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The Secret Season of Chinese Medicine
By Steven Sonmore L. Ac. | August 11, 2009
Did you know Chinese medicine actually has five seasons instead of our typical four?
Summer is divided into 2 parts…summer and late summer. Late summer or
“Indian summer” is that special time at the end of summer and before autumn
when there often is a hot spell.
The Spleen and Stomach rule the summer season. What this means is these two
organs are now more active and more vulnerable to problems at this time
of year. The Stomach and Spleen are related to the “Earth element.” Our earth provides
support and nourishment for all life. Your Spleen and Stomach provide
nourishment for your body. Your food is ingested, digested, transformed,
transported and assimilated into your physical body creating muscle, bone,
blood and energy. You are what you eat.
“The Spleen and Stomach are sentries guarding the governmental storage
rooms.”
The health of these two organs is critical to your total well-being….when your Spleen is out of whack your entire body is not up to par. So many people suffer from digestive problems today. Thirty-eight million Americans are victims of digestive disorders, including Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, celiac disease, IBS, constipation, diarrhea, GERD, Candida and food allergies.
The economic impact of digestive disorders is $123 billion per year, compared
to $17 billion for cancer.
Just walk down to your local drugstore and look at how many products are for
sale to suppress various symptoms of poor digestive health. The only problem
is they don’t address the root cause of the problem. They just sedate the ill
feelings and sensations.
The ancient founders of Chinese medicine taught that those who follow the laws
of nature and use proper diet will be free of disease and their spirit of life will not
be easily exhausted.
As a licensed health professional and practitioner of Chinese medicine I have
been able to help many people with many kinds of digestive problems. Here is
just one example:
Marie, 27, a single mother, on first glance appeared in good health. But for
many years she had suffered with severe stomach pain. For pain relief she
used strong prescription drugs, a method which was not always effective for
her.
Marie explained that, for years, she had been maintaining an intense study
schedule that involved staying up late to prepare for her bar exam. From a
Chinese medical perspective, excessive concentration can weaken the Spleen,
which is part of the digestive system and converts food essences into Qi
(pronounced “chee”) or vital life energy.
Upon initial examination, I found Marie’s pulse to be wiry, which indicated to me
that she had Heat in the Stomach and Liver. Chinese medicine diagnoses the
body climatically; so, heat, cold, wind, dampness, and dryness are viewed as
possible pathogenic factors. The nature of Heat is to accelerate metabolic
activity, activate circulation, and dilate blood vessels. In Chinese medicine, it is
not necessary to have a fever recorded on a thermometer to verify the
existence of excess Heat. Hot conditions are often associated with thirst,
dryness, constipation, agitation or difficult urination.
To address Marie’s condition, I administered acupuncture to strengthen her Spleen,
calm her mind and smooth out her excess Liver energy, The first treatment had
amazing results. Marie’s stomach pain was completely gone. And she felt very
calm and refreshed
But acupuncture is just one of many tools of Chinese medicine. Next, we needed to
address her condition nutritionally. I prescribed a Chinese herbal formula based on
her tongue and pulse diagnoses. This formula strengthened her Spleen, calmed her Shen
(Chinese for Mind/Spirit) and sedated the rising heat from her Liver. Today she is a
successful lawyer working for the state of Minnesota.
Over time, eating a poor diet together with irregular eating habits, eating
late at night, over concentration, worry, or sitting too long can injure your
Spleen and Stomach. By adjusting your lifestyle, adopting new eating habits
your digestion will function better. As a result, your entire health will
improve. You can enjoy more energy, better concentration and more fun! Caring
for your health naturally with acupuncture and Chinese medicine will help get to
the root of digestive problems.
Bon Appetite and enjoy the summer!
For more than 20 years Steven Sonmore helped people transform health
problems into solutions for attaining better health. Steven is a licensed
acupuncturist, Oriental bodywork therapist, and herbalist. He offers complete
health care with acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and nutritional counseling.
He is licensed by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice.
Schedule an appointment for better health today. Call 612-866-4000 or visit www.orientalmedcare.com.
Topics: Acupuncture, TCM | No Comments »