![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 13 to 37 of 43. Go back in thread:
Posted by Hombre on September 5, 2010, at 9:51:32
In reply to Re: TCM » Hombre, posted by sigismund on September 5, 2010, at 1:47:04
> Yeah, I've found that link...it's great.
>
> I need to read it all carefully. Then there's the xe(??) sequences. I forget, whatever it is.Hmm. Me too.
> Some thoughts......
>
> My experience has been that herbs in combination are much more effective, even though it has often been more convenient to take them singly......in particular, zizyphus in combinations is stronger than zizyphus alone.Right. I think certain helper herbs are good at supporting and directing the main herbs to where they need to go. Perhaps they have some effect at a chemical level to potentiate the active ingredients. It's beyond me at this point, and I think for the most part we don't need to worry about how it works. We know that the formulas do what they're supposed to do - just like we know marinara sauce works to make pasta taste good. In my mind, I don't think about the individual ingredients in a formula, and I've read that we should think of formulas as an entity itself. We can even mix formulas based on how they work without worrying too much about how much of each individual herb is represented. I am currently taking 3 formulas on a daily basis and I feel more normal than I've ever felt. That's on top of the psyche drugs. Herbs are more like food than medicine.
> I have my doubts as to whether I should take ginseng.
My take on ginseng is that it is good if you are just getting over an illness and your body is very weak. You can make a good ginseng chicken soup with red dates for a nice tonic meal - maybe once a month during the cold months to boost your energy and fend off illness and fatigue. But you can take codonopsis on a daily basis and your only concern would be how to mix it with food to make it tasty and maybe taking a break once in a while.
> I've been told several times that I am spleen deficient (apparently we in the west mostly are?), yin deficient, kidney yin deficient. Then there's my liver. Too much damp heat.
I feel you on the spleen deficiency - this has been a problem of mine since I was a kid (in hindsight). I was super skinny, underweight, didn't have much appetite, and would get tired very easily. I couldn't even swim because it was too exhausting. I probably didn't eat enough and would get strange stomachaches that would sometimes bring me home from school. In addition to having a weak constitution, I think I suffered from emotional problems that exacerbated the already weak spleen system. I tended to obsess over things. That's a spleen symptom. So was the fact that I was a stick. Now I can swim, lift weights in moderation and run. Maybe part of it is just getting older, but my body is different than it was when I was in my 20s - I slowly became skinny-fat and thought I'd always have a pot belly and couldn't participate in vigorous physical activity.
In my adult years, I experienced acute spleen deficiency from stacking extreme exercise on top of too much sex. The kidneys also participate in the digestion of food and production of blood and energy. My muscles became very weak, I had headaches (I never get headaches) and I had diarrhea for several days on end. I had never had more than the occasional bout of diarrhea from food poisoning or bad diet. After somehow coming across the symptoms of spleen deficiency online, I ordered some Plumflower herbal tablets and eventually found relief. That really made me feel like there was something to Chinese herbal medicine. Too bad I was too depressed and cloudy minded to follow up and try to treat my depression.
I think I also have congenitally weak kidneys. My mother may have had cancer when I was conceived and born and that may have weakened her body and thus I may not have received enough nourishment and energy. The Chinese believe the state of the mother and father at conception will affect your Jing - your genes, your potential, your development, and your ability to withstand stress.
The weak kidneys express themselves as not being very confident, getting tired after sex, and a poor response to stress. They also manifest as having a hard time turning ideas into concrete action. A lack of willpower despite having been blessed with several talents. The frustration of not being able to nurture these talents made me feel really confused and angry with myself. It really baffled me that I could not do what others could do: have the drive to work at something until, in time, it developed into a real skill. Like playing guitar for several years and eventually writing some songs and starting a band. Or knowing enough about computers to eventually write more and more complex programs. I would always have the talent to start off strong, but lacked the grit to keep at it. I could not seem to put things together in a complex way. I was stuck at the beginner level despite being as smart as the next guy and working hard. Not special, mind you, just having my own set of gifts like everyone else does.
I only started to think that it was not a lack of character when I achieved some remission from depression for the first time a couple of years ago. This was on an antidepressant, a benzo and a sleep aid. It was a rocky sort of response, and there were some serious problems with impulse control and knowing my limits, but it was like I was suddenly able to do a lot of things I'd always wanted to do but just didn't get around to.
After I crashed and burned after getting off meds, I found a better combination of meds and lucked into Chinese herbs again. After taking a kidney tonic for a month or so, I really found myself having the ability to want to do something and then do it. It seems so natural, and yet it had eluded me for so long. That's when I really started to think that I had been living with some serious deficiencies for a long time. Of course the meds are doing a lot; I won't dare get off them until I'm cruising with a good job and I've gained enough confidence in my non-depressed self to take it to the next level. But I feel more confident knowing that there is another paradigm that can help me. It isn't an either/or of taking meds or not. I've learned a lot about supplements and herbs this time around and I know I will never have it as bad as I had it from 2008-9 where I was living in a perpetual state of emergency, exhaustion and fear.
Sorry for the rant. I just wanted to share more of my experience. I hope you can see some parallels that may give you some good ideas.
Posted by sigismund on September 5, 2010, at 14:36:38
In reply to Re: TCM » sigismund, posted by Hombre on September 5, 2010, at 9:51:32
No, it's not a rant at all. It's very interesting. This could be me
>They also manifest as having a hard time turning ideas into concrete action. A lack of willpower despite having been blessed with several talents. The frustration of not being able to nurture these talents made me feel really confused and angry with myself. It really baffled me that I could not do what others could do: have the drive to work at something until, in time, it developed into a real skill. Like playing guitar for several years and eventually writing some songs and starting a band. Or knowing enough about computers to eventually write more and more complex programs. I would always have the talent to start off strong, but lacked the grit to keep at it. I could not seem to put things together in a complex way. I was stuck at the beginner level despite being as smart as the next guy and working hard. Not special, mind you, just having my own set of gifts like everyone else does.I must go through the links and look at kidney, liver and spleen tonification. They seem to be the weak areas.
The other thing is obsessing....I would ruminate forever, in a kind of paralysis of will as if I wasn't in the real world but somewhere else. It's really demoralising to be told you are wallowing and be unable to do anything about it.
Posted by Lao Tzu on September 6, 2010, at 16:28:54
In reply to Re: TCM))Hombre » Lao Tzu, posted by Hombre on September 4, 2010, at 0:54:16
Thank you for your thorough posts. I'm learning. If I have any questions, I will get back to you. Thanks again.
Lao
Posted by Lao Tzu on September 6, 2010, at 16:36:32
In reply to Re: TCM » sigismund, posted by Hombre on September 5, 2010, at 9:51:32
Very inspiring narratives. Enjoy reading your posts.
Posted by Lao Tzu on September 6, 2010, at 16:49:12
In reply to Re: TCM » sigismund, posted by Hombre on September 5, 2010, at 9:51:32
Can you say that the kidney tonic or another tonic was influential in helping one to gain more confidence in one's abilities? I definitely need help with that, plus also with the anticipatory anxieties I have about going out to look for work or to muster up enough courage to start dating again. I will say that when I was on Ativan (benzo), I did have much more confidence in myself because the anxieties were lessened. Can you say that herbal tonics if taken over time do in some way influence what we perceive as anxiety-provoking in our lives, even though there may be no reason to fear and no reason not to do something substantial with our lives?
I guess I'm looking for something to help motivate the self and to help change the perception of the self and others. Giving up anger and guilt, especially when it is unnecessary in most situations. Would taking a spleen tonic with a kidney tonic be more beneficial rather than taking either alone? I will say I have achieved a lot from medication and vitamins, including perceptions, but still, I look for improvement.
Thanks.
Lao
Posted by Hombre on September 6, 2010, at 21:22:05
In reply to Re: TCM, posted by Lao Tzu on September 6, 2010, at 16:49:12
> Can you say that the kidney tonic or another tonic was influential in helping one to gain more confidence in one's abilities? I definitely need help with that, plus also with the anticipatory anxieties I have about going out to look for work or to muster up enough courage to start dating again. I will say that when I was on Ativan (benzo), I did have much more confidence in myself because the anxieties were lessened. Can you say that herbal tonics if taken over time do in some way influence what we perceive as anxiety-provoking in our lives, even though there may be no reason to fear and no reason not to do something substantial with our lives?
>
> I guess I'm looking for something to help motivate the self and to help change the perception of the self and others. Giving up anger and guilt, especially when it is unnecessary in most situations. Would taking a spleen tonic with a kidney tonic be more beneficial rather than taking either alone? I will say I have achieved a lot from medication and vitamins, including perceptions, but still, I look for improvement.
>
> Thanks.
>
> LaoI think the answer is: it depends. What I mean is that one will need to ask himself whether or not he is ready to make those changes. In my experience I was trying to work and exercise and be social but was completely shut down by the anxiety and fatigue. Of course this made me discouraged and angry with myself. I was also smoking and not smoking, and definitely felt better when not smoking. I got some energy and relief from the obsessive thinking and negativity from the medications, but still felt a bit unstable and jittery. The herbs seemed to be the final piece to the puzzle in terms of stabilizing and smoothing out the rough edges and helping to expand my capacity to generate and expend energy. I still have to exercise, eat well and make an effort to communicate to others when I feel that the relationship is unhealthy in some way. I'd say the exercise is the main element after meds and herbs in terms of creating positive change that can be felt. If I go several days without breaking a sweat I will still feel sluggish and less prone to getting out there and being active. That's because my energy capacity is decreasing and maybe my metabolism starts to slow down. This is a dangerous situation because I will then be less likely to exercise or get out. While I may not be paralyzed by anxiety or ruminating about the past, I am sort of couchbound and tend to accomplish very little. And of course I don't feel very good about myself if I am so inactive.
If you feel that you are trying to be active but your body (and feelings) making you feel like you don't have it in you to do it, the herbs may help. But, if you take a good honest look at yourself and decide that you may need to adjust your thinking and attitudes so that you have a fresh perspective towards new activites rather than conditioned thoughts (understandably, after years of suffering disability), the herbs can still help, but will need to go hand in hand with some baby steps towards making those psycho-emotional changes. This is in no way some attempt to say that I know what your situation is, just trying to be honest and give the best advice that I can given my limited perspective.
I do think it wouldn't hurt to give the herbs a try. They are pretty safe overall, and you've shown a remarkable ability to tune into your body and to let go of a new supplement/herb when it is not really helping. That is really the attitude of the herbalist and it will certainly serve you well.
Posted by Deneb on September 7, 2010, at 5:06:57
In reply to Re: TCM » Lao Tzu, posted by Hombre on September 6, 2010, at 21:22:05
Wow! You sure know a lot about traditional Chinese medicine!
My parents are Chinese and they believe in TCM. I always think they are weirdos, talking about "heat" and stuff and burning stuff, moxibustion??
Anyways, thanks for your descriptions. They helped me understand a little more.
Posted by Prozac Pro on September 7, 2010, at 9:28:28
In reply to Re: TCM » Phillipa, posted by Hombre on September 4, 2010, at 0:23:31
Just in my personal experience, Western medicine/psychiatry is far more effective at treating major depression than is TCM. I am under the impression that has been the experience in China, as well. However, I think that TCM potentially has promise in treating the side effects of psychotropic meds, much as it has been used to alleviate the side effects of chemo. I wonder if any work has been done in China on the use of TCM to treat, e.g., SSRI side effects?
Posted by morgan miller on September 7, 2010, at 14:09:59
In reply to Re: TCM, posted by Prozac Pro on September 7, 2010, at 9:28:28
> Just in my personal experience, Western medicine/psychiatry is far more effective at treating major depression than is TCM. I am under the impression that has been the experience in China, as well. However, I think that TCM potentially has promise in treating the side effects of psychotropic meds, much as it has been used to alleviate the side effects of chemo. I wonder if any work has been done in China on the use of TCM to treat, e.g., SSRI side effects?
Or what about using TCM and other herbs/supplements as adjuncts to psychiatric medications to enhance and further antidepressant therapy? I'm thinking of fish oil, schisandra, cordyceps, holy basil and TCM herbal remedies.
Posted by Lao Tzu on September 8, 2010, at 11:39:24
In reply to Re: TCM » Lao Tzu, posted by Hombre on September 6, 2010, at 21:22:05
Thank you for your honest thoughts. I appreciate that very much. I agree with you that if you are inactive all the time, you won't feel very good about yourself. That seems to be the case for me as well. I always do feel better after a good round of tennis. Maybe I should make it a serious habit. Thanks again.
Lao
Posted by Hombre on September 10, 2010, at 21:55:03
In reply to Re: TCM, posted by Prozac Pro on September 7, 2010, at 9:28:28
> Just in my personal experience, Western medicine/psychiatry is far more effective at treating major depression than is TCM. I am under the impression that has been the experience in China, as well. However, I think that TCM potentially has promise in treating the side effects of psychotropic meds, much as it has been used to alleviate the side effects of chemo. I wonder if any work has been done in China on the use of TCM to treat, e.g., SSRI side effects?
TCM will treat the pattern regardless of the origin. In terms of treating SSRI side effects, they are classified in terms of TCM patterns and treated accordingly. This is sort of the nice thing about TCM in terms of helping people, but it makes it unsuitable for rigorous studies.
I take chinese herbs for my SSRI and AAP side effects:
- apathy
- tiredness
- urinary hesitancy
- sexual dysfunction
- weight gain
- anxiety
- brain fog
- fatigue
- trouble concentratingThese may be exacerbated by my own constitutional idiosyncracies or may also be symptoms of depression. I categorize my patterns as:
- deficient kidney yang
- deficient kidney yin
> the apathy, urinary, and sexual SEs, maybe trouble initiating actions- liver stagnation
> apathy, or just feeling "stuck", anger- spleen deficiency
> general fatigue and trouble concentrating or rememberingThe danger of supplementing yang and qi is that I run the risk of depleting yin - so I drink chrysanthemum and goji fruit tea, eat fruits, drink plenty of water and electrolytes, eat pork, do tai chi, go to bed early and avoid too much spicy food and stimulants. If I feel like yin is deficient I'll feel sort of hot and dry, especially with thirst. If I feel like yang is deficient, I feel a little too relaxed and calm, won't feel like doing as much activity.
It seems simplistic, but I can totally adjust my mood, energy and mental function by using herbs, food and activity/rest to maintain balance. The proof is in the pudding, especially with symptoms like urinary hesitancy and sexual function.
Posted by Hombre on September 10, 2010, at 21:58:25
In reply to Re: TCM » Prozac Pro, posted by Hombre on September 10, 2010, at 21:55:03
The thing about TCM is that few people taking SSRIs and psyche drugs bother to try it. Well, very few people *period* bother to try it. Without people getting proper treatment and expressing their results, it'll basically remain an open secret. If you look at the regular pbabble board and the alternative board, you'll see a very different way of thinking. Don't get me wrong, the meds are powerful, but they are not always predictable and only work with what you got. TCM helps you adjust what you got.
Posted by Prozac Pro on September 11, 2010, at 10:20:32
In reply to Re: TCM » Prozac Pro, posted by Hombre on September 10, 2010, at 21:55:03
> > Just in my personal experience, Western medicine/psychiatry is far more effective at treating major depression than is TCM. I am under the impression that has been the experience in China, as well. However, I think that TCM potentially has promise in treating the side effects of psychotropic meds, much as it has been used to alleviate the side effects of chemo. I wonder if any work has been done in China on the use of TCM to treat, e.g., SSRI side effects?
>
> TCM will treat the pattern regardless of the origin. In terms of treating SSRI side effects, they are classified in terms of TCM patterns and treated accordingly. This is sort of the nice thing about TCM in terms of helping people, but it makes it unsuitable for rigorous studies.
>
> I take chinese herbs for my SSRI and AAP side effects:
>
> - apathy
> - tiredness
> - urinary hesitancy
> - sexual dysfunction
> - weight gain
> - anxiety
> - brain fog
> - fatigue
> - trouble concentrating
>
> These may be exacerbated by my own constitutional idiosyncracies or may also be symptoms of depression. I categorize my patterns as:
>
> - deficient kidney yang
> - deficient kidney yin
> > the apathy, urinary, and sexual SEs, maybe trouble initiating actions
>
> - liver stagnation
> > apathy, or just feeling "stuck", anger
>
> - spleen deficiency
> > general fatigue and trouble concentrating or remembering
>
> The danger of supplementing yang and qi is that I run the risk of depleting yin - so I drink chrysanthemum and goji fruit tea, eat fruits, drink plenty of water and electrolytes, eat pork, do tai chi, go to bed early and avoid too much spicy food and stimulants. If I feel like yin is deficient I'll feel sort of hot and dry, especially with thirst. If I feel like yang is deficient, I feel a little too relaxed and calm, won't feel like doing as much activity.
>
> It seems simplistic, but I can totally adjust my mood, energy and mental function by using herbs, food and activity/rest to maintain balance. The proof is in the pudding, especially with symptoms like urinary hesitancy and sexual function.So, are there any patent remedies that you have found to be helpful, or do you see a herbalist for custom formulas?
I have many of the same issues as you.
Posted by Hombre on September 12, 2010, at 1:57:56
In reply to Re: TCM, posted by Prozac Pro on September 11, 2010, at 10:20:32
> So, are there any patent remedies that you have found to be helpful, or do you see a herbalist for custom formulas?
>
> I have many of the same issues as you.I take patent formulas due to their low cost and convenience.
For digestion, absorption, and energy related issues, I take Ginseng and Astragalus Combination (Bu Zhong Yi Qi Wan). Tonifying my digestion seems to keep me at a healthy weight and allows me to grow lean muscle tissue in response to exercise.
For the kidney/urinary/sexual/energy issues I take Golden Cabinet Kidney Nourishing Pills (Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan). I would like to try You Gui Wan (Supplement the Right Kidney), which has eucommia as well as aconite and cinnamon, as eucommia is great for kidneys as well as strengthening the back and waist.
I am experimenting with Emperor's Teapills (Tian Wang Bu Xin Wan) and I have been able to reduce my Seroquel dosage by half at night. Rehmannia is the main ingredient in this formula, so it nourishes the kidneys and liver. I can't seem to get enough kidney tonification at this point - I think I have to fight the effects of the meds as well as my own constitutional deficiencies.
Posted by sigismund on September 13, 2010, at 0:41:08
In reply to Re: TCM » Prozac Pro, posted by Hombre on September 12, 2010, at 1:57:56
I'm very interested in rehmannia but I'd be nervous about aconite.
Posted by Lao Tzu on September 13, 2010, at 13:45:45
In reply to Re: TCM » Hombre, posted by sigismund on September 13, 2010, at 0:41:08
Hello. Bu Zhong Yi Qi Wan seems very agreeable to me, especially for energy and because I have issues with digestion. I thank you for your suggestions. I think next I might want to try a kidney tonic, but I don't know if it is going to be beneficial for emotional problems. The Holy Basil seems to help somewhat with emotional problems. What organs specifically are attached to emotional responses? Should I be looking to tonify kidney and liver as well? Which tonic(s) are more helpful to you in regards to emotional responses? Also with self-acceptance and inner peace? How long it did it take to realize the benefits of the herbs? I haven't been taking the full dosage as indicated because I feel that it is too much for me at this point. Thank you for your posts. I enjoy reading your experiences.
Lao
Posted by Hombre on September 14, 2010, at 4:40:14
In reply to Re: TCM » Hombre, posted by sigismund on September 13, 2010, at 0:41:08
> I'm very interested in rehmannia but I'd be nervous about aconite.
Unless you're buying it raw, when used in formulas it is prepared to eliminate toxicity. I'd be nervous about preparing it myself without being shown how by an experienced herbalist. I believe Michael Tierra (of Planetary Herbals) gives instructions for preparing aconite in vol. 2 of his books on Chinese herbs.
Posted by Lao Tzu on September 14, 2010, at 12:34:09
In reply to Re: TCM » sigismund, posted by Hombre on September 14, 2010, at 4:40:14
Did you find that the herbs helped you indirectly with quitting smoking? Smoking for me is such a burden. I find that I think more clearly when I don't smoke and I feel more stable. Over the past week, I have noticed that I am able to smoke much less than normal. For me, smoking is a release from boredom, and that is not a good excuse to smoke. Do you think the herbal tonics will help with the resolve to stop? I am not quite sure what is causing me to smoke less. Could it be the herbs?
Lao
Posted by Hombre on September 14, 2010, at 19:36:06
In reply to Re: TCM)))Hombre, posted by Lao Tzu on September 13, 2010, at 13:45:45
> Hello. Bu Zhong Yi Qi Wan seems very agreeable to me, especially for energy and because I have issues with digestion. I thank you for your suggestions.
And I thank you for giving it a try. I'm glad it seems to be helping you and not causing any problems.
>I think next I might want to try a kidney tonic, but I don't know if it is going to be beneficial for emotional problems. The Holy Basil seems to help somewhat with emotional problems. What organs specifically are attached to emotional responses? Should I be looking to tonify kidney and liver as well? Which tonic(s) are more helpful to you in regards to emotional responses? Also with self-acceptance and inner peace?
There are some very good questions, things I am also very curious about. All of the organ systems are associated with emotional and mental faculties. However, the organ systems being descriptive placeholders for interrelated functions, it is hard to pinpoint so accurately in real practice which emotion goes with what organ, which herb will affect which organ and thus which emotion.
In my experience so far with taking herbs, I find that anything to build the overall energy will have an effect on mood and energy. As your body begins to feel more comfortable, your emotions will settle down somewhat. Emotions are "felt" in the body and of course affect our mind, but they are at a more physical level. As your energy increases even more, your mind will become clearer and your memory a bit better.
For me, I feel the digestion enhancing herbs help with the typical low-blood sugar symptoms I've had for years. My blood sugar is much more stable and I don't tend to bloat or gain too much weight if I exercise regularly. Energy is pretty steady and when it does run out, it doesn't become an all-out panic like it used to.
The kidney herbs help with motivation and having the energy behind an idea. This is also a kind of energy, but maybe more like a managing type of capacity whereas tonifying the spleen provides the overall fuel. The kidney is related to the brain in CM, along with the bones and marrow. In western physiology the kidneys do help control calcium levels by releasing hormones.
>How long it did it take to realize the benefits of the herbs? I haven't been taking the full dosage as indicated because I feel that it is too much for me at this point. Thank you for your posts. I enjoy reading your experiences.
>
> LaoDo you feel like it is too stimulating, or just want to take it slow to be cautious?
It probably took me about a month before I said to myself, "hey, I feel noticeably better". But I would take it at your own pace and be patient. Like I posted a while ago, it takes longer to get your body to readjust to a new homeostatic set-point if you've been ill for a long time.
And, to beat a dead horse, exercise is so important for mood, something that makes you break a light sweat and breathe just a little harder. That oxygen flowing throughout your body and the release of CO2 and toxins out of your lungs will do wonders for mood and anxiety.
Posted by Hombre on September 14, 2010, at 19:47:38
In reply to Re: TCM)))Hombre, posted by Lao Tzu on September 14, 2010, at 12:34:09
> Did you find that the herbs helped you indirectly with quitting smoking? Smoking for me is such a burden. I find that I think more clearly when I don't smoke and I feel more stable. Over the past week, I have noticed that I am able to smoke much less than normal. For me, smoking is a release from boredom, and that is not a good excuse to smoke. Do you think the herbal tonics will help with the resolve to stop? I am not quite sure what is causing me to smoke less. Could it be the herbs?
>
> LaoTo be honest, I've been smoking on and off, mostly on for the past 2 months. My excuse was stress. I'm in day 4 of not smoking. I can say that the herbs take the edge off of the process, but I still feel a bit uncomfortable. And that's OK. I've done it before and it is something that can be dealt with.
I realized that it was sapping my energy and making it hard to concentrate on anything. I too smoked out of borefom, mostly, but I'm really compulsive about it and I just can't do it in moderation.
The main thing is that I found it impossible to be productive while smoking. Either I'd rather smoke given a free moment, or I couldn't concentrate after depriving my brain of oxygen.
Last night I went swimming for the first time in a long time and felt great. Exercise and smoking don't mix well. I either exercise or smoke. I'd rather exercise.
I think the herbs definitely help with not feeling so anxious and desperate all the time due to whatever deficiencies may be causing the cravings. But smoking is a habit and it is not easy to break a habit. For me, I have to throw away the rest of a pack to really mean it. The act of throwing away perfectly good smokes is symbolic and usually kick starts a successful not-smoking period, which can last for years.
I do know better at this point that smoking never makes me feel better. I always feel stupid for putting myself in a position where my energy is limited and I can't function at 100%. Then it takes several days to regain my energy and shake off the mindset of the smoker where I'd reach for a smoke rather than actually do something. This point is key: for me, smoking takes away my will to do more productive things. In CM terms, smoking really depletes the kidneys. Upon quitting, I notice my energy is much better. Even when "tired", I still have energy to get things done. My will is stronger. My body looks better after just a couple of days - I don't know why, but I guess I lost a bunch of water I was holding or something. Maybe my hormones are more balanced.
I am only speaking for myself, of course, when I judge my smoking and what it means to me, but I do know what it is like and I do know that you can quit. Herbs can help. It's better to have a substitute activity that gives you something positive to reach for rather than just denying yourself of something. Like I said, exercise is the best replacement and it will help with mood and energy. Buy yourself some nice sneakers and comfortable clothes to wear so you can take a walk/jog/go to the gym in style. Load up your mp3 player with tunes and just enjoy yourself. You totally deserve it!
Posted by Lao Tzu on September 16, 2010, at 10:58:39
In reply to Re: TCM)))Hombre, posted by Hombre on September 14, 2010, at 19:47:38
Thank you for your replies. Smoking, I think, has to one of don't do it at all or do it full on. I used to smoke 2 packs per day, and my energy levels and motivation were terrible. You're right about it killing any productivity. You tend to want to smoke and do nothing else. After about 1 year on the patch (I know, a long time), I was able to get it down to 1 pack per day. Lately, my energy levels have been improved. My moods are much more stable, and when my moods are more stable, I smoke less per day. This is the conclusion I've come to. The herbs are helping to take the edge off a bit, but I still like smoking. I wonder if switching to a kidney tonic would be more beneficial than the Bu Zhong Yi Qi Wan. Maybe it's just a matter of taking the right tonic. Can you recommend a more fitting tonic to help with the emotional aspects of quitting smoking? Maybe I'm asking too much of the herbs, but I am looking for a good formula that will help quitting more bearable. I don't know if the Bu Zhong Yi Qi Wan is the best one. I might search for some Chinese tonics that are specially formulated for addiction. Do you know of any?
Smoking for me is a very complex part of my routine. Or maybe I'm looking into it too much. Like you said, you need to substitute it with another more healthy activity. The problem I have with smoking is I tend to light up before any activity where I am around people. I have it in my mind that smoking can be helpful for social anxiety, but this may be a false perception. I'm sure it is.
One thing I know is that I cannot take stimulants because I tend to smoke even more. I guess that would include stimulating herbs. I tend to do better on more calming herbs, but I also can't take anything that makes me tired or again, I tend to smoke more. With all the supplements I take, I guess I have reached the point where my moods are probably as stable as they are going to get, and it is now more a matter of implementing other healthy activities in my life beyond taking supplements, for instance, exercise and a good diet. Also keeping my stimulated with activities that absorb my attention and that I enjoy. I need to be around positive people as well, as I tend to be influenced by a person's positive or negative energy.
Which is another reason I don't always keep up on current events because there is so much negative energy out there.Thank you for your inspiring replies. I really appreciate you helping me.
Lao
Posted by Lao Tzu on September 16, 2010, at 13:41:01
In reply to Re: TCM)))Hombre, posted by Hombre on September 14, 2010, at 19:47:38
Hi! Bu Zhong Yi Qi Wan is working well taking it twice per day. Hopefully, will see continued improvement. Today I ordered two other tonics just to try them out. One is Shi Quan Da Bu Wan and the other is Ren Shen Yang Rong Wan. Have you tried either of these? They are listed under Emotional Wellness from Best Chinese Medicines website. The question I have is can you safely take more than one tonic at a time? Like I said, I am an amateur at TCM. I really don't know what I'm doing, but I did look at the symptoms under each tonic, and thought that maybe they would help. Do you have any insight into what don quai and rehmannia do? Are they okay to take with meds? Maybe I should have asked you before buying them. I'd rather get good input from you so that I don't have to spend a ton of money trying different tonics, but I am curious as to the variety of tonics and exactly what they are good for. I guess I am looking for emotional wellness. There is also the Emperor's Tea Pill Extract which I thought about trying. Have you ever used this one? I am going to stick with the Invigorator Extract for now. I don't really have problems with any organ system in particular that I know of, and the tonics seem to be useful for well-defined symptoms. I picked the two tonics because I do have fatigue, tiredness, anxiety, and low appetite sometimes. Of course, the Risperdal I take affects metabolism and blood sugar, so what tonics are good for combatting the metabolic problems? I am slowly gaining weight on the meds, but it's not a real problem yet. Exercise and diet will probably fix that okay.
As always, enjoy reading your replies. You certainly know a heck of a lot about Chinese herbalism. I did download an article on TCM for schizophrenia. It lists all the herbs used for that based on symptoms and tongue fur and pulse. I imagine you'd have to work with an herbalist to tailor a formula for an individual with schizophrenia, since most tonics would probably be inadequate.
It did state that in most cases, merging TCM with Western Medicine would bring about a greater recovery. That is very interesting to me. It's just that most Americans are either totally ignorant of Chinese medicine or misinformed. Are we truly missing out on such a healing art?Lao
Posted by Hombre on September 16, 2010, at 20:59:47
In reply to Re: TCM)))Hombre, posted by Lao Tzu on September 16, 2010, at 10:58:39
I think the most uncomfortable part about quitting is that your body has to reset itself to a new balance point without the steady influx of nicotine. Also, your body will start to get rid of all the toxins and you may experience weird symptoms. For me, I got a bunch of mosquito bite like spots all over, but they've mostly gone away now. The skin is linked to the lungs, I don't think that is even solely a chinese medicine idea.
I think the only thing that keeps me from smoking is that I know deep down that I will feel worse if I do. Since depression and low energy have plagued me for so long and have made it so hard for me to live to my potential, I'm willing to do anything to feel better. No matter how uncomfortable I feel in the short term, and I don't think quitting takes more than 3-7 days of raw discomfort, I know that in the long term I'd rather do the 100 other things that I couldn't do when depressed. Smoking is that powerful of a negative force both physically and mentally.
In terms of herbs, I think it will make sense to address that as I look at your second post.
Posted by Hombre on September 16, 2010, at 21:20:36
In reply to Re: TCM)))Hombre, posted by Lao Tzu on September 16, 2010, at 13:41:01
I have taken Shi Quan Da Bu Wan for quite a while. It is a combination of two famous formulas. One for building blood, the other for building qi. Qi and blood are intimately connected, however, so overall this formula strengthens digestion and increases the production of blood -> more energy.
I switched to Bu Zhong Yi Qi Wan because I feel it has more of an antidepressant punch. But your body is different and you may respond better to the Shi Quan Da Bu Wan. I'd stick with the Bu Zhong for a little longer before switching the the Shi Quan Da Bu Wan. Then you could make a good comparison of the two.
The Ren Shen... formula is also for boosting digestion. Ren shen is ginseng. It has rehmannia, not sure if it is raw or prepared, but that herb nourishes the kidneys and liver. Overall that formula tonifies qi in the spleen and kidneys, I think. When spleen qi is weak, you get the low energy, loose stools, poor memory, mental fatigue. The sweating and mental fatigue might also be weak kidneys.
I currently take Emperor's Teapills as a sort of replacement for Seroquel. I reduced my Seroquel from 100mg to 50m and I think it is OK. I'm kind of on the fence of whether it is too Yin for me; what I mean is that I already have a lot of Yin characteristics: I'm thin, I tend toward low qi and poor digestion, I get tired easily and can be sort of lazy. However, I also tend towards anxiety and poor sleep. Emperpr's Teapills tonify the blood and Yin. They say that when blood is not ample, the heart qi cannot settle down. That could lead to poor sleep, dream-disturbed sleep, night sweats, etc. These are symptoms of my illness and/or side effects of my antidepressants. I am no longer sure I am bipolar, but since sleep is such an issue, I decided to try herbs for that. There are several formulas in that category, often schisandra, polygala, and rehmannia are present. I feel like the risks of taking Seroquel may not justify taking 100mg. It isn't a high dose per se, but if I can get the sleep/anxiety benefit at 50mg I think that is better. Also, I save $$$.
I have changed my view about symptoms since sincerely trying herbs. Before, I put everything into the DSM boxes. Now, I wonder if I cannot work on my symptoms from a CM point of view while still taking the meds. If I can slowly decrease the meds, that's probably better in the long run. If not, that's OK as long as I can fight the SEs and the deleterious effects on my "organs" using herbs.
One more thing. This morning I woke up feeling pretty tired. It has been like this since I quit smoking. Actually, it has been like this for a couple of weeks. I realized that I have not been doing any sort of meditative/calming activity. So, I did a simple meditation where I tried to let go of any tension in my body. It takes some time and patience and practice to where you can tune into the unconscious tension held in the muscles. The feeling is that the energy cannot sink down to your lower abdomen. It's like making a tight fist with your hand and then letting it go. Your mind/nervous system starts to tighten its hold on your muscles unconsciously. You have to let go of the "fist" by relaxing, slowly, slowly, realizing your are "holding" your muscles tight and releasing them. I start with the head and move down slowly. After about 10-20 minutes you will feel like you can bring your mind's awareness down to your lower navel. After doing this practice, your mind will be much clearer and you will feel very calm. Maybe not immediately, but later on in the day you'll realize you have a lot more energy, and indeed you do, because you are not wasting energy holding tension in your nervous system. You can also do this practice sitting. Tai Chi is about doing this while moving, learning how to move without unnecessary tension and relying more on momentum and structural alignment to produce power.
Posted by Hombre on September 16, 2010, at 21:27:45
In reply to Re: TCM)))Hombre, posted by Lao Tzu on September 16, 2010, at 13:41:01
Oh, dong quai = dang gui = angelica sinensis. It helps build blood. Famous for helping women due to their need to produce extra blood for menstruation, but often included in tonics because blood is the mother of qi.
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