Tag Archives: liver qi stagnation

Binge Drinking | Kidney Liver Imbalances TCM

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A Web Site Visitor Asks:

My husband has, in the past (and up until a month-and-a-half ago), been a binge drinker and occasional-to-frequent user of marijuana.  At one point, I was concerned that he may have been addicted to both.  He has, thankfully, sworn off both as of a month-and-a-half ago and seems to be sticking to his resolution very well this time.  Although he had a recent medical work-up done and the doctors found nothing wrong with either his liver or kidney, I am convinced he has done some harm to both.  His symptoms are: occasional diarrhea, bad breath, gets angry easily, pain in the ribs whenever he gets angry or stressed, lack of sexual desire.  I am wondering whether I should get him the Free & Easy Wanderer formula or should I start him off on Peaceful Warrior for 2 months and then switch to Free & Easy Wanderer?

Thanks and please let me know if you require additional information.

I think your deductions are dead on, and you did not have to waste all of those years in Oriental medical school! The Peaceful Warrior will last about 6 weeks, and then you could make the switch. I would suggest that you consider utilizing Sustained Essence and Yin Valley formulas to address the Kidney Deficiency, as he does have a lot of heat indications. The 3 can be used together at one time.

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Severe Hot Flashes and Stress | How long before I feel some relief?

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A Customer Inquired:

Previously, this customer filled out an online evaluation.

Thank you for your response.  I have read about the herbs you are  suggesting on your website.  I do have one question will they help  with stress reduction and hot flashes.  The hot flashes I have are getting unbearable.    I break out in a sweat and go so hot I can’t stand it, then I get chilled because of the sweating.  I get them  about every 15 minutes. I have a hard time sleeping because they will  wake me up. Most of my weight is around my stomach and is due to stress – burning  the candle for some many years at both ends.

Realizing how severe your hot flashes and stressed you are, you will want to begin with Peaceful Warrior formula, Enlightened Emperor formula, and Yin Valley formula to begin with for around 3-4 months before utilizing any Qi tonics, as Qi tonics are Yang in nature; you can send a new evaluation and let me know of progress. thanks!

I received the herbs today.  I have another question.  Will this help with the feeling of rage and hopelessness I feel inside?  If not, would it be safe to take with an anti-depressant if that is what the doctor recommends?  I yelled at someone at work today which I don’t do.  I am usually calm, but feel really bad and never thought it could be due to menopause and hormone fluctuations.

That is exactly what they should do! If you read the Liver Qi Stagnation article, you will understand further. The peaceful warrior drains Liver Fire and begins to pacify the Liver energy.

Thanks so much for the quick reply.  How long before I feel some relief?  Will it take 3-4 months as you indicated?

Draining fire is relatively fast, so you may see some “chill-out” effects in the first week. You cannot take Peaceful Warrior more than for 3 months and will then want to go to Free and Easy Wanderer (the herbs are cold, and prolonged use will damage Spleen Qi). The 3-4 months is the time when I would anticipate the hot flashes starting to ease up both in intensity and frequency.

Is Free and Easy Wanderer herb formula safe for a child?

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Dear Catherine,
Is Free and Easy Wanderer safe for a six year old?  Should we reduce the dosage?
 Thanks!

Hi Jennifer,
While there are not any highly toxic substances in Free and Easy Wanderer formula, with a young child I would likely go with yellow dock root decoction (2 T dry root daily) strained in to the nightly bath if there truly is Liver Heat, and ground milk thistle (1 T daily) in food for general liver health and Liver Yin Deficiency. If the child is agitated, you could add in American Skullcap (1/8-1/4 cup) at the end of the yellow dock decoction to steep for 10 minutes and then go in to the bath after it cools.

Kindly,
Catherine

Uterine Fibroids Preventing Conception and Chinese Herbs

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Website Visitor Inquires:

I am 34 and I recently had a small 2.5 sm submucusal (inside uterus) fibroid surgically removed. Apparently I have another small one (2 cm.) on the outer side of the uterus which nobody really worries about because it doesn’t interfere with pregnancy.

I have been trying to get pregnant for 1 year – after surgery, we have been trying only 1 month.  I tried acupuncture for fertility before knowing I had the fibroid and I am afraid it actually triggered the fibroid as I started bleeding more and more after each treatment, so now I am scared of acupuncture. I do believe in Chinese herbs and acupressure though. I was wondering if you could recommend me a liver cleanse that wouldn’t interfere with my trying to conceive plan but would help shrinking the remaining fibroid. I do not believe I am atypical fibroid patient though, I am very thin (96 pounds for 5’5”) – my cycles are regular.

I firmly believe that my fibroids came from the anger I hold inside.  Everything started getting worse and worse after I got extremely upset  seeing everybody around me getting pregnant while I was struggling so  much – I used to cry  days and nights and hate the people who got pregnant. Now, thank G-d, I am calmer and I am trying to have faith in G-d and that He il help me having a baby, but helping myself won’t hurt.

Any suggestions are extremely appreciated, I am sorry for the long and confusing email but I am so confused myself and I am looking for help.
 Thank you and have a great day.

Hi,

If you fill out an online evaluation , I can help guide you. Chinese medicine relies on patterns of imbalance to determine the best way to bring the body back in to balance, thus normalize reproductive functions according to TCM. There are not clear patterns allowing me to discern specific imbalances according to Chinese medicine from what you have written beyond Liver Qi Stagnation (which is indicated by the anger and typical with uterine fibroids).

I would suggest that you read our fertility article and uterine fibroid article to understand how Chinese medicine works to improve fertility. You will not be able to use the herbs in the second half of your cycle if you are not on a reliable type birth control (barrier is best because hormonal birth control creates more Liver Qi Stagnation). The woman with the quickest results take a break from trying to get pregnant and use the herbs full time in an effort to bring the body in to balance and becoming ready to conceive.

Typically, if there were Blood and Qi Stagnation of the Lower Jiao, you would have cramping associated with menstruation, clots, or dark/purple bleeding and that would indicate that Stasis in the Lower Palace formula is indicated, but it does not sound like you are experiencing this.

We use the Free and Easy Wanderer with great success in clinic for the Liver Qi Stagnation. With fibroids, you likely also have Internal Dampness and the Restore the Middle Way formula would be indicated, but would use the three formulas together hoping for any significant improvement.  I would also note that acupuncture could not create uterine fibroids.

Kindly,
Catherine Browne, LAc, MH, DiplAc

Natural Herbal Antacid – Meadowsweet

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Website visitor asks:

Are there any great herbal antacids available?

Hi,

My favorite herbal antacid is meadowsweet herb, and we include it in our Stomach Pills formula that addresses an array of digestive issues.

Meadowsweet herb is often misunderstood by practitioners tied to reductionist theories as it contains salicylic acid, the same compound as in aspirin. Actually, salicylic acid was originally isolated from plant compounds such as meadowsweet or willow bark and was then synthesised based on these natural sources.

Because meadowsweet does contain significant levels of a substance linked with causing stomach problems, some well-meaning, mis-informed  souls deduce that it must also cause stomach problems. Actually, meadowsweet has been used throughout history to treat ulcers and a host of other stomach problems. As it turns out, the salicylic acid is not broken down and made available until the herb enters the small intestine, so it will not cause the problems that the isolated synthesised aspirin does. This is one of the reasons I advocate whole herbs and why I rely on historical uses of herbs tested over hundreds, and sometimes thousands of years of practical application.

My only issue with using meadowsweet this way is that it often is only a temporary solution that does not address the true underlying imbalances that truly lead to acid reflux or GERD; mainly being Liver Qi Stagnation. Unless herbs that sooth the Liver energetic system are used, those suffering with chronic acid reflux are unlikely to experience prolonged relief.

Best of Health,

Catherine