I have been informed that the "eastern" way of looking at my condition is that I have a lot of "damp" or "stagnant chi". I certainly have lots of stagnation!! Stagnant gut, bladder and poor circulation. Recently I've been a bit better with the gut and the circulation but have been getting lots of urine infections. Apparently excess damp is notoriously difficult to shift and it has been recommended that I see a specialist in chinese medicine in order to do this. As I understand it I am likely to be prescribed a combination of herbs that I will need to steep in boiling water and drink - will probably taste disgusting!! Has anyone else gone down this route? In my search for a panacea I am prepared to try (almost!) anything reasonable and am aware that the placebo effect of drinking something disgusting could be quite significant! Any thoughts/experiences dear Team? My own so far are that you can't beat Western medicine for acute problems; but anything chronic is worth tackling with alternative therapies as long as they don't intefere with anything in the process.
Kind regards Skinny
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chinese medicine
- By Skinny
- Posted April 25, 2009 at 5:09 pm · 15 replies
- In Alternative therapies
- Shared with the public
Explore topics in this discussion:
Autoimmune diseases Surgery Barrett's esophagus Erythromelalgia Meditation Gastroparesis Hernia Constipation Pain Scleroderma Insomnia Acupuncture Reglan Hiatal hernia
15 replies
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- Newest first
- By Annie15
- Posted April 26, 2009 at 5:45 pm
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I'm scheduled to see a Dr. of Chinese medicine in a couple of weeks. I tried acupuncture last summer but I think it wasn't effect while I was taking Reglan. That drug had my entire system screwed up. I'm not a huge follower of alternative medicine but I'm willing try it in conjunction with Western medicine.
I'll let you know if I see any improvements in my overall gut disorder. If someone could fix the constipation, I'd be eternally grateful.
- By twin
- Posted April 27, 2009 at 11:14 am
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Last year my doctor suggested I try this herbal mixture, He read about it in a study that was done in Japan, on patients who had GP symptoms from a surgery. That's how I developed GP from my vagus nerve being damaged from Hiatal Hernia surery. I gave them a try for a while, because it took some time to tweak the formula, but I stopped because I wasn't getting relief from them. I think I listed the formula last year in discussions of alternate therapies or something like that. Good luck, take care, Karry
- By Skinny
- Posted April 27, 2009 at 11:38 am
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Thanks Annie & Karry
My apppointment is also in a couple of weeks time. I'll let you know how it goes!
Skinny
- By NancyL
- Posted April 27, 2009 at 11:51 am
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I do not have any experience with Chinese medicine. But I am certainly open to new ideas. I remember seeing an article on actupunture used to block pain on a patient who was having open heart surgery while she was awake. I have met many people who swear by alternative medicine. I don't think that we have all the knowledge on treatments just because we are on this side of the planet. I wish you the best of luck. Let us know how you make out! I do believe in alot of the Chinese principles such as mind/body connection and your enviroment (feng shui) influencing your feeling of well being.
Nancy
- By nogo
- Posted April 27, 2009 at 1:14 pm
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Skinny,
You go girl. I know most of the answers are in alternative medicine. Western medicine is great and we need it, but it does nothing for actually solving problems. It treats emergencies and surgery is wonderful when needed, but you're right - chronic conditions - nothing except managing symptoms or staying progression - at best. The root of the problem is rarely addressed. There are imbalances that occur that combined with genetic predispositions, and perhaps environmental stressors or contaminants, lead to illness. GI problems are often at the root of so many other problems. I have many autoimmune diseases - MS and SSc - and I think they were brought on by leaky gut. My GI system is now so bad that I really don't know if it could ever be brought back, but I'm sure the things my doctors are doing aren't ever going to help. Reglan, I stopped. And now Proton Pump Inhibitors, I want to stop, but I know it takes a long time. My LES and Hiatal Hernia, Barrett's Esophagus, Scleroderma Esophagus, Chronic Regurgitation while sleeping causing aspiration - all are so serious, I can't let the damage keep going. The alternative treatment for Reflux acid control sounds much more logical, but switching over from the PPIs to it takes care and time. Once you're on them, you become dependent because when you stop, rebound acid production is fierce. I have Gastroparesis, small intestine inflammation, Constipation - what a mess. I believe you are smart to look into the Chinese Medicine. I used accupuncture once - for Erythromelalgia (vasospastic disorder) and it was the only thing that EVER worked. I couldn't keep it up due to finances. But, I know it works. I'm on medicaid now so have no money to try it myself, but I'm using supplements and looking into doing what I can on my own.
Go for it!!! Blessings, Jan
- By CookieLessMonster
- Posted April 27, 2009 at 2:09 pm
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I must say I rely heavily on Chinese medicine. I was heavily skeptical in the beginning. I had to be dragged, literally crying as I am needle-phobic. But I now do acupuncture twice a week, and find it very helpful. While not a miracle cure for my motility, it is wonderful for my immune system, which is quite compromised from the lack of nutrition we all suffer from. When I first feel something coming on, she can do a special treatment that actually makes me feel better and sometimes cuts the illness off at the pass. I especially see this with congestion. It helps a lot with pain and insomnia as well.
For me I can't do the herbs - they make me throw up.
Good luck!
- By NinaBean
- Posted April 30, 2009 at 3:50 pm
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Hello Skinny, & other AGMD friends,
I'm Lesley and my daughter is Nina.
Before having Nina I attended Acuputure school and received my degree in Chinese Med. You might ask the physican your going to see if he/she can bring the the 'pills' vs. the tea formulation. I personally do the pills for myself. I don't like making the mess for the tea's nor do I like the teaste.
Blessings,
Lesley a/k/a NinaBean
- By Skinny
- Posted April 30, 2009 at 4:13 pm
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Thank you for this advice. My difficulty with pills is of course I have trouble swallowing them - as my gut motility problem is literally the whole way down, things get stuck in my oesophagus, which is horrible when it happens. I can cope with very small ones but struggle with anything even average sized! I can imagine that the difficulty with horrible tasting tea is that that may promote throwing up, as Cookieless Monster describes! I will let you know what he says when I see him next week.
Kind regards to all
Skinny
- By NinaBean
- Posted April 30, 2009 at 6:02 pm
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Hello Skinny, & AGMD Friends,
Chinese meds pills are not like normal pills they are much, much smaller. In some cases as small as grains of rice. So before you decided not to take the Chinese Meds Pills at least look at them.
Blessings,
Lesley a/k/a NinaBean
- By Skinny
- Posted May 7, 2009 at 3:23 pm
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Dear Friends
Well I had my appointment today. Interesting assessment - as part of it he spent perhaps 20 minutes feeling my wrist pulse from different angles and depths. He says my main problem from his perspective is a lack of energy in reserve (kidneys, heart and blood are important for this). He is going to try me on some powdered herbs and suggests I start on very small amounts and spread it out - I think he shares the groups concerns about my ability to tolerate it. I will let you know what happpens!
Skinny
- By GI_dysmotility
- Posted May 8, 2009 at 4:39 pm
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Accupuncture is great but you have to find the right one. Yes, TCM refers to this as "damp". She doesn't make herbals but there are pills.
- By Skinny
- Posted July 16, 2009 at 4:04 am
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Update - there was a delay in starting the medicine as he went off to do some research on the "western" aspects of my peculiar condition first. I have now been taking half a teaspoon of a weird but not unpleasant tasting powder in hot water twice per day for about a fortnight. I began after one of my fortnightly abdominal massages in an attempt to carry forward the benefit from that. I think its good - I feel emptier overall and a couple of times have woken up with a truly empty, rumbling stomach ! Am more reliably coping with eating later in the day.
So I shall keep going and will update you again
KInd regards Skinny
- By busyteacher
- Posted July 16, 2009 at 9:53 am
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I have found that the proactive spray of tinactin in the morning on your undergarments will help decrease the UTI's, as well as powder, and frequently changing.
I have always had trouble with them, and it got worse when I was a lifeguard. Bacteria love to spread, and, if you are having bowel problems.....let's leave it there.
Be careful with eastern medication. The herbs and other things they prescribe can be dangerous, especially if mixed with traditional meds. Make sure you list all supplements when you see a doctor. I keep them all on my MedicAlert list, since some of my dietary supplements can cause bleeding--which doctors would need to know immediately in an accident.
Just make sure the person you are seeing is qualified. As for meditation and other wonderful tools that have come out of that school of thought, I have found them helpful.
Truly, there is no cure for this. Just good nutrition and whatever gives you a feeling of wellness.
- By Skinny
- Posted July 16, 2009 at 10:02 am
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Hi
Where do you get tinactin from? That sounds like a good idea.
Not only is my Chinese Medicine guy qualified he trains other people and I am happy that he knows what he's doing
- By Skinny
- Posted July 16, 2009 at 10:02 am
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Hi
Where do you get tinactin from? That sounds like a good idea.
Not only is my Chinese Medicine guy qualified he trains other people and I am happy that he knows what he's doing
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