycountry.com/backpain/286.html/basic-theories-of-traditional-chinese-medicineii.html

Basic theories of traditional chinese medicine(I)

admin — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:25:22 +0000

I.The theory of Qi,blood and body fluid
Qi is the most essential substance that makes up the body and maintains life activities.It originates from congenital qi and acquired qi.Qi is the original motivation of the physiological functions of all te viscera in the body.Qi warms the body and is the source of heat energy in the body.Qi also functions to protect the body,resist the invasion of various pathogenic factors and prevent diseases.Qi can astringe and control liquid substances,such as blood,body fluid.The movement of qi can produce changes in the body,which is the essential cause of the conception,development,growth and decline of life.Qi in the body is a kind of very active refined substances that is in cnstant movement.Generally speaking,qi has different movements including ascending,descending,exiting and entering.In addition,there are four different types of qi:yuan-qi(primordial qi),zong-qi(pectoral qi),ying-qi(nutrient qi) and wei-qi(defensive qi).
Blood,coomposed of the nutrient qi and body fluid (jinye),circulates inside the vessels.It can moisten ans nourish the body.The basic substance for producing blood is essence,including the congenital essence(kidney essence) and acquired essence (food nutrients).Qi ans blood have an interdependent relationship where qi moves blood and blood is the mother of qi.Body fluid can be divided into thin fluid(jin) and thick fluid(ye) which are different from each other in property,distribution and function.Thin fluid spreads to skin,muscle and orifices,thereby having the function to nourish the body.In comparison,thick fluid runs to and nourishes bones,joints,viscera and brain.
II.Zang-fu organs theory
This theory emphasizes the zang-fu organs and their physiological functions and pathological manifestations.Each zang-fu organ has its own function and various relationships.Each zang-fu organ is assigned to the twelve regular meridians respectively.There are five zang-organs and six fu-organs,which are paired into six yin-yang partnerships.The five zang-organs include the heart,liver,spleen,lung and kidney.They are generally considered to be the most significant in terms of pathology,diagnosis,and treatment.Even though the names of these zang-organs arethe same as the western internal organ names,their functions are markedly different.
From the TCM prespective,the zang-organs have the following functions.The heart functions to push blood circulation inside vessels ans houses the spirit,which means regulating mental and emotional activities.The heart is related closely with vessels in tissues,taking tongues as its orifice ans the face reflects the state of the heart.The liver is responsible for storing blood,regulating the qi flow,emotions,prompting the transformation and transportation of spleen,and controlling sinew.The eyes and the fingernails reflect the state of the liver.The spleen transforms and transports food and fluid,which are important sources of nourishment.It also functions to send up the essential substances,controls the blood circulation in vessels and takes charges of muscles and the four limbs.The lungs regulate breathing and qi all over the body.They also regulate fluid metabolism,function to disperse and descend,and regulate the voice.The skin and body air reflect the state of the lungs.The kidneys store essence and control birth,growgh,development and reproduction.They also guide water metabolism and excretion,rule the bones,produce marrow,nourish the brain,and are responsible for reception of qi.The ears and yin-orifices are referred to as their orifices ans the head hair reflects the state of the kidneys.
Besides the five zang-organs,there are six fu-organs.The common physiological function of the six fu-organs is to digest food and transport waste material.
Arcticle Source : http://bodycountry.com/backpain/281.html/basic-theories-of-traditional-chinese-medicine.html

Categories of upper back pain

admin — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 05:38:43 +0000

Upper back pain can be largely divided into four categories:cervical spondylosis,cervical spondylotic radiculopathy,vertebral artery type of cervical spondylosis and cervical spondylotic myelopathy.
I.cervical spondylosis: it is mainly caused by unproper height of pillow when sleeping and an awkward sleeping posture,the turn of cervical vertebra surpasses its range of motion,or long-time bending of cervical vertebrae,which make cervical disk gradually tend to one side,and stimulate nerve root,causing pain.
The symptoms of cervical spondylosis mainly is the instinctive pain,swelling,and uncomfort,and find it difficult to raise head at morning or after getting up.Patients said they do not know where to set their head is more comfortable.About half of the patients told that the movement of their neck is limited or stay in forced posture.Some patients may have transient abnormal feeling on upper limbs.The pain will aggravate when making movement and relieve when having rest.
This type of upper back pain can last for months or years,and reoccur often,sometimes severe sometimes mild.The chronic patients will hear strange sound when turning their heads,and will turn their head to affected side to relieve pain when disease come on.
II.cervical spondylotic radiculopathy
This disease is the most common one among all kinds of upper back pain,and incidence of disease is the highest,which takes up 60% of all back pain.
The etiology of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy is that cervical disk and bone spur protrude to cervical vertebrae,stimulating and compressing spinal nerve root,especially the fourth and seventh cervical vertebrae.Most patients are above 30 years old,displaying chronic and iterative attack.The symptoms are as follows:
(1)root pain is the typical characteristics of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy.It is likely to be sting pain,knifelike pain,a dull sustained pain or ache,and it may radiate to other positions of body,such as head,ost aurem,back of eye socket,shoulder,arms,prothorax,as well as fingers,which will be limited at one side.The pain will aggravate when coughing,sneezing,extending upper limbs by a large margin,stretching or bending neck excessively.As for some patients,some the affected side will have numb feeling,and it will aggravate during night,which will affect sleeping.
(2)reduction of muscle.Due to the damage of motor nerve,the muscles of upper limbs will depauperate and lack strength,can not move flexibly,and have difficulty in holding things which is prone to drop.
(3)stiff neck,compression pain on spinous process,spealbone.If the nerve root traction test or spurling test is positive,the reflection of bicipital muscle of arm or triceps muscle of arm will reduce or disappear.The muscles of neck and shoulder will have an increasement in tensility or appearance of spasm.In one word,the symptoms of cervicalspondylotic radiculopathy are various.The movement of neck and shoulder will be restricted due to pain at acute stage;replacement of affected joints will occur at chronic stage;the bending of neck backward will be restricted.The patients will have restrictions in movement to different degree.Quite a few patients will demonstate swelling of upper limbs,dark red or pale complexion,and the symptoms will aggravate after catching cold or overstrain.
III.cervical spondylotic myelopathy
The incidence rate of cervical spondylotic myelopathy is lower than other cervical spondylopathy.It is caused by cervical canal stenosis,which presented a series of symptoms led by the compression and damage on cervical cord.Cervical spinal canal is a tubular narrow passage which is connected by the holes in cervical vertebra,and cervical cord is within it.
Cervical canal stenosis could be caused by the hypogenesis itself,or cervical bony growth developed by the degeneratice pathological changes of intervertebral disk.The atrophic intervertebral disk will compress spinal cord from anterior canalis spinalis,and because of the instability of degenerative cervical vertebra,hypertrophy of ligamentum flavum will compress spinal cord from posterior canalis spinalis.Cervical cord is at the condition of losing control of itself.
Cervical cord will move upward or downward along with the stretching movement of cervical vertebra;when cervical vertebra bend forward,cervical cord will become thin and move forward;when it bends backward,cervical vertebra will become thick and tend to approch back end of canalis spinalis.This unstable movement bringing different degree of rubbing and damage finally lead to upper back pain.According to the location,degree and clinical demonstrations of the damage,cervical spondylotic myelopathy can be divided into three types:central type,pyramidal tract type and traversing type.
(1)central type is caused by the damage of anterior and posterior horn cell of spinal cord,and the damage of anterior horn cell is most common.It also could be led by the compression and stimulation of artery,if one side is compressed,it will demonstrate unilateral symptoms,and if two sides are compressed,it will display bilateral symptoms.Patients will feel numb and lack of strength of upper limbs,and the movement of hands is not flexible.
(2)pyramidal tract type mainly is that the aggravation of central type disease damaged and compressed pyramidal tract.It mainly demonstrate as chronic and progressive symptoms of lower limbs,such as numbness,cold,ache,lack of strength,unstable walking and prone to fall down.At early stage of causing disease,it often present intermittent symptoms,and occur after excessive walking and overstrain.Along with the development of disease,the symptoms will aggravate and transfer to constant attack.The above-mentioned symptoms most are bilateral lower limbs,and unilateral limb is rare.
(3)traversing type:the pathological changes of pyramidal tract spread to the surrounding area,and tractus spinothalamicus at anterior and lateral side of cervical vertebra will be damaged.Patients will feel numb below breast,and the severe one will demonstrate the dysfunction of relieving the bowels.
IV.vertebral artery type
Vertebral artery type of cervical spondylosis is caused by the compression or stimulation on vertebral artery which lead to the insufficient supply of blood and present a series of symptoms.Cervical vertebra bear the largest amount of movement among all the spinal column section,and it easily leads to strain.Along with the aging and the accumulation of damage,it prone to cause degenerative changes of cervical vertebra,especially at 4-5,5-6 cervical vertebra section.
Because the degeneration includes herniated disc,uncovertebral joint or bone spur on vertebra,as well as subluxation of vertebra,and olisthe of superior articular process will compress vertebral artery and stimulate the sympathetic nerve around it, leading to the spasm of vertebral artery,the narrowing of cervical canal.As a result,vertebrel-basilar arteries is insufficient and demonstrate a series of symptoms.Normally,the left side and right side vertebrel-basilar arteries can mutually adjust the blood flow to handle the compression caused by cervical vertebra movement.
For example,if one’s head turns to left,the vertebral artery at left side will twist leading to the narrowing of cervical canal and reduction of blood flow,at this time,the vertebral artery at right side will adjust itself,and supply the compensary blood to avoid the short supply of brain blood.
Suppose the right side at vertebral artery caused narrowing of cervical canal due to stiffness or the compression and stimulation from bone spur,where the compensary blood come from?Therefore,the symptoms leading to lack of vertebrel-basilar arteries will cause vertebral artery type of cervical spondylosis.
Most of this kind of cervical disease are elder people,50% among them are related with the affecton of vertebrel-basilar arteries.
Clinically,it often demonstrate headache,dizziness,defective vision,etc.Headache is due to the pathological changes of nervi occipitalis major.It often displays onset pain,lasting for several minutes,hours or even much longer,sometimes it could be persistent pain.
The nature of symptoms vary from person to person.Generally,it presents jumping pain or burning pain,accompanied by abnormal feelings,such as ache,pain,etc.The pain often occurs or aggravate when turning head after getting up or taking bus when bumping.A few patients demonstrate allergic pain,and they will feel pain when touching their scalp at affected area,even their hair.The pain occurs from neck,spreading quickly to post aurem,or eye socket,or root of nose.Some patients have signs before the attack of disease,for example,they will black out or some other visural symptoms.When the pain is severe,it often accompanied by the disorder of autonomic nerves,such as nausea,vomiting,diaphoresis,etc.
Arcticle Source : http://bodycountry.com/backpain/278.html/categories-of-upper-back-pain.html

Characteristics of TCM

admin — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:37:37 +0000

I.Simple introduction to the holistic concept of TCM.
Traditional Chinese Medicine,with a several-thousand-year history,is a unique and integrated system of medicine and an important part of the Chinese culture.The approach of TCM is different from that of western medicine.TCM has its characteristics both in the understanding of the human body’s physiology and pathology and in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
1.concept of organic wholeness
The concept of organic wholeness refers to unity and entirety.TCM attaches great importance to the unity of the human body itself and its unified relationship with nature.The unity holds that the human body itself is an organic whole,which is composed of various tissues and organs,including the viscera,the meridians,the five sensory organs,the nine orifices,the four limbs and all the skeletal parts.The entirety emphasizes that human body has very close and inseparable relations with the external natural surroundings.
2.pathogenic factors
The human body is endowed with the ability to the invasion of various kinds of pathogenic factors thereby keeping a dynamic equilibrium in the interior of the body as well as between the human body and the environmental conditions.Such a dynamic equilibrium maintains the normal physiological activities of the body.If the dynamic equilibrium is damaged and cannot be immediately restored,it will lead to the occurence of disease.The cause of disease,or etiology,refers to the factors that damage the relative dynamic equilibrium and result in disease.The various factors that cause disease are known as pathogenic factors.When pathogenic factors attack the body,healthy qi fights against pathogenic factors and protects the body.The occurence of disease results from invasion of pathogenic factors into the body and struggle between pathogenic factors and healthy qi.The invasion of pathogenic factors is caused by insufficiency of the healthy qi.Insufficiency of healthy qi and invasion of pathogenic factors are two important elements in causing diseases.The pathogenic factors in TCM ccan be divided into four categories,namely,exogenous factors,endogenous factors,secondary pathogenic factors and other pathogenic factors.
i)exogenous factors
Wind,cold,summer-heat,dampness,dryness,and heat(fire) are six kinds of natural climatic factors.Under normal condition,the human body can adapt to the changes of climate which are indispensible to the existence to human beings.If the harmonious relationship between human beings and nature is broken,the body is unable to adapt itself to the change of the climate,leading to the occurence of disease.Under such a condition,these six natural climatic factors become pathogenic factors.The six abnormal climatic factors,known as six evils,are pathogenic wind,pathogenic cold,pathogenic summer-heat,pathogenic dampness,pathogenic dryness,and pathogenic heat(fire).Firstly,the cause of disease by the six abnormal climatic factors is usually related to seasonal changes and living conditions.For instance,pathogenic wind prevails in spring and consequently people tend to be affected by pathogenic wind in spring,while pathogenic cold is prevalent in winter and people tend to be affected by pathogenic cold in winter.Secondly,the six abnormal climatic factors may slightly or collectively attack people.For example,pathogenic wind may combine with cold,dampness,dryness and heat to attack people and lead to wind-cold syndrome,wind-dampness syndrome,wind-dryness syndrome and wind-heat syndrome.Thirdly,the six abnormal climatic factors usually invade people from the skin into the muscle or from the mouth and nose into the lung and the defensive phase.In addition to the six abnormal climatic factors mentioned above,pestilence is a kind of strong infectious pathogenic factor.
ii)endogenous factors
Emotions are normal reactions of the body to external environment and are usually classified into joy,anger,anxiety,contemplation,grief,fear and fright.Under normal condition,the seven emotions will not cause disease.However,sudden,strong and continuous emotional stimulation can lead to disharmony of visceral yin,yang,qi and blood,consequently bringing on diseases.The abnormality of the seven emotions directly affects the corresponding viscera due to the close relationship between the viscera and the emotions.For example,anger impairs the liver and excessive joy impairs the heart.
1.Joy
Expression of the heart,but may also affect lungs(part of the triple burner)
Excessive joy results in scattered heart qi and inability to concentrate.
2.Anger
Expression of liver
Excessive anger causes liver-lung imbalance and symptoms of dizziness,headache,flushing,red eyes,foreign body in throat, feeling of suffocation,and mental depression.
3.Sadness
Affects the lungs
Excess causes stagnation of lung qi and symptoms of chest fullness and depression
If protracted,may lead to fire,disrupting essence of the lung.May also affect spleen.
4.Contemplation
Attacks the spleen, although originates in the heart
Excess causes lack of appetite and depression.If severe,may show symptoms of decreased heat in spleen and heart:oral ulcerations,yellow-coated tongue with red tip,decreased appetite,and constipation.
5.Grief
Affects the lungs
Excess causes stagnation of lung qi and subsequent hypo-functioning of internal organs
Produces symptoms of pallor,lack of appetite,depression,suffocation in chest,difficulties with urination and defecation.
6.Fear
Attacks the kidneys
Excess is considered an extention of timidness and causes hypo-functioning of internal organs.Symptoms include desire for solitude,listlessness, incontinence,and low back pain.
7.Fright
Affects the heart
Excess causes symptoms like palpitations and mental restlessnes
Diet is an indispensable part of keeping people’s health.The intake of food has to follow certain rules.If the diet is improper,it may impair the body and become pathogenic factors.Improper diet includes undereating and overeating,unhygienic food and food partiality.
iii)secondary pathogenic factors
Phlegm and retained fluid are pathological substances caused by disturbance of body fluid.Generally speaking,the thick part is called phlegm while the thin part is called retained fluid.Phlegm and retained can flow with qi to anywhere.If phlegm and retained fluid flow in the meridians,they tend to block the meridians and hinder the flow of qi and blood,leading to numbness and inflexibility of the limbs,or even paralysis.If accumulating in local areas,they frequently cause scofula,subcutaneous nodules and cold abscess.The accumulation of phlegm and retained viscera tends to hinder the activity of qi and prevent visceral qi from ascending and descedeing.Therefore,phlegm and retained fluid will result in various diseases which are marked by complicated symptoms and constant change.Blood stasis is another kind of pathological substances caused by disturbance of blood circulation.It can be caused by deficiency and stagnation of qi,blood-cold and blood-heat,or by endogenous and exogenous injury and extravasation of blood due to blood-heat.
Arcticle Source : http://bodycountry.com/backpain/276.html/characteristics-of-tcm.html

Two secret remedies for toothache

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:59:20 +0000

As you know,toothache is agonizing.Here we offer two folk therapy which have cured lots of people.
1.Medicinal vesiculation:pound garlic and apply it to Chingchu acupoint,wchich located at 20 inches above the most distal transverse crease of the wrist,above the styloid process of the radius.If the toothache is at left side,you should apply it to the Chingchu acupoint of your right hand,vice versa,if the toothache is at right side,you should apply it to the Chingchu acupoint of your left hand.If your have toothache of both sides,apply it to both sides.
It will be extremely painful,and require you to apply untill it appears blister at the surface,then puncture it and let out the poisoning water.This therapy has cured lots of people.
2.Sesame oil fumigation:this method is only fit for the decayed tooth.
Materials:a little sesame oil,two bowl,a pack of seed of union.
Procedure:coat the bowl with sesame oil,and put it on fireplace or stove.

Step one.Heat the fireplace or stove first,put two bricks on both sides of the fireplace or stove,then put two iron bars on them.Place the bowl upside down on the iron bars to heat until it is very hot.Throw the seed of union into fireplace to burn,and let the produced smoke fumigate the bowl.
Step two.Take down the bowl,then use towel surround the margin of the bowl and reveal the centre of the bowl.Let the patient lie down,put the ear over the center of bowl.If the toothache is at left side,fumigate left ear,if the toothache is at right side,fumigate the right ear.Take care of not burn the patient.When the bowl become cool,change a hot one,and keep on fumigating for 20 minutes or so.
This method have cured many people,and not easy to occur.
Arcticle Source : http://bodycountry.com/backpain/308.html/two-secret-remedies-for-toothache.html