Headaches Migraines and Stress
Migraine can be classified into: (1) Classic migraine, also called migraine with aura (2) Common migraine, also called migraine without aura Classic migraine or migraine with aura (mwa) refers to headaches preceded by a neurological phase. This neurological phase (aura) usually begins suddenly and lasts 15 to 30 minutes; then it is followed with the headache phase that usually lasts up to several hours. The headaches can be moderate to intense. Sometimes the patients may have the neurological phase but do not have the headache phase. The neurological events can include aura, vertigo, nausea, loss of consciousness, paralysis, ataxia (loss of ability of muscle control), aphasia (partial loss of speech control), diplopia (double vision) and behavior disturbances. Common migraine or migraine without aura is the most common type of migraine, consisting of about 75% to 80% of all migraines. Common migraine headaches are not preceded by a neurological phase of aura, but there are signs that last hours or a day before the migraine develops. Usually the patients may have signs of behavioral and psychological disturbances, yawning, muscle pains, dietary craving, and fatigue. The headaches develop gradually, last longer and are more debilitating than the migraine with aura. |
Depression
Depressive-syndrome is a disorder due to emotional upsets and stagnation of qi, manifested as mental depression, susceptibility to anger and crying, hypochondriac pain, obstructive sensation in the throat, insomnia, etc. For cases of neurasthenia, hysteria, climacteric syndrome and some of the reactive psychoses in modern medicine, the syndrome differentiation and treatment mentioned in this section may be adopted. Etiology and Pathogenesis The common causes of depressive-syndrome are emotional upsets such as anger, anxiety, grief, melancholia, etc., which lead to the stagnation of liver-qi and then to the dysfunction of other viscera and the disorder of qi and blood. Prolonged stagnation of liver-qi may induce production of fire and stagnation of blood and may also impair the function of spleen and heart. Dysfunction of the spleen may lead to production of dampness-phlegm, stagnation of food and formation of fire and may induce the corresponding types of depressive-syndrome. Dysfunction of the heart may interfere with the equilibrium of the mental state. Furthermore, deficiency of both the spleen and the heart may induce the production of fire which consumes yin and blood and involves the kidneys, resulting in yin deficiency and fire hyperactivity; thus various kinds of asthenia-syndrome ensue. |
Pain
Chronic pain in the muscles and joints can make life miserable. Standard treatments like ice and heat, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, and appropriate exercises can often ease the pain. But when they don’t, acupuncture is an option with a good track record that’s worth considering. Over the years there has been substantial debate about whether acupuncture really works for chronic pain. Research from an international team of experts adds to the evidence that it does provide real relief from common forms of pain. The team pooled the results of 29 studies involving nearly 18,000 participants. Some had acupuncture, some had “sham” acupuncture, and some didn’t have acupuncture at all. Overall, acupuncture relieved pain by about 50%. The results were published in Archives of Internal Medicine. The study isn’t the last word on the issue, but it is one of the best quality studies to date and has made an impression. “I think the benefit of acupuncture is clear, and the complications and potential adverse effects of acupuncture are low compared with medication,” says Dr. Lucy Chen, a board-certified anesthesiologist, specialist in pain medicine, and practicing acupuncturist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. |
Menopause
Menstruation usually stops at about the age of 50. It is a physiological phenomenon due to deficiency of kidney-qi, exhaustion of Tiankui and debility of the Chong, Ren and Bao meridians. During this period, most of women do not have marked clinical symptoms, but some show manifestations such as irritability, listlessness, fatigue, mental depression, emotional upsets, dizziness, tinnitus, palpitations, insomnia, lumbago, feverish sensation over palms and soles, paroxysmal sweating and flushed face, edema, loose stool, etc., which are known as menopausal syndrome. Etiology and Pathogenesis The dysfunction of the Zhang-fu organs resulting from the deficiency of kidney-qi, the insufficiency of essence and blood is the main cause of menopausal syndrome. Deficiency of the kidneys is the basic pathological change, which is classified clinically into deficiency of kidney-yin, deficiency of kidney-yang and imbalance between heart-yang and kidney-yin. |
Seasonal Allergies
Winter and Fall allergies can cause a great deal of discomfort in many people, young or old. Symptoms include sneezing, congestion, runny nose and red, itchy eyes. Western medicine typically prescribes antihistamines, decongestants, or drugs that act on the nervous system. While these may be effective in treating the allergic response, they often have undesirable side effects, such as drowsiness, immune system suppression or over-reliance on medications. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can offer an alternative to these Western approaches, treating the whole person and recognizing that people with chronic allergies often show signs of spleen or kidney deficiency, even lung problems. TCM considers allergies or hay fever a manifestation of Wind invading the upper body. This occurs because one's Wei (or protective Qi) has been weakened. Building immunity to seasonal allergies is best done weekly for four to six weeks before the fall allergy season arrived.. |