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To demonstrate the continuing integration of TCM with Western medicine, I have written about certain medical tests that more TCM practitioners are becoming proficient in utilizing. I have written about blood tests, like CBCs, focusing on the integrity of red and white blood cells. I discussed how becoming proficient in analyzing the result of such tests allows the TCM practitioner to develop a much more productive relationship with his primary care physician. Today, I want to discuss the importance of basic metabolic panels. A metabolic panel gives the clinician an indication of the “status” of certain minerals or electrolytes in the body. The most common ones are: Sodium, Potassium and Chloride. There are lab range values that give an indication of if your values are within the normal range. To utilize this test, blood is drawn from a vein in the arm. There are two main types of metabolic panels: Basic metabolic panel (BMP) and Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP). A BMP gives the values of the common electrolytes and minerals such as sodium and potassium. A normal range is usually provided with the test. A BMP also gives you an indication of kidney function by giving you values for BUN and Creatinine. A CMP not only gives you a complete metabolic panel, like the BMP, but, also, indication of liver function by providing values for AST, ALT, and Bilirubin. It also gives you the value of Albumin, an indicator of the protein. As I started, the values you get from the BMP and CMP are for the free electrolytes or minerals in the blood. When you order a BMP or CMP, you will get the normal range of values so you can compare and see where your values are. In future blog, I will discuss how these tests can be used clinically by a TCM practitioner. For now, it is enough to appreciate that a TCM practitioner being comfortable with metabolic panels allows him to integrate into the Western medical system more effectively.

The Nei Jing is the earliest book on Chinese Medical Theory that is known. The earliest version dates back to around 100 B.C.E, but the text has been revised many times to incorporate mote modern knowledge. It is also called: The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic. Most historians are comfortable in stating that these texts serve to form the fundamental doctrine source for Chinese Medicine. What is most fascinating about the Nei Jing is that the text is structured as a dialogue between the Yellow Emperor and one of his ministers or physicians. Most agree that it was during the Han dynasty that the Nei Jing gained its stature. It has also considered a major book in highlighting the Daoist theory and lifestyle. In my humble opinion, the most important contribution of the Nei Jing is that it was one of the first known texts to depart from the shamanistic beliefs that disease was caused by demonic influences. Diet, lifestyle, emotions, age and environment are discussed, formally, as causes to disease. The significance of this, to TCM, is that the principles, of Yin/Yang, the five elements and eight principles differentiation were derived as methods to diagnose and treat an illness. There have been many translations of the Nei Jing to serve a variety of purposes. As far as TCM is concerned, the two most widely used translations are: The Medical Classic of the Yellow Emperor and Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Internal medicine. Again, the value of these translations is that it incorporates the fundamental ideology discussed in the Nei Jing with modern medical practice. In future Blogs, I will discuss the impact that the Ne Jing has on modern TCM practitioners, like myself. I will also write about the “state” of Chinese Medicine in different periods of time. As I write this, I am reminded how fortunate I am to be practicing a trade that is influenced so much by the ancient thinkers in China.

Is your medicine trending up or down? I have been asked this question a lot regarding TCM. Though COVID has thrown a wrench into this discussion, I’m going to discuss this question with COVID not in the equation. Concerning my own practice and experience, I would say that TCM has definitely been trending up. There are several reasons for this. For one, private insurers are recognizing the advantages of offering Acupuncture to their members. There is now plenty of clinical research that demonstrates the true effectiveness of Acupuncture in treating pain and stress. Pain and stress are the two most popular disorders that prospective patients seek Acupuncture for; the insurers have just followed suit. I have seen my cash patients increase. The primary reason is due to the fact that people are just more educated about the TCM modalities. When I first started my practice, most of my patients hadn’t even heard of Acupuncture and, thus, were very hesitant in getting a treatment. People were led to believe that TCM was just a “fad” and their practitioners should be viewed as practicing “shamans”. Some of those beliefs were a result of that person’s own intrinsic bias. However, a lot of it was due to Western practitioners going out of their ways to fill these people’s minds with these views based on misinformation. Yes, this is a topic that will be discussed in a future blog. Through continual education of the people by TCM practitioners and by a person’s own desire to learn the true facts od TCM, those misconceptions are now not as prevalent. In fact, I have patients conversing with me in TCM terms, like deficiency or stagnation, regarding their treatment. Many bring me literature or scientific studies bolstering the value of Acupuncture and Herbs. I believe TCM is definitely trending up in the greater healthcare landscape.

Most Americans appreciate that Diabetes is a condition that is affecting the vitality of many lives. It is also well known that Diabetes is affecting the middle aged/elderly more than any other segment of the population. The surest way to screen for Diabetes is by taking a blood test. The result of this test will give you an idea of how your glucose levels, HBA1c level, Bun and creatinine levels are. All of these parameters give an indication of how your kidney and liver are functioning with regards to glucose metabolism. Obviously, there are ranges that one can compare these results to in order to see where they stand. Please refer to my previous blogs to get a better understanding of these type of tests and how they are administered etc… In my years studying this disorder, I have found that Diabetes is a condition where the person is the determining factor in the progression or eradication of it. What do I mean by this? A person’s choice in lifestyle and diet is the most significant factor in the state of Diabetes. Many of us are predisposed to getting Diabetes, at a later stage, through genetics. However, we are empowered to alter our fate with Diabetes if we choose the right foods to eat, the right drinks to drink and the right lifestyle to live. Why am I bringing this up now? For one, since we are in the holiday season, I felt it important to remind the readers to refocus on maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle. This might be a good time to schedule your blood tests and see how your HBA1c and Bun levels are. During this time, many of us become reckless and need something to reignite our desire to maintain our health. Blood tests are certainly a good way of doing this…

My patients often ask me what the most important thing they can do to maintain their health. The simple answer is to tell them just live a “healthy” lifestyle. Most just take that at face value and assume that “healthy” lifestyle just means exercising regularly and eating healthy foods. This now doubt is a big part of what this term conjures up. However, when I tell my patients that, I see a deeper meaning behind this phrase. According to TCM, the “mental balance” is not limited to just having control over you mind and, thus, thoughts. Western medicine simply views the “mind” as separate from the rest of the body. They even have distinct fields of medicine designated for the evaluating brain functioning. Neurology is the field that most recognize as dealing with the physiological of the brain. In contrast to TCM, a neurologist will treat any brain issue as separate from the functioning of the rest of the body. They are trained to administer tests to evaluate brain functioning that are limited to assessing variables that are limited only to the brain. In contrast, a TCM practitioner is trained to look at any issue affecting the brain as part of the greater whole; in this case, the rest of the body. Why is this contrast so important? For one, a TCM practitioner is not limited to treating a brain ailment by only focusing on the brain. In a typical case, a neurologist will perform the standard tests and then administer the treatment protocols that he is trained to administer. In addition, he will prescribe medications that were developed specifically to help that brain disorder. The neurologist first move is not to consciously evaluate how this illness could be connected to another aspect of that patient’s bodily system. My first move is to look at which Meridians are most affected and ask the patient if he is experiencing issues, where they manifest on in the body…

Most readers of this Blog appreciate the differences in the health of the elderly between the Asian society and the American society. I would ask one to just look at the nursing homes in the US to recognize the deficiencies in health of our elderly. Then look at the vibrant nature of the elderly in Asia. I am not saying that all the elderly in Asian countries, such as China, are healthy and active. What I am saying is that, compared to the elderly in the US, there are much more that can be characterized this way. There are many reasons for this. I feel the most recognizable reason is the cultural differences between the two societies. One aspect of any culture is the food we eat and how it is prepared. When the average American grows up eating food that are high in sodium nitrites such as hot dogs, bacon and luncheon meats. Commonsense tells you if you eat such foods for many years, it can only have negative effects on both your physical and mental health. Before going on, I am not going to discuss the scientific reasoning behind any of these points in this Blog. I just want to highlight the distinct differences concerning the overly general wellbeing of the elderly in these two societies-for the most part. For the most part, food indigenous to a country like China are prepared in a way that better preserves the nutrient value in the meat, vegetables and fruit that they eat. That alone makes a huge difference to health of a person when he ages. In addition, there are studies that show pesticides and artificial chemicals used in foods, in the US, is higher. Again, I am over generalizing for the purpose of forcing the reader to appreciate how the basics elements of a society impacts the stature of its elderly. Diet certainly has a big impact…

In the previous blog, I discussed the common formulas I prescribe for Wind Cold external invasions at the Wei level. In this blog, I will write about Wei level disorders that center on Wind Heat. In general, the common symptoms of such disorders are: cough, sore throat, chills and fever. However, the formulas I prescribe depend on the severity and predominance of the particular symptom. For instance, if a patient comes to me and states that they have experienced a recent onset of coughing without any other symptoms, I would characterize this as early stage and benign. Before discussing the formula that I would prescribe, it is important to appreciate that I see this type of disorder when the seasons change, particularly to the Fall and Spring. Before prescribing, I always rule out seasonal allergies as the cause. The formula I very often prescribe for cough with very begin heat symptoms is Sang Ju Yin. This formula is my “Go-To” for a person that complains of having recent coughing episodes with no other persistent symptoms such as a sore throat or fever with chills. In later blogs, I will discuss, in more detail, the herbs that make up the formula and their individual effect in helping with the cough. If the disorder seeps more into the Qi level, vI would expect to see more severe symptoms such as: very sore throat, some spontaneous sweating and the aforementioned fever/chills with some sinus-related congestion. The patient may complain about body aches, as well. A common formula I prescribe for such symptoms would be, Yin Qiao San. I would say that a patient will visit at this stage of the external related disorder due to these symptoms affecting his daily living. Thus, I prescribe Yin Qiao San often. Most of my patients have responded well to it. It is extremely important that you appreciate that this blog and the last one have discussed formulas at the more superficial Wei and Qi level of TCM pattern differentiation. I will certainly discuss commonly prescribed formulas for the deeper levels.

I want to continue on with discussing the most common Chinese herbal formulas used for the Fall/Winter. We have been discussing formulas that are commonly prescribed at the Wei level stage of the disease. However, I’ll discuss some formulas that are used to attach the disease when it further penetrates to the QI and Ying level. Before actually highlighting certain formulas, it is important to review the symptoms that are commonly seen at this stage of disease. Major symptoms include: a higher grade of fever, more profuse sweating, more persistent coughing and nasal blockage, as well as, a more pronounced chills and fever. The chills and fever are usually alternating. However, the focus of this blog concerns the key distinguishing symptom of phlegm. When I start to diagnose a patient to determine the stage of disease, one of the first symptoms I look for is a pronounced presence of phlegm. Again, the phlegm I’m talking about is not nasal discharge or fine sputum being coughed out, its presence is in the interior and leads to a congestive state. As with any such symptom, the characteristics may vary. For instance, there can be either hot or cold phlegm and phlegm that lead to dampness or white sputum. There are specific formulas for each of these categories. The most commonly used formula for damp phlegm is Er Chen Tang. I have personally prescribed this formula many times to help harmonize the middle burner and dry the dampness. It is highly effective in achieving these objectives. If the patient shows heat signs and the phlegm produced is hot/red and affects the Lung channel then Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan is commonly prescribed. If the patient is showing cold signs and the phlegm produced is cold and white then Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang is very often prescribed. These are just a couple of the commonly prescribed formulas I wanted to share concerning the dampness present at the Qi/Ying stage.