Five-Phases Acupuncture

Causes of Diseases; Introduction

The causes of disease have been called pathogenic factor. They mainly refer to the six exogenous factors (External Pernicious Influences), the epidemic pathogenic factors, the internal injuries by the seven emotions, improper diet, maladjustment to work and rest, and surgical trauma.

To this classical classification, we could also consider the inherited genetic constitution.

This summarizes as follow:

The classification of diseases started with the Su Wen (722-221 BC) recognizing two categories, Yin and Yang. 

In the Synopsis of the Golden Chamber (219 AD), Zhang Zhongjing introduces three categories.

Finally, it is in the Synopsis of the Gold Chamber, Chen Wuze (960-1279) introduces the “Triple-Etiology Doctrine” where the classification is basically the one seen above. 

As much as the classifications are clear, diseases are not simple processes emerging from simple factors.  A combination of factors is necessary to lead to an illness.  The “field” has to be ready.  Under general circumstances, exopathic factors become operative through endopathic factors.

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External Pernicious Influences

Introduction

The six normal climatic conditions, under specific conditions may be considered as pathogenic factors. 

Under normal conditions the six climatic variations of nature are called “six natural factors.” 

These natural factors may present variations either in quantity, quality, or timing.  These variations may lead to what are then called the “six yin” or six exogenous factors.  Yin here implies excess and not the yin of yin/yang.  As these six factors are potentially unhealthy, they are thus called “six pathogens.”

The six exogenous factors have important common pathogenic characteristics:

They usually relate to both seasonal climate and residential environments. 
For example, Springs tends to be associated with Wind (seasonal climate) and damp environments tend to be associated with Dampness (residence).
The factors can attack the body separately or simultaneously in combination of two or more.
For example, a common cold may result from Wind-Cold while some arthralgia may result from Wind-Cold-Dampness.
They can intertransform after invading the body.
For example, Cold may transform into Heat.
They mostly invade the body through the skin and mouth.

Categories

1.  Wind  Yang

Associated with Spring (but not exclusively), it is a very important factor exopathogenic factor.

Its  Nature and Characteristics are as follows:

Apt to move and tends to rise, disperse, move upward and outward.  It is of yang nature.
Usually attacks the upper part of the body (head and face), skin and muscles.
Apt to migrate and change.
Leads to mobility such as trembling, jerking, tremors and so forth.
Leading pathogen causing all diseases. 

2. Cold  Yin

Associated with Winter (but not exclusively).

Its Nature and Characteristics are as follows:

Yin nature pathogen tending to impair the Yang Qi
Coagulative and obstructive, it may block or coagulate Qi and Xue and impede their flow.
Causes constriction of various systems such as channel, collaterals, muscles, tendons, sweat pores.

Therefore Cold contracts things, and leads to slow movement.  It can cause severe, sharp, cramping pain that respond favorably to heat.  It may leads to contraction and stiffness.

It causes clear or white secretions. 

External Cold has a rapid onset, usually with fear of cold

Internal Cold is related to Deficient Yang.

3. Summer Heat Yang

Summer-Heat prevails in Summer.  It is transformed from Fire and Heat.

Its Nature and Characteristics are as follows:

It is a Yang pathogen and is scorching hot in nature.
Its attacks tends to high fever, upset, flushed face and full rapid pulse.
It tends to rise and disperse.  It exhausts Qi and impairs Body fluids.
It tends to open the skin pores and release the body fluids.
Usually accompanied with Dampness

4. Dampness  Yin

Dampness prevails in late summer, time when summer changes into autumn, when dampness is the most exuberant in the year.

Its Nature and Characteristics are as follows:

It is heavy and turbid in nature. 
The heaviness is marked by heavy sensation as lassitude, heavy sensation of the head and body, and aching and sluggishness of the limbs.
The turbid quality is found in turbid excreta and secreta like facial filth and eye secretions, loose stool or mucous stool with pus and blood, turbid urine, excessive leukorrhea and turbid pyogenic fluid.
It is viscous and lingering.
The viscous quality is manifested as slimy and greasy feature, like slimy and greasy fur, mucous difficult stool and difficult urination.
The lingering quality is manifested in the long, lingering and difficult to cure aspect as in damp arthralgia, eczema and damp-warm syndromes.
It tends to go downward
Most symptoms manifest in the lower part of the body, as leukorrhagia, strangury with turbid urine, diarrhea and dysentery.
Similar to water, it is Yin and tends to obstruct the functional activities of Qi and impair Yang-Qi.
It is like a Cold but in a Cold the pain is sharp, intense with cramping while the dampness is protracted by a sense of heaviness. 

If in the upper body, Dampness is also described as “the head feeling like in a sack.”

External Dampness is acute and accompanied by other damp signs.  It usually quickly turns to internal Dampness.

Internal Dampness invites external Dampness.  Both internal and external Dampness are inter-related.

Dampness can lead to Phlegm, which in turn lead to lumps, nodules and tumors.

5. Dryness 

Dryness prevails in autumn, as autumn is a dry season with shortage of water.

Dryness is subdivided into warm-dryness and cool-dryness.  Warm-dryness goes with early autumn, time of transition from the remaining heat of late summer.  Cold-dryness goes with late autumn, time of transition with the approaching winter.

The Nature and Characteristic of Dryness are as follows:

It is dry and tends to impair the body fluids.
When this pathogen attacks, various forms of dryness appears such as deficiency of body fluids, dryness in the mouth nose, and throat, thirst, dryness of the skin and even ragas, oliguria and constipation.
It tends to impair the Lung
The lung prefers moisture to dryness.  It is related to skin and body hair and opens to the nose.  Symptoms such as dryness of the nose and throat, dry cough with little phlegm, dyspnea or asthma and chest pain may appear.

6. Fire Yang

It is different from warm and heat, even if their nature is the same.

Warm and heat differ only in degree and are often mentioned together.  Fire, as a pathogen, refers to the “sthenic fire.”

Exogenic Fire generally comes from exogenic Warm and Heat.  Endogenous Fire comes for the “excess of Qi.”

Additionally, many different conditions can transform into Fire.

The Nature and Characteristics of Fire are as follows:

It tends to burn and scorch
Symptoms such as high fever, flushed face, blood-shot eyes, aversion to heat, desire for cool, constipation, dark scanty urine and red tongue with yellow fur.
It tends to flare up with a tendency to appear on the upper part of the body, as head and face
For example: Heart-Fire, red tongue tip; stomach-Fire, painful swollen gum; Liver-Fire, congested swollen eyes.
Tendency to impair Body Fluids and consume Qi
It tends to force the Body Fluids to leak out and scorch them at the same time.  This impairs and consumes yin fluids
It also impairs the vital-Qi leading to deficiency of Qi, dislike to talk and lassitude.
It tends to promote the production of Liver Wind and accelerate the circulation of Xue.  It scorches the Liver-Yin.  Because it scorches the Liver-Yin, it deprives the tendon and muscles of their nourishment and leads to the up-stirring of Liver-Wind.  There can be high fever, convulsion, anoopsia, stiffness of the neck and opisthotonos.
It accelerates the flow of Xue, scorching the channels and collaterals and even causing the Xue to spill out.  There can be apparition of hemoptysis, epistaxis, hemafecia, hematuria, macule and papule, metrorrhagia and metrostaxis
It tends towards local accumulation, rotting the flesh and spoiling the Xue.  This may lead to carbuncles, sores and other pyogenic infections manifested as local redness, swelling, heat and pain, suppuration and ulceration.
It tends to irritate the Heart and Shen, leading to upset feelings, insomnia, even mania, restlessness, unconsciousness and delirium.

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Internal Causes of Diseases

0.  Introduction

The Seven emotions refer to the different responses of the human body to the environment stimuli. 

Sudden, violent or long-term persistent emotional stimuli occurring beyond the adaptability and the endurance of the Living Being (BodyMindSpirit) will cause the functional disorder and derangement of the ZangFu and Qi.

This leads to the internal injuries from the seven emotions.

The seven emotions mainly affect the functional activities of the visceral Qi, thus impairing the viscera.  Inversely, a disturbance of the viscera will affect the functional activity of the visceral Qi, thus impairing the emotions.

As the emotions impair the functional and the viscera, they play a definite role as predisposing factors for the external influences.

1.

3.  Notes 

The difference between sadness and grief is in the degree of expression.
The swiftness of Fright impairs the Heart.
Panic attacks are an internally generated fright.
Being “hurt” generally means a betrayal of trust, with ensuing Anger. 

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Treatment Blocks

A treatment block is a specific condition that prevents the healing to take place.

A variety of blocks exist, going from the physical blocks, to the energetic blocks, environment, and so forth.

It is in Five Elements Acupuncture, that the notion of blocks takes an important role.

Blocks such as Husband/Wife, Aggressive Energy, Entry/Exit, Dragons, Akabani, and Umbilicus are all factors that may impair the possibility of treatment.  Below is a simple list of what blocks could be. 

A. Physical level

Structure
Chemicals
Drugs, alcohol, medications.
Industrial Chemicals
Life Style
Heavy Metals
Cd, Hg, Lead, teeth, aluminum, jewelry.
Scares
Toxins
Additive in food, gas fumes in house, new building work or paint in house, toxic paints, fillers, ...
Inoculations
Smallpox, patient been abroad.
Flu or Fever
Glasses
Traumas
Accident, trauma, surgeries, . . .
Environment
Atmosphere, ley lines, power cables overhead, microwaves.

B. Mental/Psychological level

Stressful situations

C. Spiritual level

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“Five Elements” Treatment Planning

0. Introduction

This treatment planning is based on “Five Elements” of the Worsley lineage.

1. Pre-CF Treatment “Removal of specific blocks”

Dragons
Aggressive Energy
Husband/Wife
Center umbilicus
Correct akabani
Quality on all pulses 

2. CF Treatment first treatment

Yuan-Source points

3. CF Treatments short-term period

Junction: Harmonize the element (could be pulse or B/M/S)
Horary  : Shaker, gives the question “what is really here?”
More powerful if within the season.
Element : Like horary but within the season.
Tonification/dispersion: developing a connection with mother/child.
Transfers: after the first three treatments.

Note: Addressing the right level; i.e., is Spirit OK?

4. CF Treatments  long-term period

Associate Effects Points (Back Shu): very powerful, the energetic of the person should be known first.
Windows: when the patient is ready to see
Non-Command with sources on CF
Specific points: addresses very specific functions

5. Blocks

CV/GV.
E/E.
A.E.P.: if officials are too weak to respond.
Wrong or missed level.
Split between levels.
Homework.
Need support from Sea and Oceans.
Four Needle technique.
Another element (i.e. Wood in alcohol addiction).
Spirit virtually dead.
Another approach (8 conditions, Antique points, herbs).
Wrong CF
Lack of experience.